Chapter 838: Spurs’ Nemesis Seizes Match Point

Chapter 838: Chapter 838: Spurs’ Nemesis Seizes Match Point

Chapter 838: Spurs’ Nemesis Seizes Match Point

"Another one! That’s his 10th 3 pointer tonight!"

The broadcast booth could barely contain its disbelief.

The camera immediately cut to Gregg Popovich for a closeup.

His face remained completely expressionless.

A difficult shot.

Another impossible make.

Another wave of 3 pointers.

Popovich had tried nearly everything, yet Chen Yan continued scoring.

The Chinese fans watching the game were already going wild.

San Antonio came back on offense.

Tony Parker brought the ball across half court.

During the 2nd half, and especially in the final quarter, Parker had been relatively quiet.

This time, however, he spotted a small opening in Stephen Curry’s defense.

Change of direction.

Drive.

Parker burst toward the paint.

Chen immediately rotated from the wing.

Parker saw the help coming and pushed a right handed pass toward Kawhi Leonard.

Wide open.

Leonard caught the ball.

For a brief moment, he hesitated.

At this stage of his career, Leonard was still primarily a defensive role player.

His shooting had not fully developed.

Neither had his ability to create off the dribble.

Worse, Chen had tormented him throughout the series, badly damaging the rookie’s confidence.

Leonard released the shot.

His heart pounded as he watched the ball fly.

He had no idea whether it would fall.

Clang!

The ball hit the front rim.

It bounced high into the air.

Then,

Swish!

In.

111 to 108.

Leonard clenched his fist.

Lucky or not, nobody cared.

It counted.

The Spurs fans did not care either.

The moment they saw the score change, hope returned to the AT&T Center.

"Defense!"

"Defense!"

"Defense!"

The chants became deafening.

Chen brought the ball across half court.

Curry moved without it, taking on the role of a pure shooter.

At this stage of the game, putting the ball in Chen’s hands was the safest option New York had.

Leonard defended well.

His last made 3 pointer had clearly given him more confidence.

Chen could not immediately create a comfortable shooting opportunity.

Then Manu Ginóbili left Shane Battier and rushed toward the ball.

Double team.

Again.

After everything Chen had done tonight, sending only 1 defender almost felt disrespectful.

Chen immediately lowered his center of gravity.

He moved sideways with his right hand.

Battier crossed paths with him and moved toward the top.

Chen turned.

Pass.

Battier caught the ball with a brief window to shoot.

He did not even look at the rim.

His eyes were already searching for Chen.

At this point, it was not just Battier.

The entire Knicks offense revolved around getting the ball back to Chen Yan.

Battier returned the pass.

Chen caught it and dribbled left.

Then he retreated.

Leonard rushed toward him.

Ginóbili did the same.

On the Knicks bench, players raised 3 fingers in anticipation.

Throughout the arena, some Spurs fans covered their eyes.

That alone showed how terrifying Chen’s 3 point shooting had become.

Rise.

Release.

Clang!

Miss.

The entire arena seemed to breathe again.

Had that shot fallen, San Antonio’s hope might have disappeared completely.

The Spurs attacked.

Ginóbili used a screen and immediately pulled up from beyond the arc.

Clang!

Another miss.

Fatigue had begun affecting both teams.

Late in a game this intense, tired legs could destroy even the cleanest shooting rhythm.

Tim Duncan fought for the offensive rebound.

He reached over Kenyon Martin and nearly tipped the ball to himself.

Chen crashed in from the side.

Rebound!

He ripped the ball away with a strong effort.

The Knicks bench exhaled.

Giving San Antonio another possession at this point could have been fatal.

Chen immediately pushed the ball.

Fast break.

He did not slow down just because New York had the lead.

Chen attacked the paint.

The defense converged.

Then he flicked the ball backward over his head.

Curry was following.

Catch.

Mid range jumper.

Swish!

113 to 108.

The Knicks bench erupted.

That was Curry’s value.

Even when he was not controlling the offense, his ability to appear in open space gave Chen another weapon.

San Antonio attacked again.

Parker crossed half court and handed the ball to Ginóbili.

Manu probed several times.

Then suddenly accelerated.

Left.

No hesitation.

At this point, Ginóbili was giving everything he had.

He drove straight into Battier.

Chen saw the penetration and immediately rotated toward the lane.

Ginóbili had no clean path to the basket.

He twisted in the air.

Pass.

The delivery was awkward and forced, but he avoided the turnover.

Leonard caught it outside.

Another 3 pointer.

This time,

Clang!

Miss.

The pressure was too much.

Duncan charged toward the offensive glass.

Long arms extended.

He pulled the rebound into his chest.

Then the whistle sounded.

Beep!

Offensive rebound foul.

Duncan had attacked too aggressively and knocked Kenyon Martin to the floor.

Martin clutched his head.

Hard fall.

But worth it.

San Antonio was already over the foul limit.

Martin walked to the free throw line.

The AT&T Center erupted in boos.

First free throw.

Clang!

Miss.

Martin took a breath.

Reset.

Second free throw.

Swish!

114 to 108.

San Antonio came back.

Parker called for a screen.

Then attacked the basket with determination.

He entered the lane and avoided Al Harrington’s help defense.

Pump fake.

Reverse layup.

Good.

114 to 110.

Parker understood the situation.

The more important the moment became, the more he had to withstand the pressure.

New York brought the ball up.

San Antonio locked onto Chen.

Curry handled the ball while trying to find him.

Chen used a screen and broke toward the free throw line.

Curry immediately delivered the pass.

Parker read it.

Reach.

Steal!

Parker took off toward the other basket.

Battier reacted immediately.

Tactical foul.

He could not allow Parker to build momentum with an open floor ahead.

Parker hit the ground.

The referee walked toward the scorer’s table.

Several seconds passed.

Then the AT&T Center erupted.

Flagrant foul.

2 free throws.

San Antonio possession.

Battier raised his hand and protested.

No change.

On replay, the decision was understandable.

Battier had grabbed Parker and pulled him down to stop the fast break.

The contact was significant, and there were no Knicks defenders behind him.

If Parker had escaped Battier, he would have had an open path to the basket.

Parker stepped to the line.

The arena fell quiet.

Swish!

First one.

Swish!

Second one.

114 to 112.

And San Antonio still had the ball.

The Spurs prepared to inbound in the frontcourt.

This had become one of the most important defensive possessions of the night for New York.

A San Antonio basket could tie the game.

A 3 pointer could give the Spurs the lead.

Ginóbili moved around the perimeter and received the inbound pass.

He did not rush.

At this point, recklessness could end everything.

Boris Diaw stepped up to screen.

Pick and roll.

Ginóbili read the defense.

New York collapsed toward the lane.

Manu did not force the drive.

Step back.

He searched for a 3 point opportunity.

Battier recovered quickly.

No clean look.

Ginóbili immediately passed sideways.

Diaw.

Boris had not rolled after the screen.

He remained high.

Catch.

Ball above his head.

Survey.

This was where Diaw’s playmaking ability became dangerous.

He watched the movement around him.

Then suddenly,

a white jersey flashed through the defense.

Parker.

Cut.

Diaw bounced the ball through the gap.

Perfect pass.

Parker caught it on his way toward the paint.

Curry had lost position but refused to quit.

He chased from behind.

Kenyon Martin stepped over to help.

Parker tucked his body tightly.

Baseline.

Big reverse layup.

The ball touched the rim.

Rolled off.

Duncan was already there.

Tip attempt.

Chen crashed into the rebounding battle and disrupted Duncan’s touch.

The ball struck the backboard.

Out again.

Martin turned.

Rebound!

New York had survived.

Not because of 1 player.

Because everyone had fought through the possession.

Duncan slapped the floor in frustration as he retreated.

If that tip had dropped,

the score would have been tied.

Chen gave him no time to regret it.

He saw the transition opportunity.

Pullup from deep.

3 pointer.

Swish!

117 to 112.

A dagger.

Chen’s 11th 3 pointer of the night.

The broadcast booth erupted.

"11 3 pointers!"

Chen had tied his own Playoffs record for 3 pointers in a game.

At the same time, he had established a new NBA Finals record.

And there was a strange coincidence.

The last time Chen had set the Playoffs record for 3 pointers, he had also done it against San Antonio.

That had been during his days with the Phoenix Suns.

Calling Chen Yan the Spurs’ nemesis did not feel like an exaggeration anymore.

Popovich immediately called timeout.

...

San Antonio failed to score on its next 2 possessions.

The clock continued disappearing.

59 seconds remained.

Curry delivered the ball to Chen near half court.

Chen faced Leonard.

Short probing step.

Long probing step.

He lowered his right shoulder and took a powerful stride forward.

Drive fake.

Leonard dropped his center of gravity.

That was what Chen wanted.

Chen took another step backward, creating roughly 2 steps of separation.

Then he leaned back and rose.

Normally, a full step back would have created even more space.

Chen deliberately avoided it.

His peripheral vision had already caught defenders approaching from both sides.

At this point, genuine 1 on 1 opportunities no longer existed for him.

Even facing 2 defenders almost counted as being open.

3 defenders was normal.

Sometimes San Antonio seemed willing to throw 4 or even all 5 players toward him.

Chen rose into the jumper.

Even the mechanics of the shot were deliberate.

His right leg extended forward slightly.

Balance.

Space.

Protection for his release.

The defenders could only contest around it.

Chen released.

Swish!

119 to 112.

That was the shot that killed the game.

San Antonio managed only 2 more points, both from the free throw line.

Nothing else fell.

The final buzzer sounded.

Knicks 119.

Spurs 114.

New York had survived.

More importantly,

they had taken a commanding 3 to 1 lead in the NBA Finals.

Match point.

And once again,

the man standing directly in San Antonio’s path was Chen Yan.

The Spurs’ nemesis had struck again.

....

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