Yao Ming looked over the stats and said,
"Both teams are about even in most areas. The Raptors are just a little behind in rebounds and second-chance points, which has left them with over twenty fewer points in the paint than the Spurs."
"But they've made up those twenty-odd points with three-pointers, which is why the teams are tied right now."
"Fifteen seconds left, and the teams are tied. Let's see who comes out on top."
After the timeout, both teams returned to the court.
The Spurs had the ball.
This time, the Spurs ran another clever play.
Once again, Lillard crouched in the right corner. A screen opened up a brief window beneath the basket.
Dauding had planned to cover the open man, but then he remembered the Spurs had run the same play before.
That time, Lillard had feinted toward the basket, then suddenly gone to the three-point line to receive the ball.
Remembering that, Dauding headed toward the basket, but kept most of his attention on the three-point line.
This time, however, Lillard didn't go to the three-point line. He sprinted straight for the basket.
At the same time, Seth Curry lobbed the ball toward the hoop.
Lillard caught it in midair and went straight up for the layup without landing.
He knew that if he caught the ball, landed, and then went back up, Dauding would have time to close in.
And Dauding really didn't have time to get there. Lillard was already in the air, finishing the alley-oop.
But just as the ball looked like it was about to go in, a figure slipped in from the baseline and swatted it against the backboard.
Lillard's heart jumped. He turned to look.
It was none other than Zhang Jiacheng, who had slipped over at some point.