Wang Yi blocked LaMelo Ball and caught the ball one-handed in midair.
Then, holding the ball, he looked down at LaMelo, who lay at his feet.
His gaze was half fierce, half mocking.
Trying to lay it up in front of me? You're asking to get blocked.
LaMelo was annoyed, but he'd been sent sprawling by the block, so there wasn't much he could say. He could only resolve to get even over the next few possessions.
When the Raptors came back on offense, Wang Yi again drew a double-team, leaving his teammates with a four-on-three advantage.
They missed twice in a row during the four-on-three, but Charlie Hannum and Little A grabbed the offensive rebound both times.
Finally, Big Locke hit a wide-open three from beyond the arc on the left wing.
The lead had grown to 17 points.
The Lakers went on offense. LaMelo dribbled the ball upcourt again and looked up. The Raptors' defensive formation was still strange: everyone but Wang Yi was defending from a step beyond the three-point line.
Their defense beyond the arc looked extremely tight.
But inside the three-point line, the floor was wide open. Wang Yi was the only one there.
He stood at the free-throw line, watching LaMelo.
As an excellent point guard, LaMelo only needed one glance to see how to attack: they had to get inside the arc.
And Wang Yi had been guarding him for most of the game. Now Wang Yi was alone inside the arc, which meant LaMelo was practically unguarded. Getting in there would be as easy as drinking a glass of water.
But he couldn't drive inside by himself.
He needed one or two teammates to work with him.
So he glanced at his older brothers.
The three brothers had played together since childhood.