Tonight, the Suns continue their homestand against the Kings, facing the very team that ended their 23-game winning streak.
Forty minutes before tip-off, players from both teams are actively warming up. For the Suns, although the loss has left them feeling more relaxed both physically and mentally, this game is undeniably about revenge.
As for the Kings, defeating the Suns, especially a Suns team riding a 23-game winning streak, gave this previously second-to-last team in the West a massive boost in confidence. They followed it up with a three-game winning streak, pushing their record close to 13th in the Western Conference.
Tonight, brimming with confidence, they are aiming to beat the Suns again and secure a fourth straight win.
In the stands, Suns fans and Kings fans have completely different mindsets.
Suns fans are hungry for revenge, while Kings fans already believe their team is the Suns' nemesis. After winning the last matchup, they are convinced they can do it again tonight.
Twenty minutes before tip-off, a well-built blonde woman, seemingly representing the fans, was granted permission to step onto the court. Covering her mouth with one hand and smiling shyly, she handed Blake Su a thick stack of stickers with the other.
She smiled and said, "Blake Su, this is a small gift from your fans. We hope it helps in your daily life. Also… Blake Su, can I give you a hug?"
Thud!
Before Blake Su could react, she had already rushed forward and thrown herself into his arms.
The heavy impact made him take an involuntary half-step back.
"Uh…?"
Just as Blake Su was about to say something, the girl, already completely satisfied, covered her flushed face, lowered her head, and ran off shyly.
"Fan gifts, huh? That's a pretty thick stack. What is it?"
Curry walked over while dribbling. Blake Su shrugged.
"No idea."
He opened the stack and handed some to Curry. The moment he saw what they were, Blake Su's eyes went wide like a cartoon character, and he nearly turned to stone.
Because the stickers were all warning labels for beginner drivers.
Things like: "The more you honk, the slower I go. Honk again and I'll stall." "Kiss me once, regret it for life." "New driver on the road. Nothing survives within ten miles." "We're not close. Stay away from me." And many more.
They were everywhere.
"Even experienced drivers mess up sometimes. Do they really think I'm a rookie?"
Blake Su looked utterly helpless.
"Hahaha!"
Curry burst out laughing.
"'Don't kiss me, I'm shy.' 'Ultimate beginner, expert at sudden braking.' 'Road rookie, braking god.' Hahaha!
Blake Su, your fans are hilarious. But hey, this is real love. You'd better work on your driving skills and not let your fans down."
Still laughing loudly, Curry walked off.
"Tch."
Blake Su snorted and couldn't be bothered to respond.
He looked up toward the stands where the blonde girl was sitting. She waved at him with a big smile, clearly asking, "So? Do you like the gift?"
From a fan's perspective, this was indeed a thoughtful and heartwarming gift after Blake Su's car accident.
Even though Blake Su felt like cursing inside, he still smiled back and happily accepted it.
Honestly, this was the first time he had ever received a gift from fans. Overall, it felt pretty good.
Ten minutes before the game, Steve Nash gathered his teammates and spoke seriously.
"Guys, we've rested enough. Starting now, we begin a new winning streak.
At the very least, we can't play like we did last game.
Blake Su put up a 30+ triple-double and led the team in every major stat, yet we still lost. That's just not right."
"Of course."
Carter smiled.
"We're a team. We win and lose together."
"Exactly."
Curry nodded firmly.
George, Goran Dragić, and the others nodded as well. The Suns were full of confidence and fighting spirit.
Hearing his stats from the previous game, Blake Su couldn't help but reflect again. A 30+ near quadruple-double is extremely hard to achieve. In that game, he had practically carried the offense alone.
Even though he recorded a 30+ triple-double, he was still at least four blocks short of a near quadruple-double. It might not sound like much, but it is incredibly difficult to reach.
Still, Blake Su knew he couldn't rush. Not only did he need to achieve a 30+ near quadruple-double, the team also had to win. Otherwise, even if he padded his stats, the mission would not count.
Soon, warm-ups ended.
The starting lineups from both teams took the court, and the game officially began.
"Jump ball!"
Blake Su and DeMarcus Cousins went up for the tip. With his superior vertical leap, Blake Su beat Cousins to the ball and tipped it away, securing the first possession for the Suns.
Nash brought the ball up, controlled it at the top of the key, passed to Curry on the right wing, faked a shot and lobbed it toward Frye under the basket, then swung it to Carter in the left corner. Carter faked again before passing to Blake Su at the left wing.
Blake Su caught the ball and faked a drive. Seeing Jason Thompson shift his weight, he immediately pulled up for a three.
With his height and wingspan, the moment he rose into the air, Jason completely gave up on contesting.
Swish!
The shot went cleanly through.
Blake Su drained the three, giving the Suns a perfect start.
On the next possession, Evans fed DeMarcus Cousins in the left low post. Cousins confidently backed down Frye, unaware that Blake Su was lurking on the wing.
The moment Cousins made his move.
Blake Su slid over instantly and struck with perfect timing, cleanly stealing the ball.
Curry reacted immediately and sprinted up the court first.
Blake Su fired a powerful long pass, like a Kamehameha, sending the ball straight to Curry and setting up a one-on-zero fast break.
Here it comes.
Curry's dunk.
Boom!
A powerful slam shook the rim. After landing, Curry hung briefly, then dropped down, pounding his chest and pointing upward with a proud expression, turning a simple dunk into a moment full of swagger.
The home crowd erupted in cheers.
Blake Su opened the game with a three, a steal, and an assist, leading a 5-0 run that instantly ignited the arena and dealt the Kings a heavy blow.
However, this was only the beginning.
Swish!
Swish!
Blake Su and Steve Nash exchanged assists and each knocked down another three, pushing the run to 11-0 and forcing the Kings to call a timeout.
"Wait, didn't we go toe-to-toe with them last time? Didn't we beat the Suns? Aren't we supposed to be their kryptonite? What's going on?!"
During the timeout, a Kings fan stood there completely stunned.
...
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