Harden had scored 30 points, while Su Yan had only 15.
But... never mind that Su Yan had scored an astonishing 15 points in just two and a half minutes.
The key thing was...
Each three-pointer earned him 3,000 USD. Five of them had already netted him 15,000 USD. Who could resist that?
Wouldn't you be excited?
It was hard not to get worked up.
Westbrook charged inside, carrying the ball like a sack of explosives as he went up for a layup. He flung himself into the air as if he meant to take his enemies down with him.
He'd found his chance to attack the rim.
Unfortunately... second-year Westbrook couldn't finish the play.
The rebound?
David Lee, who averaged 11.8 rebounds per game, secured the ball with ease.
"Su Yan, just keep running. The moment an opening appears, I'll pass you the ball right away."
Duhong pushed the ball up the court after catching the pass, reminding Su Yan as he went.
So he was being this friendly to a rookie?
Not at all.
It was purely because Su Yan had just drained five three-pointers in a row, making him a key weapon in the Knicks' comeback—and possibly even their chance to take the lead.
No matter the world, strength reigned supreme.
That was an eternal truth.
Su Yan understood. He couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. Right now, he just wanted to shoot threes and help his team win.
Seriously!!!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Su Yan began to run, tireless as ever. David Lee, Gallinari, and the others were happy to help, too.
They kept setting screens for Su Yan.
With his shot so hot, they all wanted him to take a few more.
USD +1.
USD +1.
USD +1.
Getting paid every time he ran only gave him more motivation.
???
Come on, man. Did you really have to hustle this hard?
The starters were back on the floor. You weren't a key player anymore, and this game didn't have much to do with you now.
Why run so fast and fight so hard?
Harden was matched up against Su Yan. Early in his career, Harden still had some desire to play defense, but tonight he was the star of the show.
What was the point of chasing a benchwarmer around like this, especially one who just ran around mindlessly?
He couldn't take it anymore.
Harden caught up with Su Yan and complained, "Stop, stop, stop. Can you quit running? Do you see anyone passing you the ball?!
Even if they did, you wouldn't make the shot."
"Then... why don't you stop sticking so close to me?"
Su Yan rolled his eyes at him.
Harden kept running his mouth, but his feet didn't slow down at all. Even as he panted, he stayed right on Su Yan's heels.
He had a point, too.
Harden was a rookie himself, after all. He still had to prove himself.
If he didn't show what he was worth, no team would put up with his "lazy-eye defense" in the future.
"Whoosh!"
Su Yan cut toward the basket, then abruptly doubled back with a sharp change of direction, shaking Harden off.
A slick off-ball move?
No. He'd just run so much that Harden had lost focus in sheer frustration.
As long as you were willing to run and took the game seriously, an opportunity would always come along.
On the right wing, just beyond the three-point line, Su Yan arrived and received Duhong's pass. He raised the ball and launched another Extended three-pointer.
It was both long and fast.
Durant had already rushed over to help defend, but still couldn't get a hand on the shot. He wasn't even close.
The ball soared past his fingertips, far beyond his reach.
It spun toward the basket, and under Harden's horrified gaze, once again... ripped through the net.
"Swish!"
His sixth three-pointer.
Another 3,000 USD in the bank.
Su Yan was delighted, and the lead had shrunk to just four points.
"What's going on? Who... is this kid?"
Coach Scott Brooks couldn't stay calm.
He couldn't stay calm at all.
A Water Cooler Manager he didn't even recognize had single-handedly sparked an 18–2 run.
Who could take that?
It was like someone had ground his head into the floor.
"He's just a pretty face they signed to draw attention!"
The assistant coach looked just as troubled. "He went undrafted this year, and his combine stats were terrible.
Nobody wanted him.
But he's handsome, and he has the Dragon Country market behind him. The Knicks signed him to a short-term deal.
They probably want to see if they can attract fans with his looks and generate some buzz for the team!
He can't score, and he definitely can't shoot threes."
???
Six-for-six from three, and every shot was difficult. He could even hit them from way downtown.
And you're saying he can't shoot?
What the hell...
Are you sure you're not messing with me?
Fighting back the urge to complain, Coach Brooks roared at Harden, "Turn up the defensive pressure! Don't let him shoot!"
Even though Harden had scored 30 points that night, he still got chewed out.
A flash of disgust crossed his eyes as he looked at Su Yan. "You want to hustle, fine, but now you're dragging me into it!
I might not be human, but you're a real dog!"
Sigh...
Harden let out a breath, swallowed the bitter pill of getting chewed out, and gritted his teeth as he chased Su Yan with all he had.
Six-for-six from three.
He couldn't let Su Yan get an easy shot now. Otherwise... if they lost, he'd be the one taking the blame.
A milestone turning into a tragedy?
Harden didn't want that.
But Su Yan really was giving it his all. Even though he couldn't find a good chance to receive the ball over the next minute, he never stopped running.
Harden was gasping for breath. He felt like he could play all night without getting too tired, but this one or two minutes had left him completely exhausted.
He caught up with Su Yan again and cut off his chance to get the ball.
Harden complained again. "Your name's Su Yan, right? Seriously, stop running around like some tireless grinder.
There's no need.
Your teammates are all good. As a shooter, you should just stay in the corner and wait for your teammates to pass you the ball.
That's how it's supposed to work."
Harden giving a lesson?
Well... you couldn't say he was wrong.
A traditional shooter was supposed to lie in wait quietly in the corner, waiting for his team's star to drive in, draw a Double team, and pass the ball out.
Then he'd shoot a three.
And that was true even though the Small Ball Era hadn't arrived yet. Plenty of shooters in the future would play that way, too.
Of course.
The main reason Harden said all this was that he didn't want to keep glued to Su Yan like a dog to a bone.
He, Harden, was this year's Third Pick.
He, Su Yan, was an undrafted rookie.
Su Yan following Harden around made sense.
Harden following Su Yan around was embarrassing.
Before he was traded to the Nets in the future, Harden had a strong sense of pride and big dreams.
Me, a tireless grinder?
If I told you each three-pointer earned 3,000 USD, you'd hustle too!!!
"Heh!"
Su Yan smiled, unfazed by Harden's complaints. "I'm just an undrafted rookie. I have to treasure every minute I get on the court.
So.
Can you stop following me and let me take a few more threes?"
"In your dreams!" Harden growled.
Su Yan growled right back. "Then why are you talking so much crap?!"
The two rookies kept going at each other.
On the court.
With the defense tightening and the game coming down to its final, decisive moments, it really wasn't easy for him to get open.
Durant had a Big Heart.
On the right elbow, he called for Gallinari to guard him, took a quick step, came to a sudden stop, and pulled up for a jumper.
There was no stopping that.
"Swish!"
He coolly sank the Two-pointer.
David Lee also overpowered Kostic down low and muscled in two points, keeping the gap at just two.
Westbrook wasn't about to be outdone.
His explosive athleticism was his greatest asset. He shifted gears again, accelerated past the defender, and charged into the paint.
He gathered the ball and leaped.
He drew his bow to the limit and unleashed a brutal, C-shaped slam, a display of power that was pure violence. The lead was back to four, with just 27.4 seconds left.
It looked like...
The Knicks were still going to lose.
But then, during the fast break, Su Yan got the ball near the top of the arc, more than two meters beyond the line.
Harden was a beat late and didn't follow him.
Well, it wasn't exactly a late reaction. At that distance, there was nothing wrong with staying put.
"Whoa—"
Su Yan seized the opening and immediately launched another way-out Three-pointer.
Duhong passed him the ball and pointed to the corner. His eyes widened. "Don't shoot! Gallinari's wide open in the right corner.
You... holy crap, what a shot!!!"
Before you continue