Gasol won the opening possession for the Pelicans, and Alexander set up the half-court offense.
Durant and Brogdon moved along the wings.
The Warriors' defense stayed with Brogdon, but Durant still received the ball.
After catching it, he took a one-step dribble and rose for a stop-and-pop pull-up jumper.
The rhythm of the shot was perfect, completely shaking off Iguodala's defense.
"Swish!"
The ball answered by dropping through the net.
Though he had failed to help the USA Team win the World Cup, he had been in scorching form, and now he had brought that hot streak into the new season!
That was one of the benefits of playing FIBA games.
In terms of intensity alone, FIBA rivaled the NBA Playoffs, which was hugely beneficial for players maintaining their form during the Offseason.
The Warriors went into their frontcourt offense. Thompson was guarded by Brogdon, while Curry was double-teamed. He kicked the ball out to Iguodala, but Iguodala's three-pointer missed badly.
Unknowingly, Iguodala was already thirty-five. Compared with his peak period when he had first joined the Warriors, his competitive form had clearly declined on both ends of the floor.
Davis leaped high and secured the long Defensive Rebound.
The Pelicans launched a Defensive Counterattack. Durant took Brogdon's pass and finished a Little layup in midair through Green's defense, drawing Green's defensive foul as well.
The moment the ball went in, cheers erupted from the fans in the arena.
Although Tang Tian had retired and become an owner, the Pelicans' fan base built over the past few years had not diminished.
In other words, the Pelicans were truly the home team of Chinese fans.
Durant had once been the target of Chinese fans' mockery and teasing, but after joining the Pelicans, he became one of their own.
Everyone knew about