Chapter Summaries

The Pelicans controlled the Mount Tenryu showdown against the Grizzlies, with Tang Tian, Davis, and their teammates scoring efficiently while holding firm on defense. They won 100-80 to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

• Whiteside won the opening tip, and Tang Tian answered the Grizzlies’ early score with a fadeaway jumper as both teams traded baskets.
• Tang Tian drew the defense and passed to Ariza, who made a three-pointer, while Whiteside later blocked Randolph at the rim.
• Tang Tian hit another fadeaway, and Davis scored a layup to help the Pelicans lead 28-18 at the end of the first quarter.
• Davis dominated against the Grizzlies’ reserves, and McGee completed an alley-oop while drawing a foul.
• The Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies 100-80 to take a 3-2 series lead, with Tang Tian scoring 25 points and Davis adding 21.

After the Pelicans beat the Grizzlies, Tang Tian saw his players gain confidence and learned that Nikola Jokic could return for a possible next-round matchup against the Spurs. He comforted the pregnant Olson at home, and the story left off as Game 6 began in Memphis with the Pelicans at match point.

• Tang Tian said the Pelicans had made no adjustments, and the team returned to the locker room quietly confident after its victory.
• Tang Tian and Borrego saw Nikola Jokic practicing, and Borrego said he planned to hold Jokic out until a possible next round against the Spurs.
• Tang Tian found Olson suffering from morning sickness, comforted her, and saw that she had been looking through a Chinese dictionary for baby names.
• Tang Tian refused to let Olson travel to Memphis while she was pregnant, despite her wish to support him at Game 6.
• The Pelicans and Grizzlies began Game 6 at League Express Arena, where the Memphis fans remained passionate but no longer called the arena their stage.

The Grizzlies mounted a determined comeback against the Pelicans, tying the game late behind Jeff Green’s scoring. Tang Tian and Davis delivered clutch plays in the final minute to give the Pelicans a four-point lead with twenty-seven seconds remaining.

• The Grizzlies stayed even with the Pelicans through the first half, with Green helping the reserves keep pace.
• Tang Tian and Davis led the Pelicans to a double-digit lead in the third quarter, but Green hit two threes in the fourth to bring Memphis back.
• With one minute remaining and the score tied at 97, Tang Tian shook Allen and hit a fadeaway to put the Pelicans ahead by two.
• Davis blocked Randolph’s close-range shot, grabbed the rebound, and started a Pelicans fast break.
• Tang Tian passed out of a trap to Davis, who dunked over Green to give the Pelicans a four-point lead with twenty-seven seconds left.

The Pelicans held off a late Grizzlies comeback to win Game 6 and eliminate Memphis, completing their revenge for last year’s playoff loss. Tang Tian and Davis celebrated the victory as the other first-round series concluded, leaving the Pelicans set to face the Spurs in the Semifinals.

• Jeff Green’s desperate three-pointer bounced into the basket, leaving the Pelicans with a one-point lead and four seconds remaining.
• Davis inbounded to Tang Tian, who made both free throws after Allen fouled him; Tang Tian then pressured Green into an airball on the final possession.
• The Pelicans defeated the Grizzlies, and Davis cried with excitement as Tang Tian reminded him, “I said we'd win.”
• Tang Tian and Davis praised their teammates and the Grizzlies at the press conference, then celebrated with the Pelicans in the locker room.
• The first-round results set the Knicks against the Cavaliers and the Pelicans against the Spurs, while the Rockets forced a Game 7 against the Warriors’ eventual opponent.

The Pelicans lost Game 1 of their second-round series against the Spurs after Whiteside's poor second-half play erased their lead. Tang Tian confronted Whiteside afterward and warned him to stop chasing statistics if he wanted to keep playing.

• The Rockets defeated the Clippers in Game 7 and advanced to face the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals.
• Tang Tian and Davis led the Pelicans to a first-quarter lead over the Spurs, and Jokic returned from injury to contribute off the bench.
• The Pelicans led by nine at halftime, but Whiteside's rushed offense and defensive mistakes helped the Spurs rally for a 103-99 victory.
• Tang Tian took Whiteside aside after the game and urged him to prioritize rim protection over blocks and personal statistics.
• Whiteside remained impatient, so Tang Tian warned him that he could lose his playing time if he kept up the same approach.

Tang Tian helped persuade Williams to keep Whiteside in the starting lineup, and Whiteside apologized to his teammates before Game 2. The Pelicans and Spurs remained tied through three quarters, but Ginobili erupted in the fourth to put San Antonio ahead by 12.

• Tang Tian warned Whiteside that poor play could cost him his starting role, then advised Williams against starting Nikola because the Spurs would target his defense.
• Williams and Borrego spoke with Whiteside, who stayed in the starting lineup and apologized to his teammates.
• Tang Tian energized the New Orleans Arena with a brief B-boy routine, and the Pelicans and Spurs traded baskets through three quarters as the score remained tied at 73.
• Jokic hit a deep three-pointer to give the Pelicans an early fourth-quarter lead.
• Ginobili hit two three-pointers and converted a three-point play, leading a 15-3 Spurs run that gave San Antonio a 12-point advantage.

Tang Tian sparked a Pelicans comeback against the Spurs with a string of clutch shots and assists, helping erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit. His deep three tied the game and left the outcome undecided.

• Diop grabbed a defensive rebound, and Ginobili finished a fast-break layup to extend the Spurs' lead to 14.
• Tang Tian hit two consecutive three-pointers over Belinelli, cutting the deficit to eight.
• Tang Tian scored again over Leonard to bring the Pelicans within six, then passed out of a three-man double-team for Jokic's three-pointer.
• Ginobili made two free throws, but Tang Tian assisted Holiday on a cutting basket to cut the gap to three.
• Jokic secured a rebound and passed ahead to Tang Tian, whose deep three bounced around and dropped in to tie the game.

Tang Tian led a furious Pelicans scoring run, and Jokic hit the decisive three-pointer in the final seconds as New Orleans pulled ahead of the Spurs. Davis blocked Parker at the rim, and Tang Tian’s free throws secured a five-point lead as the arena recognized his 24-point quarter as the second-highest in NBA playoff history.

• After the Spurs tied the game, Tang Tian scored repeatedly and made both free throws to put the Pelicans up by two with about 50 seconds left.
• Duncan tipped in Pau Gasol’s missed three-pointer to tie the score, and Williams called a timeout with 16 seconds remaining.
• Tang Tian drew four defenders and passed to Jokic, who made a clutch three-pointer to give the Pelicans a three-point lead.
• Davis blocked Parker’s layup, and Jokic secured the rebound before calling a timeout.
• Tang Tian made both free throws after Green fouled him, giving the Pelicans a five-point lead.
• The arena’s scoreboard showed that Tang Tian’s 24 points in the quarter ranked second in NBA playoff history, behind Iverson’s 26.

The Pelicans split the first two games with the Spurs, then lost both games in San Antonio as Tang Tian’s strong scoring could not overcome the team’s struggles. The Spurs took a 3-1 series lead, leaving the Pelicans one loss from elimination.

• Ginobili’s final three-point attempt missed, and the Pelicans beat the Spurs in Game 2 to tie the series 1-1.
• The teams traveled to San Antonio, where Ginobili helped the Spurs build a double-digit lead in Game 3 and the Pelicans failed to catch up.
• Whiteside struggled on defense in Game 3, and Williams later spoke with him after the Pelicans’ loss.
• Williams started Jokic instead of Whiteside in Game 4, then turned to McGee when Whiteside continued to struggle.
• Tang Tian scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, but Leonard matched him with 13 as the Spurs won 103-95 and took a 3-1 series lead.

As the Pelicans faced elimination against the Spurs, Kawhi Leonard won Defensive Player of the Year, and Spurs owner Holt defended the team’s decision to let Tang Tian go. Holt praised Leonard as Tang’s successor and argued that the move had helped the Spurs build a title contender.

• The league announced Jimmy Butler as Most Improved Player and Kawhi Leonard as Defensive Player of the Year, and Tang Tian congratulated Leonard by text.
• The Spurs posted that they intended to reclaim the championship they had lost, tagging Leonard, who did not respond.
• A FOX Sports reporter asked Holt whether he regretted letting Tang Tian go, and Holt said he did not because Tang had been a role player then and the Spurs’ system would not have given him the same opportunities.
• Holt said Kawhi Leonard would succeed Tim Duncan as the Spurs’ core player and credited letting Tang go with creating room to sign Pau Gasol as the Spurs led the Pelicans 3-1.

After Holt's interview provoked the Pelicans, Tang Tian asked owner Benson to help lift the team's spirits as they faced a 1-3 deficit against the Spurs. Benson shared how the Saints overcame a first-half deficit to win the 2010 Super Bowl, leaving the Pelicans players energized for their own comeback attempt.

• Holt's interview angered the Pelicans and gave their subdued morale a modest boost.
• Dempsey visited Tang Tian to discuss the Pelicans' late first-round draft pick, and Tang Tian gave him a list of prospects to scout.
• Tang Tian recalled how a visit from the front office had helped the team before and asked Benson to speak to the players.
• Benson appeared at the Training Facility and told the players how Drew Brees had inspired the Saints before their comeback victory over the Colts.
• The Pelicans players were visibly energized by Benson's story.

Tang Tian encouraged Jokic to keep shooting and worked with Williams to improve the Pelicans' transition defense before Game 5 against the Spurs. The Pelicans started strongly, but Jokic missed a three-pointer and Parker attacked him for two baskets, leaving the Spurs ahead 4-2.

• After Benson spoke with the players, Tang Tian told Jokic not to hesitate to shoot and promised to handle the defense.
• Tang Tian discussed transition defense with Williams, who made getting back on defense a focus of training.
• Before Game 5, Tang Tian urged the Pelicans to focus on winning that night, while O'Neal, Smith, and Barkley all predicted the team would hold its home court.
• Davis won the opening tip, and Tang Tian scored against Green to give the Pelicans the first points.
• Jokic missed a three-pointer, but the Pelicans got back quickly; Parker then scored twice against Jokic to put the Spurs ahead 4-2.
• Whiteside watched from the sideline and thought Jokic's struggles proved that he should have started.

The Pelicans beat the Spurs 106-91 in Game 5, cutting the series deficit to 2-3 as Jokic’s three-point shooting sparked their offense. Tang Tian recorded the first playoff triple-double of his career and said afterward that winning mattered more than his scoring.

• Tang Tian and Davis kept the Pelicans close early, while Jokic missed his first two three-point attempts against the Spurs.
• Jokic made consecutive threes, then blocked Parker and launched a long pass that led to Tang Tian’s dunk, prompting Popovich to call timeout.
• The Pelicans pulled away behind Tang Tian’s playmaking, McGee’s defense, and Gordon’s scoring, finishing the game with a 106-91 victory.
• Tang Tian finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Jokic scored a playoff career-high 20 points and Davis added 25 points and 15 rebounds.
• Tang Tian told reporters that he did not mind scoring less because the team’s basketball had led to a win.

After winning Game 5, the Pelicans faced a damaging Whiteside controversy and traveled to San Antonio for Game 6. The Spurs surged ahead early as the rattled Pelicans struggled, leaving Tang Tian’s team in danger of elimination.

• Tang Tian saw Whiteside training after Game 5 but chose not to speak with him.
• Whiteside told FOX Sports that he deserved Playing Time, and Williams suspended him for one game.
• The Pelicans traveled to San Antonio, where Leonard received the Defensive Player of the Year award before Game 6.
• Parker scored first for the Spurs, Jokic missed a three-pointer, and Leonard made one to give San Antonio a 5-0 lead.
• Davis turned the ball over, and the Spurs’ strong start contrasted with the Pelicans’ poor morale.

Tang Tian kept the Pelicans in Game 6 with a 27-point first half, but the Spurs’ defense held them to 13 points in the third quarter and built a 12-point lead. A bat appeared in the arena near the end of the quarter, delighting Spurs fans who saw it as a sign of victory.

• Tang Tian broke the Pelicans’ scoring drought with a pull-up jumper, then scored five straight points and finished a fast break as the team fought back.
• Tang Tian scored 27 points in the first half, bringing the Pelicans within five points of the Spurs at halftime.
• Leonard volunteered to guard Tang Tian, and Popovich added weak-side help defense to restrict his drives.
• The Pelicans scored only 13 points in the third quarter while the Spurs extended their lead to 12.
• A Raccoon Bat entered the arena near the end of the third quarter, and staff caught it as Spurs fans celebrated its supposed good-luck record.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans’ fourth-quarter comeback against the Spurs, cutting an 18-point deficit to single digits with a scoring surge. He reached 50 points for the first time in his playoff career, though the Spurs still held the lead.

• Ginobili’s back-to-back three-pointers gave the Spurs an 18-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
• Tang Tian returned with the Pelicans’ small-ball lineup and sparked a run with a three-pointer, a fast-break layup, and another transition score.
• Tang Tian drew a shooting foul from Ginobili to cut the gap to nine, prompting Popovich to call another timeout and send the Spurs’ starters back in.
• Parker and Duncan scored for the Spurs, but Tang Tian answered with a three-pointer and a foul-drawing drive against Pau Gasol.
• Tang Tian made his first free throw, bringing his total to 50 points, with the Pelicans trailing by eight.

Tang Tian scored 60 points and led the Pelicans back from a seven-point deficit to trail the Spurs by one, but Pau Gasol grabbed a crucial offensive rebound with 3.2 seconds left. Gasol missed his first free throw, leaving the game’s outcome uncertain.

• Tang Tian hit a difficult fadeaway three and then made another three after the Spurs missed, cutting the Pelicans’ deficit to one point.
• Tang Tian’s 60 points set a new playoff single-game scoring record for him and ranked third in NBA playoff history, behind Michael Jordan and Baylor.
• The Spurs ran down the clock before Ginobili missed a deep three, but Pau Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound over Jokic.
• Jokic fouled Pau Gasol, who missed his first free throw with 3.2 seconds remaining.
• Popovich called his final timeout as the arena waited for Gasol’s second free throw.

Tang Tian hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to lead the Pelicans past the Spurs and tie the series at 3-3. He finished with 63 points, setting the Playoff record for points in a quarter and sending the series to a decisive Game 7 in New Orleans.

• Popovich had Gasol deliberately miss a free throw, but Davis secured the rebound and called a timeout with the Pelicans down one and two seconds remaining.
• Tang Tian drew up the Pelicans' final play, and Jokic delivered a lead pass to him beyond the three-point line.
• Tang Tian made the game-winning three-pointer, and the Pelicans defeated the Spurs after trailing by seven with one minute left.
• Tang Tian's final line was 63 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, tying Jordan's Playoff single-game scoring record and setting a new single-quarter record with 27 points.
• The Pelicans tied the series at 3-3, setting up Game 7 in New Orleans.

The Pelicans rode Tang Tian’s momentum into Game 7 against the Spurs and built a commanding halftime lead in New Orleans. With the score at 60-45, the Pelicans were closing in on the Western Conference Finals.

• Tang Tian said the Pelicans still had a fifty-percent chance of winning Game 7, while several teammates stayed after the game to practice.
• The Bulls eliminated the Hawks and the Cavaliers eliminated the Knicks, setting up a Bulls-Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals.
• Fans packed New Orleans Arena for Game 7, and Tang Tian rallied the Pelicans before tipoff.
• The Pelicans opened strongly as Tang Tian scored, Davis dunked, Holiday made a fast-break layup, and Jokic hit a three-pointer to help them lead 32-20 after the first quarter.
• The Pelicans kept their advantage over the Spurs’ starters and bench, taking a 60-45 lead into halftime.

The Spurs opened the second half with a strong run, but Tang Tian answered with clutch scoring and defense to keep the Pelicans ahead. The Pelicans carried a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter, where Holt publicly predicted a comeback just as Popovich finished setting the team’s tactics.

• Tang Tian warned the Pelicans not to relax, and Metta World Peace shared championship experience before the second half began.
• Ginobili and Duncan led the Spurs’ opening attack, cutting the Pelicans’ lead from 15 points to 10 with a 5-0 run.
• Tang Tian steadied the Pelicans with a mid-range jumper, then helped draw a foul after stealing the ball from Ginobili.
• Ginobili hit a difficult three-pointer as the Spurs fought back, but Tang Tian’s clutch shots preserved a nine-point Pelicans lead at the end of the third quarter.
• Holt told a sideline reporter that the Spurs could complete a comeback, and Popovich overheard him after finishing his timeout instructions.