Looking at it now, the Grizzlies' performance in the second quarter could barely be considered a warm-up.
Because the Grizzlies' firepower in the third quarter was even more ferocious than in the second!
More precisely, Link's firepower in the third quarter was even stronger than the entire Grizzlies team's output in the second.
Klay Thompson and Ian Clark seemed to have turned into puppets on strings, completely at Link's mercy.
The entire third quarter became Link's one-man show. Though he was not matched up with Durant one-on-one, that still could not overshadow his explosive performance on offense.
At that moment, Link got the ball beyond the three-point line once again. Thompson was guarding him tightly, yet he still felt uneasy.
After receiving the ball, Link glanced at Durant behind Klay, as if asking him, "Are you really not coming over to help?"
After that, Link took two steps back, creating a little separation from Thompson as he prepared to burst forward!
Link's dribbling rhythm alternated between fast and slow. Several times, Thompson thought Link was about to drive, but Link never did.
Guarding Link filled Thompson with a sense of helplessness. He felt that everything he did was under Link's control.
He was like a nervous rookie, while Link was the imposing drill instructor.
Left or right, he could only follow Link's commands.
Link's string of feints caused Thompson to unconsciously widen the gap between them. Deep down, he wanted to guard against Link's drive.
Yet that was precisely the reaction Link wanted to see.
While Thompson was still guessing whether Link would go left or right, Link suddenly rose up for a pull-up jumper from a step beyond the three-point line!
There was no warning in Link's shot. From dribble to jump shot, the whole sequence flowed in one