Game 672: For the Win! Paul Got Dirty!

"Beep, beep!"

Two minutes remained in the third quarter.

The Lakers called a timeout.

The players all looked grim.

The New York Three's rally, the score deficit, and their disadvantage in the series had made them uneasy.

This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

They had to turn things around as soon as possible and win the game.

A brief silence fell.

Paul spoke in a low voice. "I think... we need to play more aggressively, on both offense and defense.

We need to play harder and rougher.

We can't give those Knicks even the slightest chance to catch their breath.

Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to ourselves!!!"

"Yeah."

Kobe's brows furrowed. "They're the defending champions. They're much stronger than I expected.

We can't let our good form make us careless, or assume we can easily beat the Knicks.

We have to stay focused and give it 200 percent the whole time."

"Got it, boss!"

"We'll give everything we've got to win!"

"Yeah!"

The Lakers were all fired up.

A moment later,

they returned from the timeout.

The final two minutes of the third quarter began.

Paul drove with the ball. Curry stepped up and successfully defended him again, but this time... Paul didn't pass.

As he drove hard, he slipped in a subtle elbow, jabbing Curry in the stomach. Curry grimaced in pain, and his defense faltered.

Paul took advantage and made the layup.

On the other end, Curry changed pace and direction, breaking through Paul's defense. Paul chased after him and slyly grabbed and tugged at him.

The contact was slight, but each little foul was right on the edge of what the referees might call.

It was a test of how much the officials would allow.

Paul had always been good at reading the refs.