Chapter 147

After the start of the fourth quarter, the Nuggets’ three-point strategy suddenly failed. Only Cassius Billups managed to score one shot in the early stages of the quarter, while several other players’ subsequent attempts from beyond the arc seemed to miss the basket entirely—there were even two instances of failing to score at all. Lacking this potent scoring tool, the Nuggets didn’t panic and instead had several players dive to the basket. After JR Smith and Cameron Anthony scored in succession, the Nuggets took a 15-point lead, 101-86, with 8 minutes and 44 seconds left in the game.

After Zhou Yi left the court, the Pistons clearly struggled with offensive problems. Several bench players performed well defensively but were ineffective offensively, wasting scoring opportunities due to poor timing. If not for Greg Monroe’s two consecutive successful drives to the basket, the lead might have grown to over 20 points.

After the official timeout, George Karl was highly dissatisfied with the team’s offensive performance. Their offense had been poor during those few minutes, unable to break through from beyond the arc. Two successful interior attacks raised Greg Monroe’s alertness, making it harder for the Nuggets to score again.

Cassius Billups was frustrated but couldn’t express it. He had always thought Ben Gordon was average in both offense and defense, with ordinary speed, but unexpectedly, Gordon posed a significant threat to him with his constant tricks, which angered him greatly. Fortunately, he could still control his own rhythm. However, Kenyon Martin seemed unable to calm down. After a ball was touched out of bounds by Andre Iguodala, he angrily pushed Iguodala, resulting in a technical foul called by the referee.

Under the Pistons’ relentless defensive efforts, the Nuggets’ offense became more hasty. Billups’ passing remained sharp, but it didn’t help his teammates much. Several rushed attempts ended with the ball bouncing off the rim, while Greg Monroe did a great job controlling the rebounds.

While the Nuggets’ offense kept facing setbacks, the Pistons played more steadily. Ben Gordon maintained control of the game’s pace. If a fast break didn’t work, they switched to half-court play. If a pass wasn’t perfect, it didn’t matter—the ball would go back to the outside. As the ball kept moving, the Pistons carefully looked for scoring opportunities. This type of movement-based play was originally the Nuggets’ strength, but now with their offense in disarray, the Pistons played methodically.

When Cameron Anthony grabbed a backcourt rebound, George Karl promptly called a timeout. Over the next four minutes, the Nuggets managed only two shots, scoring seven points through both field goals and free throws. Although the Pistons didn’t score heavily, they still added nine points, bringing the score to 101-90. With Zhou Yi absent, the gap between the two teams narrowed further.

“Under the fierce defense of the Pistons, the Nuggets’ offense completely lost its rhythm during those four minutes. As the score narrowed, George Karl finally couldn’t hold back and called a timeout. Before Zhou Yi entered the game, he wanted to maintain a solid lead. The last encounter between the two teams was still fresh in his mind, so he naturally couldn’t afford to be careless. To be honest, given Zhou Yi’s current physical condition, George Karl’s concerns might be excessive. But right now, the Pistons are focused solely on having Zhou Yi on the court. Judging from both teams’ performances so far, the deadlock on the court will soon be broken. The Pistons’ current players can hold out for at least three more minutes. Once Zhou Yi enters, although he may not significantly improve the team’s defense, he’s the only one who can intimidate the Nuggets,” Yu Jia’s commentary was incisive, accurately reflecting the situation of both teams.

In the eyes of his players, George Karl is usually quite gentle, so such a loud reprimand was rare in previous games. Yet it’s not surprising he lost his composure—this year’s Nuggets team has been performing extremely poorly, something George Karl simply can’t accept.

Regarding their recent performance, John Kuester wasn’t overly optimistic. With a large lead, the Nuggets’ players’ mindset gradually changed, giving the Pistons an opportunity. Karl’s timeout was timely. Even with an 11-point advantage, as long as they managed things well, the Nuggets still had the upper hand against the Pistons.

Although we couldn’t see Zhou Yi’s expression, his chest heaving gradually subsided, indicating that he had calmed down. But having him on the court now isn’t a wise move.

The team’s defense isn’t a problem, but their offensive tactics are quite monotonous. Six of the nine points they scored recently came from Greg Monroe’s strong play inside. The best defense is offense. Other than Greg Monroe, the Pistons urgently need a second scoring option on the court.

However, the situation on the court changed rapidly. The favorable conditions John Kuester had hoped for did not materialize, and the Nuggets’ offense seemed to regain its rhythm after a short timeout. Chauncey Billups forced his way through defenses for a layup, followed by a free throw from Carmelo Anthony, giving the Nuggets a 14-point lead.

The fans in the stands could no longer sit still; they stood up, raising their fists to celebrate the Nuggets’ victory.

But the Nuggets’ joy didn’t last long. With a turnaround jump shot from Greg Monroe, John Kuester called a timeout. At that moment, everyone’s attention turned to the Pistons’ bench—Zhou Yi, who had been sitting quietly on the bench earlier, was now stretching by the side of the court.