Chapter 217: Fake Derby, Triple-Double!
On March 12, the Suns faced the Houston Rockets at home for their third meeting of the season.
Yao Ming wasn't there.
He had undergone surgery on March 4 at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston to repair a stress fracture in his left foot and remove a bone spur. The operation was successful, but it officially ended his season.
The news hit fans hard, though most were more concerned about whether Yao would recover in time for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.
In response, Yao personally reassured everyone through the media.
"I know my season's over," he said, "but I've told the team doctor—I'm determined to play in the Olympics. I believe I'll be ready by then."
His words calmed millions of worried fans across the world.
Before tip-off, Chen Yan sent Yao a quick text, telling him to rest well and wishing him a speedy recovery.
Yao replied almost immediately: "Take it easy on my guys, will you? Just because I'm not there doesn't mean you have to blow them up."
Chen laughed. That was vintage Yao Ming—humble, witty, and always with a hint of dry humor.
---
"Wow! Look at this lineup—D'Antoni has Chen Yan starting at point guard tonight!" Kenny Smith's voice carried excitement from the broadcast booth.
Beside him, Reggie Miller added, "That's an interesting adjustment. It's a gamble, but if it works, it could keep the Suns' offense alive without Nash."
The two commentators exchanged a glance as the players took the floor. The experiment was about to begin.
The Suns had already beaten the Rockets twice this season, including the one that ended Houston's twelve-game winning streak. The Rockets entered the arena with revenge on their minds.
But they didn't expect the beating to start almost immediately.
The Suns opened the game on fire, blitzing the Rockets 11–2 in the first three minutes. Their ball movement was crisp, their spacing perfect, and their pace relentless.
Houston's game plan—speeding up without Yao—crumbled early.
To everyone's surprise, Coach Rick Adelman started 42-year-old veteran Dikembe Mutombo at center.
Even at his age, Mutombo's rim protection was still elite, but Chen Yan wasn't about to let him settle in.
He ran pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll, dragging Mutombo out to the perimeter. Once Mutombo switched, Chen simply used his first step to blow by him. Within minutes, the old big man was gasping for air.
After one particularly vicious drive-and-dish to Stoudemire, Adelman finally waved his hands in frustration and subbed Mutombo out.
But that only made things worse.
Without Yao or Mutombo, Houston's interior was wide open. Scola at 6'9", Landry at 6'7", and Chuck Hayes at barely 6'6" simply couldn't handle Stoudemire's athleticism.
Chen Yan capitalized, orchestrating the offense beautifully—slicing into the paint, kicking out to shooters, or tossing perfect lobs to Amar'e.
With 1:29 left in the first quarter, Chen spun past Shane Battier, crossed over, and accelerated down the lane.
The defenders collapsed in panic.
Then, without breaking stride, Chen lobbed the ball high into the air.
Stoudemire soared, caught it mid-flight, and slammed it home with a thunderous dunk.
The arena exploded. Amar'e pointed straight at Chen, grinning ear to ear. That kind of chemistry—the instinctive connection—was something only Nash had shared with him before.
By the end of the quarter, Chen already had four assists, and the Suns led 29–20.
From the sideline, D'Antoni crossed his arms and nodded in satisfaction. He'd been nervous before the game, unsure if this experiment would work, but one quarter in, his worries were gone.
Chen Yan was thriving as the new floor general.
---
In the second quarter, Phoenix kept their foot on the gas.
Once the team's energy peaked, Chen triggered his team skill—[Blitz Storm].
Suddenly, the Suns were everywhere.
Fast breaks flowed like clockwork. Chen grabbed rebounds, pushed the ball coast-to-coast, and turned defense into offense in seconds.
The Rockets couldn't keep up.
During one possession, rookie Carl Landry tried to stop Chen at the rim, bracing himself as Chen charged full-speed toward the basket.
It was a mismatch from the moment it started.
Chen didn't bother with finesse—he just exploded straight through him.
"BOOM!"
The dunk echoed through the arena. Landry stumbled backward, eyes wide, completely stunned.
From then on, his confidence vanished. He missed two layups, turned the ball over, and was promptly subbed out by a furious Adelman.
The Rockets were unraveling.
By halftime, Phoenix led by 18.
By the end of the third, the gap had grown to twenty.
The Suns never looked back.
They closed the night with a comfortable 109–86 victory, their third straight win over Houston this season.
---
Chen Yan recorded a triple-double: 23 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds.
It was a statement performance—his first as the team's temporary point guard.
Amar'e Stoudemire flourished under Chen's leadership, dropping 33 points and pulling down 9 boards.
For Houston, Tracy McGrady tried to keep them alive with 30 points, but his efficiency was miserable—just 11-of-31 from the field. Still, he had no choice. With Yao out, McGrady had to shoulder the entire offense, even if it meant shooting through exhaustion.
After the game, reporters crowded around Shane Battier, who had spent most of the night trying—and failing—to contain Chen.
Battier chuckled and said, "Wait—someone told me Nash was injured. So who was that wearing the No. 0 jersey tonight?"
The reporters burst into laughter. Even the always-honest Battier couldn't resist dropping a joke.
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