Game 3 between the Pelicans and Rockets would not be played until three days later.
During that time, the second games of the other two Western Conference Semifinals series also concluded one after another.
Lowry rediscovered his form, putting up 20 points and 10 assists to help the Raptors pull one back and tie the Knicks 1-1.
After losing Leonard, the Spurs were completely unable to withstand the Warriors' offense and suffered a crushing 91-121 defeat.
There was still debate over whether Pachulia had deliberately committed an ankle-breaking foul, but there was no debate that his kick had sent the Spurs out early.
At the same time, the league announced the third batch of season awards, this time revealing the Sixth Man of the Year.
The Rockets' Eric Gordon received 39% of the vote, beating out the Warriors' Iguodala and the Pelicans' Louis Williams to successfully win Sixth Man of the Year.
As soon as the award was announced, Tang Tian sent Gordon his congratulations.
The player who had once been selected by the Los Angeles Clippers and expected to become their new future had bounced from New Orleans to Brooklyn, then Houston because of injuries, and had finally found his place there.
This honor was the greatest recognition of his season's performance and an enormous encouragement.
Later that same day, the entire Pelicans team flew to Houston.
On the day they arrived, the team immediately resumed training, with content similar to the previous two days: tactical responses to Jokic being isolated.
D'Antoni's comments after Game 2 had given Rockets fans confidence, but they had also given the Pelicans an early warning.
Stevens and Tang Tian were both Tactical Masters. They certainly would not sit back and wait to die.
The Rockets still conducted closed-door training throughout. Although D'Antoni had