Tang, You Guard Durant

That night, Chesapeake Energy Arena was packed to capacity.

With Durant returning this season, and this being a Tang-Durant Showdown, fans would not miss a game like this.

Much like Durant, the league's attention was now focused on the Warriors, Pelicans, Cavaliers, and even the Spurs, Rockets, and Mavericks.

They needed a victory like this to return to the center of the league's attention, just like during the era of the Big Four.

After the opening ceremony, the starting lineups for both teams were announced one after another.

The Pelicans still fielded their usual starting five.

For the Thunder, Westbrook was paired in the backcourt with second-year player Andre Roberson. Durant and Ibaka manned the forwards, while Adams played center.

With the growth of Roberson and Adams, this starting lineup's paper strength was no weaker than the Pelicans' on the other side.

Adams won the tip-off against Davis, giving the Thunder the chance for the first offense.

Westbrook set up the offense in the frontcourt. Durant came off an off-ball run, caught the pass, and knocked down a Mid-Range Shot.

If the Thunder had gained anything from last season, it was that Westbrook had developed solid organizational skills and Passing Ability.

He and Durant had not played together for nearly a full season, but that play had flowed better than at any point before.

That was the improvement in his Passing Ability.

The Pelicans attacked. Jokic held the ball at the top of the arc, Tang Tian cut in and caught the pass but was double-teamed, so he kicked it back out to Jokic.

Jokic drew help defense and passed again to Ariza.

The Thunder's defensive rotation on that possession was excellent, and Westbrook rushed out at Ariza.

Ariza shot straight over the defense.

Clang!

The basketball was disrupted and