In the end, Wang Yi never got a chance to touch the ball. Pang Bo could only finish with a dunk under the basket.
And so, the seconds ticked away.
Before long, there was only a minute left, then slowly, just thirty seconds.
The Knicks kept three players on Wang Yi, leaving him no chance to get the ball.
Raptors fans and Wang Yi's fans were all both frustrated and furious.
"The Knicks are shameless."
"To stop Brother Yi from getting his 30th assist, they keep triple-teaming him. They've completely thrown away their dignity."
"Thibodeau, oh, Thibodeau. Your sterling reputation has been ruined by this triple-team. How shameless do you have to be to use a defensive scheme like that?"
All the Raptors players, on the court and off, even those who had previously clashed with Wang Yi, like Charlie Hannum and Kim Tae-hyun, were cursing Thibodeau under their breath.
They had their differences with Wang Yi and didn't want to see him succeed, but honestly, a 30-30-30 stat line was so extraordinary that they might only ever get one chance in their lives to witness the feat courtside.
In the future, they could boast to their friends and children that they'd been there to see the guy put up a 30-30-30 game with their own eyes.
But now, thanks to Thibodeau's shameless defense, this historic feat might end in disappointment, one assist short.
At the thought, George Shig couldn't help cursing. "How can Thibodeau be so shameless?"
Gates said, "If I were Thibodeau, I'd defend Wang Yi the same way. I understand him. But as his opponent, I have to say this really is shameless."
Amir Khan pounded the chair. "He's only one assist away."
Thibodeau knew, of course, that plenty of people would call him shameless. But what