With just six seconds left on the clock, DeRozan got a chance to win the game.
There was no time to think. He burst into a drive, fought through Holiday's defense, and charged into the paint. Then he went to the move he knew best—the one that had defined his entire career and been his bread and butter.
A sudden stop, a turn, a shoulder fake, then a turnaround jumper!
To the LeBron fans watching, his smooth, graceful form looked positively divine.
DeRozan released the ball with textbook fadeaway form, sending it toward the hoop.
As it spun through the air, the final buzzer sounded.
That meant this shot could very well decide the Los Angeles Lakers' fate for the season.
Game 7—or going home.
The light-brown No. 7 ball spun through the air, setting countless hearts pounding.
At last, it reached its destination.
Swish~~~
A crisp swish rang out.
The ball went straight through the net!!!
In an instant, the entire arena erupted into a frenzy.
Lakers fans jumped to their feet, cheering and celebrating the hard-earned victory.
On the court, LeBron James turned around and embraced Horton Tucker and the others, who had rushed onto the floor to reach him. Then he turned back to the fans and celebrated with an impassioned gesture.
Meanwhile, Griffin made a beeline for the biggest hero of the night, DeRozan.
He pulled DeRozan up from the floor and hugged him tightly.
Whatever else happened, at least the abuse directed at him would ease up after tonight.
And this time, nobody had helped him. He'd earned it himself.
As for the New Orleans Pelicans, they could only accept the result with regret, then trudge back to the locker room to prepare for the trip home and the Lakers' arrival.
In the players' tunnel,