Knicks vs. Bulls: Second Half I

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

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

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

~~~(Time: 5:17 PM)~~~

The score is 68 to 52 in favor of the Bulls. Even after the opening 3-pointer I made for the second half. It'll take some time to get this deficit down. Probably most of the third quarter. I have a little over 11 minutes to bring us within winning range.

By the time that happens, the fourth quarter will be starting. I focus my mind on the game and guard Kostos as the Bulls bring the ball down the court.

Brunson and Barrett have a renewed focus, and they're making it hard for the guards to get any ball movement. Their good defense ends up getting us the ball from a turnover. The ball is immediately given to me.

I pass it to Barrett as I push into the post, and he passes it back to me now that I'm in position. As soon as I get the ball, I spin and fade away. Knocking down the shot with nothing but net. I'm 100 percent from the field, 3-point, and free throw this game.

The crowd is starting to get into it since I've knocked off 5 points from the deficit in the first minute of the third quarter. But I notice a shift in the Bull's energy. The score is now 68 to 54.

This time on defense, I'm guarding Zach since he's their main scorer in this game. I guard him close but make sure not to touch him. He makes a bad pass, and it goes out of bounds.

Giving us back the possession. Jericho inbounds the ball to me, and I bring it down the court. I see Robinson cutting toward the basket, and I alley-oop it to him. He catches it and knocks it down. Getting fouled in the process.

"LEEEET'S GOOOOO!"

He's celebrating as the crowd goes wild. Robinson makes his free throw, and the score is now 68 to 57. We've turned the lead the Bulls have from 19 to 11 in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter. As the bulls start their possession, they call a timeout.

We head back to our bench, and there is a complete 180-degree change in my teammate's mood. They can see that we can come back from this and that we're within striking distance.

But I know the Bulls won't go down without a fight. They'll start to play really physically after this timeout. I'm going to be their main target. They'll want to beat me up and bruise me.

Tom stands in the middle of the circle as he's drawing up plans, and I can't help but drown him out. My mind is on the notification I've gotten from the system.

[Mess With The Bull...]

[Details: The Bulls Players are angry and looking to bring the game under their control again. By any means necessary. You're going to be flagrantly fouled this quarter. And the refs aren't going to call it.]

[Objective 1: When the foul occurs, control your teammates, so no one gets ejected.]

[Objective 2: Since the refs won't call the foul, you'll be forced to show everyone that you can take it.]

[Objective 3: Don't bitch about it when the foul occurs.]

[Rewards: New badge]

[Failure: You must complete all 3 objectives to earn the reward. If you fail to complete all 3 objectives, you'll be removed from the game by the coaching staff out of fear of possible injury when the game continues.]

Wow... This is the first time I've had a Mission in that I must complete all 3 objectives. And it's the first time I've got two Missions during the same game. But this seems to be for only the third quarter.

The timeout ends, and we make our way back onto the court. The hardest part about this new Mission is the first objective. Keeping my teammates under control is gonna be hard.

"Alright, guys. No matter what happens this quarter. Stay level-headed. Remember that. It's how we'll win this."

I speak to my teammates as we're walking back out on the court. My words register, and I can see they're keeping it in mind. But I know these simple words won't keep them at bay when I get flagrantly fouled.