บท 492: Chapter 492: First Win of the New Season
"Dong Ge, your stats for the first quarter are 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks."
Wade Dong sat on the sidelines, and Warwick came over.
Having Warwick around was very comfortable. He would always remind Wade Dong how many assists he needed for a triple-double or how many steals for a quadruple-double.
If Warwick had been there during the World Cup Finals, Wade Dong might have achieved a quintuple-double.
This is just a hypothesis. During the World Cup Finals, Wade Dong gave it his all. Even someone as strong as him, using the 'Stamina Potion' simultaneously, felt exhausted after winning. In that situation, Wade Dong's eyes were only on victory, not statistics.
...
It wasn't just the Suns players who were off their game; the Spurs were in the same boat.
Fortunately, one Suns player was performing exceptionally well: Yi Nan.
As soon as Yi Nan came off the bench in the second quarter, he made a mid-range shot. Then, he blocked Mills' layup, and Durant got the ball for a fast break, setting up a spectacular alley-oop with Yi Nan.
"Bang!!!"
Yi Nan slammed the dunk and hung on the rim for a moment before landing.
The score was now 25:17!
The lead gradually widened...
Gentry put down his thermos, "Yi Nan is feeling it. Give him more opportunities to attack."
Gentry's words were still very effective, and Yi Nan was very spirited.
In the next five minutes, Yi Nan made 5 out of 7 shots, including a three-pointer. In six minutes on the court, Yi Nan scored 15 points, an absolute highlight of his career.
"After the World Cup, Yi Nan has grown even more!"
For Chinese fans, Yi Nan's breakout performance was more exciting than Wade Dong's, as the latter's dominance was the norm. Even a typical game for Wade Dong would be hyped up if Yi Nan had those stats.
The Spurs were now trailing by 14 points, 39:25!
Ginobili stayed on the court, and Popovich also brought Parker, Leonard, Danny, and Splitter into the game, along with him.
On the Suns' side, Curry subbed out McCollum, and Whiteside replaced Dinwiddie.
Wade Dong remained on the sidelines, "After Duncan's retirement, the Spurs' interior defense has shown many weaknesses. Attacking the paint as much as possible will disrupt their defensive rhythm."
"Let's teach the Spurs a lesson in the paint."
Gentry also had his sentiments, "After so many years of facing the Spurs, I never thought there would be a day like this. We are no longer on the same level as them."
"You can secretly enjoy it."
Wade Dong leaned back and adjusted to a more comfortable position.
In the second quarter, Wade Dong didn't plan to play... This situation might last for a long time, as the Suns couldn't find a worthy opponent.
Ginobili snaked through the defense for a layup.
The score was now 39:27!
Then, Curry also drove to the basket and made a hook shot.
"Focus on defense!"
Gentry reminded them again.
The Spurs tried to catch up, but the Suns players on the court maintained their lackadaisical defensive attitude.
The score was now 49:41!
The first half ended.
Neither team had scored more than 50 points in the first half, and this was with loose defense, indicating how poor the shooting percentages were.
Yi Nan was the best player for the Suns in the first half, scoring 17 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists with 2 blocks in 12 minutes. He was a significant contributor to the Suns' lead over the Spurs.
...
Suns' Locker Room.
The locker room had been rearranged. Gentry had taken the tea table and mahjong table home.
On his trip to China, he had purchased many nice things, including a rosewood tea table and a new mahjong table for the locker room.
"I'll play a few hands!"
Wade Dong pulled Green aside, "You're not being honest even with your injured foot."
During this time at home, because he had to take care of Li Jiajia, they often had a situation where they were one player short for mahjong, forcing Wade Dong to learn the game.
This wasn't something to be ashamed of...
Among the Suns players, Wade Dong was the last to learn mahjong, except for the new addition, Dinwiddie.
"Let's try some new tea leaves..."
Gentry was still making tea, "In the first half, only Yi Nan played well; the others didn't perform well."
"Can you play with more spirit in the second half?"
"Yes!"
"Success is not guaranteed by effort, but the effort in pursuing your dreams will allow you to meet a better version of yourself."
Gentry's casual motivational words were more effective than stimulants, instantly energizing the players.
"Everyone wants to become a player like Dong Ge. As you chase his footsteps, you are constantly surpassing yourself, becoming more excellent."
"Coach, you said it so well!"
Dinwiddie couldn't help but wipe away a tear. Joining the Suns family was truly wonderful.
...
The second half began.
"Wade Dong! Wade Dong! Wade Dong!"
The atmosphere in the arena was reignited as Wade Dong returned to the court.
In the second quarter, Wade Dong was benched for the entire period. Some fans were so frustrated that they wanted to throw their popcorn at Gentry for not letting Wade Dong play.
The Spurs had the ball.
Danny missed a three-pointer, and Wade Dong grabbed the defensive rebound in front of Splitter.
"You still haven't learned how to box out," Wade Dong teased Splitter. Then, he received a mid-range pass from Curry and made a jump shot.
The score was now 51:41!
Subsequently, Leonard turned the ball over while guarded by Wade Dong, who then stole the ball and finished with a fast-break dunk.
The score was now 53:41!
After Wade Dong returned to the court, the Suns' momentum shifted, and they dominated the Spurs.
The score was now 79:53!
Before the end of the third quarter, the Suns had already built a 26-point lead, and the game was essentially over.
Wade Dong didn't return to the court after he was subbed out.
"Beep!!!"
With the sound of the referee's whistle, the game ended.
The final score was 103:75!
The Suns easily defeated the Spurs at home, securing their first win of the new season.
Game Stats:
Wade Dong: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks.
Yi Nan: 33 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks.
Parker: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks.
Leonard: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
...
Yi Nan was named the game's MVP. The Chinese duo shone in the Western US arena, with Wade Dong scoring 20 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks in just 23 minutes.
Post-Game Press Conference:
Popovich said, "I had a deep conversation with Duncan, and his determination to retire is very firm. From this game, everyone can also see that having a team with Wade Dong, Durant, Curry, and so many other excellent players is a very hopeless situation for the opposition."
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