"Behind? We're still down 7 points?!"
Halftime.
On the Celtics' bench, the All-Star core of Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, and the others stared at the scoreboard in shock, disbelief written all over their faces.
They all felt they had played well.
Under those circumstances, how were they still trailing?
That was the reality.
The five of them were in great form, but Blake Su was on another level entirely. Driven by his determination to win, he pushed his abilities to their absolute peak.
One rookie against five All-Stars, and he overwhelmed them.
"Haha!"
In the stands, Pippen laughed.
"This rookie, Blake Su, is really something. He's running the entire team by himself and suppressing the Celtics' All-Star lineup.
Michael, why does he remind me of you in your rookie year?"
"Really?"
Jordan paused for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"His dominance is impressive. And if he can keep this up for the whole season…"
He let the thought hang for a second.
"Then he might be even better than I was."
In the front row across the court, Wall could only stare, speechless after watching Blake Su's all-around performance in the third quarter.
He did not want to admit it, but he had no choice.
That kind of ability to carry a team alone earned his respect.
As for "The Beast" Howard, he also acknowledged that Blake Su was far stronger than other rookies, and by a wide margin. Still, he had his own pride.
The two had not faced each other yet.
Howard, also a center, was not convinced. In his eyes, he was still the most dominant force in the paint, the best center in the league at this stage, without question.
Cheers echoed through the arena during the break.
Suns fans roared in appreciation of Blake Su's dazzling all-around offense. Even Celtics fans, though reluctant, could not deny it.
This rookie was truly exceptional.
Even so, a 7-point gap with one quarter left was not decisive. The Suns had the edge, but the game was far from over.
Soon, the final quarter began.
Both teams started with their bench units, giving the starters time to rest for the closing stretch.
For the next 5 minutes and 3 seconds, the reserves traded baskets back and forth, neither side gaining an advantage. After Alvin Gentry called a timeout, the score difference remained at 7 points, and both teams brought their starters back.
"Smack!"
Pierce and Garnett slapped hands.
"Let's take this game," Pierce said calmly. "Show the league that our 'Big Four' are the strongest team."
"Of course."
"He's just a rookie. No matter how capable he is, he's not beating us."
Garnett's confidence was unwavering.
Rondo and Ray Allen exchanged a glance, both equally assured.
As for "Shaq" O'Neal, his stamina could no longer keep up at this stage of his career, so Glen Davis took his place at power forward.
Down by only 7, on their home court, with everything on the line, the Celtics were full of confidence.
On the Suns' side, when his teammates were struggling the most, Blake Su stepped up. Alone, he battled the Celtics' All-Star lineup, erased the deficit, and built a 7-point lead.
He had single-handedly taken over the game.
But his teammates would not stay cold forever.
After the timeout in the fourth quarter, Curry knocked down a three, Nash hit a mid-range jumper, Carter buried a corner three, and Frye scored in the post.
Blake Su remained as steady as ever.
The Suns regained their rhythm and unleashed their run-and-gun offense once again. This was not just any fast-paced attack, but the signature style of the top team in the Western Conference.
Shot after shot fell in rhythm.
At the same time, the Celtics' All-Star lineup continued to deliver, and the game turned into a tense back-and-forth battle.
With 1 minute and 13 seconds left, it was still fiercely contested.
But the Suns maintained a solid 10-point lead.
The Celtics began to panic.
Pierce brought the ball up, faced Carter, faked a drive, and pulled up for a three. Carter read it perfectly and closed out hard.
Miss.
Garnett grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to Ray Allen for another three, trying to close the gap. But under pressure, Allen had lost his touch.
Another miss.
Blake Su charged into the paint, leapt high, and secured the rebound. Calmly, he pushed the ball up to the top of the key, letting the clock run down to the final 7 seconds.
He exploded forward, drove into the defense, drew a double team, then slipped a behind-the-back bounce pass to Curry, who had cut free unnoticed, using Carter's high screen.
Curry rose and fired from deep.
Swish.
Nothing but net.
Blake Su with the assist, and Curry's three-pointer sealed the game.
41.7 seconds remaining.
A 13-point lead.
The Celtics finally gave up. The Suns eased off as well, and both teams let the clock run out.
Game over.
In the end, the Suns defeated the Celtics by 11 points on the road, completing a season sweep.
"Wow!"
The moment the game ended, the broadcast booth erupted.
Hubie Brown could no longer contain his excitement. He cleared his throat and announced:
"Tonight, Blake Su put up a dominant all-around performance with 37 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals, and 4 blocks.
In the third quarter, he took over the game by himself, outplaying the Celtics' All-Star lineup, helping his team seize the lead and maintain it all the way to the final buzzer.
With this win over the Celtics, the Suns extend their winning streak from 22 to 23 games, surpassing the 22-game streak set by the Rockets' 'Yao-McGrady' duo during the 2007–08 season.
They now hold sole possession of the second-longest winning streak in NBA history.
The previous 22-game streak was ended by the Celtics' 'Big Three.'
And now, Blake Su has led the Phoenix Suns past that same Celtics team, reaching 23 consecutive wins and setting a new mark.
An outstanding performance from Blake Su."