4:30 a.m., Indianapolis, Indiana.

Oklahoma City Thunder players arrived in Indianapolis. As soon as they got off the plane, they saw a promotional advertisement placed by the Pacers in the airport, and the billboard was full of Pacers. Joe sat in the middle, as always.

And at the bottom of the billboard, there is a short but clear line of kids.

“Where 72 happens。”

72 wins, among the many incredible records in the NBA, the Bulls' record of 72 wins, has always been considered the least likely to be broken.

Come to think of it, with only 10 losses in a season, it might really be just Michael. A player like Jordan can do it. But no one expected that now, 18 years later, another Eastern team is starting to get closer to this record.

What Westbrook didn't expect was that he and his team, under the publicity and hype of the outside world, instantly became the so-called "the only hope of the whole league".

"Damn back-to-back, I hate back-to-back!" While Westbrook was staring at the Pacers poster in a daze, his good brother Kevin . Durant yawned and walked up from behind him.

"I hate it too, and it's back-to-back games across the East and West!" Westbrook shook his head in agreement and followed the group towards the airport exit.

It's 4:30 a.m., the Thunder players have just arrived, and the skies over Indianapolis are still dark. And just six and a half hours ago, the Oklahoma City Thunder had just finished their game at home against the San Antonio Spurs.

Spurs VS Thunder, as a direct dialogue between the top two in the West, the Thunder, who are eager to rush to the first place in the West, are naturally not to be outdone. Plus Scott. Brooks, the main madman, the Thunder players will naturally not be too easy.

Especially Durant, in the game against the Spurs, Durant played a full 45 minutes, and his physical strength was almost exhausted. However, he didn't have time to rest at all, so he boarded the plane with the team, and after a long flight of more than four hours, he landed there at 4:30 a.m.

That's why now, Durant yawns. Counting last night's game, he hasn't had a good rest. And in a few hours, he'll have to be back on the training ground to prepare for today's game against the Pacers

The Indiana Pacers, for Durant and Westbrook, are a bitter opponent. Last summer, when they were so close to the championship, they haven't forgotten who thwarted their dreams and their dreams. And now, the game between the Pacers and the Thunder has been given a new meaning.

The only hope for the whole Union!

If there's one two teams in the league right now that don't want to see the Pacers reach 72 wins, it's the Thunder and the Heat!

The Miami Heat have been quite legendary this season, and since the Pacers' 25-game winning streak, the Heat have immediately returned with a 27-game winning streak! The Pacers' league-second longest winning streak lasted only a month before it was ruthlessly broken by the Heat. If the Pacers can't claim 72 wins, there's no doubt that the biggest winner of the regular season this season will be the Heat themselves. But if the Heat claim 72 wins, the Miamins' 27-game winning streak will be eclipsed.

And the Oklahoma City Thunder, that's better understood. Since last season's Finals, the Thunder have been eager to regain a chance to compete for a championship. Although the outcome of today's game will not play any decisive role in the final ownership of the championship. But there's no doubt that the Thunder must be very keen to prevent their old rival from achieving great things. As long as they can stop the Pacers today, they will lose nine games in early April. Then the probability of them winning 72 will be greatly reduced! Plus, they'll be able to prove themselves again and avoid the tragedy of being beaten by the Pacers this season.

It's a pity that the Miami Heat will not meet the Pacers again in the regular season this season, and they have no chance to stop the Pacers themselves. But the Thunder are different, although they are very tired, even though they are still hanging out on the streets at 4:30 a.m., even though they only played a tough game against the Spurs yesterday.

But none of this will be an obstacle for them. If they can use their power to sabotage the Pacers' ability to create greatness, then there is no doubt that they will be more than happy!

It's like last season, the Pacers also took it personally, preventing them from achieving greatness!

"It's getting bright." Sitting on the team bus, Durant tilted his head to look out the window. Below the horizon, the sun is slowly rising.

"yes, it's almost dawn. When the sun sets again, that's when we go to the Pacers to settle scores. Westbrook closed his eyes, he needed some rest.

"Come on, man."

"Come on."

The fists of the Thunder Twins collided lightly.

※※※

"72 wins! Audience friends, this incredible miracle has reached the most critical turning point! ”

7:30 p.m., Indianapolis, Bankers Life Arena. It's been just 15 hours since the Oklahoma City Thunder landed in the city. At this time, the famous sideline reporter "Man in Colorful Clothes" Sag was wearing an orange suit standing in front of the camera, and he was holding a copy of the 1995 issue of "Sports Illustrated" magazine, the cover of this issue of the magazine was the Chicago Bulls, who had just achieved a record of 72 wins!

"From 1995 to 2013, we have experienced the comings and goings of countless players and witnessed the birth of more than a dozen championships. But no team has ever broken or tied the Bulls' record of 72 wins in a single season. But today, as I said, this incredible miracle has reached the most critical turning point. If the Oklahoma City Thunder can't beat the defending champion Pacers on the road, there will be no one who can stand up and stop the Pacers for the rest of the game! ”

Before the game even started and the players had just warmed up, Sag was already in the mood for the game.

That's right, Sag used the word "block". After all, the vast majority of fans in the league, with the exception of local Indianapolis fans, don't want to see their enemies achieve greatness. This was true even for the Chicago Bulls back then.

At this moment, there was a commotion in the stands. You don't have to look to know that it must be the away team's players entering.

"The Oklahoma City Thunder came out to warm up early, and they were still fighting at the Chesapeake Energy Arena 24 hours ago." On the commentary stage, I saw the Thunder playing early. Smith couldn't help but be taken aback.

"Even though the game against the Spurs was just over 24 hours ago, the Thunder lads are certainly still excited. First of all, if they win this game, the Thunder will overtake the Spurs and become the rightful number one in the West. Secondly, if the Thunder can win this game, the chances of the Pacers winning 72 will be much smaller. So, no matter how tired they are, Kenny, the Thunder will definitely give it their all today. "Charles. Barkley licked his lips and smiled wickedly. He couldn't wait to see the battle begin sooner.

"Sometimes, excitement doesn't make up for the physical exhaustion. The Thunder had just flown from the West Coast to the East Coast, and the Pacers had four days off after the win over the Clippers! And, if Coach Henson hadn't continued to fool people, the Pacers would have played with a neat lineup today! If you want me to say, the Thunder don't have an advantage at all. "Kenny. Smith spread his hands, and this game was just too difficult for the Thunder.

"That's right, the Thunder were almost cornered. But it is precisely in this way that they will fight more bloodthirsty and more furious! The length of the break can really make a difference between victory and defeat, but it can't be decisive. Even Coach Henson once said, "If rest could make the difference between victory and defeat, I would have taken Larry Larry. Bird, please come back to play. Because, he has been resting for decades. ”

Barkley was right, it was precisely because the Thunder were cornered that they could burst out with more power. And this is what Henson is worried about. So today, he didn't tell his players that "those guys are too tired". Telling the players about this doesn't do anything, it just makes them look down.

In his pre-match interview with Sager, Henson was also unusual. He highly praised the Thunder, believing that they are a well-deserved Western powerhouse with superior strength and amazing will, and paid tribute to them.

His words undoubtedly surprised Sager, who was accustomed to hearing Henson running with his mouth full of trains.

Henson. Was Joe kidnapped by aliens last night? Why did you suddenly change sex?

Henson, of course, wasn't kidnapped by aliens, and in fact he could have uttered a few hilarious humorous answers right away if he wanted to. But Henson doesn't want his players to feel like he's relaxed, and in today's game, with such a big advantage, what he needs to do is make his players nervous and take advantage of it, rather than let their guard down.

Killed by the Thunder in back-to-back games across East and West, Henson can't afford to lose this man!

"Don't let your guard down, and don't listen to the nonsense of the media! If the Oklahoma City Thunder are knocked out by a mere back-to-back schedule, they won't be second in the West! Give me all the best to play this game as if it were the grand final! ”

Before the start of the game, Henson also made a short speech in front of the players. As the referee urged, the frowning players of both sides stepped onto the pitch. Although the game has not officially started, the eyes of both sides seem to have sparked!

The atmosphere was lifted by the fans, and all the Pacers fans cheered loudly. Before the game even started, they had already given the Thunder players a full sense of what it means to be "away".

Henson stood on the sidelines with his hands on his chest from the start of the game and was happy with the home atmosphere. He was grateful that God had given him such a loyal group of fans, and these cheers were like a pair of powerful hands that supported his back and allowed him to stand straight in front of all his opponents.

Here, the key battle related to the 72-win legend, the most important game in Henson's plan, is finally here!

With that final step in the plan, he won't allow the Oklahoma City Thunder to be a stumbling block to the Pacers' greatness.

If it's a stumbling block, kick it away!

"Toot toot!" The referee blew the whistle and threw the basketball into the air.

The Great War has begun.