Chapter Summaries

Tang Tian used Nash-inspired passes and scoring to lead the Pelicans to a commanding opening against the Thunder. Nash recognized his old style in Tang Tian’s play as the Pelicans took a 9-1 lead.

• Tang Tian guarded Durant, contested his opening shot, then launched a fast break and passed behind his back to Bojan for the first basket.
• Tang Tian drove again and passed behind his head to Davis for a dunk, prompting Nash to rise from his seat.
• Westbrook made one free throw, but Tang Tian scored against Adams on a pick and roll and then beat him again for another layup.
• Durant finally scored over Tang Tian, while Westbrook turned the ball over under pressure.
• The Thunder double-teamed Tang Tian, but he threaded a pass to Jokic for a dunk, and Nash stood applauding.

Tang Tian dominated Durant and the Thunder with a 32-point, 13-rebound, 21-assist triple-double, leading the Pelicans to a 118-105 win. Durant struggled throughout the game, while Tang Tian’s seventh triple-double of the season moved him ahead of Green for the league lead.

• Durant shot poorly in the first half as Tang Tian helped the Pelicans build a 58-41 lead, prompting Durant to ask Donovan for defensive adjustments.
• Donovan agreed to have Durant guard Tang Tian, then privately urged Westbrook to take greater control of the Thunder’s offense.
• Tang Tian repeatedly beat Durant on offense and created scoring chances for his teammates, while Westbrook kept the Thunder within reach with a 20-point third quarter.
• Kanter helped cut the deficit to 12 points during the bench segment, but Durant continued to struggle during crunch time as Tang Tian dominated him on both ends.
• The Pelicans defeated the Thunder 118-105 despite Westbrook scoring 40 points; Tang Tian finished with 32 points, 13 rebounds, and 21 assists, bringing his season triple-double total to seven and passing Green.

After the Thunder lost to the Pelicans, Durant weighed leaving Oklahoma City for the Warriors against staying with Westbrook. He decided to make one last championship push with the Thunder before choosing his next team.

• Durant left the arena alone and thought about how Tang Tian and the Pelicans had surpassed him and the Thunder.
• Durant considered joining Curry and the Warriors, but worried about betraying Westbrook and contradicting his past promises to stay.
• After seeing Westbrook’s missed calls, Durant called him back and felt reassured by his concern.
• Durant decided to give the Thunder the rest of the season and Playoffs to win a championship, then leave for Curry if they failed.
• Durant ran into the fan who had asked him for an autograph and offered to sign for her.

The Pelicans lost two games after Ariza returned from injury, while Stevens defended his decision to start him and stressed that the team was preparing for the playoffs rather than chasing the regular-season record. As the Warriors pursued both the Pelicans and the 70-win milestone, Tang Tian recovered from the flu ahead of the Pelicans’ rematch with the Clippers, whose Reeves confidently predicted another win.

• The Pelicans’ five-game winning streak brought their record to 63–5, but Ariza struggled in his return as Conley scored 38 points and the Grizzlies beat them 107–103.
• Tang Tian missed the Pelicans’ loss to the Jazz, where Ariza again shot poorly and the team suffered its first losing streak of the season.
• Stevens said Ariza would remain a starter against the Clippers, explaining that the Pelicans were focused on keeping players ready for the playoffs rather than breaking the regular-season wins record.
• The Warriors beat the Spurs as Curry played through injury and Green fought through cramps, improving their record to 61–8 and keeping their hopes of catching the Pelicans alive.
• Ariza worked hard to regain his form, and Tang Tian recovered from the flu before the Pelicans traveled to face the Clippers.
• Reeves told reporters that the Clippers, who had already beaten the Pelicans once, could beat them again.

The Pelicans adjusted their offense to support Trevor Ariza, whose defense helped them build a lead over the Clippers. After Ariza hit his first three-pointer since returning, his confrontation with Reeves escalated into a fight.

• The Clippers double-teamed Tang Tian and left Ariza open, but Ariza missed his first three-point shot before defending Pierce and helping the Pelicans score.
• Tang Tian and Davis led the Pelicans’ offense, while Ariza contributed a steal and block as New Orleans took a 31-22 first-quarter lead.
• Ariza hit a transition three-pointer against the Clippers, celebrating his first three-pointer since returning.
• Ariza tied up Reeves to force a jump ball, and Reeves berated him after the whistle.
• Ariza shoved Reeves and then punched him.

After Reeves insulted Ariza’s deceased younger brother, the Pelicans rallied around Ariza and overwhelmed the Clippers, building a lead of more than 30 points by the end of the third quarter. With Reeves still on the court during garbage time, Tang Tian asked Stevens to let him play longer.

• Ariza and Reeves exchanged insults after Ariza threw a punch, and the referees gave Ariza a Flagrant 1 Foul and Reeves a Technical Foul.
• Stephenson told Tang Tian that Reeves had mocked Ariza’s younger brother Taya, who died in a fall when he was six, and explained the story behind Ariza’s tattoos.
• The Pelicans raised their intensity and led the Clippers 55-40 at halftime.
• Rivers started Louis Williams in place of Redick, but the Pelicans outscored the Clippers 40-25 in the third quarter and took a lead of more than 30 points.
• Tang Tian asked Stevens to keep him in the game longer, then walked toward the scoring table while watching Reeves.

Tang Tian returned to the game to confront Reeves after Reeves insulted Ariza’s deceased younger brother. He humiliated Reeves with two blocks, a crossover and dunk, and a steal, while Rivers kept his son in the game.

• Tang Tian checked in during garbage time and challenged Reeves over his claim that the Clippers could win another game.
• Reeves drove at Tang Tian, who blocked his layup and then rejected his mid-range jumper as the shot clock expired.
• Tang Tian crossed Reeves, waited for him to get back up, then drove past him and completed an off-the-backboard slam.
• Tang Tian taunted Rivers and Reeves, prompting Rivers to leave his son on the court.
• Reeves drove again, but Tang Tian cleanly stole the ball from him.

Tang Tian humiliated Reeves on the court after Reeves insulted Ariza’s younger brother, then joined the Pelicans in confronting the Clippers in their locker room. Reeves apologized to Ariza, and both teams kept the incident inside the locker room secret as the league began an investigation.

• Tang Tian drew a foul while dunking over Reeves, then left the game after Reeves was pulled out; the Pelicans went on to beat the Clippers 110-83.
• The Pelicans marched to the Clippers’ locker room, where Metta World Peace kicked down the locked door after the Clippers refused to answer.
• The teams confronted each other, and Reeves apologized to Ariza in front of both teams under pressure.
• Stevens persuaded the Pelicans to return to their locker room, and Rivers arrived after they had left.
• Media reports exposed the locker-room confrontation, prompting Xiao Hua to form a league investigation team, while both teams kept the details secret.

The Pelicans continued their winning run and reached 72-8 before Tang Tian joined them for Kobe's final game against the Lakers. Kobe scored 55 points and put the Lakers ahead late, then called for Tang Tian to enter with ten seconds left.

• The league suspended Reeves, Metta World Peace, and Stephenson for two games after its investigation into the locker-room confrontation.
• The Pelicans won nearly every game over the next half month, reaching 72-8 with two regular-season games remaining as the 70-9 Warriors pursued them.
• Kobe played his final game at a packed Staples Center, where Davis and Holiday sat out and Tang Tian started for the Pelicans.
• Kobe missed his first three shots, then found his touch and scored 55 points as the Lakers stayed close to the Pelicans.
• With ten seconds left, Kobe scored five straight points to put the Lakers ahead 101-100, then shouted at Tang Tian to get in the game.

Tang Tian hit a game-winner over Kobe in the Lakers legend’s final game, then exchanged jerseys with him as the Pelicans reached 73 wins and broke the NBA regular-season record. Before the final game against the Spurs, Tang arranged a jersey exchange with Duncan, who was secretly retiring.

• Tang beat Kobe’s defense with a buzzer-beating fadeaway, giving the Pelicans a one-point win despite Kobe scoring 60 in his final game.
• Kobe and Tang embraced, then exchanged their #24 and #31 jerseys in a moment fans celebrated as the passing of the Shooting Guard torch.
• Fans discussed Kobe’s farewell and the Pelicans’ 73rd win, which surpassed the Bulls’ record and secured League First.
• Stevens and Popovich treated the Pelicans’ final game against the Spurs as a formality, and Popovich announced that the Spurs’ starters would rest.
• Tang spoke with Duncan before the game and asked to exchange jerseys, and Duncan agreed because it was his final regular-season game.

On the final day of the regular season, the Pelicans’ reserves beat the Spurs to secure their 74th win, with Brin Forbes starring. After the game, Tang Tian exchanged jerseys with Tim Duncan and received a final head pat from him.

• Brin Forbes made five three-pointers in the first half as the Pelicans and Spurs reached halftime tied at 45.
• Tang Tian beat Ginobili in a halftime half-court three-point contest, then embraced Duncan and Parker.
• After the Spurs tightened their defense on Forbes, Bojan caught fire and the teams battled to the final seconds.
• Forbes hit his seventh three-pointer with one second left, giving the Pelicans a one-point win and their 74th victory.
• Tang Tian exchanged jerseys with Duncan, who patted his head and told him, "Now, The Future is Yours."

The 2015–2016 Regular Season ended with the Cavaliers leading the East and the Pelicans setting a new NBA record with 74 wins in the West. The first-round Playoff matchups were set, leaving the league’s top teams to prepare for the postseason.

• The Cavaliers finished first in the East at 61–21, followed by the Knicks and Raptors, while the Heat, Hawks, and Hornets tied at 47–35 and were ranked fourth through sixth by tiebreakers.
• The Eastern Conference matchups were set: Cavaliers–Nets, Knicks–Pacers, Raptors–Hornets, and Heat–Hawks.
• Tang Tian averaged 30.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 9.3 assists as the Pelicans went 74–8, while the Warriors also broke the Bulls’ wins record with a 73–9 finish.
• The Spurs finished third in the West at 63–19, ahead of the Rockets at 60–22, while the Trail Blazers, Thunder, Clippers, and Mavericks filled the remaining playoff spots.
• The Western Conference first-round matchups were set: Rockets–Trail Blazers, Spurs–Thunder, Warriors–Clippers, and Pelicans–Mavericks.

As the Pelicans faced doubts ahead of the playoffs, Tang Tian and Davis got Championship Trophy tattoos to declare their title goal. Their teammates and Stevens took the gesture as a sign of commitment, and the team entered its final preparations with greater confidence.

• O'Neal predicted that the Thunder would crush the Spurs and the Pelicans would sweep the Mavericks, while Barkley and Smith argued against both predictions.
• Fans remained uncertain about the Pelicans despite their 74-win season, and the team prepared to host the Mavericks in the first game of the playoffs.
• After seeing Ariza's tattoo, Tang Tian remembered Jason Terry's Championship Trophy tattoo and proposed that he and Davis get one too.
• Tang Tian and Davis had Championship Trophy tattoos placed on the outside of their arms.
• Their teammates reacted with excitement at practice, and Stevens understood the tattoos as a do-or-die declaration that boosted the team's confidence.

The Pelicans opened their first-round playoff series against Jimmy Butler’s Mavericks, but early nerves and missed chances let Dallas take control. At halftime, the eighth-seeded Mavericks led the Pelicans 50–42, raising hopes of a Black Eight Upset.

• Media coverage of Tang Tian and Davis’s championship trophy tattoos divided fans between supporters and critics before the playoffs began.
• Jimmy Butler expressed confidence that the Mavericks could challenge the Pelicans and said knowing Tang Tian would help him defend against him.
• Fans packed New Orleans Arena and chanted “Pelicans Championship” as both teams prepared for Game 1.
• Davis missed an early dunk, Ariza missed both free throws, and Nowitzki and Harris scored steadily for the Mavericks.
• The Mavericks led the Pelicans 50–42 at halftime, exciting fans who anticipated a Black Eight Upset.

Tang Tian and Davis led the Pelicans' second-half turnaround against the Mavericks, erasing the deficit and taking the lead. The Pelicans ended the stretch on a 10-0 run, prompting Carlisle to call timeout.

• Stevens calmed the discouraged Pelicans at halftime and gave Tang Tian a larger offensive role.
• Davis blocked Butler's shot, then secured rebounds as the Pelicans tightened their defense.
• Tang Tian scored on a three-pointer and a 2+1, helping the Pelicans cut the Mavericks' lead to two points.
• Tang Tian finished a fast break to tie the game, then blocked Deron's layup.
• Tang Tian passed to Jokic, who set up an alley-oop dunk that put the Pelicans ahead.
• Tang Tian scored all 10 points in the Pelicans' second-half run, and Carlisle called timeout.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans past the Mavericks by scoring and creating for his teammates, giving New Orleans a 106-91 win and its first Playoffs victory. Stevens recognized that the team needed to let its superstar set the tone in the Playoffs.

• Nowitzki ended the Mavericks' early second-half scoring drought, but Tang Tian answered by exploiting the matchup against him and extending the Pelicans' lead.
• When Butler and Nowitzki doubled Tang Tian, Tang Tian passed to Davis for an easy dunk, helping the Pelicans build a 14-2 run.
• Tang Tian scored 20 points and added 6 assists in the third quarter as the Pelicans outscored the Mavericks 40-19.
• Dinwiddie and Bojan opened the fourth quarter with a 13-2 surge, and the Pelicans went on to win 106-91.
• Tang Tian finished with 33 points and 12 assists, while Stevens realized that the Pelicans' Playoffs offense needed to be led by its superstar.

After the Pelicans beat the Mavericks in Game 1, Jimmy Butler warned his teammates against targeting Tang Tian, while Dirk Nowitzki urged the team to focus on winning. Tang Tian and Brad Stevens prepared for Game 2 by adjusting their tactics and emphasizing defense, and Nikola Jokic narrowly missed out on Most Improved Player as the Pelicans received another major award.

• Justin Anderson suggested that Zaza Pachulia find a way to deal with Tang Tian, and Pachulia considered taking action against him.
• Jimmy Butler threatened Anderson and Pachulia over their talk, but Nowitzki stopped Butler and urged the Mavericks to trust one another and prepare for the next game.
• Tang Tian praised the Mavericks and Jimmy Butler at his press conference, while Shaquille O'Neal celebrated that the Pelicans and Thunder had both won as he predicted.
• Brad Stevens discussed giving Tang Tian a larger ball-handling role and having Jokic lead the bench, then emphasized defensive drills to prepare for the Mavericks' offense.
• The league announced that CJ McCollum beat Jokic for Most Improved Player by five percent, while the Pelicans received another, more prestigious award.

Brad Stevens won Head Coach of the Year, and the Pelicans celebrated him before their second playoff game against the Mavericks. After Stevens compared Tang Tian to Michael Jordan in his speech, the energized Pelicans took control early and built a 15-point first-quarter lead.

• Stevens won Head Coach of the Year with 42% of the vote, ahead of Cole and Popovich.
• Tang Tian led the Pelicans in surprising Stevens with champagne, and Stevens laughed as the players celebrated him.
• Stevens accepted his award at New Orleans Arena and thanked the people who had helped the team throughout the season.
• Stevens singled out Tang Tian, saying Tang had given him the chance to coach Michael Jordan, and Tang resolved to pursue Jordan's legacy.
• The Pelicans anticipated Carlisle's offensive adjustments, and their defense disrupted the Mavericks while their offense focused on Tang Tian.
• The Pelicans led 30-15 midway through the first quarter, and the crowd chanted Stevens' name.

The Pelicans built a huge lead over the Mavericks after Nikola Jokic dominated Zaza Pachulia, who was ejected for a flagrant foul. Jimmy Butler and Dirk Nowitzki led a second-half comeback, but Tang Tian’s late scoring secured a 123–111 Pelicans win and a 2–0 series lead.

• Jokic led the Pelicans’ reserves against the Mavericks, repeatedly scoring on Pachulia as New Orleans opened a massive first-half lead.
• Pachulia attempted another ankle-breaking foul on Jokic, and the referees ejected him with a Flagrant 2 while giving Jokic a technical foul.
• Butler criticized Pachulia in the Mavericks’ locker room, and Nowitzki urged the team to pursue a fair victory.
• Butler and Nowitzki sparked a 39-point third quarter that cut the Pelicans’ lead to 14 points.
• Tang Tian scored 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Pelicans beat the Mavericks 123–111, taking a 2–0 playoff lead; Jokic earned his first playoff triple-double.

Tang Tian helped the Pelicans overwhelm the Mavericks in Game 3, leaving Dallas on the brink of elimination. As Stevens prepared for Game 4, Tang warned that the Mavericks would fight desperately to stay alive.

• Tang Tian criticized Pachulia’s foul and urged the league to punish him more severely, and the league later suspended Pachulia for five games and fined him $25,000.
• The Cavaliers and Heat won their second games, while the Spurs defeated the Thunder to tie their series 1-1.
• The Pelicans dominated the Mavericks in Game 3, winning 102-78 and taking a 3-0 series lead.
• Stevens discussed Game 4 tactics with Tang Tian, who stressed that the Mavericks would give everything to avoid elimination.