Chapter Summaries

Tang Tian exploited the Rockets’ defensive matchups to lead the Pelicans back from an early deficit and put them ahead. He continued scoring against Cousins as the Rockets struggled to contain him.

• Harden passed to Gordon for a three-pointer, giving the Rockets an 8-2 lead.
• Tang Tian attacked Gordon twice with pull-up jumpers, cutting the Pelicans’ deficit to 8-6.
• Paul scored over Jokic, but Holiday answered with an open three that brought the Pelicans within one and prompted the Rockets to replace Gordon with Morris.
• Tang Tian used a high-post pick and roll to get past Cousins and score, putting the Pelicans ahead 11-10.
• Paul made two free throws, then Tang Tian hit another mid-range pull-up over Cousins.

Tang Tian repeatedly attacked DeMarcus Cousins as the Pelicans built a commanding lead over the Rockets, until Cousins injured his ankle while trying to defend him. The Rockets lost 91-106 and fell behind 0-3, and an MRI revealed that Cousins had torn his Achilles tendon, devastating Houston’s Big Three.

• Tang Tian scored 14 points against Cousins in the first quarter as the Pelicans took a 32-22 lead over the Rockets.
• Tang Tian continued to beat Cousins off the dribble in the second quarter, while Paul missed shots against Jokic and Cousins dunked after receiving Paul's pass.
• Cousins injured himself while lunging to defend Tang Tian and was taken to the locker room in a wheelchair.
• The Pelicans beat the Rockets 106-91, putting Houston down 0-3 in the series.
• An MRI the next day showed that Cousins had suffered an Achilles tear.

After Cousins tore his Achilles, the Rockets rallied to beat the Pelicans in Game 4 but could not sustain their surge and were eliminated in Game 5. The chapter ended with fans arguing over whether the Pelicans’ series victory was unfair because Cousins had been injured.

• Fans and NBA players offered Cousins support after his Achilles tear, and he underwent successful surgery.
• Tang Tian wished Cousins a speedy recovery before Game 4, which the Rockets won 110-101 behind Paul and Harden.
• Cousins attended Game 5 in a wheelchair, inspiring the Rockets to a strong start before the Pelicans pulled ahead.
• The Pelicans defeated the Rockets 111-88 and won the series 4-1.
• Fans debated whether Cousins’ injury made the Pelicans’ victory unjust, while others pointed to the Rockets’ earlier struggles and Leonard’s injury.

The Warriors won General Manager of the Year as the Pelicans and Warriors prepared for their Conference Finals showdown. After Michael Jordan publicly backed Tang Tian and the Pelicans on TNT, Tang Tian was surprised to learn that Jordan had supported him.

• The Cavaliers swept the Hawks, the Knicks beat the Raptors, and the Warriors swept the Spurs, setting the Conference Finals matchups.
• Bob Miles won General Manager of the Year after the Warriors strengthened their roster by signing Durant.
• Magic Johnson and Kenny Smith backed the Warriors against the Pelicans, while Charles Barkley and Shaq supported the Pelicans on TNT.
• Michael Jordan chose the Pelicans, saying Tang Tian could overcome a seemingly overwhelming opponent.
• Diop told Tang Tian about the show, and Tang Tian grew uneasy when he learned Jordan had supported him.

The Warriors arrived in New Orleans confident, and Cole and Green made bold statements ahead of the Western Conference Finals. In Game 1 of the third Pelicans-Warriors showdown, both teams opened with small-ball lineups and traded hard-fought baskets, with Davis and Curry finding their rhythm first.

• Cole said the Warriors were in good form and defended Durant's performances against Tang Tian.
• Green declared that the Warriors' only goal was winning the championship, while Durant agreed.
• The Warriors started Iguodala in place of Pachulia, and the Pelicans started Brogdon in place of Jokic.
• Davis won the opening tip, and the Pelicans targeted Curry, but the Warriors' early double-teams disrupted their first play.
• Davis scored over Green, Curry answered with free throws, and Tang Tian assisted Davis on a pick-and-roll finish.
• Curry used Green's pass to spin past Holiday and score a reverse layup as both teams continued scoring through intense defense.

Davis and Curry led a close game while Tang Tian and Durant held back, but Durant erupted in the fourth quarter and cut the Pelicans’ lead to five. As Durant prepared to shoot his extra free throw, Tang Tian entered the game to replace Bojan Bogdanovic.

• Davis scored 16 points and Curry scored 15 in the first quarter as the Pelicans led 30-28.
• Thompson and Jokic traded baskets in the second quarter, and the teams went into halftime tied at 58.
• Curry and Davis continued scoring in the third quarter, leaving the game tied at 80.
• Louis Williams scored repeatedly during the fourth-quarter bench stretch, and the Pelicans built a 10-point lead.
• Durant scored seven straight points, including a three-pointer that drew a foul, cutting the deficit to five.
• Tang Tian walked onto the court to replace Bojan Bogdanovic as Durant prepared to take his extra free throw.

Tang Tian sparked the Pelicans with a series of plays against the Warriors, but Durant answered with a run of difficult shots over him. The chapter left Durant energized after scoring seven straight points against Tang Tian, while the Pelicans still led 99-92 with seven minutes remaining.

• Tang Tian drove past Thompson and assisted Diop at the rim, then hit a three-pointer off Diop's pass to help the Pelicans build a ten-point lead.
• Tang Tian blocked Pachulia's shot, but Durant later made a jumper over Tang Tian to cut into the Pelicans' lead.
• Tang Tian answered Durant with a fadeaway over a double-team, and both teams brought their starters back with the Pelicans ahead 99-89.
• Durant scored twice over Tang Tian, then made another contested three-pointer to cut the lead to seven and celebrate breaking through his fear of Tang Tian.

Tang Tian shut down Durant with denial defense, steals, and a difficult fadeaway as the Warriors struggled to close the gap. Durant’s old psychological distress returned, and the chapter ended with him vomiting again.

• Tang Tian denied Durant the ball, then drew a shooting foul and made both free throws to restore the Pelicans’ nine-point lead.
• Curry scored a floater, but Tang Tian later stole Durant’s shot and dunked to push the lead back to nine.
• Durant failed to shake Tang Tian, airballed a heavily contested shot, and asked Iguodala to switch defensive assignments with him.
• Tang Tian isolated against Durant and made a high-difficulty Continuous Fadeaway Jumper over his contest.
• Durant lost control and vomited again.

Tang Tian and the Pelicans split two close games with the Warriors after Curry’s buzzer-beater tied the series, while injuries and a Knicks win shook up the Eastern Conference Finals. Tang’s apparent Game 3 winner bounced back out, leaving the Pelicans trailing 1-2.

• Tang Tian scored 30 points as the Pelicans defeated the Warriors 108-99 in the Western Conference Finals opener, while Durant vomited during the game.
• Howard fractured his collarbone after getting tangled with Whiteside, and the Knicks lost Game 2 to fall behind 0-2 before Howard was ruled out for the season.
• Curry hit an ultra-deep buzzer-beater to give the Warriors a 121-118 win in Game 2 and tie the series.
• Anthony scored more than 40 points as the Knicks beat the Cavaliers at home to win a game in the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Tang Tian shook Durant and hit what appeared to be a Game 3 winner, but the ball bounced back out, and the Pelicans fell behind 1-2.

Howard returned from a broken collarbone to help the Knicks tie the Eastern Conference Finals at 2-2, while Tang Tian was unanimously elected the 2016-2017 Regular Season MVP. The Pelicans faced mounting pressure before their next game against the Warriors, but Tang Tian’s historic award dominated attention.

• Howard wore a shoulder pad and played in Game 4, helping the Knicks narrowly defeat the Cavaliers and tie the series at 2-2.
• The league announced Tang Tian as the Regular Season MVP after he received all 113 first-place votes, making him the first unanimous MVP in NBA history.
• O'Neal explained that Tang Tian’s statistics, team success, performances in nationally televised games, and good media relations had helped him earn every vote.
• Barkley and Kenny Smith praised Tang Tian, while fans celebrated his unanimous MVP and debated his achievements on social media.

Durant’s anonymous online attacks strained his relationship with Green as the Warriors and Pelicans prepared for a pivotal Game 4. Tang Tian received the unanimous MVP award at Oracle Arena, thanked the league and his supporters, and left the story with the game still to come.

• Green confronted Durant for posting from alternate accounts, but Durant ignored him and continued posting.
• Green reminded Durant that the Warriors had won a championship before he joined, and Durant left the locker room after their tense exchange.
• The Pelicans and Warriors began Game 4 at Oracle Arena, with both teams facing a crucial game in the series.
• Tang Tian greeted Ajani Ranadive in the front row before turning his attention to the game.
• Tatum presented Tang Tian with the unanimous MVP trophy, and Tang Tian thanked his supporters, rivals, and wife Elizabeth Olsen in his acceptance speech.

The Pelicans struggled with an uncanny run of missed shots while the Warriors built a commanding lead in Game 4. Tang Tian and Stevens shifted the second-half plan toward defense and attacks at the rim, but the Warriors extended their advantage and the Pelicans remained in trouble.

• Tang Tian thanked his wife at the award ceremony before the Pelicans and Warriors began Game 4 with their familiar Small-ball lineups.
• The Pelicans missed repeatedly while the Warriors’ awkward shots went in, giving Golden State a 50-35 halftime lead.
• Stephenson cursed Michael in the locker room, and Tang Tian went to Stevens to propose forcing turnovers and attacking the basket.
• Stevens adopted Tang Tian’s approach and returned to the locker room to explain the second-half strategy.
• Curry hit a three over Holiday, then Holiday and Davis missed near the rim as Green secured the rebound, leaving the Pelicans further behind.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans’ second-half comeback against the Warriors, scoring all 12 of his team’s points as their deficit shrank from 19 to 10. Cole called a timeout with the Warriors’ lead suddenly in danger.

• Thompson missed his second free throw, and Davis grabbed the rebound before launching a long pass to Tang Tian for a fast-break dunk.
• Davis and Holiday started another counterattack, and Tang Tian finished Holiday’s high lob with an alley-oop dunk to cut the deficit to 15 points.
• Tang Tian drew a foul and made both free throws, then stole Green’s pass to Durant and dunked after Green retreated from him.
• Thompson scored for the Warriors, but Tang Tian drew another foul and made both free throws to keep the gap at 12 points.
• Green and Thompson passed the inbound ball directly to Holiday, who fed Tang Tian for a layup that cut the deficit to 10 points and forced Cole to call a timeout.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans back from a 19-point deficit by scoring 46 points and helping them defeat the Warriors 90–80, tying the series at 2–2. The Warriors’ offense faltered as Green and Durant clashed, and the teams headed toward their next game at Mount Tenryu.

• After the timeout, Tang Tian scored against the Warriors’ adjusted defense, while Green and Durant argued over a defensive mistake.
• Green’s three-point airball and a turnover on a pass to Durant let the Pelicans cut the lead, and Tang Tian scored an and-one through Green.
• Tang Tian scored 26 points in the third quarter as the Pelicans erased the Warriors’ lead and tied the game.
• The Pelicans outscored the Warriors 55–30 in the second half and won 90–80, with Tang Tian finishing with 46 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.
• Fans argued online about Tang Tian’s performance and looked ahead to the next game, with Jokic Fan predicting a Warriors win.

Tang Tian returned to New Orleans to rest with his family before the Pelicans’ Western Conference Finals showdown with the Warriors, while Olson warned him to watch out for Pachulia. Elsewhere, the Cavaliers beat the Knicks in their showdown, and Malcolm Brogdon won Rookie of the Month despite averaging fewer than 10 points per game.

• Tang Tian reunited with Yong Qi and Towns at home, then enjoyed a quiet afternoon with Olson, who cautioned him about Pachulia.
• James scored 18 points and dished out five assists in the first quarter, led the Cavaliers to a 114–94 win over the Knicks, and gave Cleveland a 3–2 series lead.
• The league announced the Rookie of the Month results, with Brogdon beating Hield and Saric despite averaging 9.6 points per game.
• Fans debated Brogdon’s award on social media, praising his steady play while others argued that Hield or another rookie deserved it.

Tang Tian backed Brogdon’s Rookie of the Month selection before the Pelicans faced the Warriors in a crucial game. After a tense first quarter, Brogdon and Jokic sparked the Pelicans’ bench with a block, fast break, and scoring combination.

• Tang Tian defended Brogdon’s Rookie of the Month honor in an interview and called him the best rookie.
• Green urged Durant to put their conflict aside, and Durant agreed before the Warriors-Pelicans game.
• Brogdon accepted the Rookie of the Month trophy and praised the Pelicans, Tang Tian, and the team’s fans in his speech.
• Tang Tian and the Pelicans started strongly, while Green and Durant connected for a dunk; the first quarter ended tied at 30.
• Jokic blocked Livingston’s layup, grabbed the rebound, and sent a long pass ahead for Brogdon’s fast-break layup.
• Jokic collected another rebound, then finished Brogdon’s precise pass with a banked hook shot to cap their combination.

Pachulia stepped on Jokic’s foot during a defensive play, injuring him and provoking anger from the Pelicans as the Warriors took possession. The Pelicans led 60-50 at halftime, and Tang Tian told Stevens he was ready to play the entire second half.

• Jokic and Brogdon led an 8-0 run, prompting Cole to call a timeout and bring Durant into the game.
• Pachulia asked Cole to keep him on the court, and Cole trusted him instead of making a small-ball substitution.
• Jokic stepped on Pachulia’s foot while attacking the basket, fell with an injured ankle, and was helped to the locker room.
• The referees ruled that Pachulia had committed no foul, and Tang Tian played aggressively as the Pelicans finished the half ahead 60-50.
• Tang Tian told Stevens he was ready to play the entire second half.

Tang Tian stayed on the court during the bench rotations and repeatedly targeted Pachulia, scoring over him and blocking his dunk. He provoked Pachulia into anger while the Pelicans maintained their lead, leaving Pachulia intent on making Tang Tian pay.

• Tang Tian remained on the court for the Bench Connection Segment, where Pachulia finally shared the floor with him.
• Tang Tian provoked Pachulia with insults about Georgia, then crossed him and dunked over him.
• Tang Tian beat Pachulia again, knocked him off balance, and dunked as the arena laughed.
• Pachulia dunked after Thompson's pass, but Tang Tian blocked him against the backboard.
• Tang Tian scored through the Warriors' double-team and continued taunting Pachulia, who resolved to retaliate.

Tang Tian confronted Pachulia during a fast break and used his landing to crush Pachulia’s toe, then pretended his own ankle was hurt. After Pachulia was ejected, Tang Tian returned to the court and made his technical free throws, leaving Cole unaware of what had really happened.

• Cole prepared to replace Pachulia with Green, but Thompson and Livingston missed their shots before a dead ball could occur.
• McCaw’s long pass was stolen by Tang Tian, who drove toward the basket as Pachulia moved to contest him.
• Tang Tian shifted his landing and stomped on Pachulia’s toes, then fell and clutched his ankle while Pachulia screamed in pain.
• The Warriors took Pachulia off the court in a wheelchair, Tang Tian left with Davis and Holiday, and the referees assessed Pachulia a Flagrant 2 and ejected him.
• Tang Tian stopped in the tunnel, tested his ankle, and walked back to the court as the crowd cheered.
• Tang Tian made both technical free throws and reassured Stevens and the team doctor that he was fine, though his injury had been an act.

Tang Tian returned from his injury scare to lead the Pelicans to a 116-100 win over the Warriors and a 3-2 series lead. The league suspended Pachulia for 20 games and introduced a dangerous-closeout rule, while Pachulia learned that his fractured toe and suspension had likely ended his NBA career.

• After the team doctor confirmed Tang Tian was fine, he led the Pelicans to a 116-100 victory over the Warriors, putting them ahead 3-2 in the series.
• Olson worriedly welcomed Tang Tian home, and he reassured her before carrying her inside.
• Tatum convened an emergency meeting, where team representatives agreed that Pachulia's foul on Tang Tian had been malicious.
• The league upheld Pachulia's Flagrant 2, suspended him for 20 games, fined him $35,000, and announced a new dangerous-closeout rule.
• Pachulia learned at the hospital that Tang Tian's stomp had caused a comminuted fracture of his big toe.
• After Green visited and warned him not to check the news, Pachulia saw his suspension and realized his career was likely over.