Better Than LeBron.

At halftime, the Grizzlies and the Heat were locked in a 58-58 tie. 

Han Sen delivered a stunning 30-point performance in the first half, his strongest of the season. 

Or rather, after coasting for the past month, he finally erupted with a breakout half. 

In the third quarter, Erik Spoelstra opted not to double-team Han Sen. He understood that allowing Han Sen to orchestrate the Grizzlies' offense would lead to even greater complications. 

Moreover, with Dwyane Wade on the floor, Spoelstra had reason to feel confident. 

Han Sen, for his part, welcomed the prospect of double teams. After all, the power of teamwork often outweighs individual brilliance. 

But as the game mirrored the dynamics of the first quarter, with the Heat bringing in Ray Allen to extend their lead, Han Sen was compelled to rely more on his own offensive firepower. 

Although going head-to-head with Wade wasn't easy, Han Sen found opportunities to execute pick-and-rolls with Marc Gasol, targeting Kendrick Perkins. 

Riding the momentum from the first half, he continued to nail mid-range jumpers with precision. 

When Spoelstra adjusted by subbing in Udonis Haslem to counter him, Han Sen shifted his focus to exploiting Chris Bosh. 

Bosh's added bulk may have increased his low-post presence, but it also slowed down his lateral movement. 

Recognizing Han Sen's hot hand, his Grizzlies teammates provided solid screens to help him create scoring opportunities. 

Han Sen racked up another 16 points in the quarter.

By the end of the third, the arena's LED scoreboard displayed his astounding stat line: 46 points, tying Tracy McGrady's 2002 Christmas Day performance as the fifth-highest scoring output in NBA Christmas Day history. 

And there was still an entire quarter to play. 

...

When teamwork alone couldn't secure victory, sheer talent had to take over. 

In the final quarter, Spoelstra finally resorted to double-teaming Han Sen. 

In hindsight, he probably should have done so earlier. 

While the Grizzlies continued to score through a team-oriented approach, the Heat maintained control of the game. 

It became clear that when neither team could stop the other, the outcome would hinge on offensive explosiveness. 

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, their low-post, grind-it-out style couldn't keep pace with the Heat's high-octane offense. 

If not for Han Sen, the Grizzlies would have been a frustrating team to face—one capable of making opponents sweat and struggle. But ultimately, victory would still elude them. 

Han Sen's individual brilliance had single-handedly elevated the Grizzlies to a higher tier.

...

With five minutes left in the game, the Heat once again pushed their lead to double digits, reaffirming their status as the better team. 

But that's when Dave Joerger showcased his adaptability.

He subbed in Antawn Jamison for Zach Randolph, signaling a shift away from their traditional half-court offense. 

Jamison's presence significantly improved the Grizzlies' floor spacing, and his sharp form was evident as he drained a three-pointer upon entering the game. 

This adjustment eased the defensive pressure on Han Sen considerably. 

The tradeoff, however, was a weakened interior defense for Memphis. 

Despite preemptively assigning Marc Gasol to guard Bosh while Jamison covered the less-threatening Perkins, the Grizzlies' rebounding took a hit. 

However, Gasol held his ground! 

Now in his fifth season and at the peak of his career, the 27-year-old Gasol was no longer the 'Baby Gasol.'

The Heat attempted to exploit Jamison's defense, only to find themselves stuck in a quagmire. The Grizzlies capitalized on these missteps, frequently launching fast breaks in response. 

With just one minute remaining, the Grizzlies mounted a furious rally to tie the game at 112 apiece, forcing Spoelstra to call a timeout.

...

This Christmas Day clash was nothing short of theatrical. Twice the Heat had extended their lead, only for the Grizzlies to claw back each time. 

After the timeout, the Heat had possession. 

"Defense! Defense!" 

The Memphis crowd roared, their chants shaking the arena. 

The Grizzlies ramped up their defensive intensity to the maximum. 

Having tied the game twice, they were determined not to let this one slip away. 

Spoelstra had drawn up a play for Ray Allen, hoping to catch Memphis off guard. But the Grizzlies' defense stifled the plan. 

With the shot clock winding down, the ball ended up in Kevin Durant's hands at the perimeter. 

Durant signaled for an isolation play, using a sharp crossover to create separation against Rudy Gay. 

Gay wasn't easily fooled, staying tight on Durant and contesting the shot with his long arms. 

Swish!

But Durant, showcasing his generational scoring talent, drained the contested three-pointer over Gay's defense. 

The crowd fell silent, stunned by the clutch shot. 

Durant pounded his chest and let out a primal roar. 

The sweat he had poured into this moment—not just on this Christmas Eve but every day since joining the Heat—had culminated in this defining play. 

The three-pointer was a dagger. 

Not only did it restore a three-point lead for Miami, but it also extinguished Memphis' momentum.

...

The Grizzlies didn't call a timeout. 

Han Sen took the ball up the court himself. 

Spoelstra immediately recalled the last time Han Sen faced Miami—how he had hit a game-winning buzzer-beater after bringing the ball up in a similar situation. 

At his coach's urging, Wade applied full-court pressure on Han Sen. 

But this aggressive defense backfired. 

Han Sen executed a behind-the-back dribble, seamlessly accelerating past Wade. 

He charged toward the frontcourt with full speed. 

Durant stepped in to help, but Han Sen countered with a spin move that left Durant trailing. 

The [Uncle Drew] talent Han Sen had maxed was on full display in this sequence. 

By the time the Heat realized what had happened, Han Sen was already airborne in the paint. 

Leaping over Perkins, Han Sen delivered a thunderous and-1 dunk. 

Boom!

Tweet!

The referee's whistle coincided with the sound of the ball crashing through the net. 

The emphatic dunk reignited the crowd, silencing Miami's momentum.

...

Scarlett, watching from the stands, gasped audibly, her hands covering her mouth in astonishment. 

Though she had seen Han Sen play before, tonight's performance was on another level. 

Especially considering how much energy he'd expended the night before. 

"MVP! MVP!" 

The chants erupted once more as Han Sen stepped to the free-throw line. 

The scoreboard displayed his stat line: 57 points. 

Even with the double teams limiting his attempts in the fourth quarter, Han Sen had delivered a historic performance. 

After steadying his breathing, Han Sen sank the free throw, tying the game once again. His passive play during the season paid dividends—despite his workload last night and tonight, he showed no signs of fatigue.

With just 30 seconds left on the clock, the Heat called a timeout. 

When play resumed, the Heat used the off-ball movement of Kevin Durant and Ray Allen as decoys, creating an opportunity for Dwyane Wade to drive into the paint. He drew a foul on Jamison, earning two critical free throws. 

The Heat's roster featured so many clutch options that defending every single one of them was nearly impossible.

Wade, undeterred by the deafening crowd, calmly sank both free throws, giving the Heat a two-point lead with only nine seconds remaining. 

The Grizzlies responded with a timeout of their own. 

The anxious crowd frequently glanced at the scoreboard, their worry palpable. However, basketball fans watching this Christmas Day thriller from their homes were undoubtedly entertained. 

In the U.S., the four major sports leagues do not schedule games on Christmas, leaving the NBA as the exception. As a result, this matchup was globally anticipated and watched. 

Out of the timeout, the Grizzlies executed a well-coordinated play. Jamison and Marc Gasol set a series of screens for Han Sen to receive the ball. The plan was clear: set him up for a mid-range shot. 

Head coach Joerger chose to aim for a tie instead of risking a three-pointer, a logical decision given his team's energy levels. 

Han Sen managed to take the shot, but Wade's fierce contesting disrupted the attempt. Wade had vowed back in summer training camp that he wouldn't let Han Sen beat him again. 

Clang!

Han Sen's fadeaway shot bounced off the front rim, missing its mark. 

Before the crowd could collectively sigh in disappointment, Marc Gasol soared above Perkins to grab the offensive rebound. Spotting Chris Bosh collapsing into the paint, Gasol quickly dished the ball back out to Han Sen at the perimeter. 

Han caught the pass, just as Kevin Durant rushed at him with murderous intensity in his eyes. 

With no time to hesitate, Han Sen launched the shot immediately. Durant, recognizing the danger of fouling Han Sen in this scenario, aborted his jump to avoid contact, but his forward momentum carried him under Han Sen's feet.

Forced to twist his body sideways to avoid a potential flagrant foul under the 'Reggie Miller rule,' Durant couldn't avoid slight contact.

The referees let it go, and Han Sen, undeterred, focused solely on his form. 

The ball left his hands as the arena's game clock expired, red lights illuminating the backboard. Simultaneously, Han Sen began his descent.

Swish!

As the ball sank cleanly through the net, Han Sen landed on the floor. 

Durant, stunned, held his head in disbelief. Meanwhile, the FedExForum erupted with ecstatic cheers from the home crowd. Grizzlies players rushed toward Han Sen to celebrate. 

Overwhelmed with emotion, Han pushed Durant aside and sprinted toward the scorer's table, leaping atop it with a triumphant shout:

"This is my house!"

This time, unlike his previous declaration with 'our,' Han Sen reverted to the singular 'my,' reminiscent of his Cleveland days.

Han Sen finished with a historic stat line: 22-of-36 shooting, 4-of-9 from three, 13-of-16 free throws, 61 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

It marked a career-high in points and his first 60+ point game, breaking Bernard King's 1984 record of 60 points for most points scored in a Christmas Day game. 

Han Sen truly deserved the accolades this night. 

Fans near the court eagerly snapped photos with their phones while chants of "Handsome!" reverberated through the arena. Scarlett, sitting courtside, gazed at Han Sen with renewed admiration, her eyes brimming with emotion.

If tonight's game were a movie, Han Sen would undoubtedly be its hero, saving the day against all odds.

Meanwhile, the Heat players were visibly frustrated, grappling with the bitter reality of losing despite having superior talent. 

During the post-game handshake, Wade acknowledged Han Sen's performance with a resigned expression. 

"This was your night," Wade admitted before adding, "but you can't always have it."

The subtext was clear—Han Sen needed 61 points to edge past the Heat in a single game. Over a series, the Heat would likely prevail. 

Han Sen, however, was quick to remind Wade, "I remember when you said you wouldn't lose to me again." Wade could only laugh, masking his frustration.

Basketball isn't merely a numbers game. If it were, there'd be no upsets, no legends, no magic. 

In the post-game press conference, Han Sen and Marc Gasol appeared together. 

"I've said it before: Marc deserves a spot on the All-Defensive team. He's the anchor of our defense," Han Sen stated emphatically.

His praise was no exaggeration; without Gasol's defensive heroics and offensive rebound, Han Sen wouldn't have had the chance to take the game-winning shot.

Han's 61-point Christmas performance had an immediate and significant impact, catapulting him to the top of the latest MVP rankings, surpassing Durant.

Such high-stakes games can elevate a player's profile more than ten regular-season matches combined. 

Moreover, with the All-Star voting approaching, this performance served as the perfect campaign. Han Sen seemed poised to secure the All-Star vote leader position for a third consecutive year. 

This rare feat has only been achieved by three players in NBA history: Julius 'Dr. J' Erving, Vince Carter, and Michael Jordan. Erving and Carter managed three consecutive titles, while Jordan holds the untouchable record with seven straight.

Han Sen's popularity was undeniable, evident even in the league's shifting of All-Star voting demographics.

The NBA had reduced the proportion of votes from East Asian regions, yet Han Sen continued to dominate in global fan support.

However, shortly after this legendary Christmas game, an ESPN article by journalist Mike McMenamin began circulating widely. 

Though unrelated to Han Sen, the article zeroed in on the Grizzlies, analyzing their dynasty potential and the challenges posed by the looming salary cap issues. 

McMenamin specifically suggested that the Grizzlies should trade Zach Randolph, arguing that Marc Gasol's development exceeded expectations. Gasol's dominant showing in the Christmas game demonstrated his capability to carry the team's interior, making Randolph expendable.

The trade, he reasoned, could address Memphis's salary issues while cementing Gasol's role as the core of the frontcourt.

The article sparked widespread discussion, dragging the Grizzlies' future plans into the spotlight far earlier than anticipated.

Han Sen, upon reading the piece, frowned deeply. The calculated timing of this article struck him as not only malicious but downright sinister—it seemed designed to destabilize the Grizzlies' chemistry.

Sensing foul play, Han Sen had Rondo investigate McMenamin's background. What they found was revealing: McMenamin was an intern assistant to Brian Windhorst at ESPN.

It seemed clear—unable to outplay the Grizzlies on the court, certain parties were resorting to off-court tactics to sabotage them. 

If the Grizzlies faltered, Han Sen's burgeoning stardom would take a significant hit. His fame was closely tied to the team's success. 

Knowing who was behind this scheme, Han Sen decided to retaliate. 

In early January, Khalil published a TNT exclusive featuring an explosive headline: "Han Believes Rudy Gay is a Better Player Than LeBron James."