This application discloses a wireless communication method, including: receiving, by a network device, uplink transmission of a first terminal in first duration of channel occupancy duration of the first terminal, where the channel occupancy duration of the first terminal further includes second duration, and the second duration is later than the first duration; and performing, by the network device, downlink transmission in the second duration, where a sum of the first duration and the second duration is less than or equal to the channel occupancy duration of the first terminal. This application further discloses a network device and a terminal that correspond to the wireless communication method. By applying the method and devices, a resource obtained through contention by a terminal applied to an unlicensed frequency band can be properly used, to improve operating efficiency of the unlicensed frequency band.