"Dust to dust, earth to earth. Everything returns to its proper place!"
"This is the Suns' home court, home-court advantage they earned with three straight blowout wins. The Grizzlies were only a flash-in-the-pan 'dark horse.' How could they possibly last?
Victory will belong to the Suns."
"Congratulations in advance to the Suns for advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals!"
Halftime.
The arena was already filled with the atmosphere of a Suns victory.
"Yeah!"
Yoona clenched her small fists as well, her flushed face full of excitement. Watching Blake Su's dazzling, flawless offense lead the team into a comeback made her heart swell with joy.
"You have to win!"
During the break.
Yoona silently prayed for Blake Su.
Soon.
The second half began!
The teams switched sides and resumed play.
Grizzlies ball.
After Arthur, the "dark horse," erupted for a stretch, Blake Su blocked him three times in a single quarter and repeatedly drilled shots right over his head with no regard for the defense.
In the end, he brought Arthur back down to earth.
Without their "dark horse," the Grizzlies returned to normal. But with only a one-point gap and their backs against the wall, they still refused to give up.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Under the basket, Randolph backed down Frye and muscled his way in. Facing George's help defense, he powered through contact, banked it off the glass, and scored with grit.
Right after that.
Marc Gasol got a chance to attack Curry one-on-one in the low post. He used a fake as if to drive, then pulled up for a jumper. The motion was a little slow.
But he had the height advantage.
"Swish!"
It went in too.
The "Black and White Bears" each scored once after returning for the second half, as if to tell the Suns that the game was not over yet, and the winner was still undecided.
However.
After the episode with the "dark horse" Arthur, Blake Su, who had to win tonight, had no intention of giving the Grizzlies even the slightest chance.
10:03.
Blake Su curled out along the baseline to receive the ball. Facing a double-team from Gay and Arthur, he was already standing one step beyond the three-point line.
"Bang!"
A crossover, then another step back.
"Whoosh!"
Seeing that Gay and Arthur had not followed, he seized that instant, raised his hand, and fired another extended three-pointer.
"No way that goes in!"
The two were half a beat late and barely managed to contest. Knowing they could not affect the shot, they turned to watch, both hoping in their hearts that it would miss.
But.
If their hopes had worked, they would have "swept the No. 8 seed" Suns long ago.
"Swish!"
The ball pierced the heart of the net.
Nothing but net.
8:21.
Gay's jumper missed. George grabbed the rebound and passed to Nash to push the pace. The Suns' run-and-gun offense roared to life, with Curry and Blake Su settling on the left and right wings near the top of the arc.
Who would get it?
"Whoosh!"
Nash looked at Curry, then sent a behind-the-back pass to Blake Su. Blake Su caught it and immediately let fly with a pull-up three in transition.
Dead-eye accuracy.
"Swish!"
In again.
"That's his seventh three-pointer of the night. With one more, Blake Su will tie his own playoff single-game record for threes."
The commentator had barely finished speaking.
6:33.
At the left wing, one step beyond the three-point line, Blake Su held the ball with Arthur pressed right up on him. Blake Su gave a jab step as if to drive.
"Whoosh!"
Then he suddenly rose up.
Against Arthur's tight defense, he launched yet another extended three-pointer.
"That can go in too?!"
Arthur, who had contested right in his face, could not believe it. But in the very next moment, that crisp sound of the net sent a shiver through his body.
"Swish!"
Blake Su's unreasonable three-pointer fell once again.
"His eighth. He's tied his personal playoff single-game record for three-pointers, and the third quarter isn't even over yet. Can he keep hitting from deep tonight?!"
3:46.
At the left wing, Blake Su faced Marc Gasol, accelerated one step toward the right wing, then abruptly stopped and stepped back behind the three-point line, raising his hand for another three.
But.
Gay had anticipated it from the wing and came over to contest, putting heavy pressure on Blake Su this time.
"Clang!"
The three missed.
The rebound?!
Frye and Randolph fought for it together. George charged in as well, flying over to snatch the ball before landing near the left baseline.
"Bang!"
He suddenly bounced the ball backward through his legs.
"Huh?!"
Gay, who had chased over in time, froze for a moment.
The next instant.
Blake Su flashed out behind George, caught the ball as it bounced through George's legs, and raised his hand for another three-pointer.
"What?!"
Gay instantly realized what was happening, but just as he tried to rush out and contest, George sealed him off completely. There was no way through.
Blake Su got a nearly wide-open second chance from three.
"Swish!"
Straight through the net!
"Great play!"
"Blake Su's fourth three-pointer of the quarter, his ninth of the game. Ever since Arthur stole the ball from Blake Su and angered him, Blake Su has been answering with three after three.
He's forcing the Grizzlies into a dead end!"
1:17.
Arthur, who had been stuck to Blake Su like glue, was held up by George's screen. Blake Su once again slipped along the baseline and curled out.
Nash delivered the pass right on time.
"Smack!"
Blake Su caught it, and only Gay stood in front of him. That meant, for Blake Su, an opening had already appeared.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Facing Gay, he went into a series of back-to-the-basket changes of direction, then suddenly made a wide crossover to the right, his whole body sliding sideways with the move.
Then.
The instant he gathered the ball, seeing half a body of space between himself and the chasing Gay, he drew the bowstring and rose up for another extended, graceful three-pointer.
"That shot is too difficult!"
No one knew who shouted it.
However... the ball traced a beautiful arc through the air, then plunged into the basket and splashed through the net.
Another unreasonable three went in.
"Boom!"
This graceful, stylish three-pointer ignited thunderous cheers from the home crowd.
"Beep, beep!"
Blake Su, who had now hit 10 three-pointers in a single game, forced the Grizzlies to call timeout.
Blake Su came off to rest. After the timeout, the final minute-plus of the third quarter quickly played out.
During the quarter break.
Inside the broadcast studio.
"Tsk, tsk..."
Hubie Brown clicked his tongue and exclaimed, "Even against suffocating defense, Blake Su hit five threes in a single quarter again and scored 15 points.
Tonight... he's already made 10 three-pointers. That is just absurdly strong."
"Exactly."
Dave Pasch also said in astonishment, "And besides that unstoppable, unreasonable three-point show, Blake Su also added 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in this quarter.
After three quarters.
Blake Su has already put up a terrifying all-around line of 37 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks.
And behind that dazzling stat line, Blake Su has helped the Suns stretch their lead from just 1 point to a full 14.
They won the quarter by 13 points.
An angered Blake Su went into rampage mode, pushed his offense to the absolute limit, and used 10 three-pointers to shoot through the Grizzlies!"