Gan Guoyang immediately made adjustments after being targeted; first opening up the game with a step-back shot and hook shot, then directing Little O'Neal to increase his help on defense.
He knew that after committing one foul, the Heat would attack even more aggressively, so he needed to be cautious to avoid getting into foul trouble early on.
Both teams had low shooting percentages, with the score remaining at 4:2 for two minutes, indicating that the players had yet to find their offensive rhythm and needed more time.
Kobe was the first to break the deadlock by hitting a mid-range jumper from the outside; the Heat missed again, and Gan Guoyang grabbed the rebound, allowing Kobe to attack the basket once more and score a layup on the fast break.
With an 8:2 lead, the Trail Blazers gained an early advantage, prompting Riley to call a timeout for adjustments.
After the timeout, Rashid Wallace posted up against Little O'Neal, turning around for a bank shot and scoring.
