Chapter 204: The Tonight Show.
The Grizzlies secured their 7th consecutive win of the season, setting a new franchise record. After the game, the team celebrated in the locker room.
There had been concerns from the outside world that the Grizzlies might face the same challenges defending champions like the Lakers or Mavericks had encountered in the past.
However, the Grizzlies quickly silenced those doubts with their performances, proving that such worries were unfounded.
Some analysts, like Stan Van Gundy, even suggested that the Grizzlies resembled teams like the 1991 Bulls or the 2001 Lakers—teams whose second championship seasons showcased their true peak.
After the celebrations, the team immediately boarded a flight back to Memphis to prepare for a back-to-back game the next day.
...
Back in Memphis, Han Sen remembered Shane Battier's advice and decided to check the Warriors' website.
To his surprise, the website not only had a full cheerleading roster but also included their photos. Yet, the woman Han had seen during the game wasn't listed.
It dawned on him that she might have been a temporary addition, much like his own experience working as a Heat ball boy years ago. This realization left him both puzzled and a little disappointed.
Han even searched for game footage, only to discover that her appearance hadn't been captured in the broadcast.
The sequence coincided with an official timeout ① when the broadcast typically didn't show live cheerleader performances.
With that realization, Han chalked it up to missed timing or perhaps a case of fate not aligning.
...
Time flew by, and December arrived. The first month of the 2012-2013 season officially came to a close.
The league announced the first batch of monthly awards.
Coach of the Month honors went to Dave Joerger of the Grizzlies and Erik Spoelstra of the Heat.
The Grizzlies boasted an impressive 11-1 record in November, holding the best record in the Western Conference at 12-1, including an October win.
This shocked many, given how brutal the West was this season. Yet, the Grizzlies had convincingly beaten contenders like the Nuggets and Spurs.
Mike Conley summed up their success succinctly:
"People forget we played most of last season without Zach. This year, we're a complete unit."
Han Sen was named Western Conference Player of the Month for November, averaging 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
However, the Grizzlies weren't the only strong team in the West. The Lakers, Spurs, Nuggets, and Mavericks all finished the month with three or fewer losses. Even the Thunder, ranked sixth, posted an 8-4 record.
Russell Westbrook, in particular, shone in Kevin Durant's absence, averaging MVP-level numbers with 25.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in November.
But the downside of such a competitive West was the steep divide between the top and bottom teams. Many teams in the lower half had fewer than five wins.
...
Meanwhile, in the East, surprises abounded.
The Heat lost their season opener to the Pacers.
Despite Granger's injury, Indiana's revamped lineup, featuring Paul George at small forward and Tony Allen at shooting guard, stifled both Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant.
Durant, however, bounced back to lead the Heat to an 11-game win streak, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Month with averages of 26.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Yet, the season's biggest hype revolved around the Grizzlies and Heat. Fans eagerly awaited their Christmas Day showdown, a clash between the league's top teams and a potential NBA Finals preview.
...
During this buildup, a particularly explosive bit of news surfaced—one that involved Han Sen.
Scarlett Johansson appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her new film, Hitchcock.
During the interview, the topic shifted to her iconic Black Widow role in The Avengers, especially the hinted chemistry between her character and Bruce Banner.
In a cheeky moment, Fallon asked, "Who's the most impressive man you've met in real life?"
Scarlett's response?
"A basketball player."
Fallon quipped, "KD?" referencing Durant and the infamous "bathwater" meme.
Scarlett laughed and emphatically denied it. "No, no way!"
She then dropped the name: "Han Sen."
The audience gasped. Fallon's eyebrows shot up. "Wait, why?"
Blushing, Scarlett cheekily replied, "Hulk smash."
The double entendre sent the crowd into hysterics, and the clip went viral on social media.
Fans quickly linked Scarlett's comment to Taylor Swift's earlier admission that her breakup with Han was partly due to his 'excessive stamina.'
With endorsements from two A-list stars, Han Sen's off-court persona reached new heights.
Of course, this whole saga brought him a massive influx of hater points.
Jealousy truly makes people ugly—being with Swift was already enough to break some hearts, but now Scarlett too?
One by one, he's toppling everyone's dream goddesses like they're dominoes. No mercy. No survivors.
And the one who felt it the most? Kevin Durant.
Durant knew all too well what 'smash' really meant—it wasn't just about casual encounters; it painted vivid, brutal imagery. It was the kind of imagery that could send him spiraling.
Unsurprisingly, Durant's aggression on the court reached a new peak this month.
That leads us to the mid-December showdown between the Heat and Thunder, giving us December's second explosive headline.
LeBron James made his much-anticipated return after a month-long injury break. But his comeback didn't spark the expected resurgence for the Thunder.
Here's why: while LeBron was out, the Thunder thrived, with players stepping up and finding chemistry in his absence.
His return disrupted the team's newfound rhythm—his demand for the ball and dominance in the offense threw everyone off balance.
Instead of boosting the team, LeBron's presence inadvertently made them weaker.
So, when the Heat rolled into town, it was like watching a lion feast on a wounded deer. Miami essentially sealed the game by halftime.
Then, in the third quarter, tensions boiled over.
A frustrated LeBron threw an elbow at Durant during a defensive switch.
Durant, already seething from recent events, fired back, and the two started trading verbal jabs:
LeBron: "You're soft, KD. Always second-best, always will be."
Durant: "Better than getting swept in the Finals like you."
LeBron stepped up, glaring: "Don't talk about that series. I carried us there."
Durant smirked, leaning in close: "Yeah, carried straight into the history books. Han made you his highlight reel, Bron."
The Heat bench tried to stifle laughter. LeBron wasn't having it.
"Oh, shut up, KD. You're just mad you can't stop thinking about Scarlett and Han Sen. Bathwater boy!"
The crowd gasped. Durant lunged forward, but before things escalated, Udonis Haslem stepped between them, arms outstretched.
"Both of y'all, calm the hell down. You're embarrassing yourselves."
Udonis Haslem, trying to play peacekeeper, quickly stepped in to separate the two. But instead of defusing the situation, he became LeBron's next target:
"Stay out of it, UD. You're just a role player. You've never carried anyone in your life."
The air went still. Haslem didn't flinch. He stared LeBron down, his voice calm but cutting:
"Role player? I was a champion before you even sniffed the Finals. Don't get it twisted."
That one line? It silenced LeBron completely.
Haslem's words struck a nerve, especially since he was one of only two remaining players from Miami's 2006 championship team—the other being Dwyane Wade, who wasn't the type to spit venom at a former teammate.
Durant, now grinning ear to ear, took one final parting shot at LeBron:
"Bathwater Bron. That's your legacy now."
The clash, though, was captured live on broadcast, unfiltered. This birthed not one, but two legendary memes:
1. 'The Haslem Reminder': A clip of Haslem saying, "I was a champion before you even sniffed the Finals."
2. 'Bathwater Bron': A photoshopped image of LeBron holding a Grizzlies-logo mug, captioned: "Stay hydrated, King."
The latter hit especially hard, given Scarlett's recent appearance on Fallon's show, where the "Hulk Smash" comment had already cemented its place in pop culture.
Han Sen, meanwhile, was scrolling through the chaos on social media, enjoying the show, when his accounts were flooded by Durant fans melting down.
Clearly, Durant had hit his breaking point again.
Just as Han Sen was mulling over how to deal with the influx of trolling, he received a text message from Scarlett: "I'll be in Memphis for Christmas!"
Han blinked, a bit caught off guard.
Christmas in the U.S. was like Lunar New Year back home—family time. It wasn't the kind of holiday someone casually spent away from home.
But then again, Scarlett was 28 and had already been married once; her ties to her family weren't as tight as they used to be.
Plus, if she did spend Christmas with her family, that would include her ex-husband—not exactly festive.
"I'll have a gift ready for you," he replied, keeping it simple.
...
By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, the anticipation for the Grizzlies-Heat Christmas showdown was palpable.
On the evening of the 24th, most players spent the night at home with their families. Durant, however, stayed in Miami for an intense solo practice session.
He wasn't thinking about LeBron or the Thunder anymore—his focus was singular: crushing Han Sen on Christmas Day.
As for Han, he drove to the airport to pick up Scarlett. Most of his teammates had left to celebrate with their loved ones, leaving him free to bring her back to his place.
When she got in the car, she leaned back with a relaxed sigh, giving him a warm smile.
"Flying during Christmas is a nightmare," she said.
"You survived," Han teased lightly, starting the car. "That's impressive."
Scarlett chuckled. "Barely. But I'll take the compliment."
Back at Han's place, Scarlett's eyes widened as she noticed the Christmas setup—a tree, lights, and even a roasted turkey in the kitchen.
"Wait," she said, turning to him with genuine surprise. "You did all this?"
Han shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. "Not exactly. I had Chris help me."
She walked over to the tree, lightly brushing a hand over its ornaments. "Still… you didn't have to do this. It's really sweet."
Han rubbed the back of his neck, feeling out of his depth. "Well, you said you were coming. I figured it'd feel more like Christmas this way."
Scarlett's smile widened. "It does."
After dinner, Scarlett wandered around the apartment, exploring with curiosity.
Han disappeared for a moment, then returned dragging a large wrapped package. Scarlett stopped mid-step, her eyes lighting up.
"What is that?" she asked, grinning.
"Your gift," Han said, setting it down in the living room.
"Seriously? You didn't have to!" Scarlett crouched down to help unwrap it, her curiosity bubbling over. But when the paper came off, revealing the contents, she froze.
"A… Jurassic-themed tent?" she said, blinking.
Han scratched his head, unsure how to read her reaction.
"I wasn't sure what you'd like. So… I went through your social media. You post a lot of travel photos, and you mentioned liking adventures. This seemed like something you might enjoy."
Scarlett stared at the tent for a moment, then looked up at Han. Her expression softened, her smile returning, but with something deeper behind it.
"You know," she said, her voice quieter now, "this reminds me of something from when I was a kid."
"Oh?"
"When I was seven, I had a Jurassic Park tent. I begged my dad for it, and when I got it, I set it up in my bedroom.
It had dinosaurs that glowed in the dark—raptors, T-Rex, the works. I felt safe in there. I ended up sleeping in that tent for almost a year."
Han's brows rose slightly in surprise. "No kidding."
Scarlett nodded, her fingers brushing over the edge of the tent. "It's funny… you couldn't have known, but this is one of the most thoughtful gifts I've ever gotten."
There was a moment of quiet between them, broken only when Scarlett laughed softly.
"Well? Are we going to set it up, or what?"
They worked together to assemble the tent in the middle of the living room, laughter filling the space as they struggled with poles and fabric.
When it was finally up, Scarlett clapped her hands together, delighted.
"It's perfect," she declared.
Han started to clean up, but Scarlett stopped him.
"Wait. Bring some blankets and pillows," she said, grinning mischievously.
"What for?"
"We're sleeping in it tonight."
Han blinked, caught off guard. But seeing how excited she was, he didn't argue.
...
Later, lying side by side in the dimly lit tent, with only the moonlight filtering through the window, Scarlett shifted closer, resting her head on Han's arm.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For all of this."
Han glanced down at her. "It's just a tent."
"It's more than that," Scarlett replied, her fingers lightly tracing patterns on his arm. "You don't have to understand. Just know it means a lot to me."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Han felt the warmth of her gratitude.
"Best Christmas gift I've ever gotten," she added, lifting his hand to kiss it lightly.
Han froze for a second, feeling a mix of awkwardness and surprise.
This had been a lucky guess. From his perspective, what kind of little girl liked dinosaurs? Wasn't it supposed to be dolls or something?
But he wasn't about to ruin the mood by overthinking it.
Instead, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss.
The tent, the soft glow of the moonlight, and the warmth between them made the moment feel just right.
-End of Chapter-
① Official Timeout: A scheduled pause in the game for advertising or other league-related purposes, during which the broadcast often cuts away from live events like cheerleader performances.
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