Chapter 279: Perfect Combo Skills, The Magic Ball Arrives
"Did you see that pass?"
"He and Azubuike just turned the court into a football field."
"Two seconds, boom, touchdown."
"The Spurs looked like they got hit by lightning."
The America West Arena was still buzzing from the replay. Fans pointed at the big screen, laughing and yelling like they had just watched a trick shot contest instead of a playoff game.
Up in the booth, Barkley was grinning ear to ear. "That pass was so fast the camera had to file a missing persons report."
Kenny shook his head. "Baseline catch, one step, and he rifles it downcourt. The Suns scored before the defense even finished blinking."
Chen Yan's vision was doing more than just creating highlights. He was reading San Antonio's mind. In this Suns lineup, Azubuike was the guy teams forgot about for half a second, and Chen punished that hesitation immediately.
During the timeout, Popovich was on the sideline in full volcano mode, chewing out his group without taking a breath. Game 2 mattered that much. Going down 0 to 2 was a completely different universe from stealing one and heading back to San Antonio tied.
The timeout ended. Play resumed.
…
San Antonio went to work first.
Parker initiated from the top. Oberto set the screen, Diaw switched onto Parker, and the Spurs had exactly what they wanted, a small on big matchup.
Parker did not hesitate. He hit the gas, slipped into the lane, and pulled up near the edge of the paint. Diaw was agile for his size, but it still was not enough to handle Parker's burst.
Bank.
35 to 41.
His jumper was shaky tonight, but at the rim, he was still money.
Phoenix slowed it down. Popovich had called that timeout to choke off the Suns pace, and his team was back sprinting to their spots, daring Phoenix to win in the half court.
Nash swung it to Azubuike on the wing. The Spurs rotated fast and tight, no clean look there.
Azubuike kept his head. Even after a hot stretch, he knew who he was in this lineup. No forcing, no hero ball. He took a lateral dribble and kicked it up to Chen Yan near the top.
Chen caught it a step outside the arc. Bowen was glued to him, crowding his air space because he knew Chen was in range the moment he crossed half court.
Chen read that pressure like a headline. If Bowen wanted to sit that close, Chen would make him pay with his feet.
Lightning First Step.
Bowen barely started to shift when Chen was already gone, slicing past the three point line in one violent burst. His natural speed plus that Lightning First Step pop made the move look unfair.
Bowen, a lifetime defensive pest, had nothing for it. No grab, no cut off angle, just a flash of a jersey and the sound of sneakers disappearing.
Chen kept accelerating. The Spurs defense collapsed, Duncan stepping into the paint to guard the rim.
Chen did not slow. He drove all the way to the baseline, then rose and flicked the ball back out mid air.
Diaw caught it left of the line, wide open.
Swish.
35 to 43.
Two straight assists. Chen's feel was sharp tonight, and his teammates were ready for every window he opened.
San Antonio answered quickly. Parker attacked again, got into the body traffic, and drew the whistle.
Beep.
Two free throws, both good.
37 to 43.
The possessions stayed clean, both teams trading punches without giving away anything easy.
…
Phoenix settled again into a half court set. The Spurs were locked in enough that even Nash could not pry open space on the break.
With 12 on the clock, Azubuike took the ball at the baseline, showed triple threat, then put it on the floor, beating Finley on the first step.
Azubuike could handle, he just rarely needed to in this group. Tonight he chose his moment.
Duncan slid over with arms high, walling the rim like a veteran bouncer.
Azubuike went up, felt the size, and knew he was flying into trouble. He twisted and kicked the ball out.
Passing was not his best skill, and this one came on instinct more than design.
Luckily, it found Chen Yan.
Chen backed up twice and snagged it about a meter and a half behind the arc. Bowen was rushing out to contest, and Duncan still was recovering from helping at the rim.
Chen lifted the ball at his waist.
Everyone thought it was a lob.
He had already spotted Stoudemire on the other side of the hoop, open and ready to explode. The whole building leaned forward, waiting for the alley oop.
Stoudemire read it the same way. He launched, rising higher and higher, eyes locked on the flight.
Then the ball kept floating.
Not toward his hands.
Toward the rim.
Swish.
The shot dropped clean through the net.
Stoudemire froze in midair, landing with a look that said, Wait, that was for me. Duncan stared at the basket like it had betrayed him. Chen Yan just laughed, palms up, half apology, half pure delight.
He had meant to pass. His hand had only twitched at the worst possible time.
From the stands, it looked like magic.
The arena detonated. Even the home crowd loved it more than a dunk, because nobody could explain how a lob turned into a buried three.
On the floor, Bowen stared at Chen's back, completely baffled.
How are you supposed to guard a guy whose passes fall in.
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