Chapter 95

In the second quarter, John Kuster didn’t let McGrady and Zhou Yi rest together, as these two were the players with the strongest overall vision for the Pistons, and it was crucial not to have them both off at the same time. Since joining the Pistons on a veteran minimum contract, McGrady had become more low-key, no longer acting as a superstar, but instead serving as an assistant to help Zhou Yi lead the team. Especially after regaining most of his strength, McGrady acted as a third party to assist the team. Although this changed his status from before, the team’s record soared, pushing them to the top of the league! For this reason, McGrady became even more determined in his earlier decision. He understood that he didn’t need to strive to be the team’s core; all he needed to do was help the team win games and step in to assist everyone when the team faced difficulties. Only in this way could the team have a chance to win the championship. After checking the score on the scoreboard, a faint glint appeared in McGrady’s sleepy, dazed eyes. He knew it was time for him to step in. Since joining the New York Knicks and Pistons, McGrady was often assigned to the point guard position by the head coach. After McGrady reached the halfway line, Vaughn Weaver immediately blocked his path. Vaughn Weaver spread his arms and lowered his center of gravity, getting ready to defend. McGrady carefully dribbled to a 45-degree angle on the right side outside the three-point line and stopped there, rhythmically moving the ball with his right hand. Yet he neither attacked nor passed, continuing to confront Vaughn Weaver. Time passed by, but McGrady remained motionless, and Vaughn Weaver, who was defending him, also showed no intention of stealing the ball, leaving the situation stuck on the court. As the 24-second shot clock approached, the Pistons’ fans’ heartbeats quickened. They all hoped McGrady would complete this attack quickly and perfectly! However, despite their anxiety, none of the fans dared to shout loudly, fearing their voices might disturb McGrady! Zhou Yi observed McGrady and Vaughn Weaver closely, noting every move and change, carefully watching their actions.

McGrady’s dribbling pace suddenly accelerated. With 5 seconds left in the 24-second offensive clock, McGrady finally took action. He abruptly broke left, then immediately changed direction, dribbling low and cutting from Vaughn Weaver’s right side into the paint, heading straight for the basket.

LaJuan Randolph tried to follow McGrady, but just as he took two steps, veteran Samuel Dalembert blocked his path. The Pistons’ backup center used his size to hold Randolph at bay, preventing him from interfering with McGrady!

Free from his most formidable opponent, McGrady sped toward the Celtics’ basket. As he stepped under the basket, he leaped high, raising the ball with his left hand as if Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics’ center, were transparent.

Kendrick Perkins returned to the basket ahead of McGrady and raised his hands high, trying to disrupt him and force him to back down. But McGrady chose to jump right in front of him, seemingly aiming to dunk over him!

Kendrick Perkins gritted his teeth and jumped as well after McGrady leaped, raising his arms high. At 208 cm tall, Kendrick Perkins was much taller than McGrady’s 203 cm, and he also had exceptional physical strength. Logically, he should have been able to block McGrady. Yet, while Kendrick Perkins just jumped in place, McGrady launched himself with a sprint, and his arms weren’t shorter than Kendrick Perkins’—in fact, they were much longer.

With a thud, McGrady collided with Kendrick Perkins mid-air. The immense force of the impact caused both of them to feel intense pain, but that pain didn’t stop McGrady—it only fueled his intensity.

“Roar…” McGrady let out a rare, beast-like roar, driving the ball fiercely toward the basket with unstoppable momentum, sending it over Kendrick Perkins’ head.

“Bang!” McGrady executed a dominant, stunning dunk over his opponent!

All the Pistons fans watching the game were struck with emotion; a surge of enthusiasm welled up from deep within them and spread throughout their bodies, prompting them to react in the simplest and most natural way—cheering, shouting, yelling, and applauding, filling the entire arena. At the same time, Pistons fans around the world were doing the same.

34:29—McGrady helped the Pistons widen the lead to 5 points again!

During the Pistons’ defense, McGrady high-fived his teammates to celebrate before running back to the backcourt with a blank expression, as if the dunk earlier had nothing to do with him.

“McGrady…” Zhou Yi silently watched McGrady’s retreating figure, recalling the powerful dunk just now.

“It seems McGrady has really recovered a lot!” Zhou Yi murmured to himself.

Zhou Yi then turned his attention to Rajon Rondo, observing his reactions carefully.

Rajon Rondo took the ball from Kendrick Perkins and dribbled across half-court. Will Bynum stepped forward to defend him at that moment.

Rajon Rondo quickly passed the ball to Paul Pierce, who was outside the three-point line!

After catching the ball, Paul Pierce jumped and shot—a three-point attempt! James Posey, who was defending him, wasn’t expecting Paul Pierce to shoot so quickly. Paul Pierce usually took his time shooting; how could he be as fast as Ray Allen now?

Swish! The three-point shot went in, and the score became 34:32.

“Good shot!” Rajon Rondo said, high-fiving Paul Pierce.

In the next 3 minutes, the Pistons, led by McGrady, engaged in a back-and-forth battle with the Celtics, led by Rajon Rondo. Both teams scored points, with neither side able to gain an advantage. By the time Zhou Yi was sent back on the court, the Pistons still led the Celtics 41:40.

By the eighth minute of the game, McGrady and Will Bynum were both substituted out, while Zhou Yi and Ben Gordon came in.

On the Celtics’ side, most of their key players returned to the court.

It was the Pistons’ turn to possess the ball. Zhou Yi organized the offense.

Zhou Yi drove with the ball and assisted Charlie Villanueva, who scored with a mid-range jump shot.

Rajon Rondo rushed into the Pistons’ paint and scored with a layup.

Zhou Yi used a crossover move to create half a body of space between himself and Rajon Rondo, then jumped and shot—also making it.

The game was extremely intense, with both teams having high shooting percentages at that moment.

Paul Pierce found Ray Allen with a perfect pass, and the courteous Ray took a jump shot right at the basket, scoring 3 points.
After more than 3 minutes passed, John Kuester replaced Ben Gordon with Will Bynum, creating a backcourt of Will Bynum and Zhou Yi.
Layvin Bondurant dribbled past the half-court line without even looking at his defender before passing the ball directly to Ray Allen. But as the ball was still in the air, a gust of wind blew—it vanished instantly, leaving only the silhouette of number 37 in white.
After stealing the ball, Zhou Yi immediately launched a fast break. He rushed into the opponent’s half and scored by dunking.
“Zhou, keep it up—speed up the offense!” John Kuester shouted at Zhou Yi on the court.
Zhou Yi glanced at John Kuester and nodded.
Facing Zhou Yi’s defense, Layvin Bondurant performed two dribbles under his arm, then used a sudden behind-the-back dribble to create half a body of space between him and Zhou Yi. He then accelerated his breakthrough and took a jump shot at the free-throw line.
However, Bondurant’s shooting form was terrible—the ball hit right at the front of the rim and bounced into Greg Monroe’s hands.
Receiving the pass from Greg Monroe, Zhou Yi quickly moved forward. Layvin Bondurant chased after him, but Zhou Yi started earlier and was not much slower. It wasn’t until Zhou Yi had reached the Celtics’ basket that Bondurant caught up.
Zhou Yi flicked the ball, which flew straight to Will Bynum in the right corner. Will Bynum shot a three-pointer immediately—unexpectedly, his form was just as hot that day, and the shot went through cleanly.
Layvin Bondurant dribbled with his left hand and used his right shoulder to push Zhou Yi aside. Seizing the opportunity, he broke through from that position. His agility and speed were already fast; although his agility might not compare to Zhou Yi’s, Zhou Yi was already out of position.
Though it seemed complicated, it was just an instant on the court. Layvin Bondurant had already broken through Zhou Yi’s defense and rushed into the Pistons’ paint. The other four Pistons players weren’t anxious as Bondurant entered, because before the game John Kuester had already studied that Bondurant’s shooting was extremely unreliable. Up to that point in the second quarter, Bondurant had only made one shot.

From the start of the game to now, Rajon Rondo has taken six shots. With such a low shooting percentage, he really doesn’t dare to shoot again. After breaking through to the paint, seeing that Kevin Garnett was open, he passed the ball directly to him.
Kevin Garnett faced Greg Monroe one-on-one and scored with a backdoor jump shot.
The Pistons attacked; Zhou Yi made consecutive breakthroughs and then passed the ball behind his back to Will Bynum. Ray Allen was guarding Will Bynum, but Will Bynum showed no respect for him, shamelessly using his speed advantage against the older player.
Will Bynum accelerated immediately,sweepinging Ray Allen behind him, then rushed into the paint and scored with a float shot.
Rajon Rondo dribbled across half-court and then passed the ball to Paul Pierce. Paul Pierce drove with the ball and passed it back to Rajon Rondo. Rajon Rondo suddenly pulled back while dribbling,sweepinging Zhou Yi behind him, and scored by driving to the basket.
On the Pistons’ side, Teyshawn Prince received a pass from Zhou Yi at the baseline and tried to shoot over Paul Pierce’s defense, but missed. Paul Pierce grabbed the defensive rebound.
After getting the ball, Paul Pierce passed it long to Rajon Rondo, who was already moving toward the basket.
By this time, Zhou Yi had also returned to defense. Seeing Rajon Rondo approaching, he took a deep breath. Although Rajon Rondo wasn’t a strong shooter, his smooth playmaking still posed a challenge for Zhou Yi.
Seeing Rajon Rondo coming fast, Zhou Yi quickly crouched down into a defensive stance, determined not to let Rajon Rondo score easily.
Thanks to his successful previous attack, Rajon Rondo’s confidence had increased significantly. Facing Zhou Yi, he didn’t dare to be careless.
With two quick steps and a dribble turn, he passed by Zhou Yi like the wind, but Zhou Yi quickly closed in and prevented him from breaking through.
However, Rajon Rondo threw the ball backward, and it landed in Ray Allen’s hands outside the left three-point line. Ray Allen feinted, tricking Will Bynum into jumping, before shooting the three-pointer.
With a “swish,” the ball went in!
Zhou Yi sighed helplessly; Will Bynum was also easily deceived.
Zhou Yi held the ball in both hands but neither shot nor passed it. Instead, he glanced at Rajon Rondo and stepped forward toward him.

How could LaJan Randolph not understand? He had fallen for Zhou Yi’s trap!
“Damn it!” he cursed under his breath, trying hard to pull his arm back, but it was easy to stretch it out but hard to retract it.
LaJan Randolph still slapped Zhou Yi’s arm, by which time Zhou Yi had already passed the ball to his right hand, aimed, and threw it—the ball went straight into the net as the referee’s whistle sounded.
Zhou Yi stepped to the free-throw line. Usually highly accurate, he fumbled this shot, and the ball barely made it into the net.
“Phew…” Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
To this point, Zhou Yi’s record of free-throw made shots continued unabated—he had already made 146 consecutive free throws.
On the Celtics’ side, Paul Pierce took a risky three-point shot, which surprisingly went in.
During the Pistons’ attack, Zhou Yi drove around the top of the key and saw Will Bynum open for a shot, so he quickly passed the ball to him. Unfortunately for Zhou Yi, Bynum’s open jump shot missed, but Taylor Hansbrough secured the offensive rebound.
The ball went back to Zhou Yi, who glanced at the 24-second timer.
Zhou Yi moved the ball steadily before suddenly speeding up and charging toward the Celtics’ interior players. With a clever bounce pass, the ball reached Taylor Hansbrough, who pushed aside Kevin Garnett’s defense and scored with a dunk.
In the rest of the game, although Zhou Yi continued to showcase his skills, scoring and assisting, the Celtics’ bench players also fought hard and performed well, preventing the Pistons from widening the gap. By the end of the first half, the Pistons led by only 56:52.
Yet precisely because of this, fans were even more eager for the second half, knowing the competition between the two teams would be even fiercer and more exciting.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the second quarter has come to an end. In the first half, both the Pistons and Celtics played very well, showing strong teamwork, with neither side clearly superior to the other. However, the Pistons have a greater advantage from outside the paint. Therefore, to win this game, they are likely to rely heavily on their interior players, Zhou Yi and McGrady, in the second half. Well, now please take a short break, but stay tuned. After the advertisement, we will bring you the third quarter of the game…”