Chapter 144

A long time had passed in the fourth quarter, with only 3 minutes left until the end of the game. Key players like Zhou Yi were taken off the court after playing for 4 minutes at the start of the fourth quarter to rest for a while. Four minutes later, they returned to the court determined to win the game outright.

At this point, the Pistons still led by 13 points, but that didn’t mean they had already won—the opponent could launch a fierce comeback at any moment, and a single mistake could lead to a stunning reversal.

Watching Zhou Yi already carrying the ball past the midcourt, John Wall didn’t wait for Gilbert Arenas, who was closest to him, but instead accelerated straight toward Zhou Yi, keeping a close eye on him. From this day on, John Wall regarded Zhou Yi as his rival for the rest of his career.

John Wall carefully monitored Zhou Yi, staying tightly close to him. He had an advantage in height and reach over Zhou Yi, as well as in speed. However, Zhou Yi excelled in agility and basketball intelligence.

John Wall’s defense was now very tight, and Zhou Yi, seeing his defense, had to be extremely cautious, not daring to shoot recklessly, as the risk of being blocked was high. Especially John Wall’s gaze, which resembled that of a predator, made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

Zhou Yi looked at John Wall ahead and suddenly accelerated, breaking toward John Wall’s right side. In terms of the speed of his first step, Zhou Yi was confident he could be faster than John Wall. After all, John Wall was a defender, and he would already be half a step slower during an opponent’s attack—his first step couldn’t possibly be faster than Zhou Yi’s. He could only try to block Zhou Yi, slow him down, and then control the pace by matching his steps.

However, John Wall still lacked experience—he was still a rookie. Although he had played many regular games in the NCAA, this was the NBA, not the NCAA. So he couldn’t fully predict Zhou Yi’s moves. Moreover, Zhou Yi’s attacks were very unpredictable, at least in John Wall’s eyes. Thus, he could only rely on brute-force tactics, using a fixed defense strategy to counter Zhou Yi’s breakthroughs. Such defense really frustrated John Wall; he had never felt this trapped before.

But at this moment, Zhou Yi didn’t really need to rush. Since they were ahead, there was no need to worry about running out of time. Zhou Yi flicked the ball straight into the paint. After catching Zhou Yi’s pass, Greg Monroe made a gorgeous spin, shaking off Trevor Booker who was behind him, and scored, gaining 2 points while also forcing a foul on Trevor Booker.

Watching Greg Monroe successfully make the free throw and widen the score gap to 16 points, John Wall took the pass from Yi Jianlian at the baseline with a gloomy expression and quickly moved toward the Pistons’ half-court.

By the time John Wall reached the front court, Zhou Yi was already ready.

“This shot must go in—only then can we boost the team’s morale. Otherwise, we’re doomed to lose this game!” John Wall thought to himself.

John Wall pushed his speed to the limit and finally pulled away from Zhou Yi, who was struggling to keep up due to fatigue. But he didn’t rush to shoot; he wanted to be sure. After successfully drawing two defenders to cover him, John Wall was delighted and passed the ball to Gilbert Arenas, who was waiting in an open spot just outside the three-point line in the corner. After catching the ball, Arenas made a slight adjustment before shooting a high arc three-pointer.

“It has to go in!” John Wall prayed, staring at the ball spinning in the air.

The Wizards’ players and fans shared the same mindset—except for the Pistons’ players and supporters. The entire arena fell silent as everyone watched to see if the shot would succeed, as it was too important.

“Swish!” The ball went in!

The Wizards’ players and fans erupted in excitement, while the Pistons felt some regret for failing to block the shot. But they weren’t too worried—after all, they still led by 13 points, and with less than 3 minutes left in the game, the Pistons still had a good chance of winning.

The Wizards’ three-pointer added more suspense to the game, and tension rose among most people in the arena.

Zhou Yi dribbled the ball, keeping an eye on John Wall ahead of him while also monitoring the positions of his own teammates. He quickly moved toward the front court. When Zhou Yi approached the three-point line in the Wizards’ half-court, John Wall suddenly closed in. After this period of competition, John Wall would no longer underestimate Zhou Yi, so he gave it his all when facing him.

He feinted twice, but John Wall was extremely cautious; Zhou Yi had no chance of getting rid of him in a short time, and he began to feel anxious. Using his right hand to control the ball, he turned slightly and pushed backward with his hips, hoping to create a gap so he could pass through smoothly. But at that moment, the referee’s whistle blew: Zhou Yi had committed a charging foul. Zhou Yi looked at the referee beside him and John Wall lying on the ground in surprise, feeling at a loss. The referee took the ball from Zhou Yi’s hands, and he could only blink helplessly and walk back. Meanwhile, Zhou Yi watched the big screen in the arena. He wasn’t sure what had just happened; all he saw was a replay of his charging move—his hip push sent John Wall falling, sliding several meters across the ground. He was puzzled because he hadn’t used much force. John Wall smiled, took his teammate’s hand, and jumped up, showing he was fine. Seeing John Wall’s reaction, Zhou Yi knew he had fallen for his trick—just a slight turn from him had sent John Wall flying that far. It was clear John Wall was playing smarter and with better acting skills. “It’s all because of you,” John Wall sneered. The Wizards were overjoyed to see John Wall force a charging foul on Zhou Yi, sensing an opportunity. Although only 2 minutes and 32 seconds remained and they were 13 points behind, it didn’t mean they would lose—their chances of closing the gap were still there. The recent three-pointer and John Wall’s foul had boosted their morale and given them hope of winning. Zhou Yi stayed close to John Wall, following him back to their half-court, fully aware of the importance of this ball. Seeing Zhou Yi ready to attack, John Wall wasn’t in a hurry; he already knew Zhou Yi’s capabilities. Though he was surprised—Zhou Yi had performed much worse in their last encounter—his own performance back then had been much better than Zhou Yi’s. But now, Zhou Yi not only had improved defense but also a more aggressive offense.

John Wall stared at Zhou Yi in front of him, constantly trying to break through, but Zhou Yi managed to block his way firmly. Unlike other players who liked to take risks and steal the ball, Zhou Yi preferred a steady offensive and defensive approach, just like now.
“Only 10 seconds left—focus on attacking!” Philip Sanders, watching from the sidelines, shouted loudly with a grim expression at John Wall on the court.
It was only after hearing Philip Sanders’ shout that John Wall snapped out of his daze. The ball had been in his hands for 14 seconds already; if he didn’t attack soon, he would have to pass it immediately.
But at the moment John Wall hesitated, Zhou Yi saw his chance. With a fierce swipe of his right hand, Zhou Yi knocked the ball away. Although his strength wasn’t as great as John Wall’s, he had the advantage of speed and precision. The ball was instantly knocked away, and Zhou Yi seized the opportunity to grab it and run toward the opposing half-court.
“Foul!” John Wall called out irritably at the referee beside him, but the referee didn’t blow the whistle.
At that moment, Zhou Yi knew the team’s victory was in his hands. If he could score, and do so in a bold manner, their chances of winning would increase greatly, as the Wizards’ morale would surely be dampened.
Zhou Yi rushed quickly toward the half-court, with Tracy McGrady and Andre Iguodala following closely behind. It was another fast break—last time, it had benefited McGrady, with that alley-oop being a stunning goal that earned him countless praises from fans.
Suddenly, Zhou Yi spotted an opening. After moving forward, he passed the ball straight ahead to his right. John Wall, who had already returned to defend, tried to jump up immediately to stop the ball’s progress. But he didn’t even touch it; it flew straight past him.
By then, Andre Iguodala, who had rushed into the open space, easily caught the ball passed by Zhou Yi. In front of him was only Yi Jianlian, who had just returned to defend. Such rapid movement had left Yi Jianlian a bit out of breath.
Andre Iguodala paid no attention to Yi Jianlian. After dribbling the ball once, he broke through right behind Yi Jianlian.

Yi Jianlian’s speed is clearly not on the same level as Andre Iguodala’s, but it’s obvious that he’s trying to block Iguodala’s shot. With Yi Jianlian guarding him, Iguodala’s chances of dunking are slim; if nothing goes wrong, he’ll likely take a hook shot or go for a straight layup, which would give Yi Jianlian a much better chance to block it.

Although Andre Iguodala isn’t afraid of anything, being blocked is still a humiliating experience, so he had to give up the idea of attacking the basket directly and opt for a more difficult crossover layup instead.

Without any defenders, a crossover layup is a good move, but with defenders present, it’s not a smart choice. Just as Iguodala was about to attempt the crossover layup, Zhou Yi, who was running behind him, suddenly noticed something was wrong with Xavier McKey, who was rushing toward Iguodala.

In mid-air, Iguodala managed to dodge Yi Jianlian’s outstretched hand with difficulty, but he wasn’t aware of the principle that “while the mantis hunts the cicada, the oriole is waiting in the bushes.”

With a sharp crack, Xavier McKey slammed Iguodala’s layup hard into the backboard, causing it to bounce back.

Zhou Yi was the closest to the ball at that moment. After seeing McKey’s move, he predicted that Iguodala would be blocked, so he prepared in advance to grab the rebound. He focused on the ball in front of him, snatched it up, then looked around—there was open space all around, the perfect opportunity for a second chance.

Now holding the ball, Zhou Yi stared at the basket. Time didn’t allow him to think further. If he scored, the outcome of the game would be largely decided. If he missed, he didn’t bother to consider alternatives, as he had no time to think.

Zhou Yi took a deep breath and jumped high. John Wall, who was the closest to him, tried to defend him but was too far away to reach in time. By the time he arrived, Zhou Yi had already jumped.

With a gentle flick of his right hand, the ball was shot. The smooth feel told Zhou Yi that the chances of this shot hitting the target were very high. When he saw the ball’s trajectory in the air, he knew it would succeed! The ball slowly glided through the air before finally hitting the basket with a reluctant thud. Just as everyone thought it would fall out, the ball stayed stuck in the basket—Zhou Yi had used very little force and not much spin, which naturally led to this result. Yi Jianlian and the others below the basket had already started competing for a favorable position, but they were doomed to waste their effort. It seemed as though the basketball was teasing them; after spinning half a circle around the rim, it steadily dropped inside, accompanied by a clear swish sound.

Zhou Yi also raised his right hand high—this shot had gone in! This shot had gone in!

“Zhou, Zhou, Zhou, Zhou…” Most of the fans in the arena stood up, cheering for their hero, Zhou Yi! As Zhou Yi walked back to his own half of the court with his right hand raised high, those on the bench also jumped up, especially Bynum, who kept waving his towel. Although it wasn’t him who scored this shot and although he wasn’t the hero on the court, he was still extremely happy and excited. They knew how important this shot was—truly very important. And since Zhou Yi had completed this attack, it meant the Pistons were on the verge of victory!

“Time out!” Philip Sanders had to call a time out as the score gap widened to 15 points again, so he could rearrange the tactics and use this pause to gradually wear down the Pistons’ momentum.

“Hehe, Zhou Yi is really amazing today—already with 19 points and 8 assists. His shooting percentage is also good, 7 out of 13 attempts, over 50%. And these were all crucial shots, like that one just now. That’s quite an impressive performance for a guard. There’s about 2 minutes left in the game, and the Pistons still lead by 15 points. The Wizards’ chances of turning the game around are slim! As for Yi Jianlian, his performance today can only be described as average, even a bit disappointing—only 7 points and 5 rebounds. Today’s China Derby wasn’t very satisfying! Hehe, John Wall did stand out today, but Zhou Yi’s outstanding performance is also a highlight.” Inside the TV studio, Teacher Sun discussed these points while looking at the data he had recorded.

“Hehe, how much chance do the Wizards have of winning on the road? Teacher Sun, do you think they’ll just give up or come up with a strategy to keep fighting?” Teacher Yu asked with a smile, looking at Teacher Sun. The Wizards still had a chance, though it was slim—not zero at all.
“They won’t give up. In fact, they might rely on three-point shots. I think they’ll keep one big player on the court and send all their shooters out. If they’re in good form, the Wizards do have a chance to win. So I believe they’ll focus on three-pointers in the next two minutes,” Teacher Sun said, smiling at the camera while looking at the analysis sheet he had in his hands.
Then, Teacher Yu began explaining how to participate in the game interactions and win prizes.
The camera returned to the Auburn Hills Palace, where the Wizards players were listening intently to Philip Sanders’ plans.
“They’re likely to go for three-pointers! So everyone must be careful against them,” John Kuester said quietly, glancing in the direction of the Wizards.
The timeout was short, and once it ended, both teams returned to the court.
Neither Teacher Sun nor Pistons head coach John Kuester was wrong—the Wizards indeed focused on three-pointers. Looking at their current lineup: John Wall, Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, Kirk Hinrich, and Xavier McKey.
John Wall handled the ball and passed it to Gilbert Arenas after crossing half-court. That was Philip Sanders’ plan, as veterans had more experience in such situations.
Gilbert Arenas carefully controlled the ball, keeping an eye on the game situation. The Wizards’ shooters kept moving or setting screens to create opportunities for their teammates.
Suddenly, Gilbert Arenas spotted an opportunity and passed the ball without hesitation to Kirk Hinrich on the left wing. Maddie, who was defending Kirk Hinrich, was occupied by Nick Young, leaving him completely open.
“Oh no,” Zhou Yi exclaimed, rushing toward Kirk Hinrich.
But it was too late. By the time he reached Kirk Hinrich, the shot had already been taken. Kirk Hinrich was confident it would go in, as his shooting form was excellent.
Everyone watched the shot intently, holding their breath—the silence in the arena was terrifying.

The basketball fell toward the basket, and the Wizards were instantly excited. But the next moment, their faces showed surprise and disappointment. The ball did go through the hoop, but it bounced back and forth inside before popping out. Darben grabbed the defensive rebound and passed the ball to Zhou Yi. The Wizards players stood frozen, still in shock. Zhou Yi was also initially surprised, but Darben reminded him, so he quickly recovered and rushed forward with the ball. With a “thud,” Zhou Yi stunned everyone again with a dunk. The home crowd immediately gave him their enthusiastic support. “It seems the Wizards really lost,” Kenny Smith said sincerely. “Hehe, yes, the Wizards lost because their confidence has been shattered—shattered by Zhou,” Charles Barkley said, laughing as he watched Zhou Yi pound his chest after scoring the dunk. … “Ladies and gentlemen, this match is now over. The Detroit Pistons have defeated the Washington Wizards 112:98 at home,” Teacher Yu explained with a smile. “Yes, in this Chinese derby, whether it’s individuals or teams, the ultimate winner is Zhou Yi!” Teacher Sun said with a laugh. “Hehe, indeed. It’s time to select the lucky audience members for the fourth quarter. Teacher Sun will do that now,” Teacher Yu said. Teacher Sun nodded smilingly, glanced at the phone numbers scrolling on the big screen, then said, “Stop.” “Hehe, the lucky winners are the friend from Jiangsu with the phone number ending in 1341… The lucky audience members will receive Kobe’s basketball shoes and a magazine from Channel 5. Thank you all for watching this match, and thanks to Teacher Sun for his commentary. See you at the next game!” Teacher Yu and Teacher Sun waved goodbye to the audience with smiles, followed by highlights of the match on TV, with Zhou Yi appearing most often in those clips. At the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, across the ocean, the Pistons players and fans were celebrating their victory. “Zhou Yi, congratulations!” Yi Jianlian walked up to Zhou Yi, extended his right hand, and smiled. Zhou Yi smiled back, also extending his right hand to shake Yi Jianlian’s, saying, “Thank you!” “If we get the chance, we should meet up properly. Let’s bring Yao Ming along too!” Yi Jianlian suggested with a smile.

“Sure, that’s exactly what I had in mind!” Zhou Yi nodded in response.
“Well, then I’ll be going. If there’s anything, call me. Goodbye!” Yi Jianlian said with a smile.
“Goodbye!” Zhou Yi nodded.
When they first faced each other, the two exchanged contact information, so Zhou Yi and Yi Jianlian would occasionally stay in touch from time to time.
Everyone on the Wizards’ team left the court and returned to their locker room, while the Pistons remained on the court, celebrating their victory.
Since it was a nationwide broadcast, there were naturally many reporters for interviews. So after the game, the Wizards’ head coach, Philip Sanders, and the Pistons’ head coach, John Kuester, both gave interviews to the reporters. Now, Zhou Yi and his teammates were also being interviewed by reporters.
Only after the interviews did they return to the locker room.
Chapter 347: Visiting AT&T Center
On March 8th, the day before the game against the San Antonio Spurs, bad news reached the Pistons’ management.
Greg Monroe injured his ankle during that day’s practice, and it was a serious injury.
The news of Greg Monroe’s injury quickly made headlines across the United States. As the Pistons were winning games one after another, countless fans were paying close attention to every move they made. Greg Monroe’s injury was undoubtedly the biggest challenge for the Pistons at the moment.
This season, although Greg Monroe wasn’t the team’s leader, his outstanding stats—15.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game—had been a huge help to the Pistons. His presence ensured the Pistons’ interior was virtually unassailable, and he could compete evenly with top frontcourts like Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, and Tim Duncan. His role on the team was irreplaceable; as a formidable interior player, he was the strongest guarantee for the Pistons’ interior defense.
Soon, the hospital’s examination results came in—Greg Monroe’s injury wasn’t that serious. However, he wouldn’t be able to play for a week. In the following week, the Pistons had three games, all away games, with two of them back-to-back. Moreover, all three opponents were strong: the San Antonio Spurs, the Oklahoma Thunder, and the Denver Nuggets.
Greg Monroe’s injury clearly weakened the confidence of Detroit’s fans.

Dark clouds hang over entire Detroit, and many experts are offering strategies for the Pistons’ next three games, but they are not optimistic that the Pistons will come out unscathed, especially in the away game against the Spurs. The Pistons have already faced the Spurs this season once, winning despite a narrow margin. In that game, Greg Monroe performed exceptionally well, but his injury has left a huge gap—who can fill it? San Antonio’s media, however, is confident about the upcoming games, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, concluding that the Spurs have an edge, particularly in the paint. The Pistons’ players are focusing all their energy on training, and Greg Monroe’s injury has not dampened the team’s morale. On the contrary, the team’s morale is higher than ever at this critical moment. The Pistons are one of the most united teams in the league, thanks to their strong cohesion and stable roster. Their starting lineup is among the most consistent in the league, making it difficult for backups to stand out. Currently, the Pistons have several promising young players among their backups, especially this year’s Taylor Hansbrough. Greg Monroe’s absence gives them hope to shine. John Kuester appears determined on the surface, but he is also anxious. Greg Monroe has always been one of his key players, and all his tactics are based on Monroe and Zhou Yi. The Spurs have had a tough season this year, with the Lakers dominating them for the second year in a row, placing them second in the West. The Mavericks and Thunder are close behind, with only a two-and-a-half-game lead. If the Spurs are not careful, they might drop to fourth place. On March 10th, Beijing time, the Pistons will travel to face the Spurs. The Spurs are a slow-to-heat team, with modest regular-season records in recent years, but they have always been among the favorites for the championship and are considered the Pistons’ biggest rivals. With Greg Monroe out, the Spurs’ chances of winning have increased significantly, making it hard to predict the outcome between the two teams.

The Pistons ultimately had Taylor Hansbrough fill in for Greg Monroe. Hansbrough is an offensive powerhouse but a defensive weaklink, with defense that ranks only average to mid-tier in the league. He can handle average big men without much trouble, but against star big men, he’s easily outmatched. Unfortunately for the Pistons, or perhaps just bad luck for Hansbrough, his first start came against such a strong opponent as “The Rock” Tim Duncan—the best power forward currently playing and one of the top three in history. With exceptional physical strength and agility, Duncan’s ability to withstand pressure, combined with his calm demeanor that exerts invisible pressure on opponents, gave him a significant advantage. The Pistons were able to defeat the Spurs this season precisely because Greg Monroe contained Duncan at the rim, removing their key player. John Kuester has long struggled to find a suitable power forward; Hansbrough is nowhere near capable of matching Duncan, and the other players who can play that position are clearly not up to the task either. In the eyes of many experts, one of the biggest factors behind the Pistons’ strong performance this season has been Zhou Yi—his precise passing, outstanding defense, and reliable shooting are what everyone remembers about him. The Spurs’ starting lineup consists of center DeJuan Blair, power forward Tim Duncan, small forward Richard Jefferson, shooting guard Manu Ginóbili, and point guard Tony Parker. The Pistons’ starting lineup is center Ben Wallace, power forward Taylor Hansbrough, small forward Andre Iguodala, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, and point guard Zhou Yi. While John Kuester planned the tactics, Greg Monroe also stepped back slightly and placed his hands on several teammates’ shoulders, letting them know he was there with them, fighting alongside them.

The militarily managed Spurs remain one of the most disciplined teams in competition. No matter how highly the media praise them now, once the game starts, they stay calm, showing no signs of slacking due to Greg Monroe’s absence. The players prepare seriously, while Popovich’s stern gaze keeps scanning the Pistons’ players.

The game began on time. The aging Ben Wallace, clearly outmatched by the stronger DeJuan Blair, had the ball easily swatted over his head by his opponent, who then passed it to Tony Parker near the midcourt. With a sharp “swish,” without any hesitation, Tony Parker moved swiftly like flowing water—Spurs’ entire offensive system immediately entered combat mode. Their two backcourt shooters quickly penetrated into the Pistons’ half, executing a well-organized attack.

Watching Zhou Yi near the free-throw line, Tony Parker grew anxious. Yet his movements remained steady; his left hand gently moved, and the ball skillfully found its way to Manu Ginóbili on the other side.

In an instant, Manu Ginóbili seemed to blur forward—just one step and he easily overtook McGrady. All that stood in his way now was Ben Wallace, who was tightly guarding the basket.

Ben Wallace grew nervous as he watched Manu Ginóbili cross the free-throw line, his steady steps becoming unpredictable.

Chinese fans watching on TV exclaimed in unison. Manu Ginóbili’s signature move—those seemingly unsteady steps—always managed to send the ball into the basket in incredible ways.

With a light dunk, the ball went in, and Ben Wallace didn’t even make a defensive move.

John Kuester sighed helplessly. Ben Wallace was indeed getting old; he was barely good enough as a bench player, let alone starting.

Especially against a standout center like Tim Duncan, his slow movements became a fatal weakness. He was easily trapped by Tim Duncan, watching helplessly as his opponent rushed to the basket.

Watching Tony Parker’s serious expression, Zhou Yi smirked slightly and dashed out like lightning, appearing instantly to Tony Parker’s left.

Repeated encounters had prepared Tony Parker well, allowing him to stay highly focused and move in sync with Zhou Yi’s body. He stepped out with his left foot diagonally, blocking Zhou Yi’s path to breakthrough. Ignoring Tony Parker’s presence, Zhou Yi suddenly twisted his body, completing a turn mid-air, shifting his center of gravity to the other side before quickly pulling his left foot back. With the tip of his right foot touching the ground, and under Tony Parker’s astonished gaze, Zhou Yi leaped into the air and flew backward at an angle. With a gentle wrist flick, the ball shot out of Zhou Yi’s hands, tracing a beautiful arc through the air before returning to its intended spot. Cheers erupted instantly at the AT&T Center—this was undoubtedly a stunning shot. What further excited the fans was Zhou Yi’s confidence while shooting, ignoring his opponent and delivering confident shots that inspired all the fans. It seemed, in that moment, everyone could feel his confidence. Although it was the Spurs’ home court, Pistons fans could be seen everywhere, and many Spurs fans were also cheering Zhou Yi’s name, showing that McGrady attracted fans across the entire league. With a soft “swish,” Tim Duncan executed his signature move—after catching the ball, he simply drove straight through Taylor Hansbrough without even needing any feints. Zhou Yi didn’t linger too long with Tony Parker; he quickly passed the ball to Andre Iguodala and set up a pick-and-roll with his teammates before racing toward the right baseline. Andre Iguodala suddenly stepped forward with his left foot, using a convincing feint to deceive his opponent, then threw up a high shot as the ball flew over Richard Jefferson’s head. After catching the ball at the baseline, Zhou Yi launched a backspin jump shot that scored. As the basketball bounced joyfully between his fingers, Zhou Yi’s gaze remained fixed on Tim Duncan—this time, he was the most dangerous player for the Spurs. The Pistons’ two big men did have extensive experience, but that alone wasn’t enough against Tim Duncan. Just a slight double-team on him, and he quickly passed the ball away. Tim Duncan wasn’t the best playmaker among power forwards, but years of experience allowed him to keenly observe everything on the court. His simple passes often proved highly effective. In just four minutes, he contributed four points, two rebounds, and two assists—seemingly having the Spurs’ offense revolving around him.

“We can’t let him continue to perform like this,” Zhou Yi resolved in his heart. Yet he himself was in a difficult situation as Popovich clearly focused his defense on him. From the start of the game, Richard Jefferson stayed close to him, along with two quick shooters who could rush in to help defend at any moment, restricting Zhou Yi’s space. Two attempts at forced breakthroughs also failed halfway through. Fortunately, McGrady was in good form, hitting both of his shots, which helped the team hold onto a narrow lead. But everyone knew the situation on the court was heavily tilted in favor of the Spurs—their offense flowed smoothly, combining inside and outside plays effectively. The score kept rising, while the Pistons’ every offensive attempt seemed extremely difficult. John Kuester reluctantly called a timeout, feeling he bore significant responsibility for the situation. The main issue for the Pistons was their interior play; they were slow in defense, always half a beat behind their opponents, and their offense was weak, failing to pose a real threat to the Spurs, allowing them to more easily double-team the outside players. “The current situation is, as expected, the Spurs are using their interior strength to hold back the Pistons’ overall performance. The Pistons are now in a difficult dilemma,” said the on-court commentator, also sounding helpless. Seeing the remorseful expression on veteran Ben Wallace’s face, John Kuester helplessly patted his shoulder. It wasn’t entirely his fault—after all, the huge gap in strength between the two had already doomed them to this situation. Moreover, Ben Wallace had already tried his best in the game, though with little success. After some deliberation, the Pistons opted for an unconventional lineup, replacing Ben Wallace with Samuel Dalembert. Popovich’s gaze at John Kuester was one of surprise; he never expected John Kuester, who he had always thought was more of a showman, to have the courage to completely abandon the interior battle. But this only made things better for the Spurs. Didn’t he understand that? Chapter 348: Cutting Down the Spurs Tony Parker dribbled under his body, changed direction, and accelerated. The ball shot out like lightning from McGrady’s waist, by which time Tim Duncan was already standing outside the three-point area.

“Swish!” A dark-colored palm appeared out of nowhere, blocking the path between the ball and Tim Duncan. With Tony Parker’s astonished expression, Samuel Dalembert passed the ball long, which quickly flew to the front court where McGrady easily caught it, rushed to the basket, and leaped high to dunk the ball with one hand.
“It was an accident; don’t worry about it,” Tim Duncan comforted the disappointed Tony Parker.
Indeed, that pass, in terms of timing and method, was undoubtedly the best choice. In Tim Duncan’s view, Samuel Dalembert’s steal was probably just an accident as well.
Tim Duncan, known for his composure, now showed signs of anxiety—an expression usually reserved for when he stepped to the free-throw line. Studying psychology in college greatly helped his career, allowing him to remain calm in any situation on the court.
One exception was stepping to the free-throw line. As is well known, Tim Duncan’s performance from the line wasn’t very good. Though not as poor as Shaquille O’Neal or Dirk Nowitzki, it wasn’t much better either. Especially during the Finals against the Pistons, at critical moments when he stepped to the line, his expression resembled that of someone going to the gallows. It was his poor free-throw performance that made it so difficult for the Spurs to win the championship.
Perhaps it was from that experience that free throws became Tim Duncan’s biggest pain point. But showing such anxiety in a game clearly indicated his frustration. Tim Duncan’s offensive and defensive range was limited, as he tended to focus on the interior. Although he was the best power forward in the league, his position wasn’t easily defined. Most of the time, he played as a center—about 60% of the time.
But now he couldn’t play in his strongest position. Behind him, Andre Iguodala stuck tightly to him like glue, preventing him from getting close to the basket no matter how hard he tried to get free. Although Iguodala was shorter and less physically imposing, his fierce explosive power still trapped Tim Duncan.

The Earth in Tony Parker’s hands was pulsing cheerfully, yet his expression remained cold. Tim Duncan was frozen—he was the most direct victim. Years of teamwork had forged a deep understanding between him and Tim Duncan, allowing Tony Parker to score many points inside easily through Tim Duncan’s screen passes.

With lightning-fast movement, Tony Parker managed to break through immediately. He felt an overwhelming excitement, as if he wanted to roar. In their recent encounters, this was the first time he had broken through Zhou Yi’s defense so easily. Just a convincing fake move had easily disrupted Zhou Yi’s balance. Yet he didn’t become complacent. Although Zhou Yi had been easily bypassed, his defense still gave McGrady time to come to help.

Without hesitation, Tony Parker raised his right hand. Manu Ginóbili on the left wing was already in his line of sight. But at the moment of passing, another figure suddenly came into view—Andrea Iguodala was right behind Manu Ginóbili. From his current position, if he passed the ball, it was likely to be intercepted. The successful pass earlier had been ruined, leaving him somewhat cautious now.

The situation on the court changed in an instant. Opportunities came and went in the blink of an eye. Hesitation only meant letting those opportunities slip away quietly. Tony Parker reluctantly brought the ball back to his waist, looking for other teammates.

The reason he didn’t continue to break through earlier wasn’t due to McGrady’s defense, but rather Zhou Yi behind him. He was well aware of Zhou Yi’s excellent reaction skills. He knew that if McGrady slowed him down even slightly, he would immediately be trapped in a double-team situation.

For an experienced player like Tony Parker, protecting the ball had become an instinctive action. He retracted his right arm slightly while keeping his left arm ready, thwarting McGrady’s attempt to steal the ball. But Tony Parker seemed too focused on his opponent ahead, ignoring the threat behind him. When the ball reached his waist, Zhou Yi’s right hand struck the back of the ball like a venomous snake, hitting exactly where Tony Parker’s strength was weakest.

The tremendous force caused the ball to instantly escape Tony Parker’s control, even pushing him forward half a step as well; the ball landed firmly in McGrady’s hands.
Zhou Yi, having succeeded on his first attempt, immediately rushed back to his own half of the court. Having spent most of the season together, he was confident that McGrady would understand his intentions. Their long-term relationship as both mentor and friend had also fostered a deep understanding between them.
The ball was thrown smoothly from McGrady’s hands. Its speed wasn’t fast, but it had great height. McGrady didn’t possess Zhou Yi’s precise passing skills, especially when considering the speed at which his teammates would retreat, so the quality of the pass wasn’t high. Yet he was confident the ball would land safely in Zhou Yi’s hands.
As the basketball flew through the air, creating a beautiful rainbow, two players were racing beneath it—no, not just racing, but moving at lightning speed. The two players with the league’s fastest speeds engaged in a high-stakes race on the court.
The fans at AT&T Center could hardly believe what they were seeing. It was as if they were on a 50-meter track, except without the dust rising behind them. A basketball thrown just a slight delay later was overtaken by the two players running on the court.
By the time Zhou Yi reached under the basket, the ball had just passed the free-throw line. Tony Parker was just half a meter behind him. John Kuester sighed helplessly. It seemed that an advantage in speed could sometimes be a disadvantage—like for Zhou Yi, who might be able to catch the ball more easily if overtaken by his opponent.
Tony Parker’s expression remained serious, but the faint lines around his eyes revealed his inner excitement. Regaining control of the ball gave him a sense of satisfaction.
Yet he was very cautious now, spreading his arms wide to keep Zhou Yi behind him while silently calculating the time it would take for the ball to fly.
“Whoosh!” In an instant, Tony Parker pushed off hard with his right foot and rushed forward swiftly. He had already planned everything, taking advantage of everyone’s focus on the ball to execute a brilliant fast break.
“Thud!” There was a dull sound as his hands made excessive force contact with the ball, causing a tingling sensation, but it paled in comparison to the solid feeling he got when catching the ball.

“Not good!” Tony Parker’s heart sank instantly. Just as his feet were about to touch the floor, the corner of his eye caught a shadow, prompting him instinctively to protect the ball. But it was already too late—a pale hand was waiting below to snatch the ball from his grasp. With a slight movement, the basketball quickly slipped from Tony Parker’s control as he watched helplessly as it flew over his head. Under the astonished gazes of the fans at AT&T Center, Zhou Yi leaped backward at an angle toward the basket. It seemed as if a third eye had appeared at the back of his head as he firmly caught the flying basketball and dunked it into the hoop. It wasn’t a particularly outstanding dunk—there was nothing remarkable about it from any perspective. After all, Zhou Yi had leaped backward almost in place, and such an awkward movement made it difficult enough to complete a dunk, so perfection wasn’t to be expected. Yet he received the loudest applause since the start of the game. In just seven seconds, Zhou Yi had cleverly disrupted his opponent’s play twice, demonstrating his quick wits. Under Andre Iguodala’s strong defense, Tim Duncan found it hard to launch effective attacks. The Pistons gradually turned the tide, effectively stifling the Spurs’ offensive momentum. Popovich didn’t wait idly; instead, he gave instructions to several players on the court, shifting the focus of the attack to the outside. Resilience is a quality essential for a strong team, though it’s often overlooked. Yet when evaluating a team, this factor also influences commentators’ opinions, even if few pay attention to it. In recent years, the Spurs’ regular-season record hasn’t been ideal. But when it comes to the true strong teams in the West, no one can deny the Spurs’ status. The Mavericks’ gradual improvement, the Thunder’s rise, and the Hornets’ strong performance have made the Western Conference stronger than ever before. The gap between the East and West is unprecedented in league history. Yet the latter three teams still don’t rank as highly as the Spurs among fans. It’s the Spurs’ consistent performance that keeps fans trusting in them.

Tim Duncan’s inside play was suppressed, prompting the Spurs to quickly shift to an outside-oriented offense. Among the league’s outside shooting duos, the Spurs’ pair could definitely rank in the top three; they were also the fastest backcourt duo in the league. Having been partners for years, they had developed a strong sense of coordination. Without Andre Iguodala to handle their outside play, it was difficult to effectively defend their teamwork. Fortunately, the Pistons’ outside players also showed great form, especially Zhou Yi, who seemed like a completely different player—scoring 11 points in just the first quarter with two consecutive clutch performances. However, he struggled with assists, managing only two. John Kuester felt as though he’d escaped death—27 to 28, just one point behind. He was already very satisfied with this score; before the game, he was even prepared to accept a much harsher outcome. Unexpectedly, his simple substitution had an immediate effect, filling him with confidence for the rest of the game. So far, it seemed the Spurs hadn’t fully understood the true intent behind his last substitution, giving the Pistons a slight edge. Andre Iguodala sat on the bench, out of breath. Just one quarter had left him feeling exhausted, and his respect for Tim Duncan grew even more. Thankfully, Tim Duncan didn’t look much better either, with large beads of sweat rolling down his bald head and hitting the floor. McGrady served the ball at the baseline, marking the start of the second quarter. The Pistons continued with the same lineup as the first quarter, with Andre Iguodala holding his own against Tim Duncan inside while Ben Gordon was used on the outside. “McGrady had an outstanding first quarter. It was his combination with Zhou Yi that allowed the Pistons to keep the score close. But the Pistons’ substitutions now clearly aimed to change the momentum from the first quarter,” said the on-site commentator, puzzled by the Pistons’ moves. Both teams saw a drop in shooting accuracy and a slowdown in their offensive rhythm, but seemingly coincidentally, they shifted their focus to the outside. The stalemate inside persisted, with Samuel Dalembert performing adequately—making two accurate shots from open positions and showing great patience defensively, making timely help defense that impressed John Kuester greatly. In fact, with his skills, Samuel Dalembert could easily secure a starting spot on a weaker team.

It’s just that Andre Iguodala plays a crucial role in the Pistons’ defense. Previously, the Pistons’ defensive focus was on the duo of Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe, with all offensive and defensive strategies centered around them. However, since Andre Iguodala joined, he quickly became the core of the team’s defense. This is actually a fairly normal phenomenon—any excellent defensive team will have a standout defensive player at the small forward position, capable of playing both inside and outside, thus making the team’s defensive transitions more efficient.

Bruce Bowen for the Spurs, Taurean Prince for the Pistons, and Shawn Battier for the Rockets. Perhaps they aren’t the most eye-catching players on their teams, nor are they the most critical elements in their tactics, but they are indispensable members of the roster. It is their presence that makes the defenses of these teams more complete.

Bruce Bowen was a renowned outside shooter in the league. Taurean Prince, known as the “Little Prince,” isn’t as well-known, but it can be said that his role with the Pistons was no less significant than Bruce Bowen’s.

With Zhou Yi hitting a last-second three-pointer, the Pistons finally took the lead for the first time before halftime, leading 49–47.

However, the Pistons also paid a heavy price, especially Andre Iguodala, who struggled to hold his own inside against the opponent and was already moving slowly when he left the court.

Seeing this, Popovich’s stern expression finally softened. He hadn’t expected Andre Iguodala to exert such tremendous effort after Greg Monroe’s absence. It’s rare to find someone who can defend Tim Duncan to this extent. But another thing that worried him greatly was Zhou Yi’s unusually sharp offense, scoring 20 points alone in the first half.

Andre Iguodala had an outstanding performance in the first half. It was thanks to his relentless defense that the Pistons managed to maintain a slim lead.

“Judging from how he performed in the first half, it will be difficult for him to deliver such excellent defense in the second half. With Tim Duncan freed up, pressure on the Pistons will surely increase, and figuring out how to deal with this will be the biggest challenge for them,” Yu Jia said, expressing what fans are most worried about. Although Andre Iguodala is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, he is up against one of the best power forwards, and the difference in height and build gives him a significant disadvantage in defense.

However, what relieves fans a bit is that John Kuester remains calm, showing no concern about Iguodala’s stamina. On the contrary, he appears very relaxed, as if everything is under control—though it’s unclear where his confidence comes from.

In the Pistons’ locker room, Andre Iguodala is the most popular player. Everyone knows that the Pistons’ ability to stay ahead is largely thanks to him, as most of the Spurs’ attacks revolve around Tim Duncan.

But when they saw the Pistons’ lineup in the second half, everyone was surprised—Iguodala was still on the team, though his partner in the paint had changed to Spencer Hawes.

The ten-minute break was a valuable respite for both teams, allowing players to recover to varying degrees. In the first few minutes of the third quarter, both teams were highly efficient offensively, pushing the score high. The Spurs gradually regained the upper hand as Tim Duncan found his rhythm, scoring repeatedly by grabbing boards. Yet the Pistons maintained their lead, with Zhou Yi scoring frequently from beyond the arc. At 29 points, he is currently the top scorer on the court. The Spurs’ double-teaming attempts against him seem to lag behind, with McGrady always providing the perfect pick-and-roll at the right moment.

By this point, Popovich could no longer maintain his composure and became furious with several players on the court, especially Richard Jefferson. In his plan, Popovich’s requirement for him was simple: stay close to Zhou Yi and restrict his playing space as much as possible.

But unexpectedly, in this game, Zhou Yi completely changed his usual pattern. He merely focused on carrying the ball across half-court, leaving most of the play-calling to McGrady and Andre Iguodala. He just ran back and forth on the court without the ball, throwing Spurs’ otherwise solid defense into chaos. Richard Jefferson’s attempts to defend him were futile, and Popovich even described his defense as “a sieve.”

Richard Jefferson’s dark face had turned purplish-red by then, and he gritted his teeth, swearing, “I was too gentle with him just now. Next time, I’ll show him what happens.”

Seeing Richard Jefferson’s expression, Popovich smirked slightly. He knew well that there were multiple reasons why Richard Jefferson couldn’t contain Zhou Yi—besides the opponent’s league-leading speed, part of the issue lay with Richard Jefferson himself.

Yet Popovich still felt uneasy. The Pistons’ playing style always carried a sinister edge; it was extremely monotonous. Such forced attempts to shoot weren’t Zhou Yi’s style at all.

In this game, Zhou Yi almost entirely shirked his responsibility for organizing the offense. By the halfway point of the third quarter, he had only delivered three or four assists. Note that in those 29 minutes, Zhou Yi didn’t sit on the bench even once.

A chill ran through Zhou Yi’s heart. The murderous intent in Richard Jefferson’s gaze earlier was truly terrifying.

McGrady broke through Tony Parker’s defense, firmly holding the ball, while Zhou Yi already rushed forward. McGrady dribbled under his opponent’s defense, accelerating to catch Tony Parker off guard. But instead of shooting, he let Zhou Yi, who had now shaken off his defender, quickly cut inside.

The ball was gently lofted into the paint, and Zhou Yi suddenly changed direction outside the three-second area and took three steps before layupting—swishing the ball through the net while also forcing DeJuan Blair into a defensive foul.

Smiling, he gave McGrady a thumbs up. That pass had indeed been masterful—perfectly calculated to take advantage of Zhou Yi’s speed. Amidst several Spurs players surrounding him, the pass landed right in Zhou Yi’s hands.

With a crisp swish, the score became 64:59—the Pistons had widened their lead to five points. This was the biggest margin between the two teams in the game so far.

Tim Duncan, facing Andre Iguodala’s defense, used his agile feet to easily step back and circle around the basket. He leaped gracefully, shook his wrist, and threw a behind-the-back hook shot—another signature bounce shot—raising the score to 64:61 as the Spurs closed the gap by two points.

Maddie took a backstep jump shot from a zero-degree angle at the baseline; the shot missed the backboard, bouncing high off its front edge. Tim Duncan accurately predicted where the ball would land. But instead of moving rashly, he used his height to raise his elbow and tightly clamp down on Andre Iguodala. As the ball reached its peak and began to fall, he bent his knees slightly, ready to leap, but just as he jumped, everything went dark before his eyes—a solid figure appeared in front of him. A seemingly weaker body pressed close to him, leaving him sandwiched between two people. The ball slowly descended toward his head.

Fortunately, there were still his own players in the paint. Just as the ball was about to fall into DeJuan Blair’s hands, a pale hand suddenly stretched out from behind him, its delicate fingers gently propping up the bottom of the basketball, causing it to trace a small arc before plunging into the basket.

Seeing his team perform so poorly, with the opponent’s guards doing whatever they wanted inside the paint, Popovich angrily called a timeout.

Play resumed, but the Spurs couldn’t find their rhythm, especially after Richard Jefferson left the court. Zhou Yi became like a runaway horse, roaming freely across the Spurs’ half-court, his attacking range covering every corner.

With a crisp “snap,” Tim Duncan fell silent, as if something inside him had suddenly shattered. In just three minutes, this was the second time his pass had been intercepted. As Andre Iguodala’s stamina waned, Tim Duncan intensified his attacks in the paint, but it backfired—several attempts were blocked, and he was intercepted twice in a row. Samuel Dalembert, a player he had previously overlooked, delivered an astonishing performance. He promptly tightened his defense, forming a double-team with Andre Iguodala, always appearing at the critical moment like a fishbone stuck in his throat.

Popovich finally figured it out—Samuel Dalembert had been John Kuester’s secret weapon all along. Earlier, he had lingered near the free-throw line, occasionally pushing toward the basket just in time, rendering the Spurs’ support for Tim Duncan ineffective. Now, he was directly engaging in double-teaming. It seemed everyone on the Spurs had underestimated this veteran.

However, it seemed the Spurs realized their mistake too late. By the time Popovich wanted to reorganize the team, the third quarter was already over, with the Pistons leading 81:69. The Spurs’ shooting dropped significantly in that quarter, especially from beyond the arc—they made just one of five three-point attempts, failing to provide any significant support to their team, while the Pistons continued to score from outside.

In the final quarter, the Spurs launched several offensive waves, but against the Pistons’ relentless defense, they never managed to take the lead back. Zhou Yi, unlike his aggressive scoring performance in the first three quarters, focused more on defense. In the end, the Pistons defeated the home-court Spurs 104:97.

Chapter 349: A Chaos at Thunder
At 7 p.m. on March 11th, local time in the United States, the Pistons arrived at the home court of the Oklahoma Thunder, Ford Center.

The two teams had already met once at the start of the season, with the Pistons emerging as the winners, though it wasn’t an easy victory for them.

The Thunder is a young team that has risen rapidly in recent years, especially under the leadership of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, giving them strong combat capabilities.

This season, the Thunder has continued to perform well—40 wins and 25 losses, placing them fourth in the Western Conference. Their leader, Kevin Durant, also leads the scoring chart and is a strong contender to retain his title as the top scorer.

The Pistons, on the other hand, currently have 61 wins and 5 losses, continuing to lead the league. They secured their playoff spot long ago.

So far, three teams have already secured playoff berths: the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers.

For the Pistons, there’s another piece of good news—actually, it’s good news for one of their players.

In the latest MVP voting, Zhou Yi ranked first among all players with averages of 24.1 points, 11.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game. This is the first time Zhou Yi has topped the MVP list this season, and it’s also the first time an Asian player has achieved this.

At 7:30 p.m., all the Thunder players appeared on the court. The home crowd gave them the warmest applause and most enthusiastic cheers. The Thunder players waved their arms at the fans in all directions, their faces filled with satisfaction and confidence.

On the other side of the court, the Pistons players ignored the wild enthusiasm of the home crowd and focused entirely on their pre-game warm-ups.

“Alright, guys, it’s time for our pre-game warm-ups. We must win this game,” John Kuester said firmly to his players.

They gathered together, placed their hands on each other’s shoulders, lowered their heads, and shouted in unison, “Victory, victory, victory!”

After that, they began their warm-ups seriously, preparing for the match against the Thunder.

“The game is about to start. The starting lineups for both teams have been shown on the big screen. Let’s take a look! Away team: Center Ben Wallace, Power Forward Greg Monroe, Small Forward Andre Iguodala, Shooting Guard Tracy McGrady, Point Guard Zhou Yi; Home team: Center Nazr Mohammed, Power Forward Serge Ibaka, Small Forward Kevin Durant, Shooting Guard Sapu Sofrasa, Point Guard Russell Westbrook,” introduced the commentator wearing glasses to the audience.

“The starting players for both teams have now entered the court,” said another commentator.

Ben Wallace and Nazr Mohammed stood in the center circle, ready to start the tip-off. As the referee tossed the ball into the air, the whistle marking the start of the game blew.

Kevin Durant grabbed the ball, giving the Thunder their first possession of the game.

Kevin Durant dribbled across half-court and passed the ball to Russell Westbrook to organize the attack.

Russell Westbrook’s eyes sparkled as he scanned the entire half-court before immediately launching an attack. Sapu Sofrasa and Russell Westbrook executed a pick-and-roll, with the latter pulling to an open spot on the other side and shooting a three-pointer that went in, giving the Thunder an early three-point lead.

Zhou Yi controlled the ball, used a feint to deceive Russell Westbrook, and took a jump shot from the free-throw line, which also scored.

However, the Thunder’s star, Kevin Durant, immediately responded with a three-pointer of his own.

After receiving a pass from Zhou Yi at the baseline, McGrady drove to the basket and passed the ball to Greg Monroe. Greg Monroe raised the ball above his head to confuse his defender before dunking it. Russell Westbrook passed the ball to Kevin Durant once again, and Andre Iguodala tried to close in to stop Durant’s attack. Durant quickly changed direction to get past Iguodala and scored a layup at the basket. The Thunder made three consecutive shots at the start of the game, taking a 4-point lead over the visiting Pistons. Greg Monroe took a mid-range jump shot after receiving a pass from Zhou Yi, but missed. Kevin Durant grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Russell Westbrook. Russell Westbrook moved like lightning, rushing into the Pistons’ paint. Zhou Yi tried his best to keep up with Westbrook’s speed. Seeing Westbrook about to layup, Zhou Yi reflexively jumped to try and block him. But Westbrook twisted his body and somehow stayed in the air for a moment before shooting, and the ball reluctantly fell into the basket. “Nice shot; Russell’s physical abilities are truly outstanding,” one commentator said with a smile. Zhou Yi looked serious, breathing heavily as he stared at the court. So far, the Thunder had made four shots without missing a single one, showing an astonishing offensive efficiency. Zhou Yi drove to the basket with the ball, using Greg Monroe as a screen, but Nazr Mohammed was already in position waiting for him to drive inside. Zhou Yi’s eyes flashed as he passed the ball sideways to Greg Monroe, who rushed into the paint. After catching the ball, Monroe lost his balance and collided with Serge Ibaka, knocking him to the ground. The referee immediately blew his whistle—it was an offensive foul, and the Thunder regained possession. Russell Westbrook controlled the ball while directing his teammates to spread out. Once his teammates were in position, Westbrook accelerated and drove past Zhou Yi. Although Zhou Yi was fast, Westbrook wasn’t slow either. Zhou Yi gritted his teeth and followed closely behind Westbrook, but inwardly thought, “This Russell Westbrook is really fast; it’s hard to defend him.”

Fortunately, Zhou Yi was still able to keep up with Russell Westbrook; otherwise, he would have been completely overwhelmed. Although Russell Westbrook appeared extremely thin, his body was full of muscle, very strong, and highly explosive. Seeing no chance, Russell Westbrook passed the ball to Sapuo Savalossa, who drove, took a jump shot—the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced out. Ben Wallace secured the rebound in the backcourt among the crowd and passed it to Zhou Yi. The Pistons’ offense still failed, and Kevin Durant grabbed a defensive rebound and passed it to Russell Westbrook. After receiving the ball, Russell Westbrook dribbled briefly before making a clever pass to Serge Ibaka. Serge Ibaka faced Greg Monroe alone, feinted, and although Greg Monroe wasn’t fooled, Serge Ibaka feinted again, causing Greg Monroe to jump. Delighted, Serge Ibaka drove to layup against Greg Monroe. Although the layup didn’t go in, it resulted in a defensive foul from Greg Monroe, achieving the same effect. Seeing Greg Monroe commit two fouls in less than 4 minutes, John Kuester immediately substituted Greg Monroe out with Samuel Dalembert. Serge Ibaka took free throws, but strangely missed both. Samuel Dalembert grabbed the rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi. Serge Ibaka was frustrated, while Greg Monroe looked pleased, muttering to himself, “That foul was worth it. But I can’t be fooled again.” As soon as Samuel Dalembert entered the game, he and Ben Wallace formed a double tower, putting immense pressure on the Thunder’s interior. Thunder head coach Scott Brooks was speechless. The Pistons’ outside players, including Zhou Yi, felt relieved as soon as Dalembert joined the game. Ben Wallace and Samuel Dalembert wreaked havoc inside, scoring heavily, and Nazr Mohammed and Serge Ibaka couldn’t contain them. Soon, the Pistons took the lead under the leadership of Dalembert and Ben Wallace. However, the Thunder immediately launched a fierce counterattack, led by their star Kevin Durant.

Andre Iguodala wasn’t in good defensive form today and was completely unable to contain Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant had numerous offensive options—3-point shots, mid-range jumpers, drives to the basket, and dunks—all of which Iguodala couldn’t stop. Under his leadership, the Thunder scored a 11-2 run, instantly regaining the lead.

Seeing his opponent getting better and better, John Kueste called a timeout with 4 minutes left in the first quarter to make adjustments.

The score was now 24-15, with the Pistons falling behind by 9 points.

The timeout ended and play resumed, with both teams making changes to their lineups. The current lineups are:

Pistons: Samuel Dalembert, Taylor Hansbrough, Andre Iguodala, Tracy McGrady, and Zhou Yi;
Thunder: DeAndre Cook, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook.

Chapter 350: Battle!

Zhou Yi orchestrated the Pistons’ offense, with McGrady serving as his partner on the backcourt.

McGrady moved to the perimeter to receive the ball, grabbed it with one hand, and scanned the court with a sharp gaze. James Harden was already close by, crouched in a defensive stance. Suddenly, McGrady stepped forward, blocking Harden behind him, then stopped abruptly and shot a jump shot.

With a swish, the basketball went through the net.

Russell Westbrook took a crossover step, spun past Zhou Yi, and passed the ball to James Harden. Harden caught the ball, cut through the middle, and threw up a shot, scoring.

On the Pistons’ side, Zhou Yi drove the ball repeatedly before suddenly using a crossover to shake off Westbrook’s defense. He rushed to the basket from the side and jumped up. Serge Ibaka quickly jumped to try and block him.

But Zhou Yi wasn’t going for a layup or dunk. Facing Ibaka’s help defense, he swiftly passed the ball to Taylor Hansbrough behind Ibaka.

Hansbrough caught the ball and immediately jumped up for a dunk, looking completely effortless.

Russell Westbrook drove with the ball, spun beautifully to get past Zhou Yi, but the moment he turned, he was intercepted by McGrady, who attacked from the side.

McGrady quickly launched a fast break, but only Zhou Yi followed. Russell Westbrook also reacted swiftly, returning to defense right away. McGrady passed to Zhou Yi, who dribbled twice before passing it back to McGrady. As they approached the basket, McGrady pretended to shoot but actually passed to Zhou Yi. However, Russell Westbrook wasn’t fooled and closed in on Zhou Yi. Instead of taking the ball, Zhou Yi pushed it toward the upper right corner of the basket. Russell Westbrook muttered in frustration, quickly turning to defend McGrady again. But it was too late—McGrady jumped up and scored with an airball, and Russell Westbrook even committed a defensive foul. This series of dazzling passes earned loud cheers from a few Pistons fans, and the two commentators praised the coordination between Zhou Yi and McGrady. Scott Brooks took advantage of McGrady’s free throws by substituting Russell Westbrook with Eric Meno and Kevin Durant with Nick Collison. The Pistons’ lineup also changed slightly, with James Posey entering the game to replace Andre Iguodala. McGrady made his free throws, including the extra shot. At this point, Eric Meno was guarding Zhou Yi, who organized the Thunder’s offense by dribbling. Eric Meno forced his way past Zhou Yi, who stayed close to defend him. Knowing Zhou Yi’s skills, Eric Meno avoided a direct confrontation and promptly passed the ball away. DeQuan Cook received the ball, feinted, and then shot from beyond the arc—the ball bounced off the rim. Tayshaun Prince secured the rebound and quickly passed it to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi drove fast, entering the opponent’s three-second zone unimpeded. After tricking Serge Ibaka into jumping, he shot, but missed, allowing Ibaka to easily grab the rebound. Eric Meno used a pick-and-roll with James Harden to break into the Pistons’ paint, then passed the ball to James Harden, who was on the other side of the court, and Harden hit a three-pointer. John Kuester called a timeout; there were 3 minutes left in the first quarter, and the Pistons needed to make substitutions. After the timeout, Will Bynum replaced Zhou Yi, and Ben Gordon replaced McGrady. In the next three minutes, both teams played patiently, with the score alternating. Will Bynum slowed down the pace to stabilize the game.

Near the midpoint of the first quarter, Will Bynum glanced at the timer—18.1 seconds remaining. Bynum dribbled the ball, slowly wasting time. When 10 seconds were left, he took action. With a quick break, he turned, bypassed his defender Eric Meno, and rushed to the basket. Facing opposition, Bynum showed no fear; with a flick of his wrist, the ball flew toward James Posey, who was already waiting at the zero-degree three-point line. Posey caught the ball without adjusting and shot immediately, sending the net swaying. “Nice assist,” one of the commentators said with a smile. With 2.3 seconds left in the first quarter, Eric Meno received the pass at the baseline and threw the ball toward the opponent’s basket, but it was a miss. The buzzer sounded, marking the end of the first quarter. Both teams had high shooting percentages, resulting in a high score: 34–28, with the Pistons leading by 6 points. Bynum returned to the bench, took a towel and drink from Zhou Yi, smiled slightly, unscrewed the bottle cap, and drank eagerly. After finishing, he wiped the sweat from his face and sat down next to Zhou Yi.