Davis grabbed the defensive rebound, and the Pelicans advanced into the frontcourt to run their half-court offense.
Snyder shouted at his players with a murderous glare.
The Jazz brought out an absolutely suffocating defense. The Pelicans failed to create an opening through several consecutive set plays, and Tang Tian's buzzer-beater three-pointer from the top of the arc clanged off the rim.
Gobert secured the defensive rebound, and the Jazz launched a defensive counterattack. Hill's catch-and-shoot layup in the frontcourt helped the team break its scoring drought.
6-16, the gap on the court remained at 10 points.
Back on defense, the Jazz continued to maintain their suffocating defensive intensity. The Pelicans still could not run their plays, and Davis did not have a good isolation opportunity either.
The ball eventually went to Tang Tian.
Tang Tian drove with the ball and ran into a double team, then went to his signature fadeaway jumper after the contact.
It was a difficult shot, but he had made countless baskets like that before.
This time, however, the instant he exerted force in midair, he felt a sharp pain in his back. His shooting rhythm was clearly affected.
Clang!
The basketball struck the rim and bounced out. He failed to make the shot.
Tang Tian's performance at the start of the game had made everyone forget about his injury, or perhaps they simply believed, as the commentators had said earlier, that Tang Tian was not injured at all.
But in truth, the last two shots showed the injury's effect on him. His shooting touch and consistency had both declined considerably.
Favors protected the defensive rebound, and the Jazz went on the fast break again. Hood's layup drew a shooting foul from Holiday, and he calmly made both free throws.
Relying on their trademark defense, the