Chapter 264: Narrow Loss to the Heat

The game entered the third quarter.

Kerr's worst fear came true.

The Suns, aside from Wade Dong, were collectively struggling. Nash and McDyess, being veterans, were far less effective than in their prime due to age and fatigue.

Additionally, the Heat was very familiar with Nash and McDyess, having played against them for over a decade. Their strengths and weaknesses were well-known.

In the latter half of the third quarter, the Heat started double-teaming Wade Dong.

67-79!!!

The Suns trailed by 12 points. ❈

From the time Wade Dong checked into the game until the last four minutes of the third quarter, the Suns had only scored 20 points, with 15 of them coming from Wade Dong.

Kerr kept a straight face and didn't make any lineup changes, allowing the players to adjust on the court.

The Suns' offense:

Curry dribbled the ball across half-court and passed it to Wade Dong.

The Suns' players on the court were Wade Dong, Curry, McDyess, Green, and Gortat.

Ray Allen and Chalmers double-teamed Wade Dong, while James defended McDyess, Wade defended Curry, and Green was left open.

Up to this point, Green had played for 21 minutes and was 0-5 from the field. His shooting percentage was so low that the Heat felt comfortable leaving him open.

James, seeing Wade Dong with the ball, shouted, "Wade Dong is going one-on-one!"

"Clap!"

"Clap!"

"Clap!"

Wade Dong crossed over, then dribbled behind his back with his left hand. 

"Clap!"

The ball went behind his back and through his legs, a signature move of Wade's. Wade Dong weaved through Ray Allen and Chalmers.

Wade came over to help defend, but Wade Dong blew past him too!

"Swoosh!!!"

Wade Dong drove to the basket, drew a foul from James and Bosh, and made the layup.

"Beep!!!"

The referee's whistle blew, indicating a foul on Bosh.

...

In the Huaxia live broadcast room.

Yu Jia: "One against five! No one on the Heat can stop Wade Dong."

Zhang Zhi: "But this won't work. The Suns need other players to step up."

Yu Jia: "The Suns have been trailing the entire game."

...

"Swoosh!!!"

After Wade Dong made the free throw, the Suns were down by 9 points.

However, James quickly scored on a layup, drawing a foul from Green for a 2+1 opportunity. He made the free throw, keeping the lead above 10 points.

The fans at US Airways Center were tense.

It was rare for the Suns to be dominated for three quarters like this.

But the Heat was just too strong, especially with Wade and James, who were determined to get a win against the Suns.

Since Wade Dong joined the Suns, the Heat had lost all six games against them. They were eager for a victory.

The end of the third quarter:

75-91!!!

The Suns trailed the Heat by 16 points.

The Suns' players were dispirited. Curry and Thompson couldn't get their three-pointers to fall, McDyess was shut down by James, and the rest of the team seemed to be sleepwalking.

Only Wade Dong was holding the team together.

Kerr held up the tactical board and said, "Nash, Thompson, Middleton, Tucker, and Whiteside, you five will start the fourth quarter."

He kept Wade Dong on the bench.

Wade Dong didn't say anything. The Finals were a series, not decided by one or two games.

James and Wade had both gone off, and the most reliable way to win the fourth quarter would be for Wade Dong to use the 'Lucky Potion.' However, he couldn't rely on it for an entire series.

...

In the fourth quarter, Spoelstra kept James on the court.

Wade Dong didn't care if he played or not, but Spoelstra wouldn't feel secure until the lead was extended to 25 points or more.

"G~~~"

At the start of the fourth quarter, Middleton missed a mid-range shot.

Bosh grabbed the rebound and passed it ahead to James, who quickly drove to the basket for a dunk.

75-93!!!

The Suns trailed by 18 points.

Then, Thompson missed another three-pointer.

Bosh grabbed another rebound and passed it ahead to James, who finished with another fast-break dunk!

"Whiteside, how are you protecting the rebounds?!"

Wade Dong couldn't sit still anymore. He threw off his towel and yelled at Whiteside.

He didn't mind Middleton and Thompson missing shots, but he was annoyed that Bosh was grabbing rebounds so easily.

"Dong..."

Wade Dong's shout startled Whiteside.

"I want to play!"

Wade Dong didn't wait for Kerr's instructions and headed to the technical table. He substituted Middleton out before the Suns inbounded the ball.

With only 1 minute and 29 seconds gone in the fourth quarter, Wade Dong checked into the game. He received a pass from Nash beyond the three-point line, backed down James, and hit a turnaround jumper.

77-95!!!

Trailing by 18 points, the Suns needed to score consistently and stop the Heat from scoring to have a chance at a comeback.

The Heat's offense:

James started with a dribble through his legs, then stepped back beyond the three-point line and took a shot.

"Clap!!!"

Wade Dong swatted James' shot away.

The ball flew into the frontcourt, and James turned and chased after it, with Wade Dong right behind him. But Wade Dong was clearly faster.

Wade Dong grabbed the ball and dribbled up the court.

James followed closely behind, ready to block the shot.

Wade Dong saw James coming but wasn't concerned. Blocking his shot was impossible.

At the free-throw line, Wade Dong jumped high, and James jumped from behind him. However, instead of going for the layup, Wade Dong went for a powerful dunk!

"Bang!!!"

Wade Dong slammed the ball through the hoop, and James avoided a blind foul by jumping out of the way.

This was the Suns' highlight of the game!

But then... the Heat's offense continued to trouble the Suns, and with one minute left in the game, the Suns still trailed by 9 points.

Kerr called for a foul strategy, but it was a desperate move.

"Beep!!!"

The referee's whistle blew, signaling the end of the game.

109-115!!!

The Suns lost by 6 points at home, suffering their first playoff defeat.

The Suns' fans left the arena in disappointment...

Game stats:

Wade Dong: 47 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 5 blocks.

Curry: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 0 blocks.

McDyess: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.

James: 43 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.

Wade: 32 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.

Bosh: 21 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks.

The Heat's Big Three combined for 96 points, leaving Wade Dong as the lone hero.