A Strong Start with a Hot Hand

At exactly eight o'clock that evening, the game officially began.

The Thunder won the opening tip.

Westbrook received the ball in the backcourt and launched the first possession of the night.

He brought it slowly across half court, then called for a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, using Davis's screen. With a hard dribble, he accelerated straight into the paint, followed with a front crossover, and blew past Horford with sheer speed and force. He charged into the lane, leaped, and threw down a powerful one-handed slam.

Beng!!!

It was a ferocious attack that was unmistakably his style. Westbrook had opened the game by giving the Pelicans a serious warning.

At the other end, it was the Pelicans' turn to attack.

After a series of cuts, Redick caught the ball near the left sideline in the frontcourt and took the first three-pointer of the night.

With Chen Xi contesting him, the shot missed cleanly.

Little Jordan secured the defensive rebound and sent the ball to Westbrook.

The Thunder immediately launched a fast break.

Westbrook, Chen Xi, and Green sprinted downcourt, pushing the pace in transition!

Westbrook raced down the floor with the ball, reached the center line with Holiday on his hip, then fired a hard bounce pass.

The ball struck the floor just inside the three-point line and bounced straight into Chen Xi's hands.

Chen Xi caught it and took three steps, then spun in midair to evade Butler and gently laid the ball up.

Jeff Green caught the pass and finished with a powerful two-handed dunk.

Beng!!!

Another powerful slam put the rim at Oklahoma City's home court under immense strain.

"Two straight possessions ending in dunks to open the game! Oklahoma City has come out with tremendous energy tonight!"

"Clearly, they're determined to win this