27.4 seconds remained.
The score was tied.
The Lakers had possession, making the next play crucial for both teams.
If the Lakers scored, they would leave the Suns only a few seconds to respond and all but secure the victory. If the Suns got the stop, they would at least guarantee that they could not lose in overtime, while still having several seconds to steal the game themselves.
In other words, whichever side succeeded on this possession would immediately seize control.
"This game couldn't be any closer."
In the stands, Wall finally unclenched his fist and found his palm covered in sweat.
"A center just went three for three from beyond the arc, then somehow missed at the rim. Is Blake Su really a center?!"
Klay Thompson looked utterly bewildered.
"One more possession. If they score here, they can lock up the win. Come on. They have to win this."
Kyrie Irving clenched his fists and prayed for the Lakers with all his heart.
It was not just the players. Every fan in the arena had their fists clenched as they stared nervously at the court, praying for their team to win.
At the same time, two young, beautiful women were jogging across the plaza outside US Airways Center.
They were Yoona and Jessica.
"Jessica, hurry up! We're going to miss the end of the game!"
"Yoona, slow down. I... I really can't run anymore. Why don't you... huff... huff... go ahead without me? I'm not going."
"No way!"
...
"Beep! Beep!"
The timeout ended.
The final possession that could decide everything had arrived.
Fisher prepared to inbound from the sideline.
"Smack!"
Kobe caught the ball at the top of the key. Blake Su stepped forward and planted himself directly in front of him, ready to defend the coming attack.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Kobe dribbled slowly, showing no urgency as he searched for an opening. There were 24 seconds on the clock, so all he needed was to execute one complete possession.
Even if he used every second, he wanted to leave the Suns as little time as possible.
Blake Su remained patient as well. With the score tied, all he had to do was defend properly and get the stop. Then the game would not end here.
Everyone else cleared out to either side.
Kobe controlled the ball while Blake Su stood in front of him. The two leaders faced each other without moving, yet the entire arena was tense.
Everyone knew this was the calm before the storm.
In a matter of seconds, a violent tempest would sweep through US Airways Center.
Fifteen seconds.
Thirteen.
Nine.
Seven.
With seven seconds remaining, Kobe lowered his center of gravity and prepared to attack.
At that moment, Pau Gasol suddenly stepped up to set a screen.
"Whoosh!"
Kobe exploded forward, turned the corner around Blake Su, and reached the right high post. George immediately rotated over, but Kobe did not even spare him a glance.
"Screech!"
He stopped on a dime and rose into his signature fadeaway jumper.
"Aah!"
George roared as he lunged forward. He had done everything he could, but he was still a fraction too late.
The ball sailed just over his fingertips.
Every fan clenched their fists and watched the spinning ball trace a beautiful arc through the air toward the basket.
Would it fall?
That fadeaway was enough to leave anyone dizzy.
"Swish!"
It was good!
With the Lakers facing their most dangerous moment of the night, Kobe once again delivered in the clutch and buried the fadeaway jumper.
The shot put the Lakers ahead by two.
Only 4.7 seconds remained, making it a potential game-winner.
"No!"
The Suns fans cried out in despair.
"Kobe is incredible!"
"We won!"
The Lakers fans were already celebrating.
"Boom!"
The arena erupted the instant Kobe's go-ahead fadeaway dropped through the net.
But within that roar, one side celebrated while the other sank into despair.
"Damn it! I'm useless!"
After failing time and again to stop Kobe, George cursed himself furiously. His confidence plummeted.
"Beep! Beep!"
Alvin Gentry immediately called a timeout.
The arena gradually quieted.
The home fans had not given up completely, but everyone understood the situation.
The Suns trailed by two with only 4.7 seconds remaining.
Pulling off a game-winning comeback would be incredibly difficult.
Their chances were painfully slim.
"Kobe Bryant. That's the Black Mamba in the clutch!"
Klay Thompson exclaimed.
"Nice!"
Kyrie Irving pumped his fist hard, thrilled by Kobe's potential game-winner. He stared at Kobe with fire in his eyes.
"Hey."
"The Answer" Allen Iverson shook his head and smiled.
"Kobe, you really don't show the young guys any mercy.
"But then again, you're chasing a three-peat and trying to establish a dynasty this year. Beating you was never going to be easy.
"Still, even if you win tonight, you'll have to survive two more elimination games. And you're facing Blake Su, a freakishly talented player who just became both the youngest MVP and the first unanimous MVP in league history.
"Can you really pull it off?"
Iverson muttered to himself.
His words praised both Blake Su and Kobe, but they also seemed to suggest that the Suns were about to lose tonight.
"Are they really going to lose?"
Across the stands, Yi Jianlian looked deeply worried.
"Sigh..."
Yao Ming sighed as well.
"Kobe is still incredible. There are 4.7 seconds left, so the Suns haven't lost yet. But winning from here will be extremely difficult."
Inside the broadcast studio, Mike Breen clicked his tongue in amazement.
"My God. Kobe's composure in the clutch is unbelievable. He has scored 10 points by himself in overtime.
"And that final fadeaway jumper may have just won the game.
"Kobe now has 43 points tonight. The Lakers trailed by more than ten at one point, yet this man dragged them back through sheer Mamba Mentality and his refusal to give up.
"The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant, is not only an extraordinary player but a man worthy of tremendous respect."
"Absolutely."
Van Gundy nodded in agreement.
"Kobe's will to win may be the strongest in the league.
"In regulation, it was Kobe who tied the game with a steal and an impossible layup.
"Then, at the most critical moment of overtime, Kobe once again used his superstar ability to bury a fadeaway jumper and put the Lakers on the verge of victory.
"Tonight, he has struck the Suns twice with two clutch shots."
Two clutch shots?
Against the Suns?
Mike Breen's mind suddenly raced when he heard those words.
Then his eyes widened.
"Could Kobe be about to repeat history tonight?
"Could he recreate what he did against the Suns in the 2005-06 playoffs, when he hit two game-saving shots in the same game?"