"Great job, everyone." As soon as the game ended, Coach Jack immediately shouted to his players, then rushed over to hug them one by one. After all, they had taken the opening game of the Finals.
At the same time, deafening cheers and applause erupted both inside and outside TD Garden as everyone celebrated wildly.
In contrast, both the Oklahoma City Thunder players and the few fans present looked extremely dejected. They had prepared so much for this game, yet the result was still the same—they lost!
Especially their centerpiece, Kevin Durant, who walked off the court with a forlorn expression. He was disappointed in his own performance.
Kevin Durant had been held by Goodwin to 5-of-17 shooting in this game, including 1-of-5 from three and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, scoring 18 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Those numbers were truly embarrassing for a superstar.
It could be said that Kevin Durant had to bear the brunt of the blame for the Oklahoma City Thunder's loss. If he had performed as usual—or even exceeded expectations—the outcome might have been completely different.
But reality was cruel. He had failed to lead the team to victory.
On the way back to the locker room, Kevin Durant did not say a word. He simply walked along silently with his head lowered.
He knew this loss would invite criticism from the outside world, but he also understood that only constant hard work could prove his ability.
After returning to the locker room, Kevin Durant sat quietly in a chair, thinking about how they should adjust their tactics for the upcoming games. He knew this was only the first game of the Finals, and even greater challenges awaited them.
Although they had lost, Kevin Durant had not given up hope.
They