During the break between quarters, TNT kept replaying Link's extreme fading layup over Porzingis's defense.
Link's basket had undoubtedly already secured a spot on today's Top Five Plays.
Before long, fans dug up a similar basket that Michael Jordan had made as well!
The startling resemblance between Link and Jordan could no longer be explained away as mere coincidence.
The facts proved that Link truly possessed the abilities Michael Jordan once had.
Only two monsters like Link and Jordan could pull off that kind of play.
Although Link had been spectacular in the second quarter, the Dallas Mavericks' resilience had also exceeded everyone's expectations.
Luka Dončić in particular had managed to withstand the pressure and stabilize the situation despite being suppressed by Link.
Even many superstars who had spent years in the league were incapable of doing that.
Yet Luka Dončić had done it.
In the second quarter, Dončić scored only one point fewer than Link. In other words, nearly every time Link scored, Dončić immediately answered back.
There were only a handful of players in the entire league who could keep up with Link offensively.
Dončić's performance had already earned recognition from most people. Some were even wondering whether the Mavericks might actually topple the Grizzlies today!
If that happened, Dončić would go down in history!
Though this was only an ordinary regular-season game, beating the Grizzlies in the regular season was no easy task.
Especially for a team built around a second-year player.
During halftime, Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle used exactly that point to motivate his players.
"Get out there and tell the whole world who the future ruler of this league is! FedExForum isn't hell, and even if it is, we'll fight our way out!"
Young players were the easiest group to fire up with a