Mutual Devotion! Dual Three-Point Missions!

Back to the game.

The fans gave up on Curry and immersed themselves in the charm of Su Yan's three-pointers!

Before Su Yan, the league already had three-pointers.

Players like Ray Allen, Peja, and Lewis could make seven or eight three-pointers in a game without much trouble.

But someone like Su Yan, who could pull up for a three off the dribble whenever an opening appeared, or even casually launch... ultra-deep threes.

There truly wasn't a second person like him.

It gave people a very novel feeling.

It was like... Jordan back then. While everyone else crowded into the paint and took turns ravaging the rim.

He stood on the perimeter, using one picture-perfect mid-range shot after another to break convention and win games.

It made fans feel something new.

Of course... his generational physical gifts let him soar through the air and dominate on the ground, which was equally novel.

That made him the most popular player in the league.

Su Yan was that kind of player now.

At a time when the league valued three-pointers but relied more on catch-and-shoot threes.

Su Yan had already skipped past the next stage of off-the-dribble threes and reached the point of freely pulling up for ultra-deep threes off the dribble.

It was too shocking.

People couldn't help immersing themselves in Su Yan's three-point feast!

And Su Yan happened to love shooting threes. One three-pointer was worth 6,000 USD—it was truly hard not to like him.

The first half ended.

[Warriors 60:50 Knicks].

The Warriors led by 10.

Although Curry had played poorly, that was only when he was judged as the Warriors' second option.

He had performed below expectations.

But it wasn't to the point of seriously dragging the team down.

Some shots Ellis couldn't take were forced onto Curry, and even if another player had taken them, the result might have been the same.

On the contrary.

Ellis had been extremely aggressive offensively tonight.

On the perimeter... McGrady simply couldn't defend him. Even Wilson Chandler, who was fairly solid defensively, couldn't stop him after coming in.

What about Su Yan?!

He couldn't either. Ellis was a top-ten scorer in the league and right in his prime.

Su Yan could defend, but not well enough.

And once Ellis drove inside, his signature spin move, combined with his diverse finishing ability.

Left David Lee and Harrington helpless as well.

Neither of them was a defensive-minded big man, and they still couldn't stop Ellis.

Ellis scored 25 points in the first half alone. Tonight, he was clearly charging toward another 40-point explosion, dazzling the entire court.

Then there was.

The second option, Corey Maggette. His drives to the basket with that powerful body sent him to the Free Throw line time and again, causing the Knicks plenty of trouble.

That was how the Warriors took a 10-point lead into halftime.

On the Knicks' side.

Su Yan was still playing well. He went 6-for-9 from three in the first half, continuing his efficient and dominant three-point performance!

For Warriors fans.

First, they got to see Su Yan's absurd, awe-inspiring threes that felt so fresh.

Second, their team was still ahead.

A win-win.

[Ding!]

During halftime.

As Su Yan and his teammates walked through the player tunnel on their way back to the Locker Room, the system notification sounded!

[The host shoots three-pointers, and the fans enjoy the host's three-pointers. This is mutual devotion, triggering the Mutual Devotion Mission:

First, the host makes 10 or more three-pointers in a single game. Reward: 100,000 USD.

Second, the host breaks the NBA single-game three-point record. Reward: 300,000 USD.

System mission?

Su Yan's eyes lit up.

This was the first time he had triggered a mission, and... the rewards were substantial—400,000 USD in total.

F*ck... this was faster money than padding stats.

But on second thought...

Stats could be padded and money made anytime, but the bonus for a mutual pursuit came with missions attached.

First, hitting ten Three-pointers in a single game would not be easy.

Looking across NBA history, only 32 players had ever made ten Three-pointers in a single game—and that figure was as of 2021.

If they looked at the current year, 2009...

How many were there?

Exactly eight.

They were: Brian Shaw of the 1993 Heat, Joe Dumars of the 1994 Pistons, George McCloud of the 1995 Mavericks, Dennis Scott of the 1996 Magic.

Ray Allen of the 2002 Bucks, Kobe of the 2003 Lakers, Donyell Marshall of the 2005 Raptors, and Peja Stojaković of the 2007 Hornets.

So...

100,000 USD was a sizable reward, but the mission was no easy task either.

Second, breaking the NBA single-game Three-pointer record was even harder.

The current NBA record for Three-pointers in a game was twelve, jointly set by Kobe in 2003 and Marshall in 2005.

Only two people had done it, and each had done so only once.

For Su Yan to break it, he needed to make at least thirteen Three-pointers. The difficulty was undoubtedly even greater.

Though 300,000 USD was a lot, it would not be easy money.

Still... upon hearing the system missions, Su Yan's eyes blazed with passion and confidence.

His Three-point shooting was above Curry's level.

No matter how difficult the two missions were, at the very least... he had a very high chance of completing them.

After all...

As of 2021, Curry had recorded seventeen games with ten or more Three-pointers, leading the entire league by a massive margin!!!

And right now, Su Yan had already made six Three-pointers.

His fighting spirit burned fiercely.

Inside the Locker Room.

"Sh*t!"

David Lee could not help swearing. "Monta is seriously incredible. He can drive, he can shoot, and his skill set is complete.

Especially his spinning attacks at the basket.

They always feel so strange. You think there's no way the shot will go in, but he keeps making them anyway. What the hell is that?"

"Tell me about it."

Wilson Chandler could not help complaining as well. "He doesn't even look that strong. Maybe he's just a little quicker.

But I can't stop him at all.

Somehow, he just blows right past me. And some of those shots he takes look completely ridiculous, yet they somehow go in.

It's a real headache."

Gallinari frowned. "So this is what a top-ten scorer in the league is like?"

"Guys, don't be so pessimistic."

Coach D'Antoni reassured them. "There's no question that Monta is an individually gifted player.

But...

You all defended well tonight too.

It's just that... Monta is in too good a rhythm. Everything he throws up is going in. That isn't your fault.

Of course.

I don't think this kind of hot streak can last forever.

Monta is the kind of player who gets carried away easily. Once his touch starts slipping and he feels the contrast, he'll play even more aggressively.

He'll fall into endless isolation plays.

That will be our opportunity.

So... don't worry. Stick to our own rhythm and execute well on both offense and defense.

"The scales of victory are still tipping in our favor."

So-called zone state?

Su Yan smiled.

No!

Ellis wasn't worthy of that. It could only be said that... he took more shots, and whenever he couldn't make one, he dumped the ball to Curry.

That made him look like he was playing well, with high efficiency.

In reality, he was nothing special.

Still... D'Antoni had been right about one thing.

Ellis's reckless, unruly nature—his arrogant attitude of acting like he was the best in the world—made it easy for him to get carried away!

Aside from asserting his dominance over Curry, as a second-round pick, he also yearned to prove his value in the league through scoring.

That could lead to some strong performances.

But he would never be a qualified leader, nor could he help his team win games and go further!!!