After a stationary between-the-legs crossover, he took a hesitation step to the left, feigning a drive, then flowed straight into a crossover, pulling the ball back into his right hand. He immediately followed with a step-back, pounded the ball into the floor, gathered, and rose for a three-pointer over Barnes.
The spinning ball sailed past his opponent's fingertips, then headed straight toward the rim.
Clang!!!
A sharp metallic clang rang out from the basket.
He missed!
Chen Xi's buzzer-beating three-pointer had missed!
Something exceedingly rare had happened to Chen.
After landing, Chen Xi glanced at his hands in surprise, shook his head, and gave a helpless little smile.
"Something really does feel off today. That shot felt so good..."
He turned, exchanged a light high five with George, and walked toward their team's tunnel with him.
It was no big deal. Just one missed shot.
The first half between the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings had officially ended.
With a stronger overall performance, the Kings had built an eight-point lead in the first half, going up 75–67.
They would carry that "hefty" cushion into the second half.
The New York players had to admit that, at least in tonight's first half, the Kings had been the better and more balanced team.
Most of the Knicks' players had been somewhat off their game in the first half.
Aside from Chen Xi, who had remained steady with 19 first-half points, George had scored 12, Strus eight, Hart four, Ethan two, Horford six, Harten eight, Adams six, and Rose two.
Their performances had all been relatively ordinary.
By contrast, on the Kings' side,
Fox had scored 16 in the first half, Barnes 14, Monk 14, Little Wagner nine, Hield six, Big Joe seven, Little Sabonis seven, and Ma Wei two.
Three