Chapter 150: Knicks vs Boston: Second Half II
~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: October 20th, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 9:04 PM)~~~
The timeout ends, and I make my way onto the court. Brunson has to take a break. He's been going full force the last two quarters. That's okay. If he wants a break, he can take it. But I'm staying on the court until the end of the game.
We get ready on defense as Tatum brings down the ball, and I'm guarding him this time. My only goal from the system is to shut Tatum down on the offensive end, which is what I'm doing.
Sadly, he gets some good screens, and I'm forced to shift to Brown. Tatum gets free from his defender and hits a leaning 2-pointer. Making the score 68 to 65 in our favor. They're right on our tail and have no intention of slowing down.
I get the inbound and make my way down the court. I'm double-teamed by Smart and Tatum. The two best defenders on Boston. I have to pass it away, and the ball is found in an alley-oop for Robinson. He throws it down with two hands, and we get a quick two points.
That makes the score 70 to 65. We're not letting the pressure up either. We shift back on defense, and Brown is the one to bring the ball down the court. I'm sticking to Tatum since this is my match-up.
"That was a cheap shot earlier. You can bet I'm gonna pay your bitch ass back for that."
I crack a smile and look at him.
"I'd pay money to see you try, pussy."
There isn't a real comparison to be made between Tatum and me. I'm a better basketball player. It's the facts. But I enjoy the competition he's bringing. Boston is proof that I can't beat an NBA team on my own.
He doesn't really appreciate my lack of offense to his insult, but that's how the game is played. And I play it better.
Unfortunately, more screens are set against me to get Tatum free, and I'm barely able to get passed them to contest his shot.
The punk hits a 3-pointer in my face.
"Hold that, bitch!"
He's getting pumped up, but so am I.
I get the inbound, and the entire place is going quiet as I bring the ball down the court. I'm double-teamed by Smart and Tatum again, but I'm not passing it away this time. I spin away from both of them. Causing them to chase me.
However, I quickly cross back in the other direction. They fall into each other and hit the ground together. I elevate and hit the 3-pointer as the crowd nearly makes me deaf from the screams.
That makes the score 73 to 68, and I stare down Tatum specifically as I slowly walk backward to get back on defense. He's no slouch. Hitting that shot in my face proves it, but if we're having a punking competition, I'm not losing.
Boston brings the ball down the court, and Tatum decides to run isolation on me. He tries to cross me up, but I force him to pick up the ball and pass it out. It reaches Brown's hands as he gets a screen and passes it to Smart in the corner, who hits a 3-pointer.
Making the score 73 to 71. The score is closing fast, and there is still lots of basketball left to play. I'm down the court watching Barret bring the ball down. Tatum is right next to me.
This time he's not chatting my ear off, and this shows he's locking in mentally. No more stupid mistakes. I've seen that look on other players I've been matched up against. While they never won, they did start playing better.
Sweat is pouring down the head of everyone, and I'm showing just a little bit of sweat myself. But my badges are preventing me from feeling any fatigue.
Barret calls for a screen, and I oblige. I cut to the basket and jump as I see an Alley-oop coming my way. I'm about to reach it when I'm taken out of the air by Boston's big man. Immediately, a whistle is blown, and people closest to us are cussing him out.
"It's gonna take a lot more than a hard fucking foul to stop me."
These words leave my mouth as my teammates help bring me up. While it wasn't a shot attempt, it's not warranting free throws. But we have possession.
The game is getting good now.
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