At the commentary desk.
Van Gundy said loudly, "Tonight, Blake Su has already exploded for 38 points, along with a brilliant line of 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks, and he's done it with astonishing efficiency.
Another perfect performance.
Blake Su, this superstar rookie, has fully adjusted to the rhythm of the playoffs.
As for the Lakers, Kobe also has 27 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block. The numbers look decent, but he's shooting under 40 percent from the field.
That really is a little low.
But basketball isn't a one-man game. No matter how well Blake Su plays by himself, it doesn't guarantee a win. And no matter how poorly Kobe plays, it doesn't guarantee a loss.
Right now, with 1 minute and 15 seconds left, the Lakers hold a 2-point lead and have possession. They have complete control of the situation on the court.
Who will come out on top?
After the timeout, the final 1 minute and 15 seconds will decide everything!"
"Exactly."
Mike Breen picked up the thread and said, "Blake Su and Kobe are both players with big-time clutch nerves. A 2-point game, 1 minute and 15 seconds left.
It's really hard to say who's going to win."
As the two discussed it, play resumed on the court.
The final 1 minute and 15 seconds began.
The ball belonged to the Lakers. Fisher inbounded from the sideline at midcourt, and the Lakers caught the ball at the top of the arc. George and Curry immediately rushed up to double-team.
Everyone knew that at this point, the ball was going to Kobe.
Even if he had not been shooting well tonight, they still had to guard him with everything they had. That was the intimidation of the "current No. 1 shooting guard."
Leave him open?
You would pay for it.
"Whoosh!"
Kobe accelerated with the ball, battling George as he tried to break through both George and Curry. And on top of that, Blake Su was also sliding over from the wing.
Since everyone knew Kobe would not pass easily, three defenders collapsed on him.
Kobe was forced to pick up his dribble just inside the free-throw line. He could not keep driving, and he had no shot at all, so he had no choice but to pass.
"Smack!"
Pau Gasol caught the ball on the left low block.
"Step!"
Blake Su stepped up with the play and once again matched up against Pau Gasol. And just as Pau Gasol tried to back him down, after only a single dribble...
"Swipe!"
Blake Su struck quickly, cleanly, and ruthlessly, nearly poking the ball loose.
"Step!"
Blake Su took another step and pressed right up against Pau Gasol.
"Hiss..."
Pau Gasol hurriedly hugged the ball tight and sucked in a sharp breath. The instant Blake Su closed in, he felt enormous pressure.
"What is this defensive pressure?!"
Pau Gasol was shocked.
Blake Su narrowed his eyes, his expression unchanged.
In truth, the defensive pressure Pau Gasol felt had intensified even further because of "The Glove" Gary Payton's defense.
After all, with Blake Su's 216-centimeter height, Iverson's Talent, and Eagle Claw, he was already capable of locking down Pau Gasol one-on-one.
Now, with Gary Payton's defensive awareness added on top, Pau Gasol naturally felt tremendous pressure when facing Blake Su, especially a fully focused Blake Su.
"Whoosh!"
Pass.
He had to pass.
He kicked the ball out to Odom at the top of the arc. Seeing that there was not much time left on the shot clock, Odom launched a three, and the moment it left his hand, he knew it was off.
"Clang!"
Brick.
George grabbed the rebound and gave it to Nash to push the break. The Suns' run-and-gun offense roared to life, even in the final minute.
They still dared to run.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Curry sprinted. Nash sprinted. George sprinted. Blake Su settled at the left side above the arc, while Nash, ball in hand, kept his speed without slowing down.
It looked like he was going coast-to-coast.
"Whoosh!"
In reality, he passed it back to Blake Su. Blake Su caught it and immediately raised his hands as if to fire a transition three, instantly drawing every Lakers defender's attention.
"Screech!"
Kobe, who had gotten back in time, stopped sharply and lunged at him.
Odom and Pau Gasol also rushed over from the wings. Three defenders, six long arms. Was Blake Su going to force a three through the defense?
No!
"Whoosh!"
Just as Blake Su was about to shoot, he suddenly fired a bounce pass. The ball went straight past Kobe and flew toward the left corner.
"Smack!"
Curry, who had cut inside, caught the ball and went straight up for the layup.
"Hah!"
Fisher, who had chased after him, leapt to block it, but Curry hung in the air and avoided him. Seeing that he could not get the block, Fisher's arm came down directly across Curry's shoulder.
Curry lost his balance.
"Beep, beep!"
The whistle blew.
As his body tilted out of control, Curry tossed the ball toward the rim. It hit the iron, spun around twice, then dropped through the net.
Good.
It was a 2+1.
"The Su-Curry connection! That was gorgeous!"
"Beautiful!"
A thunderous roar erupted throughout the arena. The fans were completely boiling over. That 2+1 from Curry off the Su-Curry connection was huge.
"Smack!"
Curry slapped hands with Blake Su, then stepped to the free-throw line.
The and-one free throw.
Would it fall?
"Swish!"
Calmly through.
Not only did he make it, he put them ahead.
"Tch!"
Kobe snorted as he looked at the 46.4 seconds left on the game clock. His expression turned ugly, and at the same time, a fierce fighting spirit surged through his entire body.
Win!
He had to win this game!
But rather than just winning, it was more like redemption. After struggling all night, now that his team was in a dangerous spot, he had to stand up.
He had to help the team win and redeem himself.
"Thud, thud, thud!"
At the top of the arc.
Kobe held the ball, staring hard at George in front of him. With that look, everyone knew the "Black Mamba" was going one-on-one. He was going to try to save the game himself.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Fisher, Pau Gasol, Odom, and the others all cleared out to one side, giving Kobe enough space to attack George one-on-one.
But the Suns had no intention of giving him that chance.
"Step!"
"Step!"
Blake Su pressed up, and Curry watched from the side, ready to interfere at any moment.
"Blake Su and George, the Suns' two strongest defenders, are double-teaming Kobe. What will he choose? Pass or attack?
Wow!
Kobe really is Kobe. He actually forces his way through both defenders, gets to the right high post, stops on a dime, and rises into a fadeaway jumper. An incredibly difficult fadeaway.
Blake Su and George can't get to it.
Is it good?!
No!!!"
The rebound?
Frye and Bynum both fought for it, and the ball was tipped loose. Blake Su dove forward and secured the rebound. There were still 28.1 seconds left.
"Whoosh!"
Blake Su pushed the ball up the court himself.
"Damn it!"
Kobe, who had missed again, charged furiously toward Blake Su, determined to defend this possession as best he could. If there was no other way, he would have to foul.
"Thud, thud, thud!"
Blake Su handled the ball smoothly. When Odom rushed over from the wing, Blake Su spun away from him. But at the very instant he turned...
"Now!"
Kobe, sharp-eyed and quick-handed, struck fast, accurately, and hard.
"Smack!"
He knocked the ball out of Blake Su's hands mid-spin.
Kobe's steal!
"Not good!"
Blake Su frowned tightly, sensing trouble.
"Whoosh!"
Kobe lowered his head and accelerated.
A Lakers fast break?
No!
Frye, who had not yet gotten back on the wing, got to the ball Kobe had knocked loose first. He immediately swung a pass back to Blake Su.
Blake Su caught it.
Since Kobe had only knocked the ball away and had not gained possession a second time, it did not count as a completed steal, and the shot clock would not reset.
"Whoosh!"
Standing in the logo area, Blake Su saw that there were only 2.1 seconds left on the shot clock. He raised his hands and launched a logo three.
"What?!"
Kobe's eyes widened.
"Hah!!"
Odom, who had been on the wing ready to push the fast break, roared and lunged at him, but the ball had already flown out a step before his contest arrived.
"That's insane!"
In the stands, a Lakers fan's eyes went wide as he stared at the ball spinning through the air, refusing to believe it could possibly go in.
However...
"Swish!"
With a beautiful snap of the net, Blake Su's logo three went straight through the heart of the rim and pierced the net.
"Boom!"
After a moment of silence, a tidal wave of cheers erupted, shaking the entire US Airways Center.