Chapter Summaries

The Thunder and Pelicans traded crucial scores in the final minutes as Little Sabonis made both free throws and Chen Xi answered with a jumper. Butler restored the Pelicans’ lead, and Westbrook created a corner three for Bane with just over a minute remaining.

• Little Sabonis made both free throws, easing the pressure after recalling an earlier clutch miss.
• Chen Xi caught Westbrook’s pass and hit a mid-range fadeaway to cut the Pelicans’ lead to one.
• Butler used Sabonis’s screen to drive past Chen Xi and score a layup over Jeff Green.
• The Pelicans defended Chen Xi closely, so Westbrook attacked Horford before redirecting the ball to the corner as Chen Xi cut toward the paint.
• Bane caught Westbrook’s pass in the corner and shot a three-pointer with a defender closing in.

Chen Xi grabbed an offensive rebound and put the Thunder ahead of the Pelicans’ efforts to steady themselves, then sparked a defensive stop with a block as the game neared its end. The chapter left Horford at the free-throw line after Gafford fouled him on a putback attempt.

• Chen Xi seized the rebound over Little Sabonis and scored a putback, bringing his total to 51 points with 51 seconds left.
• Gentry called a timeout as the Pelicans tried to regain their lead, while the Thunder remained confident.
• Donovan replaced Bane and Green with Reddish and Gafford to strengthen the Thunder’s defense.
• Holiday drove for a reverse layup, but Chen Xi rotated over and blocked the shot against the backboard.
• Horford gathered the loose ball and attempted a putback, and Gafford fouled him, sending him to the free-throw line.

Chen Xi hit a clutch three-pointer to put the Thunder ahead, but Butler answered with a contested fadeaway that gave the Pelicans the lead with 5.7 seconds remaining. The Thunder called a timeout with one final chance to respond.

• Horford missed his first free throw and made his second, allowing the Thunder to cut the Pelicans' lead to two.
• Chen Xi caught Marc Gasol's pass and hit a three-pointer over Butler to put the Thunder ahead.
• The Pelicans used their final timeout, then Butler drove against Chen Xi and searched for a teammate as the clock ran down.
• Butler hit a fading jumper over Chen Xi, giving the Pelicans the lead with 5.7 seconds left.
• The Thunder called a timeout.

Chen Xi hit a drifting fadeaway buzzer-beater to give the Thunder a 109–108 win over the Pelicans in Game 2. The Thunder took the series lead, while Butler urged Little Sabonis to focus on their next game.

• Butler celebrated his go-ahead shot briefly before returning to the bench, and Gentry told the Pelicans to focus on defending Chen Xi.
• Westbrook inbounded to Chen Xi, who used Marc Gasol's screen to attack the paint as the final seconds ran down.
• Chen Xi slipped around Little Sabonis and made a drifting fadeaway two-pointer as the buzzer sounded.
• Westbrook and Melo celebrated with Chen Xi while Little Sabonis watched uneasily, and Butler told him to prepare for the next game.
• The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 109–108, with Chen Xi scoring 56 points, and took a 2–0 lead in the second-round series.

The Celtics beat the Bucks 124–115 to tie their series at 1–1, while the Thunder’s hard-fought win over the Pelicans drew attention to Chen Xi’s workload. An ESPN pundit warned that Chen Xi might be at risk of injury, portraying the Thunder as being in dire straits despite the series also being tied 1–1.

• The Celtics came out determined to win Game 2, while Buden used the matchup to test the Bucks’ lineups and strategies after deciding not to push for a win.
• The Celtics defeated the Bucks 124–115, tying the series at 1–1 as Jaylen Brown scored 28 points and Tutu added 24.
• An ESPN pundit argued that Chen Xi was exhausted after scoring 105 points across two games and warned that the Thunder should reduce his minutes.
• The pundit cited past injuries among players including Derrick Rose, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, and Jeremy Lin to urge the Thunder to protect Chen Xi.
• The chapter suggested the pundit’s warning could influence public opinion and increase pressure on the Thunder and Anthony Davis’s return plans, even though the Thunder had just won and tied the series.

Chen Xi publicly supported Anthony Davis after Davis faced backlash for not returning from injury, then stayed overnight at Davis's home to watch the Nuggets-Warriors playoff game. Davis was recovering and unconcerned about the criticism, while Chen kept monitoring the Thunder's potential opponents.

• Fans and interested parties criticized Davis online for his absence, while public attention also fell on Donovan.
• Chen Xi visited Davis and posted a photo of them together to show his support, prompting the Thunder to like and repost it.
• Chen confirmed Davis was not greatly affected by the backlash and stayed overnight at Davis's home.
• Chen and Davis watched Game 3 between the Nuggets and Warriors, whose series was tied 1–1.
• Murray missed a mid-range jumper after running a pick and roll with Jokic, and Davis compared Murray's shot selection to Chen's.

The Golden State Warriors overcame the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 after Stephen Curry recovered from a quiet first half, cutting Denver’s series lead to 2–1. The chapter then shifted to the Nets–Heat matchup, where Kevin Durant’s hot shooting helped Brooklyn withstand Miami’s pressure.

• Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points by halftime as the Nuggets took a 57–52 lead over the Warriors.
• Stephen Curry found his range in the third quarter, helping Golden State take the lead with a 32-point period.
• The Nuggets went cold in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors won 127–119 to make the series score 2–1.
• Kevin Durant scored 33 points through three quarters as the Nets faced the Heat’s high-intensity defense.

Brooklyn beat Miami 124–116 to take a 3–1 series lead, while the Thunder lost Game 3 to New Orleans as Chen Xi struggled with fatigue. The chapter then turned to Game 3 between Milwaukee and Boston, where Stevens changed the Celtics’ defensive plan to focus more on Damian Lillard.

• Paul George scored 17 points in the fourth quarter as Brooklyn beat the Heat 124–116 and took a 3–1 lead.
• The Thunder lost 112–105 to the Pelicans as Chen Xi and Westbrook combined for nine turnovers, while the Thunder announced Anthony Davis would return for Game 4.
• The Bucks and Celtics began Game 3 of their series after Stevens adjusted Boston’s defensive approach.
• Stevens increased Smart’s minutes and had Brown spend more time guarding Lillard, while Boston continued to double-team Giannis in the paint.

The Celtics beat the Bucks 124–115 in Game 3 to take a 2–1 series lead, exposing the difficulty Giannis and Lillard had building chemistry. The chapter then turns to Game 5 between the Nets and Heat, where a tense contest nearly erupted into a fight between Claxton and Powell.

• Tatum hit three straight three-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics pulled away to defeat the Bucks 124–115.
• The Celtics took a 2–1 series lead after winning two games in a row.
• The chapter described the Bucks' struggles to integrate Giannis and Lillard, noting that their midseason trade left them little time to build chemistry.
• On June 11, the Nets hosted the Heat for Game 5 with a 3–1 series lead and match point.
• Claxton and Powell nearly came to blows during the Nets-Heat game, but the players and referees prevented the confrontation from escalating.

The Miami Heat beat the Nets in Game 5 to take a 3–2 series lead, while the Nuggets defeated the Warriors behind Aaron Gordon’s breakout shooting. Anthony Davis returned for the Thunder in Game 4 against the Pelicans, where both teams opened with twin-tower lineups.

• Kevin Durant put the Nets ahead late, but Norman Powell answered with a clutch three for the Heat.
• Tyler Herro drew Jarrett Allen’s sixth foul, and the Nets lost their interior defense as the Heat won 3–2 and forced Game 6 in Miami.
• Aaron Gordon scored 28 points as the Nuggets beat the Warriors 119–115, using his outside shooting to create room for Nikola Jokic.
• Anthony Davis returned from more than a month away as the Thunder hosted the Pelicans for Game 4.
• The Thunder and Pelicans started with twin-tower lineups, while the Thunder retained their usual approach of mixing traditional play with transition offense.

The Thunder opened their game against the Pelicans with Anthony Davis back in the lineup, using his screen-and-roll offense and defensive presence to build an early lead. The Pelicans adjusted with a Diamond play and got a basket from Little Sabonis.

• Davis set a screen for Westbrook, then rolled to the basket and scored on the Thunder's opening possession.
• The Pelicans' opening attack stalled as Redick failed to get free, and Holiday missed a corner three.
• Westbrook missed a fast-break layup, but Chen Xi grabbed the offensive rebound and scored to make it 4–0.
• Westbrook grabbed a defensive rebound and passed ahead to Chen Xi, who fed Jeff Green for a dunk and a 6–0 lead.
• Holiday and Butler helped the Pelicans run a Diamond play, and Little Sabonis scored with a layup.

With Davis back, the Thunder's offense overwhelmed the Pelicans and tied the series at 2–2 by winning Game 4, 122–110. Chen Xi and Davis both starred as the Thunder restored their usual rhythm.

• Chen Xi and Davis led the Thunder to an 8–0 start, prompting Gentry to call an early timeout.
• The Thunder outscored the Pelicans 27–17 in eight minutes, then extended their lead against the reserves to finish the first quarter ahead 39–23.
• The Thunder's bench maintained the advantage while Chen Xi rested, with Bane, Anthony, and Vanderbilt contributing.
• Midway through the third quarter, Butler led a 6–0 Pelicans run, but Chen Xi answered with nine straight points against Little Sabonis.
• The Thunder won 122–110 to tie the series at 2–2, with Chen Xi recording 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists and Davis adding 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Anthony Davis returned to help the Thunder defeat the Pelicans and tie their series, while Chris Paul and Kawhi Leonard suffered serious injuries in other playoff games. The Nets eliminated the Heat after Kawhi went down, and Paul faced at least three weeks out as the Celtics’ series continued.

• After the Thunder’s Game 4 win, Anthony Davis praised Chris Paul and said he was ready to help lead the team against his former club.
• Chen Xi joined Davis’s interview, joking about their team while declaring the Thunder’s championship goal.
• The Celtics beat the Bucks 132–something to take a 3–1 series lead, but Chris Paul suffered a left hamstring strain and was ruled out for at least three weeks.
• During Game 6 against the Nets, Kawhi Leonard injured his left anterior cruciate ligament after a move against Paul George.
• The Nets maintained their lead and eliminated the Heat, while Kawhi’s injury was diagnosed as a strain rather than a tear.

The Nuggets beat the Warriors 126–117 to take a 3–2 series lead, while the Bucks defeated the Celtics in Game 5. The Thunder-Pelicans series resumed in New Orleans, where Butler opened the scoring and Davis missed his first shot.

• The Nets beat the Heat in Game 6, won their series 4–2, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Jamal Murray and Klay Thompson traded scoring bursts before the Warriors led the Nuggets 71–68 at halftime.
• Aaron Gordon and Draymond Green fought for position, and Green was ejected after receiving his second technical foul.
• The Nuggets beat the Warriors 126–117 to take a 3–2 series lead.
• The Bucks beat the Celtics in Game 5, leaving Boston to adjust to playing without Chris Paul.
• The Thunder and Pelicans began Game 5 in New Orleans, where Butler made the opening three and Davis missed a mid-range jumper.

The Pelicans opened the game with an 8–0 run, but the Thunder began finding their offense through Chen Xi’s drives and passes. After Chen Xi and Jeff Green hit threes, the Thunder still trailed 10–6 as the opening exchanges continued.

• Holiday finished a double-clutch layup after Sabonis grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break, putting the Pelicans ahead 5–0.
• Chen Xi missed a fadeaway jumper, then Redick hit a corner three to extend the Pelicans’ lead to 8–0 and force Donovan to call timeout.
• Chen Xi’s drive created an open three for Jeff Green, but after Green missed, Davis grabbed the offensive rebound and passed to Chen Xi, who made a corner three for the Thunder’s first points.
• Butler scored a mid-range jumper to give the Pelicans a 10–3 lead.
• Chen Xi drove past Holiday, drew Butler’s help, and passed to Jeff Green, who made a three for the Thunder.

The Pelicans rode hot shooting and a shortened rotation to build a 14-point halftime lead over the Thunder. After the break, Westbrook missed a contested layup, and the Pelicans regained possession to launch a counterattack.

• Butler drove into the lane and passed to Redick, who swung the ball to Holiday for a three-pointer.
• The Pelicans ended the first quarter ahead 38–29 as all five starters shot well.
• Butler played nearly the entire second quarter while the Pelicans used a tight rotation and extended their lead.
• The Pelicans went into halftime leading the Thunder 76–62 despite the Thunder's solid shooting and 15 combined assists from Chen Xi and Westbrook.
• Westbrook drove to the basket to start the second half, but his layup rolled out and Little Sabonis collected the rebound.

Chen Xi and the Thunder used steals, drives, and foul pressure to force the Pelicans into protecting their key players from foul trouble. Horford went to the bench with four fouls, and Marshall immediately hit an open three, but the Pelicans' smaller lineup faced a disadvantage against the Thunder's twin towers.

• Chen Xi intercepted Little Sabonis's pass to Butler, and Jeff Green and Westbrook finished a fast-break dunk.
• Butler drew a three-point foul on Chen Xi and made all three free throws.
• Westbrook drew a shooting foul on Horford and made one free throw, bringing Horford to four fouls.
• Gentry replaced Horford with Marshall to protect him from further fouls.
• Marshall hit an open three, but Horford's absence left the Pelicans smaller against the Thunder's twin towers.

The Thunder rallied from a large deficit and tied the game at 124 in the final three minutes, but the Pelicans answered with a three-pointer from Butler. Green then missed a floater, leaving the late-game contest still tied.

• Chen Xi and Davis exploited the Pelicans’ defensive matchups as the Thunder went on a 17–8 run, cutting the score to 89–82.
• Horford returned late in the third quarter, and the Pelicans held a 101–97 lead at the end of the period.
• The Pelicans leaned on their starters in the fourth quarter, while Holiday’s counterattack helped them regain the lead before the final three minutes.
• Westbrook set up Davis for an offensive rebound and putback, tying the score at 124.
• Butler hit a contested three-pointer after Redick’s pass, giving the Pelicans the lead.
• Chen Xi recovered Westbrook’s missed layup, but Green missed a floater after the Thunder reset their offense.

Chen Xi tied the game with a clutch three after the Thunder and Pelicans traded baskets. With the clock winding down, Butler rose for a midrange jumper that left the outcome uncertain.

• Little Sabonis made two free throws after AD committed his fourth foul, putting the Pelicans ahead by five.
• Chen Xi scored with an up-and-under finish to cut the Pelicans' lead to three.
• Chen Xi pressured Holiday into a missed three, and Little Jordan grabbed the rebound.
• Chen Xi sank a three over Butler after a shot fake to tie the game.
• Holiday, Horford, and Butler worked the ball into position, and Butler rose for a midrange jumper over Little Jordan.

Chen Xi missed a crucial jumper, then blocked Jimmy Butler at the rim and helped the Thunder tie the game with a pass to Davis. With 28 seconds left, the Pelicans had the ball and the teams were even.

• Jimmy Butler hit a mid-range jumper to put the Pelicans ahead.
• Chen Xi missed a long two, and Little Sabonis grabbed the rebound for the Pelicans.
• Chen Xi blocked Butler's layup attempt, secured the ball, and called a timeout.
• Chen Xi passed to Davis, who made a mid-range jumper to tie the game.
• The Pelicans took possession with 28 seconds remaining.