As the game came to an end, the 2017 All-Star festivities drew to a close as well. Chen Xi boarded a plane and returned to Oklahoma.
The next regular-season game would resume on the 24th. There were two days of rest in between, and on the last day, he had to report back to the team for joint practice. Chen chose to keep spending time in the gym, working hard to hone his skills.
Unfortunately, there was only one game left for the team this week. To be considered for Player of the Week, a player had to appear in at least two games that week. Things just weren't going his way.
Time flew by amid the intense training schedule. In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
With the regular season back underway, the players were once again set to take on the long, grueling schedule.
The Thunder hosted the Lakers.
At the start, Adams easily won the jump ball, and Chen Xi took possession and continued his duties as point guard.
He dribbled into the frontcourt. Facing Russell, he used a Front Crossover to drive straight toward the basket. Russell's footwork was shaky, and he couldn't keep up at all. Randle, meanwhile, made no move to help on defense, allowing Chen Xi to score an easy two points.
On the Lakers' ensuing possession, Russell tossed the ball to Randle in the high post for a one-on-one against Sabonis.
Randle spun around like a clothes dryer several times, slipped past Little Sabonis, then scored with a reverse layup.
It had to be said: the Lakers' "young prospects" were certainly blessed with offensive talent.
The Thunder attacked again. Chen Xi used more or less the same move, getting past Russell with a simple Half-turn. Then, when Russell left an