Back from the timeout.
The starters returned, and the final battle was lit.
Curry, who had checked back in first, was in brilliant form. He was still scorching hot, and under the threat created by Blake Su, his offense flowed even more smoothly.
"Swish!"
After Kobe knocked down a jumper, Nash's drive and Blake Su's off-ball threat created another three-point opportunity for Curry.
He raised his hand and fired without hesitation.
"Swish!"
The shot was good the moment it left his hand.
Another clean make.
On the very next possession, it was Curry again. From the left side of the arc, he raised the ball with a three-point fake, got Fisher to bite, then suddenly exploded forward.
"Whoosh!"
He drove straight into the lane, put it high off the glass, avoided Bynum's block, and finished the layup.
Although Curry was defined as a shooter, people could not forget that his ability to attack the basket was nothing to scoff at either. Dare to underestimate him, and he would turn that into points.
"Stay on Curry!"
Phil Jackson roared from the sideline.
Fisher and the others nodded to themselves. They had to keep a close eye on Curry.
However, just as they tightened their focus on Curry, Blake Su erupted again.
Or rather, even after facing targeted defense all game, Blake Su had still scored 37 points. Ever since he brought out [Jordan's Post-Up Ability], his condition had been excellent.
Now that the defense on him loosened even slightly, he seized the chance.
With 7:33 left.
One step beyond the left wing three-point line, Blake Su gave a quick shot fake and rose straight up. Artest, whose center of gravity had already sunk, did not even have the urge to jump.
"Swish!"
Blake Su's three pierced the net.
With 6:17 left.
Blake Su held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Kobe. He gave another quick shot fake. Kobe did not bite, so Blake Su accelerated again, shook him off, and stormed into the paint.
He lifted the ball high.
"Boom!"
Over Bynum's block, he hammered it down with force.
With 5:33 left.
Moving without the ball, Blake Su sprinted out from the left corner, suddenly reversed direction, and dashed to the left side of the arc. That sudden stop and back-cut speed was simply outstanding.
Pau Gasol could not keep up at all.
Blake Su curled out, caught the pass, turned, and launched another three.
"Swish!"
Another three in rhythm, splashing through the net once again.
With 3:22 left.
On the right low block, Blake Su posted up Pau Gasol. He powered through with his waist and back, bumped him once, half-turned, then accelerated and blew past Pau Gasol in an instant.
"Whoosh!"
He charged straight to the rim. Facing the four outstretched hands of Artest and Bynum coming to block him, Blake Su stayed calm in midair, pulled the ball back, hung in the air, and finished with a reverse layup.
"Swish!"
Good again.
With 2:14 left.
At the top of the arc, a full meter beyond the three-point line, Blake Su suddenly fired over Kobe's defense. The ball drew a beautiful arc through the air.
"Swish!"
It pierced the net.
"Swish!"
On the other end, Kobe answered with a fadeaway three.
But on the very next possession, still at the top of the arc and still facing Kobe, Blake Su pulled up from two meters beyond the three-point line.
Another ultra-deep three.
Once again, he let it fly.
"Thud!"
Kobe had guessed it and closed out early, but Blake Su's release was too quick and his release point too high. Kobe's contest came up empty once again.
"No way that goes in!"
Kobe growled.
But the basketball seemed to have a "GPS" locked onto the rim. Under the despairing eyes of the Lakers fans, it once again punched straight through the net.
"Swish!"
A cold-blooded make.
"Wow."
Van Gundy clenched his fists and said excitedly, "An ultra-deep three right over Kobe. What a shot. Facing the 'best player in the league,' Blake Su, a rookie, doesn't show the slightest fear.
"To dare shoot in Kobe's face like that, he really has the skill and the nerve.
"This rookie Blake Su's clutch ability is truly rare and incredibly strong."
"Exactly!"
Mike Breen chimed in, just as fired up. "And with that three-pointer, Blake Su has scored 16 points in the quarter and exploded for 53 points tonight.
"More importantly, the Suns have now stretched the lead to 14 points, and the Lakers have less than two minutes left.
"The Lakers are in real danger."
"That's right."
Van Gundy tapped the desk, nodded, and continued, "Blake Su's 53 points are without question another brilliant performance.
"But Kobe has also played well tonight. He has 42 points, and in the second quarter, he and Blake Su put on an incredible post-up scoring duel.
"However, in the final quarter tonight, Curry, Carter, and Nash all erupted for the Suns, giving Blake Su endless added firepower. Once the Suns' run-and-gun offense ignited, even the defending champions couldn't withstand the impact."
As the two commentators spoke, the final two minutes on the court rapidly slipped away. Down 14 points, the Lakers grew more anxious the longer they played, lost all rhythm, and kept clanking shots.
In the end, there was no comeback.
The Suns ultimately defeated the Lakers by 11 points, extending their winning streak to 10 games. Since Blake Su joined the Suns, they had completed a season sweep of the defending champion Lakers.
...
After the game.
Kobe found Blake Su, gave him a playful punch, and laughed. "Blake Su, your post-up game is pretty good. How come I never saw you use it before?"
"Heh."
Blake Su smiled faintly and said, "I only learned it recently."
"Only learned it recently? Who are you trying to fool?"
Kobe raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. Then he pressed him again. "Be honest. Have you been secretly practicing it for a long time just to deal with us tonight?"
"Huh? Heh, heh, heh."
Blake Su had no answer and could only laugh awkwardly.
Kobe did not dwell on it too much. He continued, "I'll come find you when I have time. We'll play one-on-one, just using post-ups."
Competitive as ever, Kobe issued the challenge.
"Sure. Anytime."
Blake Su gladly agreed.
...
The Lakers and Suns game was over.
But Blake Su had once again dropped 53 points, and his first real display of [Jordan's Post-Up Ability] had opened the fans' eyes, sparking nonstop discussion.
"Wow!"
"Another 50-plus game. Is it this easy for rookies to score 50 now?"
"Idiot, Blake Su is the only rookie this year who's scored 50-plus. So it's not easy for rookies to score 50. Blake Su is just too strong!"
"Oh, right."
"Hey, did none of you notice? Blake Su added another weapon to his offense, a post-up game. With his height, posting up on the perimeter like that, plus his athleticism, it feels like everyone guarding him is a mismatch."
"He got stronger again!"
"Heh, of course. Blake Su is still a rookie. Of course he's going to keep getting stronger. Before long, the whole league will be terrified of him."
"Tsk, tsk. Sweeping the Lakers. The Suns are seriously strong!"
"They beat the defending champions two games in a row. Looks like our Suns are a team capable of fighting for the championship!"
"Come on, man. Have some confidence. Drop the 'looks like'!"
"Suns championship? Whispering."
"Suns championship! Voice crack!"