Chapter Summaries

After Dan Fagan’s death, Tang Tian returned to New Orleans and prepared to face the Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals. Lillard erupted in the first quarter, leaving Portland ahead 36-31 as fans wondered whether Tang Tian’s grief had affected his playing time.

• Players and teams mourned Fagan, and Tang Tian posted that he would help Fagan’s family; Gayle Benson called to comfort him after he returned to New Orleans.
• Before Game 1, Stevens planned to open with the 2/3 set and checked on Tang Tian, who said nothing but remained composed.
• Davis won the opening tip, and Walker tried to target Anthony with pick-and-rolls, but the Trail Blazers held their defensive assignments and Walker missed a step-back three.
• Lillard scored a stop-and-pop jumper, then hit a transition three to give Portland a 5-0 lead and made his signature wrist-pointing gesture.
• Butler scored for the Pelicans, but Lillard set up Anthony for a mid-range basket and led Portland to a 36-31 first-quarter lead after scoring 15 points and recording two assists.

Tang Tian waited for the Trail Blazers’ first-quarter surge to fade, then erupted with spectacular dunks as the Pelicans took control of the second quarter. Xiao Hua watched from New York and grew furious that the referees he had contacted could not intervene until halftime.

• Xiao Hua called Sok and told him to communicate with the referees after seeing the Pelicans struggle in the first quarter.
• Stevens checked on Tang Tian during the break, and Tang Tian said he was ready to attack later.
• Rose and Davis led the Pelicans’ reserves on a 10-2 run, but Lillard’s return helped the Trail Blazers regain the lead.
• Tang Tian entered with Butler and answered with a powerful drive and a bank-shot dunk to shift the game’s momentum.
• After Butler stole the ball from Lillard, Tang Tian completed a 720-degree dunk on the fast break.
• Xiao Hua demanded to know why the referees had not acted, and Sok said they would have to wait until halftime.

Tang Tian powered the Pelicans to a 20-point halftime lead, then answered the referees’ suspicious calls with isolations and a flagrant-foul dunk over Nurkic. The Pelicans held a substantial lead as Xiao Hua watched his influence over the game weaken.

• Tang Tian scored 25 points in the second quarter as the Pelicans outscored the Trail Blazers 40-15 and took a 71-51 halftime lead.
• The referees called off Butler’s three-pointer for a moving screen and later disallowed Tang Tian’s dunk for a screening foul, drawing loud boos.
• Lillard hit a three-plus-one to cut the deficit to 14, but Tang Tian repeatedly beat McCollum in isolation to keep the Pelicans ahead.
• Nurkic knocked Tang Tian off balance during a dunk attempt, and after replay the referees upgraded the defensive foul to a Flagrant Foul 1.
• Tang Tian made both free throws, then dunked over Nurkic and sent him beyond the baseline.

The Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers in the first two games of the Conference Semifinals despite heavily biased officiating, while Xiao Hua ordered the referees to intensify their interference. As the teams prepared for Game 3 in Portland, Lillard said he did not want referees affecting the game.

• Tang Tian posterized Nurkic, then the Pelicans pulled away to beat the Trail Blazers 116-93 in Game 1.
• Fans blamed Xiao Hua for the officiating, and polls showed more than 70 percent wanted him to step down.
• Xiao Hua told Sok to continue interfering and increase the pressure from the opening tip of Game 2.
• Despite Davis and Butler fouling out early, Tang Tian scored 43 points as the Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers 113-100.
• Before Game 3 in Portland, Lillard told reporters he did not want the referees interfering with the game.

After Lillard’s interview angered Xiao Hua, he decided the referees would no longer favor the Trail Blazers, and Tang Tian warned Davis that Game 3 would be difficult. In a packed Moda Center, Lillard opened the game with a three-pointer over Butler, giving Portland the first points of the night.

• Lillard’s remarks won him strong support from fans, while Xiao Hua angrily told Sok not to arrange favorable officiating for the Trail Blazers.
• Bojan, Walker, and Butler discussed other Playoff matchups, and Tang Tian told Davis that Lillard’s outspoken nature reflected his character.
• Tang Tian warned Davis that the game would be tough, expecting normal officiating and an especially determined Lillard.
• The Pelicans and Trail Blazers took the court before a packed, roaring Moda Center crowd, with Lillard drawing cheers like Tang Tian did in New Orleans.
• Nurkic tipped off the game, and Lillard used an Aminu screen to create space and sink a three-pointer over Butler.

The Trail Blazers and Pelicans traded baskets in an even first half, with Lillard scoring 17 points in the opening quarter and Zach Collins turning the bench matchup around with a sudden scoring burst. Collins tied the game after the Pelicans threatened to pull ahead, leaving the two teams evenly matched at halftime.

• Butler scored the Pelicans' first basket, and Lillard answered with seven straight Trail Blazers points as both teams opened with a fast-paced offensive battle.
• Lillard scored 17 points in the first quarter, and the teams entered the second quarter tied 35-35.
• Rose scored a three-pointer and a driving layup to help the Pelicans build a five-point lead during the bench minutes.
• Collins hit two consecutive three-pointers to halt the Pelicans' run and keep the Trail Blazers in the game.
• Collins drew a foul on a fast-break layup and made both free throws to tie the score.

The Pelicans and Trail Blazers traded baskets in a high-scoring first half, then Tang Tian helped New Orleans take a five-point lead early in the third quarter. Lillard answered with key three-pointers and the Trail Blazers rallied to within one, putting the Pelicans’ unbeaten playoff run in danger.

• Lillard scored 30 first-half points as the Trail Blazers went into halftime tied 65-65 with the Pelicans.
• O'Neal and Smith predicted the Pelicans would pull away by the end of the third quarter.
• Tang Tian opened the second half with a dunk, then scored and assisted as the Pelicans built a five-point lead.
• Lillard hit two third-quarter three-pointers, including one after escaping a trap with help from Nurkic and Aminu.
• McCollum finished a fast break with a reverse layup, cutting the Trail Blazers’ deficit to one.

The Trail Blazers built a late lead over the Pelicans, but Tang Tian led a furious comeback in the fourth quarter. With 35 seconds left, Davis tied the game at 115-115.

• Lillard finished the third quarter with 41 points as the Pelicans held a 92-90 lead, and O'Neal and Barkley praised the Trail Blazers' fight.
• Anthony scored eight straight points to help the Trail Blazers take a 104-94 lead, prompting Stevens to call a timeout.
• Tang Tian and the Pelicans' defense fueled a 10-0 run that tied the game at 110 with two minutes left.
• Lillard hit a layup to put the Trail Blazers ahead, but Tang Tian answered with a three-pointer to give the Pelicans a 113-112 lead.
• Lillard made a deep three-pointer to put the Trail Blazers ahead 115-113, and Davis tied the game at 115 with 35 seconds remaining.

Lillard’s deep three put the Trail Blazers ahead late, but Tang Tian tied the game with a three and then blocked Lillard’s potential game-winner. Tang Tian launched a deep three from the backcourt before the buzzer, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Lillard hit a deep three-pointer to give the Trail Blazers a 118-115 lead with 18 seconds remaining.
• Stevens drew up a two-point play, and Walker passed to Tang Tian for a three-pointer that tied the game at 118-118.
• Lillard brought the ball upcourt and prepared to take the final shot as time ran down.
• Tang Tian lunged at Lillard, anticipated his early three-point attempt, and grabbed the ball for a block.
• Tang Tian landed and hurled a deep three-pointer from the backcourt before the buzzer sounded.

The Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers 130-120 in overtime after Tang Tian led a decisive 7-0 run, taking a 3-0 series lead. Lillard scored a franchise-record 51 playoff points, and he rejected the suggestion that the referees should have helped the Trail Blazers win.

• Tang Tian’s buzzer-beating three-pointer missed, sending the Pelicans and Trail Blazers into overtime.
• Walker and Butler scored after the Pelicans trapped Tang Tian, giving the Pelicans a 5-0 lead in overtime.
• Tang Tian dunked over McCollum to extend the Pelicans’ run to 7-0, and the Trail Blazers struggled to respond.
• The Pelicans beat the Trail Blazers 130-120, with Tang Tian scoring 55 points and Lillard scoring 51.
• Xiao Hua fumed at the referees after the game, while Lillard praised their officiating and said the Trail Blazers did not need favorable calls.
• Tang Tian praised the Trail Blazers at the press conference, recognizing their performance in defeat.

The Pelicans swept the Trail Blazers and became the first team to reach the conference finals, while the Mavericks and Warriors set up a decisive Game 7. Tang Tian watched the matchup with the Pelicans and hoped the Warriors would win, giving his team another chance to face and study them.

• The Pelicans shut down Lillard and McCollum in Game 4, beating the Trail Blazers 100-73 and sweeping the series.
• The Mavericks took a 3-2 lead over the Warriors, while the Nets tied their series with the Cavaliers at 2-2.
• Aaron Mintz revealed that Paul George had played through a shoulder injury, prompting fans to question the timing of the announcement.
• Thompson scored 40 points with nine three-pointers to help the Warriors beat the Mavericks and force Game 7.
• Stevens gathered the Pelicans to watch the deciding game, and Tang Tian told Walker he wanted the Warriors to win so the Pelicans could achieve Triple Success against them.

The Warriors overcame the Mavericks in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference Finals, setting up another series against the undefeated Pelicans. At the postgame press conference, Green claimed the Warriors would win the series, and a FOX reporter publicly called out his failed predictions from the previous two years.

• Embiid helped the Mavericks build a 15-point halftime lead, but Curry’s scoring run brought the Warriors back into contention.
• A controversial foul call helped the Warriors seize momentum, but Holiday’s late three-pointer tied the game at 103.
• Curry and Durant led a decisive 10-2 run as the Warriors defeated the Mavericks 113-105 and reached their fourth straight Western Conference Finals.
• Green told reporters the Warriors wanted to win the series against the Pelicans, and a FOX reporter reminded him that he had made similar claims before and failed.
• Cole moved on to the next question as Green flushed with embarrassment, while the press and fans continued discussing the exchange.

The Pelicans prepared to face the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals as Draymond Green’s boasts drew increasing attention. Tang Tian answered Green by predicting a sweep, leaving the rivalry poised for the opening game.

• The Cavaliers lost Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Bucks, despite James recording another 30-point triple-double.
• Green told reporters the Warriors would win their opening game against the Pelicans, further fueling media coverage of his comments.
• Tang Tian explained to his teammates that Green was building his reputation, but said a sweep would turn Green’s boasts into a joke.
• Tang Tian made a four gesture and said “Four. Four. Four” when a reporter asked about Green’s prediction, signaling that he expected the Pelicans to sweep the Warriors.

The Pelicans overwhelmed the Warriors with sharp offense and suffocating defense, racing to a 39-19 lead in the first quarter. The Warriors ended the quarter struggling to explain how much stronger the Pelicans looked than the teams they had faced earlier in the playoffs.

• Tang Tian opened the game by beating Thompson and passing to Butler for a layup.
• The Pelicans stopped the Warriors' first possession, then Tang Tian posterized Curry on a fast break.
• Davis forced Curry's reverse layup to miss, and Tang Tian set up Walker for an open three-pointer.
• The Pelicans built a 30-14 lead by the end of the first quarter and finished it ahead 39-19.
• Stevens praised the Pelicans' performance while Durant, Curry, and Green looked up at the score from the bench.

The Pelicans overwhelmed the Warriors 126-99 in the first game of the Western Conference Finals, with Tang Tian and Butler helping maintain a crushing lead. After the loss, Tang Tian’s “four.four.four” taunt enraged Durant, while tension within the Warriors grew.

• Stevens kept Tang Tian and Butler on the court against the Warriors’ rotations, and the Pelicans extended their lead to 26 points by halftime.
• The Pelicans dominated the second half as the Warriors lost every quarter and Green and Durant argued over defensive communication.
• The Pelicans defeated the Warriors 126-99, with six players scoring in double digits compared with three for Golden State.
• Fans debated the result online and learned that Tang Tian had told the media “four.four.four” before the game.
• Durant smashed his phone in the locker room after hearing about Tang Tian’s taunt, then left without explaining his anger to Curry.
• Green muttered about Durant taking out his anger after the loss, and Curry left the locker room worried about the team’s strained atmosphere and the upcoming series.

Tang Tian led the Pelicans to a second blowout win over the Warriors, giving them a 2-0 series lead. Before Game 3 in Oakland, Steve Kerr urged Draymond Green and Kevin Durant to set aside their tensions, then hinted that the Warriors needed to use physical contact to fight back.

• Tang Tian scored over 40 points and recorded a triple-double as the Pelicans beat the Warriors 122-99 and took a 2-0 series lead.
• Xiao Hua despaired as the Warriors struggled and the Cavaliers fell behind the Bucks 1-2 after losing in double overtime.
• Steve Kerr kept Draymond Green and Kevin Durant behind after practice and scolded them for their tensions and the Warriors' predicament.
• Kevin Durant left after Steve Kerr told him he needed to perform, and Draymond Green said Durant was not a Warrior.
• Steve Kerr told Draymond Green the Warriors were weaker than the Pelicans but that basketball was a contact sport, and Green understood his hint.

The Pelicans took control of Game 3 against the Warriors, and Tang Tian dominated on both ends as they built a large lead. After poster-dunking Green again, Tang Tian injured his right eye, leaving his condition uncertain.

• Xiao Hua appeared in Oracle Arena as the Warriors hosted the Pelicans in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals.
• The Pelicans scored on three straight possessions, and Walker made both free throws to give them a 6-2 lead.
• The Pelicans ended the first quarter ahead 33-22 after Stevens countered Cole’s attempt to attack Walker with Iguodala.
• Tang Tian led the Pelicans’ reserves to a 6-0 run at the start of the second quarter, extending the lead to 17 and forcing Cole to call a timeout.
• Tang Tian drove past Livingston and dunked over Green, but something struck his right eye as he rose, prompting Stevens to call a timeout for the team doctor.

Green struck Tang Tian in the eye during a play, forcing him to leave the court while the Warriors cut into the Pelicans' lead. Walker ended the Pelicans' scoring drought and answered Durant's basket, leaving the game in a tense struggle as Tang Tian's return remained uncertain.

• During a timeout, the replay showed Green's swinging arm had hit Tang Tian in the eye, and the team doctor escorted Tang Tian to the locker room.
• Stevens protested, but the referees could not call a foul after the play; in a VIP suite, Xiao Hua smiled as the Warriors' chances improved.
• Thompson confronted Green during the Warriors' huddle, and Cole and Iguodala stopped the argument before Cole urged the team to use Tang Tian's absence to close the gap.
• After the restart, Curry and Durant led a 5-0 Warriors run, cutting the Pelicans' lead to 12; Durant later made two free throws to reduce it to 10.
• Walker ended the Pelicans' scoring drought with a jumper, then answered Durant's fadeaway with another basket to score four straight points.

After Tang Tian returned from emergency treatment, the Pelicans regained their resolve and he blocked Green hard, sending him to the floor. Green was helped off the court after the impact, and Thompson remarked that basketball was a contact sport.

• Walker and Davis kept the Pelicans ahead with their pick-and-roll play while Tang Tian sat out.
• Green fouled Walker, and Butler struck Green before the referees separated them and ejected Butler for a Flagrant 2 Foul.
• As the Pelicans struggled to rally, Tang Tian returned to the arena and told his teammates they would win.
• Walker and Curry made their free throws, and the Pelicans stopped the Warriors on consecutive possessions.
• Tang Tian blocked Green's attempted dunk, and the ball hit Green in the face as he fell hard to the floor.
• The team doctor helped Green off the court, and Thompson said, "Basketball is a contact sport."

After returning from Green’s eye poke, Tang Tian closed his left eye and took over the game, scoring repeatedly while defending Durant and Curry. The Pelicans stretched their lead to 18 points as the stunned Warriors watched Tang Tian dominate both ends.

• The referees reviewed Tang Tian’s block on Green and ruled that no foul had occurred, then awarded possession to the Pelicans.
• Tang Tian returned to the game and hit a three-pointer over Thompson, restoring the Pelicans’ 12-point lead.
• Tang Tian made another three-pointer off Walker’s pass, and a replay showed that he was shooting with his right eye closed.
• Tang Tian rotated from guarding Durant to contest Curry’s three-point attempt, then hit a third consecutive three-pointer to push the lead to 16 points.
• Tang Tian shut down Durant and drove past Curry for a dunk, extending the Pelicans’ lead to 18 points.