On this possession, Odie once again chose to use a fake screen-and-roll, feigning a drive before quickly passing the ball back out.
On the perimeter, after Towns received the ball, he made a shooting motion, forcing Adams—who had been unable to switch in time and could only hedge—to step up before quickly putting the ball down and driving.
Relying on his outstanding athleticism at the five, Towns needed only two steps to gain position. He then smoothly got past Aquaman, gathered for a three-step layup, drove into the Knicks' paint, and powered the ball into Basket through Toppin's interference.
This was also an offensive move Towns excelled at.
After receiving the ball, when facing players who were a little slow-footed or undersized, he could initiate a stationary drive and reliably finish.
Taking advantage of Towns' sudden burst, the Timberwolves scored five straight points.
The score now stood at 59-50.
The Knicks still held a 9-point lead.
After slowing the tempo slightly, New York launched another attack.
Hart quickly dribbled across half-court and found Rose at the Top of the Key.
Rose received the ball and swung it again to Chen Xi in the corner.
Chen Xi caught the ball and first made a shooting fake, forcing Jaden to step up. He then quickly took a Jab Step to the right with his right foot.
Using the Jab Step to make Jaden instinctively switch his lead foot, Chen Xi quickly put the ball down, exploded forward, and drove left.
He took two steps into the lane against his defender, then, before the help defense could close in from the side, pounded the ball into a step-back and rose for a Fadeaway Jumper.
Basketball rolled smoothly off his fingertips, sailed over his opponent's head, and dropped cleanly through the net.
Just as