Jokic's brilliant pass finally helped Link break through the Clippers' impenetrable defense.
This Grizzlies team was not fighting with Link alone.
Leonard and George were indeed a formidable duo, but Link and Jokic were no pushovers either.
People believed that once Leonard and George took the court together, the ultimate-form Clippers would be unstoppable.
But they had overlooked one thing—Link and Jokic's pairing had long since become unstoppable.
The Grizzlies' excellent 14-game record of only two losses was proof enough.
On the next possession, Paul George called for a screen again, preparing to repeat the same move.
But Jokic had learned his lesson this time. Instead of stepping up to stop George, he dropped back a step.
George's mid-range game was highly dangerous—arguably his most threatening scoring weapon.
However, after coming around a screen, George habitually took a few steps inside before shooting rather than pulling up immediately.
So this time, when George came around the screen and stopped for a jumper, Jokic raised his arms at exactly the right moment and disrupted the shot.
The basketball clanked off the rim, and the Grizzlies had a chance to tie the game or even take the lead!
Limited by his athleticism, Jokic's rim-protection numbers were indeed unimpressive, even worse than Howard's this season.
But if that made you overlook his defense, you would pay for it.
After George bricked the shot, the Clippers hurried back on defense, but they were still a step too late.
Before their defensive formation could fully take shape, Link had already crossed half court.
Although Link did not have the ball in his hands, everyone on the Clippers was already tense.
They all knew the basketball was on its way.
Let the basketball fly a little longer.
Sure enough, the next second, the orange Spalding basketball