Chapter 495: 81 Points in a Single Game, Tribute to Kobe

In the Suns' locker room. 

"I think Dongge's approach is excellent, paying tribute to Kobe with an 81-point game."

"It's not a tribute; Kobe is just retiring."

Wade Dong waved his hand and humbly said, "Besides, it's really difficult to score 81 points in a single game!"

Without Durant, Curry, and Thompson drawing the Lakers' defense, Wade Dong would have struggled to get so many opportunities for individual play.

Even if Wade Dong scored 81 points tonight, the difficulty would be much less compared to Kobe's 81-point game.

"Everyone, have some tea..."

Gentry's tea was also ready, and he called for the players to come and drink.

...

The second half began.

Curry dribbled to organize the offense, and Wade Dong moved to the three-point line to receive the pass. He first faked a shot, then turned and hit a fadeaway jumper!

"Swish!!"

The ball swished through the net.

This finally ignited Kobe's fighting spirit. Kobe, facing Wade Dong's defense, waved his teammates to spread out.

"Oh yeah~"

Kobe's familiar 'spread out, I'll go one-on-one' gesture.

"Bang~ Bang~ Bang~"

Kobe bent over and slowly dribbled, making a large shoulder fake, his body appearing to create a shadow image. Wade Dong also instinctively moved half a step to the left.

That half-step!

Kobe quickly gathered the ball, stopped, and hit a fadeaway jumper!

Wade Dong rushed over, his fingertips seemingly touching the ball, yet also seemingly not.

Like a precise algebraic equation, the ball followed its intended parabolic path and dropped neatly into the basket.

"Ah!"

After the basket, Kobe also clenched his fist and roared.

Kobe proved with this shot that he wasn't old yet and still had offensive capabilities, but he wouldn't keep playing this way. Wade Dong could go one-on-one against him, but if he kept doing so, it would be like throwing away the game.

LeBron James continued to shoulder the Lakers' offensive responsibilities.

However, the Suns gradually widened the lead, and Wade Dong's two and a half quarters of one-on-one play had already accustomed the Lakers to the Suns' offensive rhythm.

In the last two minutes of the third quarter, Wade Dong suddenly started passing, and Curry, Thompson, and Durant consecutively made open three-pointers.

103:91!!!

The third quarter ended with the Suns leading by 12 points.

Wade Dong had already scored 63 points. Although he couldn't break Kobe's record of 69 points in three quarters, Wade Dong only needed 18 more points to reach 81 points for the night.

...

Gentry looked anxious, "Dongge, you need to step it up, attack more and pass less!"

In the last few minutes of the third quarter, Wade Dong changed his style, frequently assisting Durant and the others to score, but while widening the lead, his own scoring decreased.

"Is data more important, or victory?"

Wade Dong asked in return.

Gentry replied matter-of-factly, "Your data is more important!"

"Damn..."

With a coach like this, Wade Dong didn't know what to say. 

LeBron James didn't rest in the fourth quarter. As soon as the timeout ended, he returned to the court, and his scoring for the night was also heading towards 60+.

"Beep!!!"

After James scored a 2+1 over Draymond Green, Wade Dong finally stood up, ready to enter the game.

107:99!!!

With 6:37 left in the game, the Suns led by 8 points.

Kobe also returned to the court...

Could Wade Dong score 18 more points in such a short time?

As soon as Wade Dong entered the game, he shook off Kobe and rushed to the basket. Thompson lobbed the ball towards the rim.

The pass wasn't very good, and both Boozer and Wade Dong grabbed the ball, making it a test of who had better core strength.

"Clang!!!"

Boozer held onto the ball, unwilling to let go, but Wade Dong used a swinging arm motion to send Boozer flying out of bounds and slam the ball into the basket.

"MVP!"

"MVP!"

"MVP!"

This dunk sent the fans' adrenaline soaring.

...

Yu Jia, "Top 10 play, no doubt about it!"

Zhang Zhidao, "Wade Dong's strength is terrifying. Boozer, a center, lost to Wade Dong in terms of strength."

...

"Give me your hand~"

After the dunk, Wade Dong politely helped Boozer up from the floor.

But after getting up, Boozer avoided Wade Dong and ran off, looking embarrassed.

With 16 points left, Wade Dong would score 81 points for the night.

16 points didn't seem like a big challenge for Wade Dong. In the Suns' next offensive possession, facing Kobe's defense, Wade Dong consecutively made seven three-pointers.

7-for-5!

124:112!!!

With 2:37 left in the game, the Lakers trailed by 12 points, and Wade Dong had already scored 80 points.

...

In the Huaxia live broadcast room.

Yu Jia, "Wade Dong has 80 points already, and it looks like his scoring will exceed 81 points tonight."

Zhang Zhidao, "The Lakers will find it difficult to come back. I think Wade Dong getting 80 points is the best. Scoring one point less than 81 is the greatest tribute."

Yu Jia, "..."

...

Trailing by 12 points, the Lakers wouldn't give up.

LeBron James held the ball outside the three-point line, facing Durant's defense. He made two consecutive crossovers and took a three-pointer.

"Swish!!"

The ball swished through the net.

124:115!!!

After the basket, James signaled for his teammates to quickly get back on defense; they still had a chance to win.

Curry dribbled to the frontcourt and passed the ball to Wade Dong again.

This time, Wade Dong signaled for Draymond Green to set a screen, as he needed to run a play.

"Clap!"

Wade Dong used Green's screen to get past Kobe, dribbled to the basket, and faked a shot, drawing a foul from Boozer. Then, Wade Dong took a very off-target shot.

"Beep!!!"

As the referee blew the whistle, Wade Dong stepped up to the free-throw line.

Gentry opened his thermos, blew off some tea leaves, and said, "This is Dongge. He said he'd score 81 points, and he'll score exactly 81 points, not one more."

Sure enough...

"Swish!!"

Wade Dong made the first free throw.

Before the second free throw, Wade Dong blew a kiss to Kobe, "This is a gift for you..."

"Huh?!"

Kobe didn't understand what Wade Dong meant.

Then Kobe was left speechless as Wade Dong intentionally missed the second free throw, hitting the rim. Wade Dong even smiled and said, "How crisp is that sound of iron?"

"Haha... very crisp!"

Kobe covered his face and smiled. He was very reluctant to accept this grand gift from Wade Dong.

Wade Dong missed the second free throw, and Scott called a timeout!

It's all about human relations, and Scott wanted to give Wade Dong some time to enjoy the cheers from the fans, as well as to set up the tactics for the final two minutes. Trailing by just 10 points, the Lakers still had a chance to turn things around.

This was Wade Dong's gift for Kobe.

A friendly tease from a good friend, Wade Dong, wearing the number 24 jersey, scored 81 points in a single game, and ended his final shot with a miss.