Tang Tian's Christmas had been especially lively this year.
He invited Ding Yanyuhang, Abudushalamu, Lin Yi, and Wang Quanze to his estate as guests.
Aside from Yi Jianlian, who had already settled down in Brooklyn and did not come, every Chinese player he knew in the United States was there.
For those playing overseas, this was truly a rare gathering.
Tang Tian and Lin Yi talked about many things again.
To everyone else, including Olson, the two seemed destined to become friends despite their age difference.
Right after Christmas came the Christmas Day Game.
The Pelicans-Spurs matchup became the game fans focused on most.
Tang Tian and Olson also went to the arena to cheer for the team.
However, the result was far from ideal.
The Spurs used the same approach they had previously used against Tang Tian, relying on George and Leonard to contain Durant.
Whether in individual offensive ability or Passing Ability, Durant still lagged behind Tang Tian. His Offensive Efficiency was not high—if anything, it was rather poor.
In the end, the Pelicans lost the Christmas Day Game 91-103.
Aldridge played fairly ordinarily for the Spurs, but Leonard scored 34 points and George added 24. The two combined for 58 points and shone brightly.
For the Pelicans, Davis posted 25 points and 11 rebounds in a steady performance.
But Durant was uncharacteristically inefficient, making just 8 of 25 shots and scoring only 20 points from free throws.
That kind of performance obviously could not help the team win.
Although they had lost, Tang Tian still went to the locker room after the game to encourage the team.
Compared with a long 82-game season, the outcome of one game truly meant nothing.
He also gave every player a Christmas gift—a gold watch—as a tangible form of encouragement.
After