Chapter 336: The Last Banner.
Malone played Han Sen and Jokic for the entire first quarter, and Han came out scorching hot, dropping 21 points in the opening period.
Under his leadership, the Cavaliers exploded for 40 points in the first quarter.
The Warriors, led by Steph and LeBron, weren't far behind, scoring 34 themselves.
A combined 74 points in the first quarter alone—both teams showcased their offensive firepower at the highest level.
And keep in mind, this was still the era before the 14-second offensive rebound reset rule, meaning possessions were slightly fewer than modern-day NBA.
The Cleveland crowd was electric, especially with how seamlessly Han and Jokic were operating together late in the quarter.
Shaquille O'Neal, calling the game from the TNT booth, grinned and leaned into his mic:
"I like this kid. Han finally got himself a big man who knows how to pass."
Of course, Shaq was going to hype up Jokic. If one day Jokic became a true superstar and said in an interview, "Shaq was my idol growing up," that would only make Shaq's legacy look even better.
But the Warriors weren't backing down.
With Draymond Green returning in the second quarter, they went on a 40-35 run, flipping the script on the Cavs.