"Watch the passes! Watch your man!"
Coach K glanced up at the scoreboard and shouted at the players on the court.
With a 15-point gap and seven minutes left, the USA Team only needed to play steadily to protect its lead.
But Tang Tian's individual showcase had produced five straight points in a single possession. That hurt badly.
After getting scolded, Green immediately responded with a performance of his own, drilling a three from the top of the arc to push the USA Team's lead back to 13.
After scoring, Green yelled wildly at the China Team. That shot had clearly made him feel fantastic.
But just as he finished shouting, Tang Tian came back with a Pull-up Jumper three after a Triple Threat move, immediately answering him with a three of his own!
Tang Tian had entered the zone!
The expressions of the players on the USA Team bench grew complicated.
They were all NBA players. They all knew just how terrifying Tang Tian's scoring explosion became once he got going.
Twenty-eight points in a quarter, 66 points in a Playoffs game, 62 points through three quarters of the Finals—those were not things a normal person could do!
This might have been an international court, but basketball was still basketball, the court was still the court, and the three-point line was even closer!
Durant began calling for the ball in the frontcourt.
Green's encouragement had worked. As the core of Dream Team XII, he could no longer fear Tang Tian and hesitate to shoot. He had to respond!
He caught the ball, posted up, turned, and rose for a Turnaround Jumper. Even Zhou Qi's long arms were not enough to stop him.
Swish!
Durant's jumper went in, and the gap returned to 12 points!
But Tang Tian immediately answered.