Chapter 837: The Most Despairing Thing

Chapter 837: Chapter 837: The Most Despairing Thing

Chapter 837: The Most Despairing Thing

San Antonio returned to offense.

Parker calmly dribbled across half court.

Even while trailing in the 4th quarter, the Spurs showed no panic.

That composure had always been part of their identity.

Ginóbili moved toward the high post and received the ball.

Diaw came up to screen.

This possession would run through Manu.

Ginóbili dribbled toward the top of the arc.

Suddenly, he turned and fired the ball toward Leonard.

Leonard gave a shot fake.

Chen reacted.

Leonard took 1 dribble with his left hand and rose.

Miss.

Chen had been fooled initially, but he never quit on the possession.

He recovered quickly enough to contest the shot.

Kenyon Martin secured the rebound and passed to Barea.

Barea immediately attacked by himself.

Straight into the defense.

His penetration forced San Antonio to collapse.

Once he reached the paint, Barea suddenly turned and passed back outside.

Chen caught it beyond the 3 point line.

Open.

Every Spurs defender tensed.

Leonard rushed toward him.

Parker came too.

Diaw joined them.

3 defenders converged almost simultaneously.

Chen never hesitated.

Instead of shooting, he calmly dropped the ball back inside.

Barea had been left completely alone beneath the basket.

Nobody expected the extra pass.

Catch.

Layup off the glass.

Good.

97 to 87.

10 points.

The broadcast booth immediately praised Chen’s decision.

"Those last 2 passes from Chen have been huge."

"And look at the patience. He had enough space to consider the 3, but he recognized that San Antonio had completely abandoned the paint."

Despite falling behind by double digits again, the Spurs remained composed.

Ginóbili continued controlling the offense.

When things were going smoothly, Parker usually handled most of the possessions.

When San Antonio was in trouble, Ginóbili often became the player they trusted to create something unpredictable.

Duncan came up to screen.

Ginóbili drove left.

His preferred direction.

Battier anticipated it perfectly.

He worked around Duncan before the screen could fully take him out and stayed in front.

Ginóbili lowered his body.

Low crossover.

Battier matched him.

Then Manu suddenly pounded the ball with his right hand and retreated beyond the 3 point line.

Step back.

Rise.

Swish!

97 to 90.

Superstar shot.

Pure creation.

After making it, Ginóbili immediately turned toward his teammates.

"Defense!"

The San Antonio crowd joined him.

"Defense!"

"Defense!"

The building shook.

San Antonio responded with one of its best defensive possessions of the night.

New York could not create anything clean.

The shot clock disappeared.

With time nearly gone, Battier was forced into a rushed attempt.

Miss.

Parker secured the ball and immediately pushed.

Fast break.

Ginóbili sprinted ahead.

Pass.

Catch.

Quick layup.

Good.

97 to 92.

5 points.

Nelson did not call timeout.

He wanted his players to solve the problem themselves.

Chen took control in the backcourt.

This time San Antonio did not immediately double him.

He crossed half court.

Reached the logo.

Only then did Ginóbili slide over to help.

Chen instantly passed to Battier.

Then moved without the ball.

Battier caught it and initially considered the 3.

Ginóbili immediately recovered.

There was still a window.

Battier hesitated.

That tiny pause was enough.

A defender arrived.

The opportunity disappeared.

This was exactly what Popovich wanted.

Doubling Chen was not merely about taking the ball from him.

It transferred the pressure to everyone else.

Barea suddenly sprinted toward Battier.

Handoff.

He took the ball without slowing.

Drive.

Once Barea reached about 1 step inside the free throw line, he turned to pass.

Slap!

Parker reached in and knocked the ball loose.

The San Antonio crowd exploded.

Then the cheering died almost instantly.

The loose ball had bounced directly toward Chen.

After several fortunate deflections, Chen collected it near the top of the arc.

He did not hesitate.

1 step back.

Behind the 3 point line.

Perfect opportunity.

Chen was not going to waste it.

Rise.

Swish!

100 to 92.

His 9th made 3 pointer of the night.

The arena fell silent again.

Popovich exploded on the sideline.

He had repeatedly warned his players about allowing Chen clean 3 point opportunities.

Yet somehow, the exact thing he feared most had happened again.

Over the next several minutes, neither team played particularly efficient basketball.

The game became increasingly tense.

With 4 minutes and 53 seconds remaining, Nelson finally called timeout.

New York led 107 to 102.

5 points.

The television camera turned toward the Knicks bench.

New York fans watching from home immediately erupted.

Stephen Curry was back.

A transparent protective mask covered his face.

He clearly had not adjusted to it yet.

Every few seconds, he reached up and shifted it slightly.

The team doctor stood in front of him.

"My recommendation is still that you stay out."

His tone carried obvious frustration.

He had clearly been trying to convince Curry for some time.

"This is not the ideal time for you to return."

Curry shook his head.

"No."

His voice was firm.

"I am playing."

He looked toward the court.

"This is my battle."

Then he turned to Nelson.

"Coach."

Nelson remained silent for a moment.

He studied Curry’s face.

Then nodded.

"You are going in after the timeout."

Curry nodded hard.

The timeout ended.

New York moved the ball through several drives and passes.

Eventually, Curry received it at the top.

3 pointer.

Miss.

The mask was clearly affecting him.

But Curry’s return had changed the energy of the entire team.

The Knicks attacked the offensive glass with renewed intensity.

Kenyon Martin fought inside.

Rebound.

Duncan made contact.

Whistle.

Foul.

Martin walked to the free throw line.

First attempt.

Good.

Second.

Miss.

The score remained 107 to 102.

Duncan had lost the battle on that possession.

Martin had taken the rebound and drawn the foul.

Everyone familiar with Duncan knew what was coming next.

He would want the ball.

San Antonio came down.

Duncan fought for position inside.

Entry pass.

Catch.

He immediately attacked Kenyon Martin from the side.

1 bump.

Then another.

Then a 3rd.

Martin absorbed all of them.

Suddenly, Duncan stepped laterally into the paint.

Gather.

Shot fake.

Martin jumped.

Duncan stayed grounded.

He pivoted on his left foot.

Martin flew past.

Duncan extended his left hand toward the basket.

Layup.

Martin instinctively grabbed him.

Beep!

The ball dropped through.

And 1.

Duncan walked toward the line without changing his expression.

The San Antonio crowd had no such restraint.

The arena exploded.

That basket had changed everything.

Now the deficit was only 2.

Duncan received the ball.

Free throw.

Swish!

107 to 105.

The broadcast booth raised its voice.

"2 points. Just over 4 minutes remaining. We have a game."

"This is where San Antonio understands exactly how to attack New York’s weakened rotation."

"With DeAndre Jordan and David West gone, Duncan keeps going inside. Kenyon Martin already has 4 fouls too. If he gets into further trouble, New York may have no choice but to rely on Yi Jianlian."

New York returned to offense.

Curry received the inbound and advanced.

After only 2 dribbles, he passed ahead.

Chen had just crossed half court.

Leonard was already attached to him.

By now, Leonard understood the danger.

The moment Chen crossed half court, he was already within shooting range.

Leonard had learned that lesson painfully throughout the series.

Chen did not dribble.

There was no need to rush.

He had already crossed the line, so the 8 second count was no concern.

He held the ball above his head.

Behind him, Curry slowly crossed half court.

Instead of immediately moving toward his normal position, Curry stopped beside Leonard.

His hands dropped toward his body as if protecting his injured face and balance, but his positioning made it obvious.

Screen.

Leonard saw Curry arrive and immediately tried to work around him.

Chen gave a small dribble fake.

The moment Leonard committed to going around the screen, Chen raised the ball.

Shoot.

Leonard had no time to recover.

Parker reacted instead.

He rushed forward and extended his arm.

But his size and reach were limited.

The contest barely affected Chen.

The basketball left Chen’s hands.

The entire arena fell silent.

NBA Finals.

Final 4 minutes.

Only 2 points separated the teams.

And Chen Yan had just chosen to launch from that distance.

Every Spurs fan in the building had the same thought.

This man is insane.

The ball climbed.

Reached its peak.

Then descended in a perfect arc.

Swish!

Straight through the heart.

110 to 105.

Chen raised 3 fingers.

Beside him, Curry did the same.

Leonard slowly shook his head.

He had known Chen could shoot from there.

He had expected the possibility.

He had guarded him closely.

He had prepared for almost everything.

And Chen had still scored.

That was the most despairing part of guarding him.

Sometimes you knew exactly what was coming.

You did everything correctly.

And it still did not matter.

....

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