86 to 82, with both teams shooting under 40%.
Judging by the score and shooting percentages alone, you never would have imagined how thrilling the Grizzlies-Spurs game had been.
The next day, many fans who had missed the game said they had suffered a huge loss.
Even though there was a recording to watch, watching it after already knowing the result was completely different from experiencing it live.
Not long after Link's game-winning ultra-long three-pointer against the Raptors, his midair slip-shot layup had delivered another visual feast for the fans.
Stephen A. Smith, a notorious Link fanboy, made no attempt to hide it on social media. "Half of the NBA's highlights this season have come from Link. And they're the better half, too!"
A throwback game with poor shooting and no smooth offense had somehow become a fan favorite.
It proved that rules and eras did not necessarily determine how entertaining a basketball game was. Superstars did!
Of course, Link was not the only one who rose to fame after that game.
Leonard, who had forced Link to unleash his "ultimate move," had also earned a place in the fans' hearts.
Previously, because the Spurs themselves had not drawn much attention this season, Leonard's popularity had never been particularly explosive.
But now that people had suddenly realized just how formidable Leonard was, his soaring popularity was practically inevitable.
Everyone believed Leonard was now the most underrated player in the league. A player who could battle Link to the very end and lose only narrowly was definitely no ordinary player.
One game, two breakouts—that was the kind of game this had been.
Of course, Leonard definitely would not have been happy about something like that.
No matter how many people acknowledged you, once you stepped onto the court, you could only