Chapter 496: Wade Dong's Control Over the Game

Scott called for a short timeout.

"Huh?!"

After the timeout, Scott slapped his thigh, "This tactic was set up in vain!"

"Just play normally! We're only down by 10 points, we still have a chance."

Scott could only stand on the sidelines and remind the players, wondering why the tactic was useless.

Scott had designed the tactic with Wade Dong as the defensive core of the Suns, but after the timeout, Carter substituted out Wade Dong, who didn't return to the court!

Gentry and Scott both stood on the sidelines.

"Didn't expect that, did you?"

Gentry even tilted his head and winked at Scott, but all of this was within Gentry's expectations.

Wade Dong intentionally missed a free throw, and he didn't plan to play in the last two minutes. What if he accidentally scored again?

With two minutes left, the Lakers trailed by 10 points.

As Lin Hao dribbled past midcourt, he passed the ball to Kobe, who drove to the basket against Carter and scored a layup.

125:117!!!

Gentry reminded Curry, "Control the pace! Kill the clock!"

With this lineup, even without Wade Dong, the Suns shouldn't lose. Moreover, they had a 10-point lead when Wade Dong came out, so if they did lose, Durant and Curry would be in big trouble.

Curry kept controlling the offense.

With only 5 seconds left on the shot clock, he passed the ball to Thompson.

Thompson was positioned in the corner for a three-pointer. As Curry passed the ball, James closed out, causing Thompson to lose his shooting space. He had to pass the ball to Green, who was wide open beyond the three-point line.

With less than two seconds left on the shot clock, Green decisively took the three-point shot.

The ball hit the rim and bounced out, and Kobe grabbed the defensive rebound and sprinted to the frontcourt.

"Swish!!!"

From just half a step beyond the three-point line, Kobe's three-pointer found the bottom of the net.

125:120!!!

With 1 minute and 17 seconds left in the game, the Lakers trailed by just 5 points.

A game that should have been an easy win suddenly became a nail-biter.

"Big Brother Dong..."

Varick sat behind Wade Dong and asked quietly, "Are you going back in?"

"I believe in them."

Wade Dong closed his eyes. If Durant and Curry couldn't solve this minor issue, how could they survive in the league?

As Curry dribbled up the court, James applied pressure, almost causing Curry to lose the ball.

Fortunately, Durant came over in time, and Curry passed the ball to him. Durant controlled the tempo and drove to the basket with less than 5 seconds on the shot clock.

"Swish!!!"

Durant's shot fell through the net.

127:120!!!

This basket was crucial in stopping the bleeding.

With 54 seconds left in the game, the Lakers only had time for a few more possessions.

The Lakers quickly inbounded the ball.

Kobe dribbled to the three-point line and pulled up for a three-pointer!

"Swish!!!"

The ball swished through the net.

127:123!!!

Perhaps motivated by Wade Dong's 81 points, Kobe's shot was clean and decisive.

...

"Big Brother Dong, go back in. It's a tribute, but we can't throw away the game."

"No matter the outcome of this game, I won't say a bad word about Big Brother Dong!"

"It's a tribute, but Wade Dong is a professional player. It's not professional for the team leader to sit on the bench during a critical moment of the game."

"You don't understand Big Brother Dong!"

"You don't understand basketball!"

As the Lakers were about to tie the game, some fans in their respective groups started arguing.

...

Wade Dong had his own thoughts.

He trusted his teammates, and if the Lakers did tie the game, he would definitely return to the court.

With 51 seconds left.

The Suns were on offense. Durant drove to the basket against James, but his shot was blocked. Fortunately, Carter was there to grab the ball.

Facing Hill's defense, Carter waited a moment before taking a three-point shot!

"Bang!!!"

The ball hit the rim, bounced straight up, and then fell straight down, dropping into the basket.

"What a three-pointer, Brother-in-law! You're amazing!"

Wade Dong's shout startled Carter.

130:123!!!

With little time left, Carter's three-pointer also dampened the Lakers' momentum.

...

132:126!!!

"Beep!!!"

As the referee's whistle sounded, the game came to an end.

In the final moments of the game, James also made a three-pointer, but he then fouled Curry, who made both free throws. With less than 10 seconds left, the Lakers gave up on their offense.

Game Stats:

Wade Dong: 81 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block

Kobe: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 21 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks

James: 64 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks

There were several interesting aspects to this game. Kobe had a career-high 21 assists, and James scored a career-high 64 points. The combined points of James and Kobe were exactly the same as Wade Dong's.

Although Wade Dong didn't play in the last two minutes, it's not an exaggeration to say that James and Kobe were defeated by Wade Dong alone.

"Kobe!"

"Kobe!"

"Kobe!"

Rarely did the entire crowd cheer for Kobe instead of Wade Dong after the game.

For Phoenix fans, Wade Dong's 81 points wasn't a big deal, as he had previously scored 82 points in a game.

Compared to Wade Dong's historical records...

81 points seemed rather ordinary.

...

Post-Game Press Conference:

Kobe, wearing the two jerseys the Suns had given him, answered the reporters' questions.

"Was Wade Dong's 81 points tonight a tribute to you?"

The first question was about Wade Dong's scoring, especially since he came off the court right after scoring 81 points, making it seem like a deliberate move.

"I see this as a playful gesture between friends."

Kobe sighed, "When Wade Dong wants to score, no one can stop him. But I don't appreciate him intentionally missing a free throw and then asking me if the sound of the ball hitting the rim was crisp!"

James was fiddling with the microphone, and after hearing Kobe's words, he couldn't help but laugh, "Haha..."

"Is that true?"

The reporter couldn't help but chuckle.

Only a few players had heard the conversation between Wade Dong and Kobe on the court, and if Kobe hadn't mentioned it, the reporter wouldn't have known.

Now that I think about it...

With Wade Dong's 96.7% free throw percentage, it would be very difficult for him to miss a free throw unless he did it on purpose.

James added, "I was right next to Wade Dong when he said that, so I can testify that it's true."

A single-game 81 points, and intentionally missing the last free throw?

Did Wade Dong plan all this before the game? If it wasn't a coincidence but a deliberate act... then Wade Dong's control over the game had reached a terrifying level.

Some reporters suddenly felt a chill down their spine.