Duhong had said he'd create opportunities for Su Yan.
But that didn't mean... he wanted Su Yan to do all the attacking. Just now, Su Yan had been at the top of the right side of the arc, with a defender in front of him.
He could've passed it straight to Gallinari in the right corner.
That would've been a tough pass, and the defense might've read it. If he let Su Yan touch the ball first, an opportunity was sure to open up.
Obviously,
Gallinari, a sharpshooter himself, had the better look.
But Su Yan had launched a shot from way downtown, as if he'd made up his mind to go for it, no matter what.
It was an unreasonable shot.
No wonder Duhong had blown his top.
However... for Su Yan, who had [Max Level Three-Pointer], his threes were unreasonable.
But they went in.
Duhong swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and, just like Larry Hughes before him, pulled off a Sichuan Opera Face Changing routine.
How many was that?
His seventh three-pointer.
The Thunder hadn't paid much attention to his first five. Su Yan had shot them with ease. With the last two, they'd slowly started looking for their chance.
But he'd still made them.
In short: during so-called Garbage Time, Su Yan had drained seven three-pointers, helping his team cut the deficit from a maximum of 20 points
to just one.
More importantly, once this game was over, he'd earn at least 21,000 USD.
His ten-day contract had only paid 20,000 USD in total.
This was seriously awesome.
"I'm making bank, hehehe~"
Su Yan was grinning like a fool.
Harden saw him and scoffed. "Look at you, getting excited over nothing. I've got 30 points. Do you see me bragging?
Even if you've been efficient,
don't forget: your team's still down by one. If you lose, this'll be a historic milestone!"
There were 20.9 seconds left.
Durant had the ball. In theory, all he had to do was run down the clock, and the Thunder could seal the win.
The Knicks weren't about to let that happen.
"Full-court press!"
D'Antoni shouted from the sideline.
Everyone understood. Gallinari, Duhong, Su Yan, and the rest of the Knicks pressed the entire Thunder team all over the court.
If they could get a stop, great.
If not, they'd foul.
The Thunder's Big Three took turns receiving the ball, not giving the Knicks a chance to steal it. They didn't mind not taking a shot themselves.
The clock kept ticking.
20.9 seconds.
15.3 seconds.
10.7 seconds.
5.8 seconds.
They still couldn't get the ball. Seeing no other option, David Lee charged at Harden, who had possession, and fouled him.
He sent him to the Free Throw line.
So far this season,
Durant had a 90% Free Throw percentage, Harden 80%, and Westbrook 78%.
It seemed like fouling Westbrook would've been best.
But David Lee figured that Harden was still a rookie and might not hold up under the pressure in a do-or-die moment.
It was a sound line of thought.
"Clang!"
"Swish!"
The still-green Harden was clearly feeling the pressure.
He missed the first Free Throw. The second bounced twice on the rim before finally dropping in.
One for two.
Come on, Harden. You're really nervous.
Watching Harden's awful Free Throw shooting, Su Yan wanted to tell him to have a bottle of Mai Dong.
Not on your game when it matters? Get back in the game anytime, anywhere with Mai Dong!!!
The lead was two points.
There were still 5.8 seconds left.
"Whistle!"
D'Antoni called a timeout.
He spoke gravely. "We've got 5.8 seconds, plenty of time to run a complete play.
Look for Su Yan first. Go for the game-winning three.
Or, to play it safe, create an opportunity for David Lee under the basket and take the game to overtime!"
"Got it."
Everyone nodded.
D'Antoni patted Su Yan on the shoulder and encouraged him. "Su Yan, don't be nervous. Relax.
You've already done more than enough tonight.
Don't put pressure on yourself now. Play the way you have been. If you get an open look, take it without hesitation.
We all believe in you."
You don't have to tell me. Just give me a chance, and I'll take the shot.
Come on.
If it goes in, that's another 3,000 USD. If I miss and we lose, I haven't lost anything.
Relax. I'm not nervous at all. If I get the ball, I'm shooting.
Su Yan's expression was resolute. "All right, Coach! I'll do my best to knock down the shot!!!"
On the Thunder's side,
their defensive strategy was to give up the Two-pointer and guard the three. As long as they didn't get hit with a game-winner, they'd still have a chance.
The key: shut down Su Yan.
No one thought much of him, but he'd still made seven three-pointers. They couldn't afford to ignore him.
Before long,
the game resumed.
"Roar!"
The home crowd at Madison Square Garden erupted in a deafening cheer. Everyone was waiting to see a game-winner.
And not just any game-winner.
If the Knicks won, they'd complete an epic 20-point comeback.
A 20-point comeback, a game-winner, and an end to their ten-game losing streak.
Knicks fans wanted it more than anything.
It would set the whole league ablaze.
At the sideline near midcourt, the tall David Lee, who was capable of handling the ball, prepared to inbound. Harrington, Gallinari, and Su Yan, the three shooters, moved around the court.
On the Thunder's side,
Durant and Harden chased Su Yan, while the others watched him too, making sure he couldn't get the ball.
On the Knicks' side,
Gallinari, Harrington, and Duhong seemed to be running around to get open, but in reality, they were setting screens for Su Yan.
"???"
At the commentary desk,
Reggie Miller couldn't help exclaiming when he saw this. "Su Yan was a benchwarmer, but now he's become the focal point of both teams' offense and defense.
The Thunder are watching him so he can't shoot.
The Knicks are counting on him and setting him up for a three.
It's rare to see an undrafted player get this kind of treatment in the clutch!!!"
"Haha!"
Barkley rubbed his shiny bald head and laughed. "If you'd drained seven three-pointers in five minutes, you'd get the same treatment."
On the court,
Su Yan used the screens and ran back and forth, trying to shake Durant and Harden and get open for the pass.
But the Thunder's Big Three were incredibly talented. They'd also figured out the Knicks' offensive strategy, and they were focused on Su Yan.
He couldn't shake them.
What now?
Let one of the other players shoot a three?
Too risky.
Su Yan wasn't having it either. If someone else took the shot, he'd be kissing that 3,000 USD goodbye. That would feel worse than being killed.
"I need the ball!"
Su Yan clenched his teeth and took off, heading beyond the arc to a spot near the logo.
David Lee was determined to find Su Yan. He believed in him.
"Whoosh~"
The logo wasn't an ideal place to catch the ball, but getting it into Su Yan's hands came first. Otherwise, they'd turn it over on a five-second inbound violation and all their effort would be wasted.
"Smack!"
Su Yan caught the ball.
Even from the logo, with no defender in sight, Su Yan dared to shoot. His three-point range surpassed Curry at his peak, reaching a fantastical level.
But... Harden chased him down, giving Su Yan no chance to get off a comfortable shot.
A forced shot from the logo?
That wouldn't be smart.
The clock was ticking. Su Yan didn't have time to think. The instant he got the ball, he accelerated toward the right wing.
He wouldn't shoot from the logo.
He was also sure Harden, who was closing in on him, wouldn't dare make a reckless move. A three-point shooting foul would waste everything.
5.8 seconds.
4.7 seconds.
3.2 seconds.
Su Yan reached the top of the arc on the right, but he still hadn't shaken Harden. There was barely any time left.
"Skrrt!"
Su Yan hit the brakes, then stepped back sharply to the right, creating half a step of space between himself and Harden.
Without a moment's hesitation, he launched a three-pointer on the move, right in the face of Harden's contest.
He released it with 2.4 seconds left.
As the spinning ball sailed toward the hoop, time ran out and the red light came on.
It all came down to this three-pointer.
Miss, and they lost.
Make it, and he won the game!!!
Before you continue