The news of Link holding Rui Hachimura scoreless hit Japan like a depth charge, setting off massive waves.
Yet in the United States, it barely caused a ripple.
Wasn't it perfectly normal for Link to shut down a rookie?
Though Rui Hachimura had been the ninth overall pick, that status was nothing remarkable in front of Link.
Even a super talent like Luka Dončić had no way to act up in front of Link, let alone Rui Hachimura.
Link himself had not thought much of the game's outcome. If not for the Japanese reporters reminding him, he would not even have known he had held Rui Hachimura scoreless.
Many Japanese fans probably assumed Link had done it on purpose.
Heaven and earth bear witness, Link had genuinely shut him out by accident...
The best player in the league had no need to deliberately target a rookie.
But whether Link had done it intentionally or not, the label of "rookie killer" was firmly stuck on him.
Without even realizing it, Link had once again become synonymous with a great villain.
Fifteen minutes after the Grizzlies-Wizards game ended, over in Dallas, the Miami Heat also defeated the talented Mavericks 122-118.
That victory marked the seventh time the Miami Heat had avoided a losing streak this season, bringing them to an impressive 19-7 record.
Newly arrived Heat player Jimmy Butler performed brilliantly in this game. He put up 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists while shooting exactly 50 percent from the field.
More importantly, Butler held Dončić to just 14 points today. The European prodigy looked utterly miserable against a tough player like Butler, who showed no mercy whatsoever.
If not for Hardaway magically drilling six three-pointers today, the Mavericks would never have been able to keep the score close.
After the