"Yoona!"
Blake Su answered the phone with a smile.
After winning Game 6 and forcing the series to Game 7, he was in an excellent mood.
"Hehe~"
On the other end, Yoona laughed as well. "You sound like you're in a good mood. Congratulations on winning three straight and forcing Game 7.
"And it's at home, too.
"You have a really good chance of winning."
"Ahem..."
Blake Su cleared his throat lightly and laughed. "My dear, be a little more confident. Drop the 'really good chance.' We're definitely winning."
"Haha!"
Yoona was amused. "You sound really confident. Well, you absolutely have to win. Coming back from down three to win four straight would be amazing."
"Of course."
Blake Su did not deny it. He was full of confidence.
"Um... shouldn't you thank me properly? Wasn't it my encouragement, from such a beautiful girl, that gave you endless motivation?
"That's why you won three games in a row."
When Blake Su heard that...
Good grief.
Wasn't she being a little narcissistic?
But when he thought about it, Yoona's encouragement really had been part of the reason he adjusted his mentality and found the right approach for the playoffs.
"You're right."
Blake Su smiled. "Then... thank you, beautiful Yoona, for your encouragement. If I get the chance, I'll definitely treat you to a meal."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then... after you win Game 7 and advance, treat me to dinner. I'll be there in person to watch your Game 7."
"Sure!"
"Mm-hmm. You have to win, or Yoona will be really upset."
"Got it!"
With that, he made a promise to Yoona.
With this extra promise on his shoulders, Blake Su's determination to win Game 7 grew even stronger. After all... the person he was facing was a celebrity with considerable fame in Korea, and even around the world.
And a stunning beauty at that.
If he lost, falling to the No. 8 seed in Game 7, then had to meet her and treat her to dinner, Blake Su would feel utterly humiliated.
So whether it was for advancing further in the playoffs or for the chance to have dinner with a beautiful celebrity, he had to win Game 7.
...
Amid everyone's anticipation.
Soon, that night arrived.
At 8:00 p.m., at US Airways Center, an hour before tip-off, the stands were already packed. The sold-out arena made the small city of Phoenix feel as lively as a major metropolis.
However... the moment the Grizzlies players came out of the tunnel and stepped onto the court for warm-ups...
"Swish, swish, swish!"
One after another, Suns fans unfurled the long banners, small flags, and signs they had prepared in advance, raising them high and waving them with all their might.
And written across every banner and flag were the striking words: "Down Three, Win Four."
They were predicting tonight's result in advance, while also echoing the "script" Blake Su had told reporters he had written himself.
A double boost.
Then...
"The Suns will win!"
"The Suns will win!!"
"The Suns will win!!!"
"BOOM!"
A wave of frenzied cheers erupted, overwhelming and deafening, louder than a Boeing 747 taking off.
The fans' passionate shouts pushed the Suns' home-court advantage to the absolute limit.
And that placed even more pressure on the Grizzlies, who were already standing on the edge of defeat and carrying enormous pressure. Before the game had even begun, they were already more nervous and uneasy.
The game had not even started, yet the Grizzlies were already close to collapsing.
"Wow~"
Sitting in the fifth row of the stands, Yoona had come to watch the game in person. Feeling the intensity of the home crowd's cheers, she could not help getting excited.
At the same time, she felt that in an atmosphere like this, the Suns were bound to win.
On the court.
Blake Su, who was warming up, spotted Yoona. Youthful, beautiful, and naturally radiant, she stood out from the crowd like a beacon in a sea of spectators.
He waved at her.
"Go for it~"
Yoona smiled brightly and clenched her fists in encouragement.
At the same time.
Inside the broadcast studio.
In high spirits, Dave Pasch chuckled and said, "The Grizzlies once had a golden opportunity after taking a 3-0 lead over the Suns, but they failed to seize it. Now the series is tied 3-3.
"It's Game 7 on the Suns' home court.
"Even through the screen, you can feel the terrifying atmosphere here. The Grizzlies' chances are almost gone. The Suns are bound to win tonight.
"Blake Su will lead the Suns forward."
"That's right."
Hubie Brown nodded in agreement and added, "But after all, tonight's Game 7 is a game that will enter history and create history.
"So... it has still drawn plenty of legendary players from the older generation, along with celebrities and VIPs from all walks of life.
"Tonight, the Suns and Grizzlies will play Game 7, the final game of the entire first round of the playoffs, in a matchup broadcast nationwide.
"All eyes are on this game. Everyone is watching to see the Suns crush the Grizzlies again, come back from down three to win four straight, and make history."
On the court.
Before the game.
A reporter specifically interviewed Randolph of the Grizzlies and asked, "Before the game, TNT experts predicted that the Suns have a 100% chance of winning tonight.
"What do you have to say about that?"
"Hmph!"
Randolph snorted coldly and said flatly, "Tell those experts this. Tonight, we Grizzlies are going to prove them completely wrong."
With that, Randolph turned and walked away.
The reporter followed Randolph's line of sight and saw that the entire Grizzlies team was radiating a fierce fighting spirit.
Clearly, Hollins' earlier words had successfully fired up the players. Tonight, they were burning their boats and leaving themselves no way back. They were determined to win.
The home crowd's cheers, the reporter's interview, the extreme prediction from TNT's experts, the attention from the national broadcast, and the pressure of a do-or-die Game 7...
All of it made the atmosphere of this game incredibly tense before it had even begun.
Before long, amid the roaring cheers of the home crowd, the game tipped off.
"Jump ball!"
As always, Blake Su struck first, winning the tip and securing the Suns' first offensive possession of the game.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Nash pushed the ball up the court. Blake Su cut toward the basket, and George set a screen for him. The Grizzlies immediately switched and closed in, preventing him from catching the ball easily.
At that moment...
"Whoosh!"
Nash passed to Curry on the left side near the top of the arc. Curry raised his hand and fired a three. The arc was high, the angle was perfect, and the shot looked confident.
"Clang!"
Unfortunately, it missed.
Randolph secured the rebound and gave the ball to Conley, who pushed up the court. At the top of the arc, also on the left side, he used a screen and looked ready to attack.
"Whoosh!"
A three-point attempt.
"Swish!"
Clean through the net.
On the very next possession, Conley used a series of crossovers, suddenly burst forward, got past Nash, and lofted up a floater from inside the three-point line.
"Swish!"
Another make.
"Wow... Conley has scored five straight points to open the game. He's in good form."
"The Grizzlies start 5-0. At this rate... are they about to seize the momentum, turn the tide, and strike back?!"
...
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