Duel from the Logo.

When Kyrie Irving sat on the bench, he was visibly lost in thought.

A staff member handed him a towel, but he ignored it completely.

Kyrie wasn't the type to wear his emotions on his sleeve, unlike someone like Jokic. But it was obvious that he wasn't in a good place mentally.

And it wasn't hard to figure out why — he was feeling the same frustration as Draymond Green.

After grinding all summer to elevate his game, Kyrie had expected to make a statement in the season opener. Instead, he got hit in the face with reality.

His defense on Steph Curry in the first quarter wasn't just ineffective — it was nonexistent.

And what made it worse? Curry's style of play shattered Kyrie's perception of basketball.

Steph's threes were as effortless as Kyrie's layups.

Who the hell shoots like this?

Han Sen's focus had been on Jokic, who was about to check into the game. But when he noticed the ignored towel and Kyrie's dazed expression, he turned his attention to his teammate.

"If the destination is too easy to reach, it's probably not worth going there," Han said.

He had come to understand Kyrie over the past season. Beyond his occasionally self-centered nature, Kyrie was a bookworm.

And not the performative kind — the type who actually read, highlighted passages, and scribbled notes in the margins.

Han's cryptic advice resonated more with someone like Kyrie.

The simple translation? Success isn't supposed to be easy.

Kyrie nodded slightly. Whether he fully grasped it or not, Han couldn't tell. But at least he wasn't sulking anymore.

Soon, Kyrie's gaze drifted to the court, where Jokic had just checked in.

Jokic's first possession? A turnover.

He had an easy scoring opportunity but opted to pass it to J.R. Smith, who wasn't ready for it.

"Nikola! Be more decisive!" Han yelled as Jokic hustled back on defense.

Jokic's preseason performance had been solid, but his reluctance to score was frustrating.

Some people loved being in the saddle themselves. Others preferred watching someone else ride — Jokic belonged to the latter group.

The good news? Jokic took feedback seriously, especially when it came from Han.

The next possession, Jokic posted up Festus Ezeli.

Williams fed him the ball inside.

Being the team clown had its perks — everyone loved him enough to give him extra chances.

Ezeli wasn't an easy matchup. The former Warriors starter stood at 7 feet tall (2.13m) with a 7'5" (2.26m) wingspan and weighed over 260 pounds (118kg).

Jokic's post moves couldn't budge him. After several spins, he still couldn't find a comfortable shot.

With no better option, Jokic resorted to a Dirk-esque one-legged fadeaway.

The form wasn't the cleanest. His release was slow, and Ezeli contested the shot well. To avoid the block, Jokic added a ridiculous arc to the ball — it looked more like a golf chip shot.

The degree of difficulty? Maxed out.

Yet, somehow, the ball swished through the net.

The Warriors' bench fell silent in disbelief, while the Cavs' bench erupted in cheers.

Even Han stood up to clap.

That's what makes a fan favorite — moments like this.

Jokic's soft touch wasn't just for passing; his shooting touch was equally refined.

Big men with that kind of touch were rare. It was one of the reasons Yao Ming had thrived in the league.

And Jokic wasn't done.

On the next possession, instead of posting up again, he set a pick for Williams and popped out to the three-point line.

His screen wasn't great, but it was enough to free Williams. The Warriors doubled him, forcing a quick pass to Jokic.

Ezeli hesitated to close out, while Leandro Barbosa stayed near the paint.

The Warriors clearly weren't familiar with Jokic.

Steph Curry, standing on the bench, frantically waved his hands. "He can shoot!"

But it was too late.

Jokic, seeing the space, calmly launched a three.

Swish!

The ball sailed cleanly through the hoop, leaving Oracle Arena buzzing.

Who is this guy?

Luke Walton quickly called a timeout.

As Jokic walked to the bench, Han met him with a playful grin.

"Still think you're not that good?"

Jokic scratched his head with a shy smile. "Maybe… not too bad."

The Warriors came out of the timeout with more urgency.

Barbosa ran a pick-and-roll with Ezeli, darting past Jokic for a reverse layup off the glass.

Jokic's weaknesses were apparent. His lateral quickness was lacking, and he struggled to defend the pick-and-roll.

On the next possession, Jokic returned to the top of the arc.

Ezeli had no choice but to step out.

With both Cavs' bigs stretching the floor, Williams saw a wide-open lane. He drove hard to the basket, drawing a foul from Barbosa.

Jokic's best role was as a playmaker, but as a rookie, he wouldn't be handed the keys to the offense right away.

Still, even without the ball in his hands, he was making an impact as a surprise weapon.

In last season's Finals, the Warriors' deep bench had overwhelmed the Cavs' second unit.

This time? The Cavs were holding their own.

At halftime, the score was tied at 58.

The Warriors were visibly better than last season. But so were the Cavs.

Their depth had significantly improved — and Nikola Jokic was a big part of that. 

From the coaches to the players, Cleveland's bench was buzzing with excitement. On the other side, Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton remained unfazed.

---

When the second half began, Walton made a bold adjustment — Andre Iguodala replaced Andrew Bogut in the starting lineup.

This wasn't new. The Warriors had used this lineup in last season's Finals. But with Curry's evolution, the infamous 'Death Lineup' had become even deadlier.

On the very first possession, Curry took a handoff from Draymond Green and casually drilled his fourth three-pointer of the night.

In the past, Curry hitting four threes in a game would've been impressive. But tonight? It felt like he was just getting started.

The Cavs responded quickly with a signature mid-range jumper from Kevin Garnett at the high post.

Golden State's small-ball lineup thrived on defensive rotations and quick help, but Cleveland had learned how to counter it after last season's Finals.

What the Cavs didn't anticipate was the Warriors' next move.

While Garnett was pounding his chest in celebration, Draymond Green inbounded the ball quickly. Curry pushed it up the court at lightning speed.

Even Green, after passing the ball, sprinted down the floor. The rest of the Warriors charged forward, turning defense into offense in the blink of an eye.

Typically, when a team scores, the game slows down into a half-court set. But the Warriors had no intention of slowing down.

With Curry leading the break, it was nearly impossible to stop them.

Curry crossed half-court, glanced at the rim, and gave Kyrie Irving a subtle head fake before accelerating toward the basket.

The Warriors' spacing formed a classic 'V' shape, spreading the floor.

As the Cavs' defense collapsed to stop Curry's drive, he whipped a no-look pass to Iguodala in the corner.

Iguodala caught the ball, adjusted, and drained the corner three.

Curry wasn't Steve Nash, but his offensive gravity made the Warriors' fast break just as lethal as the Suns' famed 'Seven Seconds or Less' offense.

On the Cavs' sideline, Michael Malone called J.R. Smith off the bench.

Garnett wasn't punishing Green in the post. Jokic was too green to handle Curry's relentless attack in a high-stakes game. The only option left?

Small ball vs. small ball.

On the next possession, Han Sen drew the defense and fed Tristan Thompson for a powerful two-handed dunk.

Even with the Warriors' quick defensive rotations, Han's court vision made him nearly impossible to trap. Every time he was double-teamed, he found the open man.

But the Warriors pushed the pace once again.

This time, Curry crossed the half-court logo and, without any hesitation, launched a deep three.

Splash!

Irving stood there, stunned.

Han's advice from earlier echoed in his mind. He had taken it to heart, but this?

How the hell are you supposed to defend that?

The scoreboard read 67-62.

The Cavs had scored on every possession to start the second half, yet they still trailed by five points.

Their hard-earned points felt insignificant under the Warriors' three-point barrage.

Malone called for a timeout.

"Steph is changing the game right before our eyes!" Shaquille O'Neal exclaimed from the broadcast booth.

He and Charles Barkley had once famously said, "You can't win championships with jump shots."

The Warriors had already proven them wrong. And now, Curry was taking it a step further, leaving even Shaq and Chuck in awe.

During the timeout, Han Sen sat on the bench, lost in thought.

Memories flooded back.

"Warrior Third-Quarter Blitz."

"Third-Quarter Knockout."

The Warriors' signature run wasn't just a myth. They thrived on relentless pace, riding Curry's shooting to demoralize opponents in a matter of minutes.

Han knew that if the Warriors got hot, you couldn't beat them by playing traditional basketball.

He had to make a change.

When play resumed, J.R. Smith replaced Garnett.

"Defense! Defense!" the Oracle Arena crowd roared, still energized from Curry's logo three.

Han brought the ball up, signaling for a high pick-and-roll with Thompson — at the three-point line.

Instead of driving to the basket, Han stepped back beyond the arc and launched a three.

The sudden change in approach caught the Warriors off guard.

Draymond Green lunged to contest the shot.

Everyone knew Han could shoot threes. But the positioning of the screen? It was eerily familiar to the Warriors.

Green's contest barely affected Han's shot.

Swish!

The net snapped cleanly as the ball passed through.

The crowd fell silent, while the Cavs' bench exploded with cheers. Han's three-pointer was exactly the answer they needed.

Inspired by Han's shot, Kyrie locked in on Curry.

This time, he denied Curry the chance to push the pace. When Green attempted another handoff, Kyrie disrupted the passing lane.

Forced to improvise, Green passed to Klay Thompson, who came off a screen for a catch-and-shoot three.

But Han was there, contesting the shot.

Clank!

The Warriors' three-point streak was finally broken.

P.J. Tucker grabbed the defensive rebound and started the fast break.

Han secured the outlet pass and immediately launched a full-court pass to Kyrie, who had sprinted ahead of Curry.

Kyrie caught the ball in stride, glided through the air, and twisted his body for a smooth reverse layup.

Finally, Kyrie had a moment to release his frustrations. As he landed, he let out a primal scream.

The Cavs had clawed their way back with a 5-0 run, tying the game at 67.

But the celebration didn't last long.

On the very next possession, Curry casually stepped over the logo and pulled up for another deep three.

Kyrie rushed forward to contest, but Curry's release was lightning-fast.

This wasn't just a quick shot.

It was instantaneous.

Swish!

Curry's arc wasn't particularly high, but it didn't matter. The ball found the bottom of the net.

His third three-pointer of the quarter.

In just over six minutes, Curry had already matched his first-half total.

This is why they call it the Third-Quarter Blitz.

As the crowd erupted once more, Curry celebrated with his signature move — the shoulder shake.

He was officially on fire.

The Cavs pushed the ball up the floor. This time, it wasn't Klay Thompson guarding Han — it was Iguodala.

Andre's defensive instincts and experience far surpassed Klay's. He crowded Han, sticking close to deny him the ball.

When Han finally received the pass, he was near the logo.

He gestured for another screen, drawing Iguodala's attention.

Andre glanced over his shoulder to see Thompson coming up to hedge the screen.

In that split second, Han did something no one expected.

He shot.

From the logo.

The ball arced high, like a missile launched from a distant continent.

Swish!

The Oracle crowd fell silent.

Han locked eyes with Curry.

Bring it on. Let's see who blinks first.