The Supersonics were still too young, following the Trail Blazers and Gan Guoyang's lead, rather than "being led by themselves".
In the second half, the Supersonics had to shift into a frantic catch-up mode, but catching up to the Trail Blazers was incredibly difficult.
The margin for error was too low; Ah Gan was always ready to deliver a crushing blow at critical moments, forcefully suppressing the Supersonics' momentum.
At the same time, fighting away from home, the referees' calls favored the Trail Blazers, making it even tougher for the Supersonics.
Even so, the Supersonics managed to close the gap to just 5 points at one point in the second half.
However, in the fourth quarter, Petrović suddenly exploded, partnering with Gan Guoyang for successive pick-and-roll plays.
Together, they scored 14 points in five minutes, once again outpacing the Supersonics with their offensive efficiency.
