Opening Victory

The whistle blew, and the game resumed. Thunder ball.

Westbrook passed to Sabonis, then immediately stepped up to receive the ball again, using Little Sabonis's screen to drive straight to the basket.

Visibly, the 76ers players all collapsed inward, and with Embiid already camped in the paint playing drop coverage, the space in front of Westbrook was completely sealed off.

But this time was different from before. Turtle Turtle flicked his wrist and whipped the ball to the corner.

Waiting there was Chen Xi, who had used Adams's off-ball screen to circle to the left corner. With the 76ers' collapsing defense, Chen Xi stood completely unguarded.

A simple adjustment, then jump, shoot—one smooth motion.

Three!!!!

On the way back on defense, he lightly tapped fists with Westbrook.

"Nice shot, rookie. You're not a rookie anymore, hahaha!" Westbrook was clearly fired up.

The game continued. The 76ers once again ran simple ball movement before Embiid finished from the free-throw line, but this time he couldn't sustain his hot hand.

The rebound was snatched by Westbrook, who then launched a long outlet pass from the backcourt to a sprinting Roberson for an easy two more points.

7 to 10.

76ers head coach Brett Brown was roaring from the sidelines. A former Spurs assistant, he was extremely dissatisfied with his team's transition defense. Though the team had no record pressure this season, he himself did—every result in his coaching career would undoubtedly affect his future job opportunities. After all, in the NBA, head coaches come and go every season. Few could stay with one team for over a decade like Popovich.

Fortunately, his angry shouts had some effect, instilling a sense of urgency in the 76ers players. On their next offensive possession, they showed remarkable patience, running a series of cuts until they finally used a Chicago action to create an opportunity for Covington, who scored on a layup.

Thunder on offense again. Westbrook held the ball at the top of the arc. Little Sabonis set an on-ball screen then popped out for a shot that missed, but Adams grabbed the rebound and fed it back to Westbrook. This time, after Chen Xi set a screen, Westbrook drove into the free-throw line while Chen Xi used Roberson's off-ball screen to run open again. The ball arrived as he did.

Another three-pointer.

10 to 12.

Donovan nodded from the sideline.

Chen Xi had seized his opportunities twice, which would greatly increase his value on the court. With another outside scoring threat, Westbrook's drives would undoubtedly become more dangerous, diversifying the team's offensive options.

Sure enough, the sharp-eyed Westbrook immediately came up with another steal, then drove straight to the basket again. This time he deliberately chose to finish on the left side. Sure enough, Rodriguez, who was "handing Chen Xi an ashtray" in the left corner, hesitated and didn't collapse decisively, allowing Westbrook to finish easily.

12 all.

Since Chen Xi entered the game, the Thunder had gone on a 10-2 offensive run, and Brett Brown on the sideline could no longer stand still. He called a timeout.

"Wow! The Thunder have put together an astonishing offensive stretch. They've broken through the 76ers' defense line," commentator Hubie Brown exclaimed.

"This Chinese-American kid has seized his opportunities. Consecutive threes have created a hole in the 76ers' defense. They no longer dare to collapse and trap Westbrook decisively. Looks like the Thunder Management's summer moves weren't a complete failure after all, hahahaha!!"

"I want you to trap decisively! Collapse decisively! What are you afraid of?! Can that 56th Pick really shoot us to death? Just two threes—there's no way he keeps making them!" Brett Brown roared at his players.

"The Thunder's only threat has always been Westbrook! When we couldn't stop them with Durant, you're telling me we can't stop them without him?! Then all that Durant leaving was for nothing!! Stay focused, stick to my strategy. One or two threes won't change the game!"

The regrouped 76ers took the court again, ready to execute the coach's decision.

But what followed left them stunned.

"Wow! That's the fifth three-pointer! What are the 76ers doing? They've let Chris Chen get wide-open looks multiple times! It's hard not to question Brett Brown's coaching level!"

Chen Xi's 100-rated three-point shooting and several shooting Badges had made the 76ers' defensive strategy pay the price.

"Nice! Chris! That's it! Shoot them to death!"

Westbrook excitedly ran up and chest-bumped Chen Xi.

Chen Xi's 15 points in the quarter also earned him four assists. What made him even happier was that the team, trailing 2-10 at the start, had shot the 76ers to pieces, turning the score to 27-15 by the end of the first quarter.

An exhilarating comeback.

"Damn it, can someone tell me where this Yellow-skinned Number 3 came from?! How is he so accurate? Did he steal Ray Allen's or Klay Thompson's shooting package?!"

The 76ers fans on the sideline were furious, as if they'd eaten something bitter.

Fans who had thought that with this season's "Magic's Successor," Ben Simmons, plus a healed Embiid, their team would make big moves couldn't accept the gap between reality and fantasy.

Even though Simmons was out injured, the 76ers' performance clearly didn't satisfy them.

"The Thunder without KD can still beat us 25-5? This team is garbage!!!"

The noise from the sidelines also affected the players on the court. Embiid covered his face with a towel.

He had thought this game would be his stage, but instead, he'd become a stepping stone for that little Number 3 on the other side—letting him make a name for himself while nailing Embiid to a pillar of shame.

"Damn it, we're changing strategy. That Chris Chen is indeed accurate. Rodriguez, you're taking that kid. Put physical pressure on him, stop him from catching the ball. Everyone else, collapse normally. Pay attention to weak-side help defense. Cut off the connection between Westbrook and Chen completely. I refuse to believe that Number 3 has any ability to create his own shot!"

Brett Brown regretted his earlier gamble. Chen Xi had nearly shot them to death.

It wasn't until the end of the first quarter that he fully woke up, realizing Chen Xi wasn't just on a hot streak—he genuinely had that shooting level. He hurriedly began setting up a new defensive strategy.

The new strategy was effective. In the second quarter, it successfully limited Chen Xi's catches. The occasional ball he did receive wasn't a good shooting opportunity. Lacking the ability to handle the ball effectively at this stage, Chen Xi could only pass it out again.

The strategy was correct, but unfortunately, it came too late.

Oladipo, who had been subbed out early, was full of pent-up energy and went on a rampage in the second quarter. Drives, mid-range shots, threes—he had everything, combining shooting and driving to break through the 76ers again.

In the end, the 76ers lost the game by a wide margin of 87 to 108, bitterly swallowing the bitter fruit of defeat.