The first round of the 17-18 playoffs between the Rockets and the Timberwolves, the first game was held at the Toyota Center, and the home team led 54-47 at halftime.

Although the three-point hand was not smooth, they had the advantage of the score, and the atmosphere in the Rockets' locker room at halftime was optimistic, as if the victory of G1 was already in hand.

Yu Xiaochun, who was sitting next to Yang Yiming, was also infected by this atmosphere, listening to the noise of the stadium outside, while translating Coach D'Antoni's tactical arrangements, and not forgetting to interject in Chinese: "Hey, Yiming, do you say that today we have any hope of hitting the score difference to more than 15 points?!" ”

Yang Yiming wiped a handful of sweat from his hair with a towel and did not speak. He played nine minutes in the first half and had five points, four rebounds, one assist and one block. He looked around, and the other two key figures of the team, Harden and Paul, also bowed their heads in meditation, unable to see the expressions on their faces. Could it be that they have the same hunch as themselves?

"This contest is never that simple!"

1/

Sure enough, the situation changed suddenly in the second half.

Not only did Coach Thibodeau's chaotic style of play finally work, but the Rockets' outside feel was not the coolest, only cooler, and the Timberwolves who were fighting away from home had slowly caught up with the score.

And the most terrifying thing is that the Timberwolves are no longer leaderless, and their playoff-level players are starting to wield!

Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler!

Teague, who has eight consecutive years of playoff experience with the Hawks and Pacers, took the lead in carrying the Timberwolves' counterattack. The Rockets just hit a shot, and he was able to respond immediately. Not only the breakthrough throw, but also the head-on three-pointer, Teague got up and down with his hand, and the bullet was not missing. He is the "soft" pole of the timberwolves, and he is the kind of strange power master that Yang Yiming is most afraid of in his eyes. With a full line of muscle fighting, a master like Teague can still lift weights as lightly, as if practicing on the basketball court in his back garden. The Rocket's defense was shot in the air by him, and he made a stumble in the wrong direction, and he calmly put the ball in four or two pounds.

As soon as the fans at the scene got up, they were immediately poured cold water on the head by Teague's weird shot.

Such as a fish in the throat. Silent.

used to have this ability as a point guard, Yang Yiming has the impression that Chauncey Billups is one! A passer-by, with an ordinary reputation, but as long as you dare to release a chance, he will make you feel the bitterness of despising him!

64 flat!

The 7-point deficit was erased in half a quarter!

Harden blocked the pass to Paul, Paul misplaced Gibson and shook off the gap, but Paul's most sure step-back jumper missed, and the Timberwolves launched a counterattack. Teague holds the ball, he is holding the ball at the 45-degree three-point line to test it, Paul defensively, and everyone's attention of the Rockets is on this group of point guards.

Butler received the ball and attacked the basket directly, PJ-Tucker made up for the defense, the two bodies collided, Butler pulled the rod to collect the ball, and scored the ball again with brute force in the waist and abdomen! Foul play at the same time!

A playoff-level fierce player, the Timberwolves really have Jimmy Butler! If Teague is the softest, then Butler is the opposite of the supreme!

The Timberwolves overtook the three-point lead, the Rockets paused, and D'Antoni arranged Yang Yiming to defend Butler alone!

2/

Yang Yiming played Jimmy Butler many times in the regular season. In terms of height, he has an advantage, and he does not lose to his opponents in movement and bounce. But after all, Butler is an All-Star level master, and his career has always been known for being tough and fearless, because he is nicknamed "Ah Fu" by Chinese fans because of his appearance, he has a variety of offensive methods, and he is extremely brave, which is the offensive point that the Timberwolves rely on the most when attacking tough battles.

The two have their own wins and losses in the regular season, but in the current situation, Yang Yiming must contain the opponent!

He needs to be 120 percent focused.

The Rockets pulled back two points thanks to Harden's assist for Capela, and the Timberwolves gave the ball to Butler again. This time it's a one-on-one single. In the flank position, Butler borrowed his footsteps first, swaying left and right, but was stopped by Yang Yiming. He immediately arched his back strongly, Yang Yiming was forced to take a step back by the muscle-wrapped hard bones, and Butler pulled out the gap and turned over to shoot!

Who knew that Yang Yiming had been on guard against this shooting routine (remember the ten game blocking cheats?!) Although his position was half a meter apart, he adjusted his balance in small steps and immediately connected the jump. Butler was leaning back, but Yang Yiming also chased him out in the air!

The ball was shot, but as soon as it left the black hand, it was pressed back by the yellow one!

Chafing dish!

Yang Yiming, who pounced, pressed on Butler, and both fell to the ground, the latter signaled for a foul, but the referee held the whistle and did not blow the penalty. Harden, who was closest to the ball, had the quickest first reaction, picking up the basketball and launching a fast break. Yang Yiming got up from Butler, he chased Harden for more than ten meters, Harden saw the situation and handed the ball lightly, and Yang Yiming dunked in three steps to finish!

The Rockets are ahead by 1 point again!

The Rockets, who stabilized the situation, went into the fourth quarter 76-72. And in the fourth quarter, the Timberwolves realized that the Rockets also have a playoff-level player, the biggest candidate for MVP: James Harden.

At 87-86, the Rockets led by just one point. Harden steals the pass, launches a fast break, and shoots back and forth under the basket to score two points.

89-86, Harden took advantage of Yang Yiming's cover to enter and exit, riding two people in the restricted area to defend the ball.

91-86, Yang Yiming stole the Timberwolves pass, and Harden dribbled the ball across the court again. Just when everyone thought he was going to hit the rim again, he stepped outside the three-point line and hit a shot.

Scored 7 points alone to stop the Timberwolves!

But for playoff-caliber players, the show continues!

94-88, Harden removed all blocking and pick-and-roll screens at the top of the arc, singled Wiggins himself, stepped back and hit another three-pointer.

97-91, this time he borrowed pick-and-roll. Yang Yiming and Capela gave Harden a series of blocks, and Harden got rid of the most difficult Butler, and hit a layup on the two mountains of Gibson and Carl Towns.

99-93, Harden borrowed Yang Yiming's single block to cover the penalty area and made a layup? Throwing? Jumper? The Timberwolves faced the bearded man in a mess, he aimed at Capela who was ambushed in the restricted area, changed the single to an assist, and fed the ball to the latter!

101-95, Harden overwhelmed the offensive time in the last 4 seconds before starting to break through, facing Gibson blocking him to pull the rod to the other side of the basket, backhand hook board to cause a foul, stand on the free throw line - the whole court shouted MVP!

102-97, Paul and Harden got rid of Teague and Butler after a double block, and Harden got an unguarded three-point opportunity at the top of the three-point arc. I saw that the MVP had just raised the basketball above his head, and all the members of the Timberwolves had already begun to turn their heads to protect the rebound by default, and Harden saw Yang Yiming running out of the empty space around the baseline. He threw out a straight pass and went straight to the side of the basket, Yang Yiming touched the basketball with a light touch of his fingertips!

104-97, in less than a minute, the Rockets sealed the victory!

The first game, which should not have been so thrilling, was finally won because of the Rockets' unique playoff superstar-level Harden's leadership!