Chapter 136: Twice Struck Down.
After the Grizzlies adjusted their tactics, both teams went back and forth, with the score gap never exceeding 5 points.
At halftime, the Grizzlies led by a narrow 53-51 margin.
Coming into the second half, the Grizzlies, driven by their home-court advantage and Randolph's dominance in the paint, pushed the lead to 8 points.
However, Westbrook and Durant quickly led a counterattack, seizing the lead.
In a crucial moment, Han Sen stepped up, hitting two consecutive mid-range shots to stabilize the team, and the game returned to a deadlock.
The fans at the arena were watching with bated breath.
"Is this really just the first round? This feels like a Western Conference Finals!"
But it was Barkley's remark that best captured the moment:
"This is the Wild West!"
Last year, the eighth seed in the West had 50 wins, and though the Nuggets and Jazz have weakened after losing their stars this season, this series featured the fourth and fifth seeds in the West.
In theory, both of these teams had the strength to reach the conference finals, but the playoff format forced them to clash in the first round.