Chapter 218: Sooner or Later, You Will Have to Pay for What You Have Done, and You Can't Stop the Triple-Double!
Jokes aside, Chen Yan knew that his playmaking and court vision were still a step below Nash's.
Most of his assists came from aggressive drives and direct half-court reads rather than orchestrating a full offensive system.
While he had notched 11 assists in the previous game, he also committed four turnovers. Chen was still adjusting to his new role as the Suns' temporary floor general.
After defeating the Rockets, the Suns stayed home for a back-to-back matchup against the Knicks.
Whenever fans mentioned the Suns and Knicks, one game immediately came to mind — that humiliating 58-point blowout earlier in the season.
That memory lingered like a scar, and it gave Phoenix a clear psychological edge.
The game unfolded exactly as expected.
By the end of the first quarter, the Knicks were already in deep trouble. The Suns led 38–22, and the energy inside the arena was electric.
Chen Yan played relentlessly through the second quarter. His mentality was simple: finish the job before taking a breather.
This time, the Knicks didn't just lose ground — they completely collapsed.
Chen continued to rack up assists while also pushing the tempo himself. After grabbing defensive rebounds, he exploded coast-to-coast for transition layups, catching the Knicks flat-footed.
The tactic had been tailored for him by D'Antoni after witnessing Chen's devastating full-court drives in the last game.
Compared to the traditional fast break — where the big man secures the rebound, protects the ball, then finds the guard to initiate the attack — this direct push method was far more efficient.
Every extra pass in transition meant one more chance for a turnover or a defensive recovery.
By letting Chen rebound and immediately lead the break, the Suns' signature run-and-gun style reached its peak.
Few teams in the league could keep up with that pace, and certainly not the Knicks.
This approach only worked with Chen Yan at point guard.
Nash had elite passing and rhythm control, but he didn't have Chen's athleticism or rebounding presence.
Chen's ability to crash the glass and instantly push the ball made Phoenix even deadlier in transition.
By the third quarter, the Knicks looked completely demoralized.
The deficit ballooned past 30, and the Suns showed no signs of slowing down.
Were they trying to repeat that 58-point massacre?
Knicks players were visibly frustrated. Their shots clanged, their spacing crumbled, and their body language screamed defeat.
With 2:11 left in the third, one play lit up the arena.
Chen Yan found himself isolated against Stephon Marbury at the top of the key.
The two stared each other down as the crowd rose to its feet.
Then, in a moment of quiet confidence, Chen gave a small bow toward Marbury — a subtle sign of respect before the duel.
Marbury didn't bite. Years of NBA experience had made him wary of showmanship. He stayed locked in, focused on Chen's movements.
Then, Chen suddenly dropped his stance and exploded forward with a lightning-quick first step.
Marbury's instincts kicked in, his body reacting instantly, shifting his weight forward to cut off the drive.
But that's exactly what Chen wanted.
He slammed on the brakes, planted his foot, and crossed back sharply — a brutal pull-back crossover that left Marbury sliding helplessly past him.
It was poetic justice.
Years ago, one of Marbury's most famous plays was crossing over Yao Ming.
Tonight, another Chinese player returned the favor.
Chen rose smoothly and fired from midrange.
"Swish!"
The net snapped cleanly. The crowd erupted.
Even fans watching on TV roared as Chen Yan turned the tables on Marbury, making him part of his own highlight reel.
By the end of three quarters, the game was already over.
The Suns crushed the Knicks 111–79, extending their winning streak in dominant fashion.
Chen finished with another monster stat line: 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assists in just 36 minutes.
Two straight triple-doubles.
Back-to-back statement performances.
The next morning, Chen's name once again dominated sports headlines across the country.
In those two games alone, he had earned 18 Honor Points. It was clear now — triple-doubles weren't just a symbol of dominance, they were also one of the fastest ways to stack Honor Points.
Later that night, back home, Chen opened his system interface.
Using the 25 points he had saved up, he upgraded his [Rebounds] attribute to 85.
Immediately, he felt the improvement — his timing sharper, his anticipation cleaner.
Securing triple-doubles from now on would be even easier.
---
On March 15, the Suns faced the struggling Charlotte Bobcats at home.
The Bobcats had started the season with big promises.
Owner Michael Jordan had boldly claimed that the team would make the playoffs.
Half a season later, reality had sunk in — the roster lacked direction, and tanking seemed like their only path forward.
That lack of motivation showed from the opening tip.
On both ends of the floor, Charlotte played without urgency. Phoenix, meanwhile, played freely, raining threes from every corner of the court.
By halftime, the Suns had already drained 15 triples, turning the game into a one-sided showcase.
At halftime, Chen's stat line read 12 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Everyone could tell what he was chasing — a third consecutive triple-double.
In the second half, his teammates went all-in to help him reach it. They boxed out hard, tapped rebounds his way, and set screens to free him up.
By the end of the third quarter, the mission was complete.
Chen tallied 17 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds before checking out.
On the other sideline, Bobcats coach Sam Vincent had already waved the white flag.
He pulled all his starters before the fourth quarter even began, conceding defeat.
It was another easy win for the Suns — and another historic night for Chen Yan.
Three straight games, three straight triple-doubles.
After the game, Nash, still sidelined but suited up on the bench, spoke to reporters with a grin.
"Chen's been incredible," he said. "He's so good lately that fans might start forgetting about me. I guess I'd better hurry up and get healthy before I'm out of a job."
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