Gan Guoyang stepped on the court, replacing Alan Henderson at the small forward position.
Old buddy Charles Barkley stayed on the court, as Rick Carlisle decided the team needed to catch up quickly.
With Gan Guoyang back in the third quarter, the Trail Blazers rallied to close the gap, seemingly the best option.
As the timeout ended, and players re-emerged, Gan Guoyang pulled Charles Barkley aside and whispered:
"Buddy, honestly, my legs are kinda weak right now. Coming from New York to Minnesota, the whole bumpy ride made my butt numb, not to mention hitting turbulence on the plane; my ability to play strong is definitely compromised."
"So, I need to find my rhythm. Let's start with good defense and team offense, don't rush, play slowly to find rhythm."
"Now, the core on the court isn't me, it's you. Got it, Charles? You're the core."
Gan Guoyang was pragmatic, although his return spiked the team's morale, he pretended to boost his teammates' confidence.
