On the very first possession, the super-prodigy Luka Dončić gave the founder of a two-time dynasty a rude welcome.
Dončić played with tremendous focus today, his desire to win burning fiercely.
Beating Link was his only goal today.
When Dončić stepped to the free-throw line, the entire crowd unleashed a tsunami of deafening boos.
FedExForum had become a genuine hellish home court over the years. Under boos like these, few rookies could keep their rhythm at the line.
Yet Dončić remained composed amid the jeers.
He calmly sank the free throw, completing the three-point play.
That guy wasn't just steady in style—his mentality was more mature than that of most young players as well.
After the Grizzlies brought the ball up, Link had actually intended to take over the game.
But when he saw Conley frowning, Link immediately gave up the idea of calling for the ball.
He simply spread the floor for his teammates and let Conley handle the offense himself.
Link could tell that Conley wanted to get one back himself. If Link forcibly demanded the ball now, it would hurt Conley's pride somewhat.
Watching Conley dribble at an unhurried pace, Dončić thought it would be easy to steal the ball.
But when he reached in, he discovered that Conley effortlessly pulled the ball to the other side, evading the steal!
"What!?" Dončić hadn't expected the seemingly casual Conley to be constantly aware of his movements. This season, the biggest impression Conley had given people was that he was declining—and not gradually, but falling off a cliff.
Yet even so, Conley still had no trouble avoiding Dončić's steal attempt.
Dončić's rash reach-in cost him position, and Conley seized the chance to drive!
Seeing this, Powell had no choice but to step up and take the hit. But Conley