The Rockets' home fans were extremely anxious at this moment; with Yao Ming injured and off the court, their ten-point lead had completely disappeared, and they were now trailing.
They were deeply impressed by Wang, who single-handedly orchestrated the turnaround in the score!
This was a rookie from the same country as Yao Ming!
Despite being just a rookie, neither Kevin Martin nor Shane Battier could defend him, allowing him to score 17 consecutive points as soon as he entered the game!
What terrifying scoring ability! What incredible shooting touch!
So far, he had taken six shots with a perfect field-goal percentage—100%!
In contrast, the Rockets' star player, Kevin Martin, who played the same position, had failed to score a single point since Wang entered the game!
Moreover, under Wang's tight defense, Martin hadn't even gotten a good look at the basket. The fans were visibly frustrated!
Meanwhile, the Hornets' fans in the arena were ecstatic:
"Oh my god! We're actually leading!""Wang, this rookie, is unbelievable! 17 straight points!""This is an amazing performance; tonight belongs to Wang!""We actually got a player like this with a second-round pick! Incredible!""The future looks bright! We need him on the court as often as possible!"
On the sidelines, Hornets Head Coach Monty Williams watched Wang with pleasant surprise.
The Rockets' players were stunned; they hadn't scored a point since Yao Ming left the game!
Shane Battier, hustling back after Wang's basket, cursed loudly:
"F***!""Martin! Stop spacing out!""We're switching assignments now!"
Kevin Martin nodded awkwardly. Normally, when facing star players he couldn't guard, he would switch assignments with Battier. But today, he never expected to need Battier's help defending a rookie.
Used to being seen as a defensive liability, Martin was visibly annoyed. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth:
"Then I'll leave the defense to you. Watch me tear this kid apart on offense later!"
Battier glanced at him:
"Calm down. Don't underestimate him just because he's a rookie."
Martin said nothing more.
The Rockets attacked. Scola posted up in the low block. Chuck Hayes ran a screen-and-roll with Lowry at the top, but Paul and Okafor easily neutralized it. Lowry couldn't penetrate, so he lobbed the ball to Scola.
Scola, a low-post master, used his footwork to execute two consecutive spin moves, leaving David West dizzy. A clear path opened up. He scored with an easy layup. The score was tied, 87–87.
David West was frustrated; agile power forwards like Scola were difficult to guard. He inbounded to Paul, pressed full-court by Lowry. Paul calmly dribbled into the frontcourt.
Some Hornets and Chinese fans on the sidelines subconsciously cheered Wang's name:
"CP3! Pass the ball to Wang!""We want to see his shooting!"
Paul chuckled, surprised by the rookie's growing fan base even in an away game.
Wang moved off the ball, but Battier's defense was tighter than Martin's. After several attempts, Wang couldn't get open. Battier stuck close, refusing any opportunity.
Seeing the switch, Ariza set a screen for Wang, slightly delaying Battier. Martin rushed to help, but Wang had already committed to the shot. Paul instinctively passed him the ball.
Martin was a step away, but Wang caught it and pulled up immediately. Even though Martin was ready, he didn't anticipate Wang's confidence. Wang's shot flew with a high arc over Martin's fingertips and dropped beautifully into the hoop.
"Swish!!"
Another three-pointer. Score: 87–90. Six consecutive three-pointers for Wang. His personal tally reached 20 points. He raised his hand, signaling "6!"
The fans were stunned. Head Coach Monty Williams was also speechless. Wang had become a fourth-quarter miracle worker. His scoring burst was terrifying.
The Hornets' bench previously lacked such a player. The starters could compete, but the bench had depth issues. Wang solved this problem. Even half of today's performance would suffice in future games. The Hornets could aim for the playoffs, and possibly even the NBA Finals.
Only 35 seconds remained. Rockets trailed by three. They needed to score quickly and stop the Hornets on defense. With no timeouts left, the players had to act.
Kevin Martin, vexed, wanted to hit a three-pointer and tie the score. He ignored Lowry's signals, constantly demanding the ball. Even without a clear shot, he persisted, aiming to defeat the rookie who humiliated him.
He attempted a step-back three. Wang was slightly surprised. Though delayed, he still jumped with his hand extended. The ball clanged off the rim. Okafor secured the rebound and passed to Paul. Rockets were disappointed. Twenty-four seconds remained, down by three.
Paul ran down the clock. Rockets didn't foul him. They fouled Wang instead. Wang, a 60% free-throw shooter, made one of two, extending the lead to four. Rockets failed to score next possession. Final score: 87–93. Hornets won.
Wang's fourth-quarter performance was decisive: 21 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 1 block, 0 turnovers in just over eight minutes. Perfect. His scoring and defense had completely overturned prior perceptions.
After the game, Wang received cheers from the Hornets team. Coach Monty Williams beamed and patted his shoulder:
"Well done, Wang!"
Starting today, he had earned his place in the NBA. His goals were far bigger—he wanted to become the GOAT.
Smith praised him: "21 points in a quarter, 6 consecutive threes! Unbelievable for a rookie!"
Barkley nodded: "I underestimated Wang. The Hornets got an incredible player with a second-round pick. Excited to see him with Paul this season!"
Even foreign commentators praised Wang. He became famous overnight, following in the footsteps of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
Paul praised Wang: "Great performance today. Keep it up."
Wang smiled confidently: "No problem, if you pass me the ball, I can turn it into an assist for you!"
After the game, both teams interacted politely. Battier shook hands:
"You defeated us today. Next time, I won't let you shoot so easily."
Wang laughed: "See you next game!"
Martin muttered: "You just got lucky today…"
Wang sneered: "Why is luck never on your side? Practice more!"
The post-game system notification read:
[Ding! Host won first game with 21 points!][Received mission reward: Talent Skill – Off-Ball Movement Expert (Bronze)]
With the Sharpshooter and Off-Ball Movement Expert badges, Wang had even more confidence. Becoming the GOAT was no longer just a dream.
Reporters from China and abroad surrounded him. As a rookie scoring guard, domestic media paid extraordinary attention. Even Griffin, the number one pick in the same draft, received less attention.
At the press conference, David Aldrich asked Monty Williams:
"Did you expect Wang to perform like this off the bench?"
Monty: "Even I was surprised. He was tonight's hero."
David asked Wang:
"How does it feel scoring 21 points and hitting 6 consecutive threes as a rookie?"
Wang: "I worked hard off the court. I'm happy to help the team and hope to bring more victories."
A reporter from Sina Sports, Zhou Ling'an, asked in Chinese:
"Congratulations. What was the secret to your explosion tonight?"
Wang: "Quantitative change leads to qualitative change; off-court practice paid off."
Reporter: "Your next goal? Rookie of the Year or helping the Hornets make the playoffs?"
Wang: "My goal is always victory. Championships are the ultimate goal, and I am no exception."