The game had only just begun, yet Link and Antetokounmpo had already pushed tonight's battle into a white-hot stage.
Link and the Greek Freak refused to give an inch, greeting each other with two beautiful offensive plays in succession.
It was clear that Link was not at a disadvantage in his matchup with Antetokounmpo. Though he was a full size smaller than Antetokounmpo, Link's dominance had not diminished in the slightest.
Link's response halted the Bucks' momentum. But it also meant that a tense tug-of-war was inevitable.
Sure enough, on the Bucks' next possession, Antetokounmpo had the ball again.
All four of the Bucks' possessions so far tonight had been initiated by Antetokounmpo with the ball in his hands.
Antetokounmpo's drives were still simple and brutal, even more direct than James had been in his prime.
Link was driven backward step by step by that overwhelming force, and Jokic came over to help.
But the moment Jokic approached, Antetokounmpo flicked his long arm and sent the basketball to Brook Lopez, who was set up beyond the three-point line.
Lopez and Gasol Jr. could be called the two traditional centers who had adapted most successfully to the league's transformation.
Eight or nine years ago, it would have been hard to imagine that these two traditional beasts, who loved battling in the paint, would now make the three-point line their domain.
Last season, Lopez attempted 6.3 three-pointers per game and still shot 36.5 percent from beyond the arc, making him a highly efficient long-range weapon.
His presence also greatly increased Antetokounmpo's threat level.
As long as Lopez could pull the opposing center away from the basket, Antetokounmpo could attack the rim however he pleased.
And once the opposing center chose to double-team, Lopez's three-pointer would punish them.
That was exactly what happened