US Airways Center.
"Beep! Beep!"
Coach Alvin Gentry hurriedly called a timeout.
"What the hell?!"
"Oh my god, that deep three actually went in? Kobe... man, why don't you just take off and fly? Four-point gap now. The Suns are finished tonight."
"It's over!"
"Ugh… that three just crushed my soul!"
"Kobe's a monster!"
In the stands, Suns fans sighed in despair, pulling at their hair in frustration as panic spread among them. Everyone understood the situation—down four with only 37.4 seconds left. It was extremely dangerous.
"Hahaha!"
"Kobe's insane!"
"See that? That's Kobe Bryant. That's the 'Black Mamba.' That's the man who hit 12 threes and dropped 60 points last game!
Only he
could bury a life-ending clutch three like that.
I'm calling it now… the Suns' 16-game winning streak ends tonight—ended by Kobe's Lakers!"
"The boss is unstoppable!"
"How strong can a team led by a rookie center really be? Watch Kobe draw the bow and shoot the Suns out of the sky!"
"Haha, man, you've got a way with words."
"Totally agree!"
Lakers fans were already cheering wildly, celebrating as if the victory was already theirs.
"Are we going to lose?!"
"I'm a Kobe fan, but… tonight I really want that Suns player wearing number '0' to win~"
Worry appeared on the fair faces of Mai Kuraki and Taylor Swift.
Both of their eyes were fixed on the court—on the player wearing the number "0" jersey.
On Blake Su.
"Can the Suns still win?!"
David Robinson looked toward Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The latter frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then said,
"Theoretically, there's still a chance. Score once, quickly get a defensive stop, then score again.
That could tie the game.
But… the difficulty is extremely high. And the opponent is the defending champion with a ferocious defense. I think the Suns' chances of a comeback are very slim."
"Mhm."
David Robinson nodded. It matched his own thoughts almost exactly.
"What a pity."
Hakeem Olajuwon pursed his lips.
"Blake Su hit 13 three-pointers tonight—truly historic. But without a win to crown it, it feels incomplete.
A real shame."
"Indeed."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar responded, then smiled faintly.
"But it's already remarkable. Blake Su is just a rookie. Facing the defending champions, facing Kobe Bryant—who just hit 12 threes and scored 60 last game.
To keep the game alive until the final minute is already impressive.
I believe… give Blake Su a little more time to grow, and he'll become a top-five—maybe even top-three—superstar in the league."
The three legendary veteran centers chatted during the timeout. Though they praised Blake Su, they still believed the Lakers were more likely to win.
Indeed.
After Kobe hit that killer three, the momentum was completely on the Lakers' side.
But—
On the Suns bench.
Not a single player had given up.
And there was no reason to give up.
Because before this, Blake Su had already delivered multiple game-winning shots. Tonight he had hit 13 threes and scored 63 points.
His touch was scorching hot.
For Blake Su alone, 37.4 seconds and a four-point deficit was absolutely manageable.
There was still a chance.
All they had to do… was believe in Blake Su.
"Beep!"
Timeout ended.
Suns ball.
The final 37.4 seconds of offense… began.
Carter inbounded from the sideline near midcourt. Nash curled out to receive the pass, facing Derek Fisher. He immediately accelerated, driving straight ahead as if going for a quick two.
But when Nash reached the left elbow and drew Pau Gasol's help defense, he instantly kicked the ball back to the top of the arc—sending it to Blake Su.
"Heh."
A faint smile appeared on Pau Gasol's lips.
He had known from the beginning that the Suns' play was designed for Blake Su.
Feigning help defense, he moved up the moment Nash passed the ball.
Joining Ron Artest, the two once again sealed Blake Su off.
"I knew you'd take the shot, but we're not giving you the chance!"
Artest snorted coldly, locking onto Blake Su.
After catching the ball, Blake Su took a cross-step backward, trying to create space from Artest.
But… there was no opportunity.
Even though Blake Su was standing two meters beyond the top-of-the-arc three-point line, Artest still pressed up tightly.
Pau Gasol also watched closely from the side.
"Tsk tsk…"
In the stands, LeBron couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"It's really hard to imagine. In the final moments of a game, a team lets a center attack from the perimeter. Even crazier…
Blake Su is standing two meters beyond the three-point line, and defenders still don't dare give him an inch of space.
That's unbelievable."
"Yeah."
Wade nodded, his eyes never leaving Blake Su.
"That's a center who's already hit 13 threes tonight. No… Blake Su isn't really a center.
He's a 'cold-faced sniper' wearing a center's body."
On the court.
Seeing no chance for a three, Blake Su immediately signaled a play.
Curry stepped up to set a screen.
With Pau Gasol anchored in the paint, Blake Su paused for a split second—then suddenly accelerated toward the basket.
Whoosh!
Artest followed immediately as the two charged toward the rim.
The Lakers' defense collapsed instantly.
When Blake Su burst into the paint, he was surrounded by Fisher, Carter, Artest, and Bynum—four defenders forming a wall.
If Blake Su attempted a layup, it would almost certainly be swatted away.
So—
Whoosh!
Blake Su fired a pass to the perimeter.
At the top of the arc, Curry—who had just set the screen—caught the ball and immediately launched a three.
Did it go in?!
Clang!
No!
Suns fans were devastated.
But—
As the ball bounced high off the rim, Blake Su exploded upward under the basket, pushing his vertical to the absolute limit.
One against four.
He tipped the rebound back out.
Slap!
Whoosh!
Curry caught the ball again and immediately raised up for another three.
Swish!
This time it ripped cleanly through the net.
The three was good.
BOOM!
The arena erupted with thunderous cheers.
Blake Su's clutch rebound.
Curry's clutch three.
The Suns, dragged back from the brink of death, cut the deficit to just one point.
And the clock…
showed 19.3 seconds remaining.
One successful defensive stop.
One more scoring possession.
And they could take the lead.
The Suns… still had a chance to complete the comeback
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser