Anthony had absolutely no intention of passing, so the ball was disrupted.
The basketball slammed heavily on the rim and bounced up.
Faried turned and grabbed the rebound.
Faried called out as he passed the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
If it weren’t for Zeng Xingyang’s help defense, Anthony’s shot would have been unstoppable.
"You’re welcome." Zeng Xingyang didn’t mind.
The Nuggets’ defense is completely different from last season, every player is striving to assist in defense.
This made Faried, who was a starter last season, not very used to it.
Faried clearly felt he was a bit out of sync with the team’s rhythm.
The Nuggets are on the offense.
Zeng Xingyang dribbles and advances to the frontcourt.
Vujacic comes to defend.
Vujacic tries hard to stick to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang still wants to screen, Nurkic moves up.
Taking advantage of the screen, Zeng Xingyang breaks through to the right.
Galloway and Anthony attempt to trap Zeng Xingyang.
But the two’s double team isn’t quite coordinated, allowing Zeng Xingyang to find an opening.
Zeng Xingyang first steps back, then quickly threads the ball through Anthony’s legs.
Then Zeng Xingyang agilely darts between the two to retrieve his ball.
This is a flashy streetball-style move.
Catching the ball, Zeng Xingyang takes three steps.
Porzingis tries hard to come over to defend, but can’t catch up.
Zeng Xingyang glides up for a lay-up and scores.
"Whoa! The ball went through the legs, amazing."
"That’s the way to play, breaking free of the two-man defense, dismantling the double-team."
"Xingyang’s dribbling skills are visibly improving."
"That was a slick dribble."
"Now Xingyang’s ball-handling skills are getting stronger, can’t be stopped."
After scoring, Zeng Xingyang high-fives Nurkic behind him in celebration.
"Brilliant score." Nurkic is not convinced by Jokic, but when it comes to Zeng Xingyang, he is full of respect.
This score seems like showing off his dribbling skills.
Anthony’s face darkened.
To be nutmegged is a huge humiliation for him.
"Cameron, calm down." Calderon comes over and pats Anthony.
Anthony nods and says, "I won’t mind."
Calderon is a bit skeptical.
The Knicks’ offense quickly lands in Anthony’s hands.
Anthony, holding the ball, charges directly at Faried.
Although Faried is a post player, he suffers in the confrontation with Anthony.
Faried sends Anthony to the free-throw line with a reach.
Faried is quite frustrated, Anthony’s offense is too comprehensive; it’s very hard to defend when he gets the ball down low.
Anthony, although he likes jump shots, is fierce when he drives to the basket.
Anthony calmly makes both free throws.
"Increase the intensity of the confrontation," Mike Malone is increasingly dissatisfied with Faried’s current defense.
As a result, Faried is gradually becoming marginalized.
The Nuggets are on the offense.
Zeng Xingyang signals as he arrives at the frontcourt.
Passes to Pope, Pope to Faried.
The Nuggets’ ball circulates continuously, shifting the Knicks’ defensive line.
The ball quickly returns to Zeng Xingyang’s hands.
Zeng Xingyang initiates a pick-and-roll with Nurkic.
Nurkic screens out Vujacic, allowing Zeng Xingyang to accelerate.
Once again, he drives directly into the lane.
Anthony’s help defense lags behind, Porzingis moves over preparing to block Zeng Xingyang.
But as Zeng Xingyang ascends into the air, he chooses to wrap the ball around Porzingis’s waist to the other side, where Faried follows up.
Faried is left wide open, grabs the ball, propels himself upward like a rocket launching, then slams down forcefully at the peak.
Faried vigorously clutches the rim, shouting to the sky.
For Faried, he really needs this kind of offensive, it’s the only way he contributes on the court now.
Zeng Xingyang goes over to high-five Faried in celebration.
Although the second-unit teammates each have their respective issues to some degree, Zeng Xingyang will work hard to unify this team.
As a good chef, you can’t always complain that the ingredients you buy are bad.
Mike Malone at the sidelines also clapped his hands; this is the kind of Nuggets he hopes to see.
If Zeng Xingyang plays with the second unit, the team’s offensive efficiency won’t be too bad; his organizational skills are improving.
Very soon, the first quarter ended, and the score was fixed at 29 to 29.
The Nuggets tied the score.
Zeng Xingyang scored 19 points and 2 assists in the first quarter alone, showing an outstanding performance.
Both the Nuggets staff and players are used to Zeng Xingyang delivering such an output.
Barkley said, "Zeng’s performance is becoming more stable now; he knows when to exert force and when to conserve energy."
Smith said, "The Nuggets players seem to be a bit lost in New York; their overall touch isn’t great. It’s all because of Zeng holding it together."
On the sidelines, Zeng Xingyang focused his attention on Calderon.
Although Calderon isn’t very famous, his efficiency on the court is very high.
His shots are also very accurate; in the first quarter, he seized all open opportunities. Any slight relaxation would be exploited by him.
Players long-term in the 180 club still have their capabilities.
The second quarter can’t give him any gaps, Zeng Xingyang decided.
Soon, the second quarter continued, both teams using the end-of-quarter lineups.
Galloway came to defend Zeng Xingyang; his height is only 185, and his defense strategy is to constantly interfere by reaching for the ball.
Zeng Xingyang used a back-body confrontation, turned around, and pushed him aside effortlessly.
Galloway wanted to continue chasing, Zeng Xingyang slowed down and blocked with his hand.
But Galloway fell backwards, flying out sideways.
The referee called an offensive foul on Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang spread his hands and said to the referee, "His acting was way too exaggerated."
The referee patiently explained, "You had a swinging arm action."
Zeng Xingyang spread his hands, smiled helplessly; his action wasn’t that big, it was clearly Galloway acting.
But this is the away game!
If other players directly made such a hand-spread gesture in front of the referee, the referee might think it’s a provocation.
But Zeng Xingyang is a superstar.
This is a superstar’s signature gesture.
Zhang Weiping said, "Xingyang must not be affected; this game’s refereeing won’t favor the Nuggets."
Yu Jia said, "The referee is too sensitive with the whistle."
All right, bring it on!
Let’s play this game.
It’s the Knicks’ offense.
Zeng Xingyang called on his teammates to keep the intensity high.
The ball quickly reached Anthony’s hands.
Anthony continued attacking Faried.
Zeng Xingyang went over to double-team, and Anthony passed the ball to Galloway.
Anthony passed reluctantly, which slowed down his passing speed a little.
This allowed Zeng Xingyang to quickly go over and defend.
Galloway passed the ball to Porzingis at the top of the arc.
At this time, he’s one step away from the three-point line, and Porzingis decisively shot a long-range three-pointer.
The basketball heavily hit the rim and bounced up.
Faried secured the rebound.
Faried passed to Zeng Xingyang.
Galloway continued to entangle.
Zeng Xingyang made a crossover move, accelerated to the frontcourt on the right.
Anthony came to help defend, and Zeng Xingyang passed the ball to Galinarli.
Galinarli pretended to shoot, and accelerated with the ball to break through.
But Galinarli’s speed wasn’t fast; he was quickly blocked.
Galinarli passed the ball out to Zeng Xingyang.
Still facing Galloway’s defense.
Zeng Xingyang crouched in a triple-threat stance, and Galloway tried to strip the ball.
Zeng Xingyang found the opportunity and stepped directly to shoot a tough three-pointer.
Zeng Xingyang’s movement distorted.
The basketball flew off target, and the referee raised three fingers.
This is a trick Zeng Xingyang discussed with Harden.
"Well done, good job."
"Awesome, that’s how you play."
"The timing of drawing the foul was perfect."
Zeng Xingyang’s foul drawing doesn’t annoy people like Deng’s does.
Zeng Xingyang didn’t even glance at Galloway; he could blow past him anytime.
Stepped onto the free throw line.
Zeng Xingyang calmly made all three free throws.
Personal score continues to rise!!