The timeout ended, and the Clippers went on offense.
Wang Yi still guarded Leonard.
Without the Deathly Embrace Experience Card, Wang Yi would have to defend even harder.
Offense relied more on talent, but defense depended more on desire.
Even without much natural talent, you could still play ferocious defense if you gave it everything you had.
Mad Dog Beverley was a perfect example.
Wang Yi had already made up his mind: he was going all out on defense!
Whenever Leonard tried to get the ball, Wang Yi kept fronting him, disrupting the pass.
At the same time, he kept making physical contact with him.
Wang Yi was at a physical disadvantage, but constantly making Leonard work for it could still drain his energy.
When Leonard had the ball, Wang Yi kept disrupting his dribble.
Whether Leonard was catching the ball or dribbling, Wang Yi made him uncomfortable.
When catching and dribbling felt uncomfortable, it threw off his rhythm.
And once he lost his rhythm, his shooting percentage would drop.
Sure enough, over the next few minutes, Leonard made just one of four mid-range shots.
He missed his only three-point attempt.
George was also held to one basket on three shots by James.
As for the Lakers, Wang Yi had burned through a lot of energy, and his shot wasn't as accurate as before.
Even so, he made two of four three-pointers during that stretch.
With the Lakers outscoring the Clippers, they had built a five-point lead.
But now the Clippers' shooters began to come alive.
They knocked down three after three.
Even Rondo, Coach Long himself, made a three-pointer.
In the end, the game remained in the balance until the final 28 seconds.
115–117!
The Clippers led by two.
The Lakers had possession.
At that moment, the hearts of everyone in the arena, watching on TV, or following on their computers and phones were racing, their palms slick with sweat.
Almost everyone in the arena was standing to watch.
Many of the women clasped their hands to their chests, heads bowed as they silently prayed.
The big screen kept cutting between James and Wang Yi.
The next possession was crucial.
James was the team's leader, its brains and its offensive engine.
It made perfect sense for him to take the shot.
But Wang Yi had been terrifying from beyond the arc tonight, making eight of his twelve three-point attempts.
There was nothing wrong with giving him the ball, either.
Who should they choose?
Inside the Tencent NBA Live Broadcast Room.
Meina clasped her hands nervously.
"This is a great game!" Wang Meng said.
"Sure is!" Su Qun agreed.
Wang Meng posed another question:
"The importance of this Lakers possession speaks for itself. If they score and get a stop, they'll win the battle of the two Los Angeles teams, and they'll move up one spot in the standings. If they meet the Clippers in the Playoffs, they'll have the psychological edge. Teacher Su, who do you think will take the final shot?"
Su Qun smiled and said:
"The camera has already given us the answer. James will be the first option. If Wang Yi gets a chance, he's a great option, too. But there's one thing to consider: Wang Yi has only ever played during garbage time. He's never been in a game this close, much less taken such an important shot. Can he handle the pressure and make it? That's the question."
Wang Meng nodded in agreement, anticipation written all over his face.
"Let's wait and see!"
The haters resurfaced in the comments.
"Come on. Let him take the clutch shot? Yeah, right."
"James is about to dump the ball on someone else again. Everyone get ready to catch it."
"Can Wang Yi handle the blame? Look at the guy—he's tiny."
The atmosphere in the arena was heavy.
People were so focused that they didn't even care about the cheerleaders' performance during the timeout.
Even some of the Lakers players were getting nervous.
Several players on the bench had their hands clasped tightly, silently praying.
Caruso kept wiping his sweat with a towel.
Drummond gulped down water.
James, however, wasn't particularly nervous.
He'd weathered countless storms. Compared with those, tonight's game was nothing special.
And there was one other person who wasn't nervous: Wang Yi.
Far from it. His eyes were shining.
His blood was pumping.
He'd already used up a lot of his energy, but with his blood surging like this, he didn't even feel tired.
He was thrilled, exhilarated!
His only feeling about being part of a battle like this was pure excitement.
It was something he was born with.
Ever since elementary school, he'd taken part in all sorts of competitions.
Jump-rope contests, table tennis tournaments, calligraphy contests, English competitions, math competitions, sports meets...
Most people got nervous when they competed.
Some got so nervous they kept running to the bathroom.
But not Wang Yi.
The more intense the competition, the more excited he got.
He loved competition. He craved it.
He'd been born with that trait.
Coach Vogel had noticed Wang Yi's excitement, too.
He was quite surprised.
He'd rarely seen a player get more excited as a game grew tighter and more intense.
And players like that often performed even better in the most crucial moments.
He couldn't help asking, "Wang, how would you feel about taking this shot?"
Several players blinked in surprise.
Wang Yi had played very well tonight.
But could a ten-day contract player handle a shot this important?
The more crucial the moment, the greater the pressure on a player.
Would his three-point shot still be so steady under that kind of pressure?
Most people thought that was unlikely for a ten-day contract player.
And it wasn't just short-term players. Plenty of starters on other teams wouldn't dare take a shot in the clutch.
That was why the shot had to go to the team's star.
So for the coach to ask Wang Yi was completely unexpected.
But Wang Yi didn't hesitate for even a second.
Without the slightest doubt, he said, "I think that's great."
The others were even more surprised.
Where did a ten-day contract player get that kind of confidence?
Didn't he feel any pressure at all?
Of course, Wang Yi couldn't explain that clutch moments only excited him more.
He simply said, "I'm just a ten-day contract player. If I make it, people will say I'm awesome, and all kinds of praise will follow. If I miss, people will only blame whoever passed me the ball. They'll say, 'Why would you pass such an important shot to a ten-day contract player?' So the pressure's on you, not me."
His words left everyone speechless.
Then they all burst out laughing.
With the tension running so high, Wang Yi's words were sure to ease everyone's nerves.
They helped everyone relax a little.
But James spoke up then.
"Wang, don't move around on the next possession. Stay outside the three-point line in the left corner. I'll drive into the paint with the ball. The Clippers will assume I won't give you the ball on a shot this important, so they'll crowd around me in the paint. That's when I'll pass it to you."
Wang Yi nodded excitedly. "Got it!"
Before you continue