Cheers!

The Suns vs. Lakers, the intensity of this game is already explosive! And with Kobe's incredible performance of 12 three-pointers and 60 points, the excitement has skyrocketed once again, leaving people in awe.

However...

When Kobe, achieving the legendary "black mamba" night with extraordinary performance, fans' perspectives on this game have undergone a slight change.

"Hey, Carlos, as a rookie, his strength is indeed formidable. His performance this season has been... flawless! However, he is still a rookie. Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, is the undisputed 'top player' in the league, the strongest player in the league right now. His matchup with Carlos shouldn't be a one-sided domination by Kobe, right? With 12 three-pointers and 61 points last night, that says it all."

"Yeah!"

"It shouldn't be a total domination situation. 'Monster rookie' Carlos is also very strong. You can say the Lakers will win in the end, but this matchup will definitely be explosive!"

"Exactly!"

"Agreed!"

"Don't speculate randomly; the big battle is coming tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, it will be a showdown that will leave us breathless."

"Exactly, instead of arguing, let's think about how to watch the game live! It's annoying, it's 2010, and we still can't get tickets."

"So true!"

"No choice, this super showdown is too hot!"

"Ugh..." Fans continue to discuss.

...

Carlos...

Tonight, he also watched the Lakers vs. Grizzlies game. He couldn't help but marvel at the strength of the "black mamba" during this period. Not only does Kobe have strong scoring ability, but he also knows how to lead the team to victory and take the team further. This is the demeanor that the "top player" in the league should have.

"Eastern Heat, Bulls, Magic, Celtics; Western Spurs, Mavericks, Lakers, Thunder, there are too many formidable teams, but they all need to be defeated one by one. Tomorrow... facing the Lakers, even if you're the defending champion, I won't be afraid! Kobe, if you want a battle, I won't back down!"

Carlos, full of fighting spirit, is in high spirits.

However, his thoughts are interrupted by a ringing phone. He looks down and sees that it's a call from Cindy.

"Hello! Cindy!"

"Yeah, Carlos, I've finished my business. I'll be in the U.S. the day after tomorrow, then I'll come to Phoenix to hang out with you. Do you have time to entertain your Cindy?"

"Of course..."

Carlos answers with a smile. The day after tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and there's no game, so he definitely has time.

"Great... I'll contact you then."

"Okay..."

Click... Carlos can't help but find it amusing. He doesn't even know what Cindy looks like, but they chat as if they're old friends. But he'll find out soon enough.

...

The next day...

After waiting the whole day, the highly anticipated showdown between the Suns and the Lakers is finally approaching.

8 p.m...

One hour before the game.

The arena in the Western U.S...

Both teams' players are warming up on the court, and inside the arena, the seats are filled. Looking around, countless people are wearing jerseys with the number "0" and waving their hands with the mascot printed with Carlos's name.

The home atmosphere is exceptionally hot!

Of course...

Wearing the "24" jersey, there are also many fans here to support Kobe.

At the same time...

Inside the broadcast studio of the Mexican National Sports TV.

Mario and Jose are sitting in front of the TV screen. Tonight, they will be the commentators for this super battle that many Mexican fans are looking forward to.

"Hehehe!"

Mario smiled and said, "As a commentator who has been covering basketball for many years, I am truly excited today. Carlos is our Mexican player, the future of Mexican basketball, and Kobe, in Mexico, has a popularity higher than other superstars like LeBron."

The showdown between the two teams is like a prelude to the Western Conference Finals, and I'm sure many people want to watch, including me."

Jose also asked with a smile, "Mario, who do you hope will win the game?"

Mario didn't hesitate and said, "I certainly hope the Suns will win. I hope Carlos leads the team to a 17-game winning streak, equaling the Suns' consecutive win record. This is an honor for Carlos and a milestone. However, I also hope tonight's game is exciting and satisfying for the fans."

Just as they were talking...

The director cut to the audience, and Jose, looking at the TV screen, exclaimed, "Not only are there many fans tonight, but also quite a few basketball stars are here. Iverson is here, and so are James and his teammate Wade. Oh... the old legends 'The Dream' Olajuwon and David Robinson are here too. Wow—there's also 'Skyhook' Jabbar. The three of them sitting together, it seems they agreed to come. Are these three legendary centers from the older generation here to watch the new era center Carlos's game?! This is really interesting!"

The camera quickly scanned the scene.

Jose recognized these people, and in fact, many players came to watch the game. Besides players, there were also many celebrities. Such as movie star Angelina Jolie, soccer superstar Lionel Messi, tennis king Roger Federer, American pop star Taylor Swift, and more.

Some came for Kobe, and some came for Carlos.

But no matter what, Carlos, as a rookie, can compete with the 'top player' Kobe in terms of popularity. Regardless of the outcome, it says a lot.

Cheers!

Although Phoenix is a small city, tonight... with a gathering of stars, the bustling arena in the Western U.S. has the flow and popularity that belong to a big city.

Soon after,

Warm-ups ended...

Both starting lineups took the court.

Carlos and Kobe, stepping onto the court together, locked eyes.

"Hey, Carlos, I've been waiting for you. Tonight... I'm going to give you a lesson."

Kobe smiled and spoke with the same arrogance.

But under that smirk, it wasn't as annoying. Instead, it made people eager to duel with him.

Carlos smiled faintly, then his gaze sharpened. A majestic battle intent surged out, and he said, "Kobe, tonight I will defeat you as a newcomer!"

"Hahaha!"

Kobe smiled slightly and walked towards the court.

Phoenix Suns starting lineup: 191 cm point guard Steve Nash, 191 cm shooting guard Stephen Curry, 198 cm shooting guard Vince Carter, 211 cm power forward Channing Frye, and 215 cm center Carlos.

Los Angeles Lakers starting lineup: 185 cm point guard Derrick Fisher, 198 cm shooting guard Kobe Bryant, 201 cm small forward Ron Artest, 213 cm power forward Pau Gasol, and 213 cm center Andrew Bynum.

"Jump ball!"