Chapter 109

At the end of the third quarter, thanks to several high-energy attacks by Zhou Yi, the Pistons’ offense became extremely smooth. By the end of the third quarter, the Pistons led the Orlando Magic 76–68, by 8 points.

Soon, the fourth quarter began, with the Magic gaining possession. Jamal Nelson steadied himself after receiving the ball. Zhou Yi had previously intercepted fast breaks multiple times after initiating plays—against this year’s biggest underdog among rookies, and the Pistons were also the biggest underdog among the league’s 30 teams. The Pistons’ impressive results were inseparable from Zhou Yi.

The Orlando Magic naturally wouldn’t underestimate them, nor would Jamal Nelson. Still, for now, Jamal Nelson had a good impression of Zhou Yi—at least this guy showed professionalism. Jamal Nelson undoubtedly had extensive experience, but he focused more on scoring rather than organizing the offense. After watching several of Zhou Yi’s games, he had always admired him greatly.

After facing Zhou Yi several times, he believed the Pistons’ success today was largely due to Zhou Yi’s presence—he was the undisputed leader of the team. Without Zhou Yi, the Pistons might have had a chance to compete for a playoff spot, but they definitely wouldn’t have reached this point.

The Orlando Magic played a steady game, with diverse offensive tactics and a meticulous defense. They were good at positional play, but once they got an opportunity, their fast breaks were astonishing—calm as a maiden and swift as a hare—that was the Orlando Magic’s style.

Jamal Nelson quickly passed the ball to Dwight Howard without hesitation. Dwight Howard passed it back to Jamal Nelson, and back and forth like this, Jamal Nelson used his teammates’ screen plays to reach an open spot. Just eight seconds into the fourth quarter, Jamal Nelson hit a mid-range shot, scoring the first 2 points.

Before the start of the fourth quarter, Stan Van Gundy had already laid out the strategy: have Dwight Howard hold the Pistons’ starters back in the paint, then pass to the outside players to create opportunities.

Zhou Yi watched the opponent’s movements and sighed—this was the strength of a superstar center, such smooth and efficient scoring. The biggest feature of the Orlando Magic was that four out of their five players were excellent ball handlers. No matter how tight the defense was, they could move the ball efficiently.

The Orlando Magic fans immediately started cheering. In such a large stadium, the atmosphere they created was equally astonishing. The Magic players thoroughly enjoyed the cheers from the fans, which boosted their energy as they played.

Halftime passed quickly. The Orlando Magic were now using zone defense. Zhou Yi’s speed while dribbling surprised everyone on the team, but they trusted their defensive capabilities—they were determined not to let him operate as freely as before once he entered their defense.

Two steps outside the three-point line, Zhou Yi suddenly stopped, using the power in his legs to propel himself upward. In a flash, before Jamal Nelson could react, Zhou Yi’s three-pointer hit the basket accurately.

Zhou Yi’s extraordinary shooting range shocked the Orlando Magic players, while Jamal Nelson saw another key factor: his shooting speed, which was several times faster than normal. Even if a defender stood right in front of him, if they reacted slowly, it would be difficult to stop his shot. That was the real threat—so far, he considered Zhou Yi one of the fastest shooters in the NBA, perhaps only comparable to top shooters like Ray Allen.

Xiang Yun, sitting in the corner, saw a fan wearing the Pistons’ No. 37 jersey shouting Zhou Yi’s name loudly. Influenced by the atmosphere, he couldn’t help but cheer excitedly as well.

As he passed by Zhou Yi, Jamal Nelson said in a low voice, “Zhou, you’re really lucky—making a shot from that distance.”

Zhou Yi turned to look at Jamal Nelson, smiled slightly, and replied, “That’s also a form of skill!”

Jamal Nelson paused for a moment before smiling and saying, “Interesting Chinese guy.”

Jamal Nelson passed the ball up to Brandon Bass inside, who then passed it backward to Dwight Howard, who scored with a jump shot.

Brandon Bass positioned himself in front of Samuel Dalembert, trying to defend Dwight Howard, but he had no way to stop him.

What a great coordination—the players’ awareness of positioning was excellent. Such smooth attacks were unprecedented so far. That’s what top teams are like: their well-tested tactics have their advantages, allowing them to achieve the same results with minimal effort.

Zhou Yi’s passes have always been precise. With a behind-the-back pass, Andre Iguodala caught the ball while in motion, jumped, and shot from the right wing—making a three-point shot. The opposing defender was momentarily blocked, giving Iguodala enough time to shoot.

At the start of the fourth quarter, both teams engaged in a back-and-forth scoring battle, with the score rising rapidly. Relatively speaking, the Pistons were at a slight disadvantage—the opponent’s offense was smooth, while the Pistons’ approach was rather monotonous.

It seemed the Orlando Magic were on the verge of tying the score. With the loud cheers of their home fans, the Magic played with great effort.

John Kuester had no choice but to call a timeout. He had to reorganize the team’s strategy in light of the situation. “In the last three minutes, the Orlando Magic’s offense was very smooth. We need to address this. From now on, we’ll play man-to-man defense throughout the game to disrupt their rhythm. Also, everyone needs to be more proactive in positioning and trust Zhou’s passes.”

Man-to-man defense is extremely exhausting. After catching the ball, Jamal Nelson felt extremely uncomfortable—Zhou Yi was constantly in front of him, trying to disrupt his possession. The key to stealing a ball is to disrupt the opponent’s control. Although Zhou Yi hadn’t yet made a move, his constant changes in position meant that once he attacked, it would surely be a deadly shot.

Zhou Yi’s fingers almost touched the ball. Jamal Nelson managed to pass it, but it was almost out of bounds. He recovered the ball, but it trapped Nelson in a corner, making it impossible for him to pass.

With no other choice, the Orlando Magic called a timeout. John Kuester was very satisfied with this defensive effort—as long as they applied enough pressure, they could disrupt the opponent’s rhythm.

A long pass was attempted to get the ball to Jamal Nelson at the right wing baseline, but halfway there, a pale hand suddenly appeared and intercepted the ball.

The moment he touched the ball, Zhou Yi shouted, “Fast break!”

The entire team rushed forward like wild horses. But this time, Zhou Yi didn’t choose to pass. With a low pass, the ball quickly slipped under Brandon Bass’s legs. After grabbing the rebound, Zhou Yi stopped abruptly and made a successful jump shot.

Zhou Yi’s close defense made it extremely difficult for Jamal Nelson to drive, prompting him to quickly pass the ball to Hedo Turkoglu. This revealed the strength of the Orlando Magic team—players from the power forward to the shooting guard positions could serve as playmakers at any time, making timely passes that essentially rendered the Pistons’ defense ineffective.

Ben Gordon’s defense has always been a weakness, but he performed well this time. After successfully containing Jason Richardson last time, he provided timely help defense this time, thwarting Hedo Turkoglu’s offensive attempt.

When the Orlando Magic’s offense failed to score, Greg Monroe swiftly grabbed the rebound. The moment Zhou Yi secured the rebound, he immediately moved into action. Without the ball, Zhou Yi displayed astonishing speed, covering several steps in just a few moments to reach the three-point line. Greg Monroe’s timely pass allowed him to score an easy three-point shot.

Jamal Nelson’s three-point attempt bounced high off the rim. Dwight Howard and Greg Monroe were both positioning themselves in the paint, and neither had an ideal spot. Hedo Turkoglu, who was closest to the basket, spotted where the ball would land and quickly jumped up. Just as he seemed about to grab it, a somewhat pale hand intervened and snatched the ball away first.

Zhou Yi’s excellent jumping ability allowed him to easily snatch the ball from several larger players. John Kuester cheered upon seeing this. However, he had been worried lately because Zhou Yi hadn’t had much rest and was concerned about his stamina. But seeing Zhou Yi so energetic with little loss in speed, John Kuester dismissed his doubts.

Andre Iguodala’s screen helped Zhou Yi score an easy mid-range shot.

Jamal Nelson made several feints, using his strength to force his way past Zhou Yi. With a behind-the-back pass, he delivered the ball to Dwight Howard, who was unguarded. Dwight Howard roared and then dunked with both hands to score.

Greg Monroe took a step back and scored a hook shot, also drawing a foul from the opponent.

Both teams had outstanding big men—Dwight Howard goes without saying, while Greg Monroe’s strength and defense were only slightly inferior to his opponent’s. Now, Greg Monroe is developing into one of the league’s top power forwards.

So far in this game, Dwight Howard’s performance has clearly been much better than Greg Monroe’s, but Greg Monroe isn’t far behind either.

The Pistons’ perimeter defense was outstanding; by disrupting the ball-handling several times, the Orlando Magic couldn’t find shooting opportunities and were forced to send the ball inside, where the two muscular players resumed their battle. Although Greg Monroe was outmatched on the court, seeing his teammates prevent the opponent from getting good shooting chances, he realized the only weakness might be himself, so he resolved to hold his ground firmly. He secured his position tightly—farther from the basket meant less threat for interior players. Though Dwight Howard was strong, no, insanely strong, his skills were still somewhat rough. Dwight Howard also sensed the opponent’s intensity, which had grown significantly compared to before. He wasn’t worried about physical confrontation, but having played for so long, he was quite exhausted. Now that the opponent had established themselves inside, several attempts at forcing their way through were futile. As time passed, he tried to retreat and shoot a jump shot, but Greg Monroe quickly closed in, making it impossible for him to shoot. With no other choice, he passed the ball back inside. With 24 seconds left on the clock, Hedo Turkoglu caught the ball and immediately tried to shoot, ignoring Andre Iguodala right in front of him. The hasty shot was naturally hard to make; the ball hit the side rim and bounced high. Greg Monroe was in an ideal position—using his left shoulder to block Dwight Howard while catching the ball in mid-air with his right hand. The Pistons’ players once again demonstrated their fast-break awareness; the moment they secured the rebound, four players rushed forward like arrows, quickly crossing half-court. The opponent could only rely on Jamal Nelson to defend quickly, but with four against one, the Pistons’ rapid passes left Jamal Nelson at a loss, forcing him to watch helplessly as Andre Iguodala scored a dunk. The Orlando Magic called a timeout. During those few minutes, the Pistons’ defense had been impeccable, severely disrupting the Magic’s smooth offense, while their own offense was thriving, scoring several impressive fast breaks. John Kuester didn’t expect the game situation to change so much; his players’ defensive resilience was far better than he had imagined. But with Stan Van Gundy’s coaching experience, there was surely a way to turn the tide.

During the short timeout, chatter erupted on the court. No one expected the Pistons to put up such an outstanding performance against the home team, the Orlando Magic, completely suppressing their momentum.

On the Orlando Magic’s side, Ryan Anderson played at the power forward position, while Jason Richardson took over as the small forward in place of Hedo Turkoglu. Ryan Anderson’s strength lies in offense—he not only has excellent three-point shooting skills but also strong rebounding abilities. Although he was assigned to the power forward role, his skills and solid three-point shooting make the small forward position more suitable for him.

Zhou Yi was sent to the bench. With nearly 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter, John Kuester decided to focus on defense against the Orlando Magic. Only if Zhou Yi had enough energy could they handle the intense final minutes. Sitting next to Zhou Yi, Kuester kept an eye on the game and gave him advice, saying, “Zhou, as long as we control the score in these few minutes, we can win more easily in the last moments.”

Zhou Yi was also wary of the Orlando Magic’s strength. The first half didn’t fully reveal their true capabilities. Playing away from home, it would be impossible not to be affected by the booing from the crowd. Another mistake by the Orlando Magic was underestimating the Pistons’ defense. Although they had plenty of information, it mostly focused on the Pistons’ offensive strength, ignoring their defensive capabilities. But in actual play, the Pistons’ defense turned out to be incredibly strong. With Stan Van Gundy’s coaching experience, the final timeout gave him enough time to adjust tactics—then the real battle would begin. As the team’s offensive and defensive hub, Zhou Yi bore even greater pressure.

In the rest of the game, both teams focused on defense, and the score remained stagnant. It seemed both sides had agreed to hold the score as long as possible. All the competition unfolded in the final minutes, and such intense defense was truly exciting to watch.

John Kuester always believed that a true game of basketball required a balance between offense and defense, but he favored offense more. Years of coaching experience had allowed him to develop a solid offensive system, while his experience in defense was still relatively limited, with many details needing time to improve.

With just over 4 minutes left in the final quarter, both teams gradually brought in their star players. The Magic’s situation changed dramatically after the timeout, like a sleeping tiger finally awakening. Just 7 seconds after the timeout, the Magic’s interior powerhouse, Dwight Howard, took charge—successfully forcing a defensive foul on Greg Monroe. John Kuester glanced at Stan Van Gundy, filled with emotion. After all, the Orlando Magic have been a competitive team for years, with not only outstanding players but also excellent coaches. Dwight Howard was on target with his free throws today, hitting them accurately. This was just the beginning of the Magic’s counterattack—Jason Richardson’s jump shots, Jamal Nelson’s dunks. Within a minute, the Magic displayed overwhelming offensive power, scoring 7 points in that time. If not for Zhou Yi’s two free throws, the Magic would have nearly tied the score. The Magic’s offensive force silenced the entire arena. John Kuester wanted to call a timeout to at least slow down the opponent, but seeing the situation on the court, he held back. Zhou Yi controlled the ball at midcourt, boosting his teammates’ morale by saying, “Stay calm. This is the Magic’s home court—their territory. They definitely want to see us struggle, but can we let them? Of course not! Our top priority now is to score this basket!” In fact, the Magic’s strong offense also put unprecedented pressure on Zhou Yi, but it also fueled his passion. As the team’s core player, he knew it was his turn to step up—whether through a timeout called by John Kuester or by scoring a basket. Zhou Yi drove with the ball, breaking free from Jamal Nelson’s defense, and headed toward the Magic’s basket. Dwight Howard immediately chased after him. Zhou Yi’s lips curled slightly as he thought, “This is my chance.” He threw the ball overhead toward Dwight Howard’s head. Dwight tried to intercept it, but he had been focusing on defending Zhou Yi and hadn’t paid much attention to his passing. So, he could only watch helplessly as the ball flew over his head. “Thud”—Greg Monroe jumped high, caught Zhou Yi’s pass, and completed a layup with a alley-oop. The basket let out a loud scream, as if unable to bear such pain.

The home crowd watched in amazement as this yellow-skinned guy was so impressive—why wasn’t he on their own team? That’s what the home fans thought!
Hedo Turkoglu’s drive and layup coincided with the angry Greg Monroe, who slapped him hard, sending him and the ball against the backboard. Zhou Yi quickly picked up the ball.
Greg Monroe’s block delighted John Kuester. Greg Monroe simply shrugged silently and ran off.
Hedo Turkoglu used his body to shield the ball and passed it to Dwight Howard, who scored with an uncontested dunk. This was due to Greg Monroe’s carelessness; if he hadn’t rushed to block Lane Anderson, he wouldn’t have left the paint unguarded.
Zhou Yi made a clever pass to Andre Iguodala, who hit a three-pointer from the baseline.
With 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Zhou Yi stole the ball in the middle of the court and immediately drove. His speed made it difficult for his defender, Jason Richardson, to keep up. Even though he started retreating the moment Zhou Yi moved, he was still a step slow and was completely outpaced by Zhou Yi’s speed. The Magic’s starters were all highly versatile, with exceptional speed—Jason Richardson being one of the best. It was the first time in his career that he had been overtaken just by speed, and what made it worse was that he didn’t react at all when Zhou Yi drove past him.
Facing an unguarded paint, Zhou Yi easily scored two points with a smooth three-step layup.
Jason Richardson hit a three-pointer from the right wing, causing Zhou Yi to shake his head in frustration. No wonder John Kuester had been so serious before the game—none of the opponents were strong enough to match him, but their scattered scoring made it a serious challenge for the team’s defense.
There was a huge difference in skill between Jason Richardson and Zhou Yi, especially in speed. Zhou Yi’s drives were like sharp knives, repeatedly breaking through the opponent’s defense and creating opportunities for his teammates through timely drives. However, the Magic’s fast counter-defense ruined several of the opportunities he created.

With an absolute advantage on the court, John Kueste was well aware that the problem lay in defense. The opposing team scored from multiple sources, with four players hitting shots, and such scattered scoring opportunities often left the Pistons struggling to focus. In contrast, their disciplined defense prevented Zhou Yi from capitalizing on several opportunities he created.

“As we saw in the game just now, the opponent had a well-balanced offense and defense, and they switched between them quickly. To turn the situation around, we need to outspeed them. In future games, we must hold our positions at all costs and move around actively. The opponent simply can’t stop Zhou’s breakthroughs. With that alone, we can gain complete control on the court. But one thing to note is that since Zhou focuses all his energy on offense, the burden of defense falls on all of us,” said John Kueste, who remained confident about the game. The opponent would never be able to effectively contain Zhou Yi. In the upcoming matches, the Magic would surely use double-team tactics, freeing up one of their players. Although Zhou Yi might not be able to play as freely as before, the advantages of their two-point guard strategy could be fully utilized.

After several consecutive defensive failures, Jason Richardson was very cautious about Zhou Yi’s breakthroughs. To prevent them effectively, he kept a distance between them, giving himself more time to prepare for the opponent’s defense.

Seeing his stern expression and tight defense, Zhou Yi sneered inwardly, thinking they could stop his breakthroughs that way. But his tricks went beyond that—he decisively shot from the right wing.

“Swish.” That familiar sound boosted Zhou Yi’s morale.

Jason Richardson regretted giving the opponent such a good chance; it was like seeking death. With such an excellent guard, he naturally had a solid three-point shot. Yet his distraction from Zhou Yi’s breakthroughs left a huge gap for the opponent.

Caught off guard, Zhou Yi quickly passed the ball down. With a bounce pass, Greg Monroe pushed aside Ryan Anderson and stretched his right arm, sending the ball smoothly into the basket.

Brandon Bass’s hook shot rebounded, and Greg Monroe firmly controlled the rebound. Zhou Yi quickly drove the ball across half-court. Jason Richardson was at a loss, completely losing his usual composure when facing Zhou Yi. He didn’t dare get too close nor too far away.

Zhou Yi passed the ball backward, and it quickly reached Andre Iguodala’s hands. Without hesitation, Iguodala passed it back immediately. With these back-and-forth passes, Zhou Yi had enough time to move into the opponent’s paint. Faced with the tight defense of Dwight Howard and Brandon Bass, Zhou Yi charged in, reached through the small gap between them with his right hand holding the ball, scored a gentle layup, and also drew a foul from the opponent.

However, it was difficult to call a foul—both players seemed to have committed fouls. With the three of them tangled together, it was impossible to tell who was at fault, so they both raised their hands simultaneously and glared at each other.

In the end, the foul was assigned to Dwight Howard, bringing his total to five fouls. John Kuester waved excitedly. Dwight Howard’s performance in the paint had always been exceptional. So far, although Greg Monroe was doing well, he had been focusing most of his energy on defending Dwight Howard and grabbing rebounds. With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Dwight Howard would inevitably be cautious in the upcoming battles, allowing Greg Monroe to play more freely.

Zhou Yi also understood the situation well. He passed the ball to Greg Monroe several times, letting him face Dwight Howard alone. After battling for so long, Greg Monroe finally figured out a strategy. His opponent had extraordinary physical strength, a wide defensive range, and an equally exceptional defensive awareness. But since Dwight Howard already had five fouls, Greg Monroe had an advantage in that regard.

Holding the ball in his right hand, Greg Monroe used his left shoulder to push against Dwight Howard, constantly shifting his body. Gradually, he managed to squeeze in, then exploded with all his strength. Dwight Howard, caught off guard, was completely pushed out of the paint, allowing Greg Monroe to score with a powerful dunk.

As Dwight Howard was thrown out, his right hand instinctively touched Greg Monroe. Such an obvious action wouldn’t go unnoticed by the referee, resulting in a 2+1 penalty. John Kuester jumped up excitedly and paced back and forth on the coaching bench.

With Dwight Howard ejected from the game, Stan Van Gundy quickly called a timeout.

John Kuester patted Greg Monroe approvingly and said, “Greg Monroe, you did great. Their starting center was taken out, and their problems on the bench will gradually become apparent. Greg Monroe, in the next games, you need to be the team’s top scorer and deal a heavy blow to our opponents. By the way, Zhou, from now on we’ll focus our attacks on the interior, but of course, don’t miss any opportunities on the outside as well.”
Although the opponent was strong, they had Zhou Yi as their ace—his breakthrough ability and speed were enough to break through their prideful defense. At this moment, the Pistons were least afraid of exactly such teams, as their defensive capabilities were also excellent. It’s just that so far, their defensive skills had been overshadowed by their aggressive offense. Even in the game against the Orlando Magic, the Pistons’ defensive performance in the first half was definitely top-notch.
Stan Van Gundy shouted anxiously, but after Dwight Howard was ejected, the gap in strength between the two teams became obvious right away.
Greg Monroe’s skills were far beyond what Ryan Anderson could match, especially since he had a versatile skill set and could score from various angles, making it impossible for the opponent to defend him effectively.
Leveraging his physical advantage, he managed to push the opponent back a few steps, and Greg Monroe quickly jumped up to shoot.
Zhou Yi quickly shouted, “Greg, be careful!”
But it was still too late. After pushing Ryan Anderson aside, Brandon Bass, who took over as the center after Dwight Howard was out, swatted the ball away from behind Greg Monroe. Hedo Turkoglu picked up the ball and passed it long. At that moment, the only player near it in their half was Jamal Nelson, with Zhou Yi at least five meters away—clearly a fast break opportunity.
Fortunately, Zhou Yi had already realized something was wrong and quickly started defending.
For a moment, the two players and the ball were like three arrows shot from a bow. Zhou Yi was faster than the opponent, but the distance between them was still considerable. It wasn’t until the opponent was almost at the free-throw line that he had covered half the distance.
Seeing the opponent raise his right hand with the ball, clearly preparing for a three-point shot, Zhou Yi grew anxious. If the opponent scored on this fast break, their momentum would likely increase, making it difficult to win the rest of the game.

All his strength erupted in an instant. Before the eyes of over 20,000 spectators in the arena, Zhou Yi accelerated like a cannonball, his speed soaring by several notches. It seemed as though the entire court came to a halt, and the distance between Zhou Yi and Jamal Nelson shrank rapidly.

Jamal Nelson had performed mediocrely throughout the game. Naturally, he wouldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity to score two points with a beautiful three-step layup and launch a counterattack.

Yet the sudden silence in the arena sent a wave of unease through him. Still, he hesitated none—the Zhou Yi who had been so close to him just now was now far away. Even if Zhou Yi was faster, he surely couldn’t overtake him before he completed his own attack.

As he leaped into the air, Jamal Nelson stretched out his right arm, watching the ball get closer and closer to the basket. Suddenly, a rapid whooshing sound came from behind him, followed by a wave of heat that enveloped his body. In shock, he saw an arm extend out from behind him.

Jamal Nelson watched in agony as his sure-to-be-made shot was blocked by the basket.

A whistle blew immediately—the referee pointed at Zhou Yi, signaling a hand foul.

Zhou Yi shook his head helplessly. The call was fair, though it was a pity such a stunning block was wasted. If he had just had a little more time, even just one second, he could have easily swatted the ball away.

After a brief silence, the arena erupted in enthusiastic cheers. The scene from earlier kept repeating on the big screen, especially Zhou Yi’s astonishing speed as he chased down the ball—far beyond anyone’s imagination, almost beyond human limits.

Not only the fans in the arena but also the Pistons’ teammates, even John Kuester, stared in astonishment at Zhou Yi. They had always known of Zhou Yi’s speed, and so far in the games, no opponent had been able to fully outpace him. But they never expected he still had reserves left. His speed just now was definitely much faster than what he had shown before.

His speed reminded people of Allen Iverson, the NBA’s speed king. Perhaps even at the peak of his career, Iverson’s speed wasn’t as incredible as what Zhou Yi had just demonstrated.

Jamal Nelson took free throws and made both.

After carrying the ball past the halfway line, Zhou Yi waved his left hand—a clear signal that he intended to take matters into his own hands. His move surprised his teammates, as although Zhou Yi was the team’s offensive and defensive hub, it was unprecedented for him to decide to act alone from the start. Yet they quickly cleared a path for him, unconditionally obeying his demands.

John Kuester saw his gesture and temporarily resisted the urge to call a timeout; instead, joy flashed in his eyes. No coach likes players who act selfishly on their own, but as a leader, a player has the right and duty to take charge at certain moments. With the momentum on the court tilting in favor of the Orlando Magic, it was time for him, as the team’s core player, to step up.

Facing Jamal Nelson’s defense, Zhou Yi remained calm and darted past him like lightning. Jamal Nelson was stunned—not only did Zhou Yi break through the first line of defense effortlessly, but he also left the other players unable to react in time. Now, only Brandon Bass stood in his way, having just blocked Greg Monroe. Brandon Bass’s defensive skills were evident.

Without a trace of fear, Zhou Yi didn’t even regard Brandon Bass; all he saw was the basket. The moment his foot touched the free-throw line, he gathered all his strength to the peak and released it in an instant. His slender body soared like an eagle, bending his legs as he reached the highest point, making his jump appear even higher.

Seeing Zhou Yi’s cold gaze from mid-air, Brandon Bass felt awe at how terrifying the man before him was, his presence overwhelming him, forcing him to take involuntary steps back.

His right hand still held the ball, initially straight, but as he fell, the arm gripping the ball retracted slightly, giving him enough space to dunk. With full force, he swung his right hand toward the basket.

With a “thud,” Zhou Yi landed effortlessly amidst the silence of the arena.

“Clap, clap, clap…” Someone started clapping first, and the fans, now awake from their stupor, cheered wildly. The arena, once utterly quiet, became intensely lively, with cheers louder than ever.

Stan Van Gundy stood up and signaled the referee to call a timeout. Given the team’s current state, there was no chance of turning things around without a timeout.

The Pistons’ players immediately surrounded Zhou Yi, showering him with praise. Such an amazing free-throw line dunk was extremely rare for an point guard. John Kuester grabbed Zhou Yi’s shoulders and exclaimed excitedly, “Zhou, you played exactly like an outstanding dunker. I really didn’t expect you to be able to pull off such a stunning dunk.” Cheers erupted from the Pistons’ bench. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic’s locker room was in a completely different mood—Zhou Yi’s dunk had crushed their morale, and Stan Van Gundy was also unsure of what to do. Despite his best efforts to strategize, the impact of Zhou Yi’s dunk still tipped the balance in favor of the Pistons. The Pistons’ players were highly motivated and played at their best, while the Orlando Magic didn’t act like a top-tier team at all. In the end, the Pistons defeated the Magic 98-86, taking home a victory from Orlando.

Chapter 293: Ben Wallace’s Party

Although the Pistons won the game against the Magic, it was a very tough victory. Despite leading by a large margin, they were pushed to the brink by the Magic. This indirectly showed just how strong the Magic were and how advantageous it is to have a superstar center on a team. However, through this game, the Pistons’ management saw the positive chemistry among the team after the trade. Despite the difficult match, the chemistry among the three stars was excellent. Igoudala’s arrival not only reduced the pressure on Zhou Yi and McGrady but also made the Pistons’ offense smoother. In this game, all three stars performed fairly evenly. Zhou Yi played the longest amount of time—41 minutes—scoring 24 points, giving 11 assists, grabbing 6 rebounds, stealing 3 balls, and blocking 2 shots, with 11 points in the final quarter. Igoudala played 38 minutes, contributing 23 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. McGrady played 32 minutes, scoring 19 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 5 assists. Together, the three scored 66 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, and delivered 22 assists, showing excellent teamwork. After beating the Magic, the Pistons achieved two consecutive wins, raising their record to 40-5 and continuing to lead the league.

Currently, Zhou Yi’s average steals per game have risen to second place, at 2.8, second only to LaJuan Randolph’s 2.9. His average assists per game have also climbed to second place, at 11.2, just behind Steve Nash’s 11.9.
If Zhou Yi can maintain this performance, he has a good chance of winning both the assists and steals titles this season.
After the game against the Magic, head coach John Kuester announced good news to Zhou Yi and the others: training was canceled for the next day.
Upon hearing this, Will Bynum and the others were overjoyed, but Zhou Yi didn’t show much surprise, as whether there was training or not made little difference to him—he basically trained every day.
……
“Zhou Yi, the phone is ringing!” Just as Zhou Yi was practicing dribbling in his backyard, a shrill phone ringtone sounded.
“Oh, I see!” Zhou Yi finally snapped out of his thoughts, put down the basketball he was still dribbling, and rushed to where his clothes were. He thought the call might be from Lynch Xiao and the others or Mo Keer. But when he saw the number, he realized he didn’t know who it belonged to.
Looking at the unfamiliar number, Zhou Yi felt puzzled.
“Hello, this is Zhou Yi. Who is this?” Zhou Yi spoke fluent English into the phone.
“Hehe, it’s Ben Wallace,” came a hearty laugh from the other end of the line, followed by a deeper male voice.
When Zhou Yi heard this name, he was shocked.
“Ben? No wonder I don’t recognize this number. Wait, why is he calling me?” Zhou Yi wondered.
It wasn’t surprising that Zhou Yi was confused, as he had the numbers of all his teammates except Ben Wallace—Ben never gave him his number, and Zhou Yi didn’t feel comfortable asking for it.
“Ben Wallace?” Zhou Yi asked cautiously. How did Ben Wallace know his phone number?
“Yes, your number isn’t that hard to find. I just asked Will and found it out. Since we became teammates, you haven’t invited me to your place yet. How about it? Want to invite me over?” Ben Wallace asked with a smile.
“Uh…”

“Hehe, I was just joking with you. Do you have time? I’m having a party—come by! Will and the others will be there; there’s no practice anyway today. Don’t worry, it’s just a gathering among us players. That old guy John won’t be coming.” Ben Wallace said to Zhou Yi in a half-joking tone on the phone, leaving Zhou Yi quite shocked.

Ben Wallace actually invited him to his place, and in such a joking manner. Was this really Ben Wallace? Zhou Yi was stunned.

Zhou Yi was really surprised to hear it was Ben Wallace calling him. He never expected this veteran player from the Pistons to reach out to him on his own.

“I have time, I have time!”

“Then I’ll drive over to pick you up in the evening. Where do you live?” Hearing Ben Wallace’s voice on the phone, Zhou Yi’s heart pounded as he told Ben Wallace his address.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up at 6:30 in the evening!” After noting down the address, Ben Wallace hung up the phone.

Xiang Yun, standing next to Zhou Yi, watched as he looked both puzzled and happy—what good news could he have heard?

“Whose call was that?” Xiang Yun asked curiously.

“Hehe, Ben Wallace invited me to dinner!” Zhou Yi said with a smile.

“Oh, Ben Wallace invited you to dinner! Alright.” Zhou Yi thought Xiang Yun would be surprised, but she merely responded indifferently. After all, it was Ben Wallace—someone who didn’t just treat ordinary people to meals.

After a moment, Zhou Yi remembered that Xiang Yun was Chinese and he didn’t know Ben Wallace’s personality.

Around 5 p.m., Xiang Yun got hungry and started cooking by herself, but not including Zhou Yi’s share. Zhou Yi was still practicing in the yard, focusing on dribbling with his non-dominant hand. He had already reached a high level, but he was still far from Maddie’s skill. Reaching Maddie’s level wasn’t easy.

The sound of the basketball hitting the ground echoed in the empty yard—Zhou Yi found it pleasant to hear.

After practicing for a while, Zhou Yi wiped his sweat and put away the basketball. Then he remembered he had an appointment with Ben Wallace. When he turned around to get dressed, he saw Ben Wallace already there, sitting on a chair and smiling at him. Zhou Yi immediately ran over.

“I’m sorry, I got too absorbed in practicing and lost track of time. Is it too late?” Zhou Yi looked at Ben Wallace, feeling a bit embarrassed.
“No, I’m the one who arrived early. Look, it’s only 6:10—there’s still time for you to take a shower and change clothes,” Ben Wallace said with a smile at Zhou Yi. Seeing Zhou Yi drenched in sweat, Ben Wallace really remembered his own early days of practicing basketball.
Ben Wallace had arrived while Zhou Yi was practicing, but Zhou Yi didn’t notice and continued to head toward the door.
“Please wait a moment!” Zhou Yi smiled at Ben Wallace and rushed upstairs to the bathroom to take a shower and change.
Zhou Yi put on a suit—after all, it was a party, and it was Ben Wallace’s party; he couldn’t dress casually. Dressing casually might not be appropriate.
Seeing Zhou Yi come downstairs in a suit, Ben Wallace also smiled.
“Hehe, it’s just a party—no need to dress so formally. But you do look really handsome!” Ben Wallace laughed at Zhou Yi. Although Zhou Yi became famous late, in Ben Wallace’s eyes, he was still like a younger brother.
Hearing Ben Wallace’s words, Zhou Yi scratched his head awkwardly.
After greeting Xiang Yun, Zhou Yi left home and went to Ben Wallace’s house with him. But instead of taking Ben Wallace’s car, Zhou Yi drove his own BMW.
When they arrived at Ben Wallace’s house, Zhou Yi found that Will Bynum, Tracy McGrady, and others had already arrived. Not only were Zhou Yi’s teammates there, but there were also some women in the living room.
Seeing these women, Zhou Yi paused for a moment before smiling.
Led by Ben Wallace, Zhou Yi entered the spacious living room and greeted McGrady and the others.
“Hehe, Zhou, why did you come so late? Were you practicing again?” Will Bynum teased, hugging Zhou Yi.
“Hehe, Will, you guessed right. When I went to his place, he was indeed practicing basketball! And he didn’t even realize I was sitting next to him!” Ben Wallace said, patting Zhou Yi’s shoulder and laughing.
“Ugh, what a workaholic! No, a masochist!” Will Bynum glanced at Zhou Yi disdainfully before lying down on the sofa.
Zhou Yi gave Will Bynum a cold look before greeting the others.
After resting for a while, the party officially began.

Everyone started to go wild—some were drinking alcohol, while others were dancing to heavy metal music. Zhou Yi and Maddie sat aside, watching everyone have fun.
“Let’s go dance too,” Maddie and Zhou Yi said with smiles.
Zhou Yi couldn’t resist and agreed.
After the party, Ben Wallace stood at the door, seeing everyone leave one by one. Everyone had not only enjoyed themselves at the party but also ate well. Zhou Yi also asked about Ben Wallace’s plans for the future.
Ben Wallace gave a helpless wry smile before saying to Zhou Yi, “I’m already so old. After this season, I think I’ll retire.”
Hearing this, Zhou Yi wasn’t too surprised, as he had heard before that Ben Wallace wanted to retire after this season.
Zhou Yi and Ben Wallace exchanged phone numbers, and now Zhou Yi had his teammate’s number.
When he got home, Zhou Yi rested. Although there was no training the next morning, there was training in the afternoon. Moreover, he had drunk quite a bit at the party.
Chapter 294: First Encounter with the Nuggets
On January 28th, Beijing time, the Pistons faced off against the Denver Nuggets. They would play at the Auburn Hills Palace Arena against the Nuggets, who had their “Golden Twin Guns.”
The new combination of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups had brought success to the Nuggets. In their first year together, they led the team to the Western Conference Finals.
Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony continued to show strong performance in the new season, averaging 50.1 points per game—making them one of the most offensive duos in the league.
ESPN would broadcast this game nationwide, with Jeff Van Gundy and Kenny Smith as commentators.
Under the pressure of high luxury taxes, the Nuggets made few changes to their core lineup. The biggest surprise for the team was the return of injured Kenyon Martin.
The Nuggets had a solid offense, but defense had always been a major issue. They often lost at the last moment, and it wasn’t due to their offense but rather their defense.
Nene’s offensive skills were undeniable, and his defense was good too. However, his weakness in one-on-one defense, along with his attitude toward defense, posed a significant problem.

Fortunately, there’s Kyren Martin’s return. He’s a true inside force—able to run and jump, with plenty of dunks. He plays with passion and intensity, making his games highly entertaining. He’s great at dominating smaller power forwards, but against tougher opponents, he often suffers heavy losses. Yet he’s never backed down and is also a very strong defender, having once astonishingly grabbed a dunk attempt from the air with both hands. He’s the best one-on-one defender on the Nuggets, and his role in the team’s success is undeniable. Although the Nuggets’ record isn’t as good as the Pistons’ and they’re slightly weaker, this game is bound to be tough. Both teams are in excellent form right now—the three-win streaking Pistons facing the six-win streaking Nuggets in what’s definitely a top-tier matchup. The Nuggets’ starting lineup: center Nene, power forward Kyren Martin, small forward Cameron Anthony, shooting guard JR Smith, and point guard Chauncey Billups. The packed Allen Fieldhouse is filled with an enthusiastic atmosphere. The management’s creative decorations help fans forget about the cold outside world, while the team’s strong record has greatly boosted interest in the team. Zhou Yi’s averages of 23.6 points, 11.4 assists, and 2.8 steals, along with McGrady’s 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, have surprised fans and the Pistons’ management. Their average points per game rank them in the top 15 in the league, with Zhou Yi in eighth place. Just look at who’s ahead of him! Kevin Durant, the leader of the Thunder; Cameron Anthony, one of the three stars of the Heat and one of the league’s best players; Amare Stoudemire, the leader of the Knicks; Monta Ellis, the leader of the Warriors; Dirk Nowitzki, the leader of the Mavericks; Kobe Bryant, the leader of the Lakers and one of the league’s best players, often compared to a god; Dwyane Wade, one of the three stars of the Heat. Being able to compete on par with these players gives Zhou Yi every reason to be proud. Under the bright lights, McGrady stands behind Zhou Yi. He seems to have gotten used to his current role, especially knowing that his changes have led to a rapid improvement in the team’s record, showing him the rewards of his efforts.

The entire Auburn Hills Palace was filled with a festive atmosphere. Pistons fans weren’t overly worried about this game—out of the 45 games played so far, the Pistons had competed at home in 24 of them, maintaining the best record in the league with only three losses.

“Cameron, it’s our first meeting. Nice to meet you,” Zhou Yi said warmly as he approached the opposing player before the game started.

Smiling slightly, Cameron Anthony remained courteous, shaking Zhou Yi’s hand with a smile. Yet when he saw Zhou Yi’s smile, it didn’t sit well with him.

The Pistons’ starting lineup appeared on the big screen, along with highlights from their previous games.

Just like in the first two games: center Ben Wallace, power forward Greg Monroe, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi.

From the start, the Nuggets took control and launched a fierce attack on the Pistons. Cameron Anthony became the team’s main offensive force, executing several attacks in a row.

Amid the cheers of the home crowd, the Pistons stuck to their playing style, taking advantage of the Nuggets’ impatience. After patiently attacking, they took a 9:4 lead at the start of the game.

George Karl also recognized the problem—the team’s physical condition wasn’t an issue; it was their mindset. Their overly aggressive approach led to mistakes in offense, and their seemingly powerful penetration tactics fell into the Pistons’ defensive traps. Cameron Anthony’s exceptional individual skills meant that once trapped in double coverage, his forced shots only wasted opportunities. He understood his players’ eagerness to succeed, especially Cameron Anthony’s impulsive behavior.

Just a few months apart, the two teams were on completely different paths in the new season. The Pistons stood out as the league leaders, while the Nuggets lost their last season’s glory, with their fourth-place ranking in the West hanging by a thread. Zhou Yi had long become the league’s best point guard, yet fans’ doubts about Cameron Anthony persisted.

The atmosphere on the Pistons’ bench was very relaxed, but it didn’t affect John Kuester’s focus at all. He took this game very seriously. Although the Pistons had many nationally televised games this year, none were as important as this one. He was well aware that despite the Pistons’ strong record this season, they weren’t ranked highest in the league, and in the race for best coach of the season, he was only in third place.

After the timeout, the Nuggets finally stabilized and became more patient in their attacks. The Nuggets were a team strong in both offense and defense, and a too-fast pace of play wasn’t in their favor.

Kris Humphries quickly drove the ball across half-court. Over the past few seasons, Humphries seemed to have found a second act in his career. The losses in the Western Conference finals the year before last and in the first round of the playoffs last year at the hands of the Jazz had brought him unprecedented shame.

Ty Lawson’s rapid improvement had earned him favor within the team, especially this season. With Humphries’ performance being highly inconsistent, Lawson’s sudden rise posed a threat to Humphries’ starting position.

As Humphries calculated his position in the middle of the court, Zhou Yi suddenly moved forward. His tense body, like that of a cheetah, and his lightning-fast speed allowed him to appear on Humphries’ right side in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yi swiftly reached for the ball head-on. Humphries was also a skilled defender when it came to steals, so he was good at dealing with them. But this time, Zhou Yi took the initiative, catching Humphries off guard, and the ball ended up in the opponent’s hands.

With no one guarding him at the basket, Zhou Yi completed an impressive three-step layup.

11:4. George Karl’s expression tightened. Once the score gap widened to double digits, the game became much harder to win.

Watching the opponent’s score keep rising, Cameron Anthony’s tightly closed lips trembled slightly. As the team’s undisputed leader, it was time to prove his value. He took the initiative near the free-throw line, trying to turn the game around—scoring was the only effective solution.

The crisp sound of ball control echoed throughout the arena. Cameron Anthony pressed his left shoulder firmly against Andre Iguodala, pushing him step by step toward the basket. Last year’s playoffs saw his playing style criticized—the use of a power forward’s physique to play like a guard, with shooting that favored the outside, though his outside shooting wasn’t very accurate. Moreover, the Pistons’ outside defense wasn’t weak; the defensive duo of Zhou Yi and Andre Iguodala significantly hampered his offensive capabilities.

Bearing down hard, Andre Iguodala endured the intense pain in his chest. He never expected his body, which he had always been proud of, to hold no advantage against Cameron Anthony. As Anthony’s shoulder pressed against his chest again and again, he felt his feet gradually moving backward.

“Ah…” A explosive sound caught Andre Iguodala off guard. The fierce force made him instantly lose his footing; he quickly stepped back, seeing darkness before his eyes.

“Thud”—Cameron Anthony’s dunk was successful, causing George Karl to clench his fists tightly.

After landing, Cameron Anthony didn’t immediately defend; instead, he stared provocatively at Zhou Yi, his eyes filled with disdain, his head held high like a natural conqueror.

Just because Zhou Yi didn’t take it personally didn’t mean the other Pistons players didn’t care. Greg Monroe deliberately fell back and said to Zhou Yi, “Zhou, this is our home court. Teach them a lesson.”

The ball bounced skillfully in his hands, but Zhou Yi’s mind was restless. He was deeply upset by Cameron Anthony’s blatant provocation, but his usual philosophy made him focus more on winning the game. Unaffected by his opponent’s provocations, yet this was still the NBA, where fans favored players with personality and strength.

Heavy footsteps, each one seemingly stepping on the hearts of the fans in the Auburn Hills Palace, gathered rapidly with his fierce momentum. Within Zhou Yi’s somewhat slender frame, an invisible aura began to coalesce.

Feeling that awe-inspiring aura, Chauncey Billups quickly stepped forward to defend. He didn’t want to stay like this, nor dare he. He felt his confidence draining rapidly as Zhou Yi approached.

With a gentle turn, his movements remained as light as ever, yet it didn’t hinder his fierce momentum as he swiftly broke through the Nuggets’ first line of defense.

Zhou Yi didn’t take the opportunity to break through; he stayed right at the three-point line. The basketball in his hands, along with the determination in his calm eyes, made it impossible for anyone to doubt his intentions. Yet Cameron Anthony saw another meaning in his gaze—it was a response to him, a retaliation for his earlier provocation.

Faced with the challenge, Cameron Anthony showed no sign of backing down. He refused his teammates’ help and decided to have a one-on-one duel with Zhou Yi.

A clash of ace players, a confrontation between champions—the atmosphere in the entire arena instantly reached its peak. All the fans watching on TV widened their eyes, quietly awaiting this ultimate showdown.

Zhou Yi’s skilled ball-handling impressed Cameron Anthony greatly. He had always been confident in his own skills—possessing the physical strength of a power forward yet the delicate ball-handling of a guard. Yet he was still in awe of Zhou Yi’s skills; it was true mastery of blending the player with the ball.

With his center of gravity slightly lowered and eyes blazing with intensity, Cameron Anthony was more focused than ever. Perhaps it was fate that made them natural rivals—in his mind, Zhou Yi had already become the strongest opponent of his career.

Cameron Anthony’s defensive abilities were above average, but they had many flaws. His defensive footwork was poor, and he relied too much on risky tactics. He preferred to use his agility to steal the ball, which gave him solid steal statistics, though he mostly relied on his exceptional physical skills to compensate for these weaknesses.

Zhou Yi moved forward. Although Cameron Anthony was prepared, he was still caught off guard when it actually happened. There weren’t many players in the league whose first step was truly terrifying—Allen Iverson was one, Grant Hill before his injury was another, and McGrady at the peak of his career as well.

Just that first step made him feel powerless. Fortunately, thanks to his excellent physical condition and instinctive reactions, he quickly stepped back. His long reach allowed him to stop Zhou Yi’s breakthrough in time.

With the tip of his left foot touching the floor, Zhou Yi’s forward-leaning body quickly rebounded, his right hand pulling the ball back swiftly, allowing it to pass under his legs and into his left hand.

Before Cameron Anthony could adjust his center of gravity, Zhou Yi quickly stepped sideways with his right foot, gently using his right elbow to push against Cameron Anthony’s waist.

With a helpless groan in his heart, he hadn’t expected Zhou Yi to be so fast—the interval between two consecutive drives was unbelievably short. Using the Flower Butterfly Step, Allen Iverson’s famous move, Cameron Anthony had no choice but to react accordingly.
“Thud”—the sharp sound of the ball hitting the ground made Cameron Anthony close his eyes in pain. Two consecutive defensive moves had already exhausted all his strength; trying to change direction now would only result in embarrassment.
He lightly slipped past Cameron Anthony, who now saw no more players from the Nuggets in front of him. Outside the three-second zone, his entire body tensed like a coiled spring as he instantly leaped into the air.
All the fans watched intently as Zhou Yi brought his dunking skills to the fore. No one doubted his ability to dunk. If fans were to rank the top 20 best dunkers in the league today, Zhou Yi would definitely be among them. He had many impressive dunking moments in games, many of which made it onto the top 10 list.
With his eyes fixed on the nearby basket, he passed the ball from his back to his left hand, placing it in front of his chest. His right hand quickly rose, gently gripping the bottom of the ball as he drove it down with force.
“Boom”—the explosive sound of the dunk triggered waves of cheers. Zhou Yi covered his ears with his hands and slightly closed his eyes, fully enjoying the thunderous applause.
Cameron Anthony’s aggressive driving sent Tracy McGrady flying far away. He took big steps toward the basket, but Andre Iguodala appeared right in front of him, his dark face showing a serious expression.
“Cameron, your opponent is me!” On this Pistons team, Andre Iguodala was undoubtedly a player who excelled both offensively and defensively. Aside from him, only Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe could match that level of versatility.
Most of the time, the power of this “Golden Duo” was enough to handle anything, but his offensive skills could still make a difference in critical moments. Defensively, he was one of the key players—Greg Monroe focused on the paint, while Zhou Yi focused on the perimeter. Only his defense covered both areas.
“Thud”—a hasty shot naturally had little chance of hitting the basket. Cameron Anthony shook his head helplessly; there was nothing he could do about this shot. He had spent too much time battling earlier, leaving him with no time to choose wisely.

“Cameron Anthony needs to change. He’s having mental issues right now and is too eager for success, which has led him into the Pistons’ defensive trap. Against the current Pistons, if he doesn’t change, the Nuggets’ chances of winning this game are slim,” said Jeff Van Gundy, one of the on-site commentators.

Cameron Anthony’s excessive attempts to play alone wasted numerous scoring opportunities, while the Pistons gradually widened the score gap through steady play. With a score of 16:6, George Karl had no choice but to call a timeout—he needed time to strategize, and Cameron Anthony needed time to calm down.

Cameron Anthony sat on the bench with his head down, and by the time the head coach announced he would be taken off the court to rest, he had completely calmed down. The entry of Aaron Afflalo brought stability to the Nuggets’ outside shooting, and there was also a significant improvement in their overall offense, greatly enhancing their offensive effectiveness. With Andre Iguodala resting, the two teams reached a stalemate for a while.

Offense became the main theme of the game. Two of the league’s top offensive teams delivered exciting moments for the fans in just eight minutes. The Pistons’ “golden duo” had a stellar performance, each scoring 8 points—the highest in the game. After Cameron Anthony was taken off the court, the Nuggets’ offensive options became more balanced, as they repeatedly broke through the Pistons’ defense through passing.

John Kuester had no choice but to call a timeout—the Nuggets’ rapid improvement clearly exceeded his expectations. Aaron Afflalo, who had become more mature, and Chauncey Billups, who had adapted to his new position, showed remarkable energy. His selfless passing increased his assists to 8.4, placing him temporarily seventh on the assists list. Kenyon Martin’s return elevated the team’s defense to a much higher level.

Although the Pistons were not at a disadvantage on the court, under Chauncey Billups’ leadership, the other Nuggets players’ offense also improved, making it increasingly difficult for the Pistons to defend. The bright red numbers on the scoreboard now seemed painfully glaring to them.

In just eight minutes, the Pistons scored 22 points in a frenzy. John Kuester was naturally satisfied with such efficient scoring, but upon seeing the 19 points scored by the Nuggets right after, he frowned deeply. He had always strived to build a team that excelled both offensively and defensively, yet against the Nuggets, the Pistons’ defense seemed to fail suddenly—smooth passing, aggressive movement, and well-timed pick-and-rolls made the Nuggets appear completely transformed.

Before Cameron Anthony left the court, the Pistons led the Nuggets by 10 points, but after their key leader left, the gap gradually narrowed. Cameron Anthony was pleased to see his team close the gap, but then he thought that once he left, the team changed drastically—so what was the point of staying? This made him feel frustrated again.

Clutching his signature pen tightly, John Kuester appeared unusually calm. The impressive results this season had made him unwilling to settle for just making the playoffs; his goal was to win the championship this season. As the best-performing team in the league, every game of the Pistons attracted widespread attention. Fans were curious how long the Pistons could maintain their winning streak, while the team’s management was equally eager. Such a fantastic start had already surpassed the best opening record in the Pistons’ history, with each victory writing a new chapter in the team’s history.

Ben Gordon replaced Tracy McGrady, who had performed well both offensively and defensively. He made 4 out of 5 shots during his time on the court, scoring 8 points. Meanwhile, JR Smith, who was tasked with guarding McGrady, missed all 3 of his shots and only scored 2 points from free throws.

Kwame Brown appeared once again against him. In their previous encounters, neither could gain the upper hand over the other. Kwame Brown, who preferred to pass the ball, was arguably the hardest player to defend in the league. At such an age, he still maintained an excellent level of performance—sharp breakthroughs, lightning-fast speed, deceptive passing, and significantly improved defense even left Zhou Yi’s defense vulnerable.

Two of the best playmaking guards in the league were each using their own methods to help their teams break through the opponents’ defenses time and again.

Channing Frye’s skillful crossovers forced Zhou Yi to respond carefully. He indeed wasn’t old, and his speed and agility still ranked among the top ten among league point guards. Combined with his decades of professional experience, his breakthroughs and starts were highly unpredictable, allowing him to find openings in ways and directions that defenders never expected.

His lightning-fast breakthrough took Zhou Yi by surprise. He quickly stepped back with his left foot, blocking Frye’s advance with a precise maneuver. Yet Frye didn’t show any sign of movement; instead, he spun 180 degrees using the momentum from his stepped-back left foot, turning his back to Zhou Yi.

His agile movements showed no signs of a player in his thirties.

Frye didn’t linger near the ball. By the time he turned around, the ball had already reached Aaron Afflalo on the right side. This was his preferred passing style—using his strong individual presence to set up teammates for assists. His caution toward Zhou Yi was also the main reason he passed the ball so quickly.

Zhou Yi was well aware of many of Frye’s technical strengths.

“Clang”—Aaron Afflalo’s three-point attempt wasted Frye’s excellent pass.

Greg Monroe easily grabbed the rebound. Watching Zhou Yi quickly retreat to the front court, he passed the ball in the direction Zhou Yi was moving. Monroe’s passing skills were decent for a power forward, but such a difficult pass wasn’t his forte. Considering Zhou Yi’s retreating speed, the pass lacked strength, allowing Frye, who was right behind Zhou Yi, to easily intercept it. Without Zhou Yi’s defense, Frye broke through into the Pistons’ paint and, before Monroe could defend, threw the ball high for a perfect timing play.

“Swish”—the ball went through the net.

Smiling, he waved at Greg Monroe. He admitted that he also shared some responsibility for the mistake—his rapid penetration made him overlook Frye, who was right behind him, leading directly to the error.

This is also what makes these veteran players most admirable—their extraordinary talent, combined with years of experience, often carries an immense killing intent in every move they make. Older players tend to play with their brains, and this is the best way for many veterans to extend their professional careers.

Seeing the score gap narrowing, with the Nuggets now only one point behind the Pistons, John Kuester called a timeout.

Chapter 295: Crushing the Nuggets

“Swish”—a three-point shot taken from a backstep. Zhou Yi used his speed to deliver a strong counterattack against Cassius Billups. His amazing jumping ability, along with his unparalleled shooting speed, allowed him to pull off shots just like McGrady’s.

25:21—the Pistons led by 4 points.

The Pistons made substitutions: Zhou Yi was replaced by Will Bynum, and Greg Monroe was replaced by Taylor Hansbrough.

Cassius Billups made another brilliant pass, and this time Aaron Afflalo didn’t waste it. A steady mid-range shot helped the Nuggets score two points.

Will Bynum took advantage of his teammates’ screens to break into the Nuggets’ paint and scored a layup despite the defensive efforts of the Nuggets’ players.

The Nuggets failed to score on their next attack, and the Pistons secured the rebound.

Three seconds before the end of the first quarter, James Posey hit a long-range shot.

With the Nuggets’ Ty Lawson missing his shot, the first quarter came to an end.

The Pistons finished the first quarter leading 31:26, by 5 points.

Although the Pistons led by 5 points, the game was closely matched. Both teams delivered exciting plays with their smooth offensive plays, offering a fantastic performance for fans in the arena and those watching on TV.

Zhou Yi contributed 11 points and 5 assists, being the key factor in the Pistons’ lead. Meanwhile, Cassius Billups had 6 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. He seemed to be everywhere in the game, orchestrating the team’s attacks and stopping the opponents’ attempts time and again.

During the breaks, to boost the home atmosphere and celebrate the Pistons’ strong performance so far, the team organized many entertainment activities, allowing fans to fully experience the lively atmosphere at the Pistons’ home court even during the lulls in the game.