Link buried two straight three-pointers, leaving Antetokounmpo utterly helpless.
Although the Grizzlies were only ahead of the Bucks by one point, the situation had taken a sharp turn for the worse for Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo desperately needed a response basket to steady things. For more than three quarters, he had always been able to answer in moments like this.
But now, Antetokounmpo was starting to lose confidence.
Although he had already scored 33 points, those 33 points had not come easily.
Clearly, in a do-or-die moment like this, Antetokounmpo could not guarantee that he could keep the score going on every possession.
Yet Link seemed capable of making a shot on every single possession.
Antetokounmpo was under enormous psychological pressure, a feeling he had never experienced before.
In the critical moments of a game, players' mental states inevitably changed.
Only a small number of players could maintain their outstanding performances under such immense pressure.
And among that small group, only those at the very top could actually unleash even greater power in crunch time.
Link was one of those few at the top.
As for Antetokounmpo, he had not even begun to reach that level.
He nervously moved in on Link. Though he still looked fearless on the surface, his stiff posture gave away all his tension.
Antetokounmpo had lost the composure he had shown earlier. Link could tell that this guy was afraid!
He was scared after falling behind by just one point. He really was still a greenhorn.
Link kept up the pressure, and Antetokounmpo was so frightened that he immediately picked up the basketball with both hands.
That meant he could no longer move.
With no other choice, Antetokounmpo handed the ball to Middleton.
Then, "the Greek Freak" hurried into the paint, preparing to back Link down.
Although