Knicks vs. Bulls: Second Half IV

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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~

~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:30 PM)~~~

"Looks like you're not suffering from any neurological damage. Reflexes and pupils are responding to stimulation. Lack of dizziness and nausea are positive signs. He's good to play."

The doctor checking the location where I hit my head announces his diagnosis to the room. It's been three minutes since I left the court and the game resumed. The medical staff looks relieved at the doctor's diagnosis.

As I stand up and prepare to leave. Ellie steps in front of me and places her hand on my stomach. Stopping me from moving any more than I have. Her eyes haven't left the doctors. She's like any mother with their child.

They don't want to see them hurt or put at risk. It's a reality, especially for sons. Any man knows how overprotective their moms are. The same is said for Ellie.

"I'm not going to doubt your professional opinion, doctor. But are you sure it's okay for him to return to the court after a fall like that?"

A light chuckle escapes the doctor, and he lets out a small sigh. He's probably dealt with this before.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine."

That's enough for me. I gently push my way past Ellie, and she lets out a growl of frustration as I do. The moment I exit the doctor's room, Ellie is right on my tail. Her efforts to slow me down are evident. To the point, she's walking in front of me and backward.

"Hey, I know you're an adult now, and there isn't much I can do to change your mind about this. But please, be safe out there."

As we exit the hallway leading into the court, she leaves back into the stands and heads back to her seat. I make my way to the bench, and I see the score. It's 80 to 70 in favor of the Bulls. Looks like my team was able to close the gap to 10 points without me here.

The moment Tom sees me, he calls a timeout. It's our possession, so he can do that. I'm subbed in, and I make my way into the court. I can tell the Bulls aren't happy to see me back so soon.

"It's good to see you're alright. We've kept it close while you were gone. Now, let's get this win and stay undefeated on the season."

Brunson is happy to see that I'm back. The ball is inbounded to me, and I bring it down the court. I pass it to Jericho in the post, and he gets a quick 2 points. Making the score 80 to 72 in favor of the Bulls. The game will be tied soon enough.

The third quarter is almost over at this point. Only 2 minutes left. The fourth and final quarter is coming up, and we'll likely be tied by the time the last quarter starts.

I wait on the defensive end for Lavine. He's my defensive match-up for the moment.

It's easy for me to lock down Lavine. I push my luck and poke the ball free. Surprisingly, it's not called a Reach-In Foul. So I get the ball and rush down the court. I heat check and pull up for a 3-pointer. Knocking it down.

The crowd is roaring, and the ground rumbles from the number of people jumping up and down in the arena. The Bulls immediately call a timeout, and I make my way to the bench. The score is now 80 to 75 in the Bull's favor.

"That's what we need, gentlemen!! Keep up the tough defense and stay focused. They don't know what to do with the burst of energy they're showing. Keep it that way!"

Tom is hyping up the team to keep the fire in them alive. No one knows it's due to Focused Hatred. The badge is one of the most important since it affects the whole team. I only have a few of those kinds of badges.

"Ulysses, keep dishing the ball around. I don't like the fact you risked an open layup for a 3-pointer. Heat checks are only okay when we're in the lead. Not coming from behind."

That's on if the person shooting isn't a shot maker like I am. But I get where Tom is coming from. This game has been hard on us, and testing for me. I normally wouldn't do this, but I'm looking forward to watching ESPN tomorrow.

After all, we have a two-day break before going on the road for 3 games.