Houston Has No Say

Every fan inside Toyota Center clutched their heads with both hands, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

After Link blew the smoke from his gun barrel, Tony Allen immediately pulled him into a hug. More and more Grizzlies players rushed over, surrounding Link in a tight circle.

"Three plus one—you really gave him a taste of his own medicine, Link!" Tony Allen beamed. After getting baited by Harden all night, he had finally lived to see Harden get baited himself.

"We'll be up by seven with one minute left. We've got this!" Conley was just as thrilled. After being suppressed by Beverley all game, he had finally gotten some payback.

On the bench, nearly every Grizzlies player had risen to cheer and roar for Link. Even Vince Carter was too excited to contain himself, showing none of a veteran's usual composure.

After a spectacular four-point play like that, who was done cheering? Who cared about composure?

After Carter and his teammates finished celebrating on the sideline, they looked over at Howard and Harden.

Both men had their heads lowered, hands on their hips, disappointment written all over their faces.

They had each scored over thirty points tonight and brought their best, but that was precisely what made it so crushing.

Even after giving everything they had, they still could not shake the Grizzlies' control over the game.

Their all-out effort was worthless in front of Link!

In the end, the referees had to step in and remind the Grizzlies players that the game was still going on. Otherwise, who knew how long those guys would have celebrated?

Link broke free from the crowd and stepped to the free-throw line.

Standing in front of the basket, Link looked up at the Rockets players and the fans in the stands.