But that kind of screen was a bit of a problem for Lillard.
After getting around the screen and reaching the right side of the top of the key, Cousin had barely gathered the ball when Hart, chasing after him, closed in.
With no choice but to stop dribbling, he could only work to keep his pivot foot planted, then turn and wait for a teammate to come help before passing.
On the side, Middleton hurried up to receive the ball, then immediately started an isolation against the defense.
After a stationary between-the-legs crossover, he accelerated, driving into Grant before abruptly stopping and turning at the elbow, gathering the ball and faking.
Seeing that he hadn't managed to get Grant off his feet, he simply opted to rise up for a tough fadeaway.
Dang!!
The crisp sound of a missed shot rang out again as the ball ricocheted off the rim.
Chen Xi, who had already retreated under the basket, leaped up and secured the defensive rebound. He waited for the opponents to fall back, then, once his teammates had brought the ball up, slowly dribbled toward the frontcourt.
After dribbling to the top of the key in the frontcourt, Chen Xi continued to face up against Allen's defense.
He switched the ball to his left hand with a small move in front of his body, then took a hesitant step toward the left. Noticing that Allen's feet hadn't quite kept up—perhaps because he was anticipating Chen Xi's change of direction—Chen immediately drove straight past him.
With just one step, he got half a stride past Allen again.
He continued into the left elbow, deliberately slowed down, and looked for contact. After bumping the trailing Allen, he stepped back, then rose for a long two from mid-range, releasing with a