China Team had the first possession of the second half.
Tang Tian brought up the ball, but this time, he did not drive straight in. Instead, he called for a pick-and-roll with Yi Jianlian.
After coming off the screen, he did not wait for the double team to arrive before pulling up for a jumper.
The choice caught them off guard, and Anthony, after switching, could not keep up at all.
Swish!
Tang Tian calmly sank the ball.
China Team struck first.
But just after getting those two points, Anthony drove past Zhou Qi and answered with a layup at the other end.
USA Team looked to be in just as good a rhythm as they had been in the first half.
Tang Tian was trapped by three defenders after the pick-and-roll and kicked the ball back to Yi Jianlian, who muscled Butler under the basket and sent it through.
It was a tough, inspiring play.
But on the next possession, Irving and Anthony ran a pick-and-roll. Anthony accelerated past Zhou Qi and scored another layup.
Two minutes into the third quarter, the gap was still 20 points.
Coach K sat calmly on the sideline. At this pace, USA Team winning the championship was already inevitable.
The Chinese fans in the arena grew restless as well.
The two teams were locked in an Offensive Battle. China Team was playing so well, yet they still could not cut into the deficit. This game was impossible to play.
But the emotions of China Team's players did not change much. They had already come to terms with it at halftime. They did not seek victory or defeat, only no regrets.
Tang Tian drove in at the frontcourt and was surrounded by all five defenders, then passed to Ding Yanyuhang at the right forty-five-degree