Chapter 849

Howard drove past the inexperienced Ezeli and charged toward the basket.

If left unchecked, Howard could have easily finished with a dunk and scored his 34th point of the game!

More importantly, if he made the dunk, the Rockets would erase the Grizzlies' final one-point lead and take the lead themselves.

Vince Carter gritted his teeth and rushed in on what was practically a suicide mission. Dragging his nearly 40-year-old body into the air, he collided with Howard midair.

Although the Grizzlies had held the initiative since the second quarter, a closer look at the numbers revealed just how dire their situation actually was.

Butler had scored 15 points, but after being baited into foul trouble and forced off the court, he could no longer help Link shoulder the offensive burden. Gasol had 10 points, but he too was unable to contribute any more.

And among everyone else still able to play, no one besides Link had reached double figures.

Harris had only 8 points, having been heavily contained over the last three quarters. Carter had 8 points, and no one could ask more of him. Conley was off his game today as well, with only 8 points.

The Rockets, meanwhile, had Howard with 32, Harden with 33, Beverley with 14, and "Jet" Terry adding 12 off the bench.

Under normal circumstances, a team with two players scoring over 30 points would have won long ago.

The only reason the Grizzlies were still tied with the Rockets, and had even managed to suppress them earlier, was Link's 51 points—because he was still holding them up!

Since they could not help Link on the scoreboard, the other Grizzlies planned to ease his burden in other ways.

That was why Carter had charged in without hesitation. He refused to let Link's 51