Chapter 388: Pacers Give Up

With 2 minutes left in the game, the Pacers' strategy was to let George defend Dong alone.

The rest of the team would help out, but they wouldn't use the double-team tactic on Dong. If Dong scored, the Pacers were willing to accept it, but if they could stop even one of Dong's shots, they had a chance to take the lead.

"Let me go one-on-one?" Dong saw through the Pacers' strategy.

So Dong dribbled the ball up the court, taking his time and not rushing the offense.

The Suns still had a 1-point lead.

With 5 seconds left on the shot clock, Dong accelerated past George on the left, but then took a step forward and did a behind-the-back dribble, pulling the ball back and stepping behind the three-point line.

George was thrown off balance by Dong's move, but he still lunged forward, trying to block Dong's vision with his big hand.

Swish!

Unfortunately, this was Dong's most familiar three-pointer, and even with his eyes closed, he was confident he could make it.

The score was now 112-108, with 1 minute and 17 seconds left in the game. The Pacers were down by 4 points and were in a desperate situation.

Gentry didn't call a timeout. With only a few players on the court, calling a timeout or not wouldn't make much difference. Anyway, in the last 2 minutes, even if he called a timeout, the tactic he would set up would be to give the ball to Dong.

The Pacers had the ball.

After receiving the baseline pass, Stephenson dribbled past half-court and passed the ball to George. Yi Nan, Carter, and Thompson were all focused on defense.

The game had reached its most critical moment.

George received the ball and, facing Dong's defense, faked twice before stepping back and shooting a three-pointer!

Unfortunately, the ball hit the rim.

However, Hibbert grabbed the offensive rebound and went up for a dunk.

Seeing Yi Nan rushing over, Dong shouted, "Don't foul!"

But it was a bit late...

In his haste to disrupt Hibbert's dunk, Yi Nan hit Hibbert's hand, but Hibbert had already made the dunk.

The score was now 112-110.

The referee blew the whistle, indicating that Yi Nan had committed a shooting foul, sending Hibbert to the free-throw line.

Seeing Yi Nan's face turning pale, Dong went up to comfort him, saying, "Don't take it to heart. Your defense is great!"

Hibbert stood at the free-throw line, bounced the ball twice, and shot.

The ball hit the rim, and Yi Nan pushed past West, jumping with all his might to grab the rebound.

There were 59 seconds left in the game.

On the sidelines, Vogel shouted, "We must defend this ball to the death!"

The Pacers players remembered Vogel's words before the game, "The more critical the moment, the less likely Dong is to pass the ball. If the game goes down to the last minute without a clear winner, we must focus on Dong and not give him a chance to shoot."

It was still George defending Dong one-on-one, and Dong was once again attacking with the shot clock running down.

"7!"

"6!"

"5!"

With 5 seconds left on the shot clock, Dong shook off George and drove to the basket.

The other four Pacers players abandoned their original defensive assignments and rushed to the basket to stop Dong from scoring.

Everyone was caught by surprise.

Dong had already jumped, but in mid-air, he passed the ball from behind Hibbert, and it landed in Warrick's hands.

"Shoot quickly!"

Warrick received the pass, and with less than a second left before a 14-second violation, Gentry anxiously shouted from the sidelines.

Swish!

In the final moments, Warrick took his third three-pointer, and the ball swished through the net.

The score was now 115-110.

"Amazing!"

If it weren't for the ongoing game, Gentry would have rushed onto the court to give Warrick a kiss.

In the last 2 minutes, Warrick had made three consecutive critical three-pointers, playing the best game of his career.

Vogel called a timeout to set up a play.

With 35 seconds left, the Pacers still had a chance to take the lead.

...

After the timeout, Stephenson dribbled the ball up the court. West set a screen for George, blocking Dong, and George received the pass from Stephenson beyond the three-point line, confidently shooting the three-pointer!

Swish!

The ball went straight through the net.

With 23 seconds left, the Pacers trailed by 2 points.

Gentry didn't call a timeout, allowing his players to play freely on the court. However, Dong was surrounded by three Pacers players, and Yi Nan couldn't find a way to pass the ball to Dong.

With no other choice, Yi Nan passed the ball to Warrick.

As soon as Warrick got the ball, the Pacers players immediately fouled him, sending him to the free-throw line.

"Don't feel the pressure!" Dong encouraged Warrick before his free throws, saying, "If you make both, you'll be the hero of this game. Even if you miss, I'll grab the rebound for you!"

Warrick had never experienced such a moment, and he realized how important he was.

Warrick took three deep breaths, and then took his first free throw.

Everyone on the Suns' bench stood up, including Yao and the other two. They watched Warrick intently, as this was the moment that would decide the game.

If Warrick made both free throws, it would be difficult for the Pacers to take the lead.

Swish!

Warrick made the first free throw, and his tension visibly eased.

"Well done!" Dong praised him again.

Swish!

Warrick made the second free throw as well!

The Suns were still leading by 4 points, and Vogel called another timeout.

...

After the timeout, the Pacers inbounded the ball from the sideline, but Dong defended George tightly, preventing him from receiving the pass.

Hibbert passed the ball to West, who was immediately defended by Carter. West almost turned the ball over but managed to pass it to Stephenson.

On the last play, the Suns played one-on-one defense. Stephenson, facing Thompson's defense, passed the ball to Hill.

Hill took a step back, then dribbled behind the three-point line and shot.

"Grab the rebound!" Dong shouted as he rushed to the basket.

As expected, Hill's three-pointer missed, and Dong was the first to reach the basket. He grabbed the rebound, but George rushed in to foul him. However, Dong skillfully turned and avoided the foul.

But after avoiding George, West rushed in and grabbed Dong's jersey.

The referee blew the whistle, indicating a defensive foul by West, sending Dong to the free-throw line.

The game was all but over...

Swish!

Swish!

After Dong made both free throws, the Suns led by 6 points, leaving the Pacers with only a few seconds to attack. Moreover, the Pacers didn't have any timeouts left, and they needed to inbound the ball.

George dribbled the ball up the court and attempted a three-pointer, which missed. Yi Nan grabbed the rebound, and the Pacers gave up on the game.