Where Did Chen Xi Go??

When the core lineup returned to the court, the Pelicans' defense once again reached the near-impenetrable intensity they'd shown in the first quarter.

That was extremely uncomfortable for the Thunder.

Chen Xi couldn't possibly keep shooting the ball all game, so he started passing it out and looking for open teammates.

At the same time, Donovan understood Chen Xi's predicament and began trying to bring in players who could space the floor better that night.

With Bane and Green struggling from three, Donovan started making one substitution after another.

Anthony, Reddish, Vanderbilt, and even Old Carter, who had been DNP'd for a stretch, all got some playing time.

It helped. Anthony and Carter each hit a three, and the cold-shooting Reddish finally broke out of his slump, getting lucky enough to sink two threes that night. That took some of the pressure off Chen.

Thanks to a few role players stepping up, the Thunder managed to keep the deficit at 11 points, trailing 60–49 at halftime. Their 29 points in the quarter marked a slight offensive recovery.

At least the game wasn't out of reach after just 24 minutes.

Soon, halftime ended, and the second half got underway.

The second half was almost a complete mirror image of the first.

The Thunder still couldn't get their offense going, and still had to rely on Chen to keep scoring through sheer force. As the role players' shooting touch gradually cooled off in the second half, things only got tougher for the Thunder.

When the game finally ended, the Pelicans had comfortably defended their home court, beating the Thunder 113–104 in Game 1.

Chen Xi played 41 minutes, shooting 17-for-32 and exploding for 49 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, but unfortunately, he still lost.

Even after single-handedly scoring almost two-thirds