章 124: No other choice
As Ginobili's divine Euro step layup pushes the lead back to 5, the once noisy Suns fans are stunned into silence.
"Scored again?"
"How does that bizarre breakthrough even go in?!"
"The 'Devil's Blade' is too mystical!"
"I'm speechless, has Manu activated some kind of cheat code?"
The Suns fans are in a state of collapse.
"Beep beep!"
Gentry calls for a timeout.
Frye, catching the ball as it bounces off the hardwood after escaping the hoop, looks somewhat dazed. He seems unable to comprehend how Ginobili just scored that basket.
The footwork, the twist—it's all so elusive, so incredible!
Yet it was a basket.
Now...
There are only 15.3 seconds left on the clock, and the Suns are down by 5 points. The situation appears dire for them.
At the commentator's table...
"Wow—"
Jon Barry laments, "Manu Ginobili's slanted breakthrough with an unslowing Euro-step layup is just too cunning, too difficult to handle.
And it was oh so crucial!
A 5-point difference with only 15.3 seconds left, it seems over for the Suns.
Even though Carlos just completed a tough 3+1, bringing his score for the night to 50 points, against the Western Conference powerhouse, in the face of the 'GDP's' barrage, it seems the rookie Carlos is faltering. However, for a rookie, for someone just starting out, to battle this way against the Spurs' powerful trio is already impressive."
"Hey—"
Mark Jackson interrupts Jon Barry, "Jon, it's not over yet, remember the Suns' showdown with the Lakers—only 3.8 seconds left, down by one. With the ball in the Lakers' court, the Suns still pulled off a miraculous buzzer-beater. Tonight, with 15.3 seconds, the Suns holding the ball, and a 5-point difference, it's not impossible."
"Hehehe!"
After listening, Jon Barry shakes his head and laughs, "Mark, that kind of steal-and-layup buzzer-beater doesn't just happen because you want it to, it's a convergence of the right moment, location, and people. Do you really think there's a chance for such a miracle tonight with a full 15.3 seconds and a 5-point difference?"
"Uh..."
Mark Jackson falls silent.
Clearly, he also knows that the kind of last-second win against the Lakers is a rare occurrence, and he understands that it's tough for the Suns tonight, making a comeback seems unrealistic.
Suns' bench.
Gentry, holding the tactical board, says solemnly, "Guys, we've been here before, more than once, so... don't give up. I don't think any player would give up.
A 5-point gap, we come back from this timeout, let Carlos have the ball, whether he breaks through, shoots a three, or drives and dishes. We need to score quickly on this possession. Then... we go for the foul strategy!"
"Mm..."
Carlos is the first to respond, followed by nods from Curry and the rest of the players.
While the outside world claims the Suns have already fallen into the abyss with no chance of winning, the Suns' players haven't given up.
And there's no reason to.
Meanwhile...
Spurs' bench.
In a time when everyone outside believes the Spurs will surely win, the experienced Popovich, without a smile, holding the tactical board, coolly states, "Do not underestimate the scoring ability of a run-and-gun team.
We have not won yet!
Defend properly in the next play, no, until the clock runs out, you must take it seriously, or plays like Carlos' '3+1' could be the last straw that breaks us!"
"Oh!"
The Spurs players nod earnestly.
Soon...
The timeout is over...
Even though many, including Suns fans, feel the game is lost, as the game kicks off once more, these Suns fans clench their fists again.
Hoping for a miracle to happen!
The game continues...
With 15.3 seconds left, the Suns trailing by a full 5 points, Carter inbounds from the sideline. The tall Carlos moves with surprising speed, coming out to receive Carter's pass.
"Snap!"
"Whoosh!"
As soon as Carlos catches the ball, there's no delay. Completely ignoring Jefferson, who is sticking close on defense, Carlos surges forward with pure, unembellished speed, shaking off Jefferson and heading straight for the basket. But Ginobili, Blair, and Duncan converge from the sides and under the hoop, ready to trap Carlos as Jefferson trails him closely.
"Whoosh!"
Facing encirclement on all sides, Carlos doesn't slow down but instead accelerates, driving deep into enemy territory. Then, seizing the moment, he makes a back pass that Iverson would be proud of, finding Curry in the left corner.
"Snap!"
"Whoosh!"
Curry catches the ball with no one in front of him, raises his arm, and fires a three-pointer. The shot goes up, the basketball pierces the net.
Three points...
But the stadium doesn't erupt with cheer because there's still a 2-point difference and only 8.3 seconds left. The key possession is in the Spurs' hands, and the situation is still not looking good for the Suns.
Ball possession changes...
Blair inbounds from the baseline, and the Suns apply full-court pressure. Blair tosses a high pass to the tallest player, Duncan, and Carlos immediately rushes to foul him.
"Beep beep!"
The tactical foul is called...
Only 0.2 seconds pass, 8.1 seconds remain, and with a 2-point difference, Duncan steps up to the free throw line.
"Clang!"
"Swoosh!"
The first free throw misses, but the second one is good, one for two, and the Spurs maintain a 3-point lead.
With only 8.1 seconds left, the Suns have the ball, and they are out of timeouts.
Nash inbounds from the corner, finds Carlos without a moment's hesitation. Carlos catches the ball and once again sprints, racing against time itself.
Now...
The Suns need a three-pointer to tie the game.
"Whoosh!"
Carlos rushes to the top of the arc at full speed. Facing Duncan, who is retreating on defense, Carlos fakes, hesitates, but Duncan doesn't bite and allows Carlos to drive—because the Suns are down three points, and even a successful layup by Carlos would still leave a 1-point gap with little time left, making a loss almost certain.
So...
On this play, Duncan knows Carlos must go for a three-pointer. He just needs to stick to Carlos's three-point shot, disrupt it, or even block it.
If he can prevent Carlos from scoring, the Spurs will take the game.
"Thump thump thump!"
Seeing Duncan unmoved by the threat of a drive, Carlos glances at the dwindling clock, fakes a step, then abruptly pulls up for a three-pointer.
"Hmph!"
"I knew you'd shoot a three!"
Duncan, knowing Carlos has no other choice, is prepared. As Carlos decides to shoot, Duncan closes out—he's confident.
Even if he can't block the shot, he can severely disrupt it.
However, just as Duncan jumps, Carlos' lips curl into a slight smile, because his move is still not a shot—it's a pump fake.
"What?!"
Duncan, already in the air, realizes too late that Carlos hasn't released the ball. He clenches his teeth, desperately trying to control his body in the air to avoid Carlos.
But Carlos anticipates this, leaning into Duncan while taking off.
"Beep beep!"
The whistle blows...
Colliding with Duncan mid-air, Carlos, off-balance, releases the ball.
It's like a replay of Carlos's earlier 3+1 but with a twist—this time, Carlos doesn't hit the three-pointer.
But...
"Stomp!"
Carlos steps to the free throw line, earning three shots.
With only 1.2 seconds left, a 3-point difference, if he makes all three, the game goes into overtime. Missing even one shot means the game is over for the Suns!!
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