In the second quarter of the game, taking advantage of Nowitzki's injured leg, the Thunder counterattacked. While Carlisle made several adjustments, the Mavericks still didn't find their rhythm.

22-28, which was the score of the second quarter of the game between the two sides. The Thunder managed to level the score and keep the tie until the end of the first half.

Although the score is now level between the two sides, Carlisle is well aware that the initiative of the game has been firmly controlled by the Thunder. If the game continues like this in the second half, it will only be a matter of time before the Mavericks fall behind.

With a score that appeared to be a draw but was actually behind, Carlisle and the Mavericks players hurriedly walked back to the locker room one by one, without giving reporters a chance to interview.

Westbrook, who is in a good mood, doesn't seem shy about facing reporters' cameras.

"The Mavericks' rhythm has been disrupted by us, and if we can take our chances in the second half, then the victory will be left in Oklahoma!"

The young guard zero doesn't know what restraint is, and he knows from the way this guy dresses that he won't be bound by the eyes of the world. On the basketball court, Westbrook's personality is even more insolent. Especially now that the team is gaining momentum, winning the Mavericks is really not just a fantasy for the Thunder.

When Yiyang pushed open the locker room door, Dirk was no longer inside. According to the team doctor, Nowitzki not only sprained his ankle, but also seemed to have suffered some damage to his knee. Now, further tests are being done at the local hospital.

At the sound of the knee, Carlisle and many Mavericks players had their heads "flickering". It is self-evident how important the complex joint of the knee is to a professional athlete. Nowitzki isn't young anymore, and now he has a knee injury, which isn't good news for him or the entire Mavericks.

While Nowitzki's injury seems unpromising, the game continues. Carlisle is now tasked with leading the team out of the pack, and Nowitzki's injury can only be put aside.

Looking back at the team's performance after losing Nowitzki in the second quarter, it's clear that the Mavericks' offense and defense were messed up like headless flies. Especially on the offensive end, without Nowitzki, the Mavericks seem to have lost their offensive target. No matter who gets the ball, it doesn't seem to be too sure.

Carlisle's task now is to establish a core that will only turn into a muddy water when the team has a core to revolve around and start playing.

Thinking of this, Carlisle looked up at the players who were sitting in front of him wiping sweat and changing jerseys. Kidd is the most qualified of them all, and he is a historic point guard who has led the Nets to great results as a core player.

But now Kidd, whose physical function is seriously declining, may be more suitable to be a helper, but it is definitely not suitable to use him as a core again. Right now, Kidd's scoring ability is no longer enough to support him as a core-caliber player.

Marion? Marion is solid enough on the offensive end and very tough on the defensive end. And, as a veteran with a lot of quality, Marion is also very prestigious in the dressing room. But Marion is also older, and his offensive means are mainly fixed-point jumpers, which are easy to target. If you set up a strategy around Marion, I'm afraid Brooks will be able to crack it in a few minutes.

After a round of view, Carlisle's eyes finally fell on the No. 1 rookie who was changing his jersey, and the tireless running of the first half had completely soaked the jersey he was wearing. Although he is still very young, he is the only player who is most suitable to play the core now!

"Also, you have to control the ball in the second half!" Carlisle made a decision, picked up a marker and began to lay out tactics on the tactical board with Yiyang as the core.

Hopefully, the Mavericks will make it out of the Chesapeake Energy Arena alive today......

※※※

When the cheerleaders performed at halftime, the Thunder fans seemed to be in high spirits. Seeing the news that Nowitzki would not play again, every Thunder fan relaxed. Nowitzki can't play again, and with the performance of the Mavericks just now, winning this game is not a cause for the Thunder twins at all.

The Thunder fans are relaxed, and the players are full of confidence. Westbrook, in particular, seems to have begun to succeed in his revenge plan.

At the start of the second half, Carlisle put Kidd on the bench and brought on the old duo of Yiyang and Terry. The small forward and center positions have not changed, with Marion and Chandler still leading the way. But in terms of power forward, Carlisle was replaced by the veteran Brian, who did not play long. Cardinal, whose height of 2.03m and weak frame protection make him by no means a good candidate for the No. 4 position.

Fortunately, Brooks didn't let Ibaka continue to play now, but put Jeff, who was good on the offensive end. Green picked it up again. Jeff. Green isn't a pure No. 4 either, but Van Gundy on the commentary bench still sweats for Cardinal.

The game restarted, and the Thunder attacked first. Seeing that the person in front of him this time was not Kidd but Yiyang, Westbrook's heart immediately became excited.

But he knew that if he insisted on fighting Yiyang, the end would definitely not look good. So this time, Westbrook suppressed the offensive desire in his heart and passed the ball to Durant.

Durant received the ball and held it high above his head, and Marion didn't have any chance to threaten the basketball at all.

Taking advantage of this time, Jeff. Green was already leaning on Cardinal to take the position and raised his hand for the ball. The low-post back-to-back skills of this two-way forward are also quite good, and Green is still very confident in the old guy Dynaar.

Cardinal is nicknamed "The Administrator" because he often helps the team mop floors and cheer up basketballs. As a result, Cardinal is loved by his teammates no matter which team he goes to.

But Cardinal's strength is really average, and in terms of low post defense, he simply doesn't have enough strength to compete with Green.

Green took two steps on his back and made easy progress. Just as the guy triumphantly turned over and made a jumper, he found that Tyson. Chandler had already covered up and let his shooting be greatly disrupted. And Cardinal, the "good old man", gently tugged on Green's jersey, making his shooting very uncomfortable.

In this way, Green's confident offense still ended in failure. Brooks was yelling at the referee that his player had been violated, but how could the experienced Cardinal let the referee see when he made small moves?

The "Administrator" is a good man, but only to his teammates.

Carlisle to Jeff. Green set up a defensive trap, but I didn't expect this guy to really step on it.

After successfully completing the defense, Chandler, who grabbed the rebound, did not hesitate and immediately threw the ball to Yiyang. Yiyang gesticulated while advancing, acting like an experienced star point guard.

Looking at Cardinal, who was running slowly at the back of the team, many commentators shook their heads. This old guy's mobility is so poor that he is actually no longer suitable for playing in the NBA. People are saying that instead of Cardinal, Carlisle should stick to Petro. At least the French can still give the Mavericks some help on the defensive end.

The slow Cardinal didn't attract anyone's attention, and the Thunder's defense naturally didn't take him seriously.

Yiyang stopped outside the three-point line and examined the situation. After waving to Chandler to block the demolition, Westbrook immediately became excited! Is this Chinese going to start fighting with his son?

The block is in place, and Yiyang starts immediately! But on the inside, the Thunder team has already laid a net, just waiting for you Yiyang to break through!

Westbrook immediately bypassed the block and clinged to Yiyang's back. Jeff. Green also retracted the basket from the wing and immediately made up for it. And Thunder center Kostic stayed directly in the three-second zone, guarding the basket to the death.

With a three-way attack, Yiyang looks like he's been caught up in Brooks' defensive setup. But Yiyang didn't slow down, his eyes were fixed on the basket, he raised the basketball, and was ready to go to the basket!

"No way, bastard!" Westbrook roared in his heart and jumped up with Yiyang. He straightened his arms and tried his best to reach the basketball.

At the moment when Westbrook's palm was about to fan the basketball, Yiyang, who was about to go to the basket, passed the ball high diagonally behind him without warning!

Since Yiyang didn't give a look from beginning to end, the Thunder players didn't know who the ball would pass to.

The basketball scurried out of the crowd, and when it stopped flying again, everyone was stunned.

Yiyang's passing target is the Brian who is regarded as transparent by everyone. Cardinal!

"The Administrator" didn't have any defenders around, and the guy got an open spot that looked like shooting drill.

Cardinal jumped lightly, his jump height may not be much higher than that of ordinary people, but it can be seen that this guy's waist, abdomen and upper and lower limbs are still very strong! And these things are enough to ensure that the shooting of the "administrator" becomes stable! On the training ground, Cardinal doesn't just do the odd jobs......

"Brush!" In the midst of the stunned gazes of tens of thousands of people at the entire Chesapeake Energy Arena, Cardinal hit the open three-pointer. This goal also poured cold water from head to toe on the young Thunder, who were ready to fully open the score.

Cardinal happily pointed at Yiyang to show his gratitude, then gestured three fingers and jumped back to the defense.

"Another difficult pass that doesn't look at people, Jason, can't you teach this kid some regular tricks?" Although Cardinal was the final finisher, in Van Gundy's view, the most exciting part of this attack was Yiyang's pass.

On this point, Westbrook agrees with Van Gundy. finally had to complete the capping, but in the end, it was just played by others again.

Therefore, the next Thunder offense, Westbrook is no longer modest. After he controlled the ball outside the three-point line, he slowly seemed to be about to pass the ball, but suddenly a quick change of direction started without warning, intending to hit Yiyang by surprise.

If it was before, Yiyang might have really been passed. But today, when Carlisle was arranging tactics around him at halftime, Yiyang knew that the responsibility that Nowitzki had mentioned to himself was really on his shoulders today!

Therefore, in the second half of the game, Yiyang was very focused on both defense and offense. Now even if you pile up $10 million on the sidelines, Yiyang can't see it, because he's already fully engaged in this fight. It is precisely because of this focus that Yiyang reflected the blockade in time and was not succeeded by Westbrook.

Westbrook was also very surprised, he didn't expect Yiyang to react so quickly! But this zero guard will not stop there, he continues to work harder, hoping to use his physical advantage to crush Yiyang to the basket.

Westbrook did it, and Yiyang's physical confrontation has always been his weakness. Just as Westbrook was proudly preparing to go to the basket, Yiyang saw the opportunity and cut between Westbrook's hands!

"Smack!" Westbrook, who had just jumped and was about to go to the basket, took off the basketball, and Yiyang bent down and threw it forward before he could pick it up.

It seems that Yiyang just threw it away, but the basketball accurately "found" Terry who was running forward.

The ball was just above Terry's waist, and the guy could easily catch the basketball with just his reach.

After that, Terry scored an empty basket on an unguarded basket. Yiyang's steals and assists once again made the commentary seat exclaim.

Looking at the resolute No. 1 in front of him, Westbrook swallowed. How can this dangerous feeling be so similar to the last time we met?