Before long, the game officially began.
"Jump ball!"
The tip-off was between Marc Gasol and Blake Su. This was the Grizzlies' home court, Marc Gasol's territory. Marc Gasol, putting everything into it, was determined to win this jump ball.
But he only had the stronger momentum.
"Thud!"
"Thud!"
Both men jumped. Just like last night, Blake Su used his absolute height advantage to beat Marc Gasol to the ball and tip it away first.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Nash brought the ball up the floor. At the top of the arc, he glanced at Blake Su, then threw a no-look pass to Curry at the left 45-degree angle.
"Whoosh!"
Curry raised his hands and fired a three.
"Swish!"
Quick release, clean make.
Nothing but net.
"Wow... he's got one right away. Curry's touch looks good tonight."
"For the Grizzlies, that might not be a good sign."
On the court.
The possession changed hands.
Conley brought the ball up. Facing Curry's defense, he crossed over several times, then suddenly accelerated into a drive, but Curry stayed with him and refused to be shaken off.
"Whoosh!"
After drawing the defense, Conley passed to Gay at the free-throw line. George slid out and took the assignment himself. Gay took one explosive step from the right wing.
"Screech!"
He stopped on a dime, rose up, and fired from mid-range.
Buzz!
George's eyes sharpened, and he lunged to contest. He could not block Gay's "Unblockable Shot," but... he bothered it.
"Clang!"
Gay missed.
"Smack!"
Blake Su grabbed the rebound.
Run!
"Whoosh!"
Blake Su, a 215-centimeter center, pushed the fast break himself. Arthur, the power forward guarding him, could not keep up at all and was left completely stunned.
"Step!"
"Step!"
In the frontcourt, Curry and Nash spread out to the left and right, while Blake Su trailed through the middle. All three points carried three-point threat.
Who were they supposed to guard?!
For a moment, the retreating Grizzlies players looked completely lost and scrambled in panic. In the end, they chose to focus on Blake Su coming down the middle, while also... keeping an eye on Curry and Nash.
As a result.
"Whoosh!"
Blake Su, pushing forward, tossed up a high lob. Paul George, who had been ignored as he cut to the basket, soared into the air, caught it with both hands, and threw down a hanging alley-oop slam.
"Boom!"
The powerful dunk left the rim groaning.
"Whoa... a connection between George and Blake Su."
"Heh, honestly, George's athleticism is much better than Carter's at this stage. As long as he gets the chance, an alley-oop like that is nothing for him."
At the commentary desk.
Van Gundy and Mike Breen were fired up.
Back on the court.
On the next possession, after the Grizzlies' offense stalled again.
"Whoosh!"
The Suns' evolved run-and-gun sounded off once more. George cut down the lane again, wanting another alley-oop, wanting to hammer the rim with another vicious dunk.
The Grizzlies did not give him the chance.
So.
"Whoosh!"
From the middle of the arc, one step beyond the three-point line, Blake Su raised the ball and fired. A wide-open three, as simple and relaxed as a practice shot.
"Swish!"
Straight through the heart.
Possession changed.
Marc Gasol went one-on-one against Frye in the low post. After backing him down several times, he shifted sideways and rose for a small hook, finally getting it to fall. But... Nash pushed the ball right back up.
As Blake Su cut into the paint, Nash passed outside to Curry.
"Swish!"
Another three-pointer, right on target.
Grizzlies 2, Suns 11.
"Beep, beep!"
Hollins called a timeout. An 11-2 opening run forced the Grizzlies to stop the game.
"Wow! A perfect 11-2 start. On the Grizzlies' own floor, the Suns have turned the tables and put enormous offensive pressure on them from the opening tip."
Van Gundy clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Absolutely."
Mike Breen nodded repeatedly. "When the Suns' offense is struggling and the Grizzlies' offense is flowing, the game might be close. But once it flips the other way, it becomes one-sided pressure.
"The Suns are first in the West and first in the league for a reason. They're still fierce!"
"Exactly."
Van Gundy nodded along, then added, "Also, from these two games with George starting, we can see that he has strengthened the Suns' run-and-gun even further.
"At the same time, they're better defensively, too.
"Carter's injury did cost them a steady three-point option on the perimeter, as well as some veteran experience. But... the Suns are not short on offensive firepower.
"So with George filling the gap, the current Suns actually seem to have improved by another level.
"I think... before the playoffs arrive, once they get a little more time to build chemistry, the Suns will show even greater strength in the postseason."
"That's right. Blake Su, Curry, and George are all fresh blood for the Suns, and all of them have very high ceilings. Especially Blake Su, paired with the brain of the 'Son of the Wind.'
"Heh... I really can't wait to see this team's future."
During the timeout, the two commentators could not stop praising the Suns, who seemed to be getting better and better.
And after the timeout, the Suns' evolved run-and-gun offensive surge did not weaken at all. Instead, it grew even fiercer. Blake Su and Curry took turns opening fire, and the Grizzlies simply could not withstand it.
With 5.4 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Suns had the final possession. After catching the ball, Blake Su accelerated into the frontcourt, reaching the right side of the arc, a full two meters beyond the three-point line.
With 1.3 seconds left.
"Whoosh!"
He suddenly pulled the trigger.
"What?!"
Arthur's pupils widened. He wanted to close out, but he hesitated, and in that brief moment, the basketball had already flown over his head, spinning like an arrow released from a bow.
"Swish!"
Dead center.
It pierced the net. The ball went in as the buzzer sounded.
Buzzer-beater.
Grizzlies 15, Suns 35.
A 20-point lead in a single quarter.
The Suns had blown the game open in just one quarter.
"How did this happen?!"
In the stands, a Grizzlies fan stared blankly.
He had come in expecting the Grizzlies to make a strong counterattack, and this reversal left him unable to believe it for a moment.
"Sigh... there's nothing we can do."
"Blake Su, that 'Monster Rookie' who just hit 15 threes, scored 72 points, and hit the game-winner against the 'Heat Big Three,' is just too strong.
"If our Grizzlies were in good form, we could still put up a fight.
"But now... with us out of rhythm and the Suns all playing well, even home-court advantage isn't enough."
"Yeah."
"Try to look on the bright side. 'Black Bear' Randolph still hasn't played yet. The fact that we pushed the Suns that far last game shows that our Grizzlies still have some ability."
"Uh..."
"Well, I guess that's the only way to comfort ourselves."