Capítulo 438: Chapter 438: No One Can Stop Wade Dong
The first half of the game ended, and the players returned to the locker room, first and foremost concerned about Durant's injury.
Seeing Durant chatting and laughing with the team doctor... his teammates finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Is your calf okay?" Wade Dong asked.
"It's not serious," Durant replied, maintaining a positive attitude. "The initial diagnosis is a minor calf strain, but it's not a big deal."
"So, you can't play tonight, right?"
"No way!"
The team doctor responded to this question, "Although the calf strain is not severe, I recommend at least a week of rest. Then, we can monitor your recovery and ensure there are no issues before you return to the court."
"A week?!"
Durant's expression turned grim. "It's just the regular season, but this is the Finals. How can I possibly sit out for a week?"
A week meant three games!
Would there even be three more Finals games?
In other words, Durant was Wade Dong's right-hand man, and without him, the Suns' strength was significantly diminished.
The court was ever-changing. If the Suns wanted to win tonight, it would be relatively easy. However, if they lost this game and Durant couldn't play in the next three, each game would become increasingly perilous.
The team doctor explained, "I'm just giving my advice. Given your current condition, two to three days of rest are necessary. Try not to play in the next game."
"No way!"
Durant shook his head, clearly unwilling to accept the doctor's suggestion. "I want to get back on the court right now. I won't agree to sit out the next game. "
Durant and the team doctor were at a stalemate.
The teammates remained silent, and Wade Dong suddenly asked the doctor, "In a situation like this, if he insists on playing with an injury, what consequences might there be?"
The team doctor explained, "If he's not careful, it could lead to a worsening of the injury. But this is just a regular muscle strain, so it shouldn't be a big problem."
"Could it lead to an Achilles tendon rupture?"
"That's unlikely..."
The team doctor hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's really not a serious injury. It's even milder than the sprain you had before, Wade Dong."
The doctor's mention of Wade Dong's previous injury seemed to trigger something in Durant. He made up his mind and got off the gurney, "I'm going back to the court right now!"
"No way."
Wade Dong playfully pushed Durant back onto the gurney, "You're not me. Listen to the team doctor and rest for a couple of days first."
Durant was anxious, and when the teammates returned to the locker room, he learned that the Suns were already down by 14 points in the first half.
Alvin Gentry calmed Durant down.
Gentry looked at the first-half stats and exclaimed, "Wade Dong made nine shots in a row!"
Curry's shooting touch was off, Thompson was in foul trouble, and Durant was out with an injury. Even so, Wade Dong's shot attempts in the second quarter remained low. He focused more on playmaking, constantly setting up Curry for open looks.
"Only Wade Dong can go 9 for 9 and score 25 points," said Varick.
Gentry said, "In the second half, we need to move the ball faster. As soon as we get a shot, take it without hesitation. If there's no shot, look for Wade Dong immediately. Being down by 14 points is nothing."
"Let's go, guys!"
Wade Dong encouraged his teammates and even joked with Durant, "Let's try to win the championship while you're lying down."
...
The second half began.
Wade Dong, Thompson, Curry, Green, and Whiteside returned to the court.
The Heat attacked, with Paul driving and dishing to Anthony, who slammed home a dunk over Green!
47:63!!!
The Suns were down by 16 points.
Curry dribbled into the frontcourt, crossed over Paul twice, and drove to the basket. Anthony and Wade came to help, and Curry, in a hurry, tried to pass to Whiteside, but Wade intercepted the ball.
The Heat pushed the ball in transition, and James slammed home a dunk!
47:65!!!
Gentry stood up, leaving his thermos behind. If the Suns didn't score on their next possession, he would have to call a timeout.
Wade Dong stayed in the backcourt, receiving the baseline inbound pass from Curry.
He dribbled the ball up the court alone!
"Go, Wade Dong!"
The Suns' bench was on their feet, no one sitting down.
The Heat applied pressure, and Wade Dong dribbled behind his back, spun, and easily got past Wade. He drove to the basket, and Anthony came to challenge him. Wade Dong hesitated for a moment and then accelerated, his superb rhythm almost causing Anthony to stumble.
He reached the basket!
Wade Dong went for a low-post, big-hook shot, and Bosh pushed him as he shot.
"Swish!!!"
Wade Dong put the ball in the basket just before he fell.
And-one!!!
"Great shot, Wade Dong!"
The Suns' bench players cheered excitedly.
"Swish!!!"
Wade Dong calmly stepped up to the free-throw line and made the shot.
50:65!!!
Wade Dong started scoring, but the Suns' defense couldn't stop the Heat's offense. Without Durant, the Suns' interior and exterior defense had holes, and they were facing a five-star lineup of James, Anthony, Wade, Paul, and Bosh.
With seven minutes left in the third quarter, Gentry subbed out Curry and Thompson, bringing in McCollum and Yi Nan.
67:87!!!
The lead had grown to 20 points...
Even so, whenever Wade Dong got the ball, the home fans' hearts raced, and they didn't dare to boo him.
With 13 shots and 13 makes, Wade Dong had already scored 35 points.
The Heat switched to a zone defense, and Wade Dong passed to Curry. Curry received the ball, faked out Wade, and James came to help. Curry then passed to Green, who, facing the Heat's interior defense, looked left and right. Wade Dong was only guarded by Anthony.
Green passed to Wade Dong, but the pass was a bit high. Wade Dong caught the ball as his body was already out of bounds. If he landed, it would be a turnover, so he adjusted his shooting form in mid-air and took a three-pointer.
Even so, Anthony didn't give up on defense, leaping to block Wade Dong!
"Beep!!!"
The referee blew the whistle, signaling Anthony for a defensive foul!
Anthony turned and glared at the referee, "What the hell? How is that a foul?!"
"Swish!!!"
As soon as Anthony's voice fell, the ball swished through the net!
Anthony, "???"
The entire crowd, "???"
What incredible individual ability! Wade Dong caught the ball in mid-air and shot a three-pointer. Even with Anthony committing a foul, he still managed to make the shot!
The American Airlines Arena fell silent...
James was silent, and he suddenly remembered the Olympic final. In that game, Wade Dong had left the entire M Country men's basketball team in despair. Some of the M Country players even sought psychological counseling after the game to overcome the psychological shadow Wade Dong had cast over them.
The camera focused on Wade Dong.
His expression was as calm as still water!!!
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