The spectators were exhilarated, cheering as one.
The Raptors' Resting Area.
Coach Dako saw this and looked at Wang Yi, as if asking whether he should call a timeout and, if so, when.
Embiid would get two free throws. Should they call the timeout after his first shot or after his second?
Given Wang Yi's usual style and habits, he rarely called a timeout at a moment like this. Instead, he would launch a fast break as soon as the free throws were over.
But today was a little different.
Wang Yi looked at the head coach, nodded, held up two fingers, then made the timeout signal.
Coach Dako understood.
Wang Yi had badly sprained his right ankle, so he couldn't start a fast break.
In this situation, calling a timeout to give him a moment to recover was the right move.
He immediately signaled to the lead referee, saying, "Timeout after the second free throw."
The referee nodded to show he understood.
Coaches usually arranged timeouts between free throws with the referee in advance.
After the free throws, the referee would immediately call the timeout.
Embiid stepped up to the line. Perhaps his arm had been affected a little when he collided with Charlie Hannum earlier, because he missed his first free throw.
Fortunately, he took a deep breath and adjusted in time, sinking the second one cleanly.
That put the Celtics up by two.
The referee indicated that the Raptors had used their final timeout.
Only seven seconds remained in the game.
The arena erupted.
The Raptors' players all returned to the Resting Area, where the head coach called them together to work out their next play.
At the Commentary Booth, James said, "Everyone in the world knows Wang Yi will take the final shot, so the Celtics