Chapter 154
In the remaining time of the third quarter, the players from both teams engaged in a final struggle, but perhaps fate was not on the side of the Pistons! Throughout the rest of the third quarter, they simply couldn’t find their rhythm. Their three-point shots from outside were especially dismal—0 of 5 attempts in the final moments—allowing the Knicks to gradually widen the score through consistent scoring. By the end, if not for Zhou Yi and Tracy McGrady combining their efforts and individual skills to repeatedly attack the Knicks’ interior, the game might have already entered garbage time. Still, the Pistons entered the fourth quarter trailing by 11 points, 79 to 90.
“Ding~~~” The whistle for the fourth quarter finally sounded… Zhou Yi slowly walked onto the court with his teammates, his eyes filled with determination. “Zhou,” a familiar voice called out as Greg Monroe passed the ball to him again. After catching it, Zhou Yi lowered his center of gravity and faced Landry Fields, his mind racing as he searched for an offensive move. Suddenly, he moved swiftly—shifting left, stepping back right—then lowered his center of gravity even further, using a crouching stance to exploit his speed and break through Landry Fields’ defense from the left, cutting into the Knicks’ interior and passing through Amare Stoudemire’s defense to enter the paint. He caught the ball, stepped forward, and with one, two, three, he jumped. Zhou Yi soared into the air, spun 180 degrees to face the basket, and then spun his right arm like a windmill before slamming the ball hard into the hoop. “Thud.” The basket’s pained groan echoed once again across the court, making every fan’s heart pound intensely, tremble, and go wild—especially the Pistons’ fans, whose once-cold enthusiasm had once again boiled over. A 180-degree spin dunk! “Zhou… Yi, Zhou… Yi, Zhou… Yi!” The fans cheered Zhou Yi’s name again, and his perfect dunk was firmly etched in everyone’s minds. 81 to 90—9 points left to play. “That was an amazing dunk,” Greg Monroe said, patting Zhou Yi on the back. Zhou Yi smiled briefly before returning to his serious expression. Although they had boosted morale, the race to close the gap had just begun.
“Thwack.” With a light sound, the ball in Raymond Felton’s hands was knocked away by Ben Gordon. Immediately afterward, both of them rushed toward the basketball. Just as they were about to reach it, they both leaped at it again, but in the end, they both fell to the ground without getting the ball, which continued to roll forward.
“Damn it.”
“I’m not giving you the ball.”
Zhou Yi and Landry Fields came from behind and lunged at the basketball just like the two before them, but this time it was Zhou Yi who got the ball.
Lying on the ground, Zhou Yi ignored the pain and pushed the ball backward to Andre Iguodala, who had just arrived. Iguodala lived up to Zhou Yi’s expectations and successfully scored a three-point shot with no defenders around.
84:90—6 points left.
The Pistons launched a counterattack, and hope reignited among their fans. But then Raymond Felton scored a three-point shot, widening the score gap to 9 points once again, dimming the hopes of the Pistons’ fans.
After controlling the ball for half the game, Ben Gordon took a determined shot from 45 degrees outside the three-point line, but unfortunately, it missed and bounced away…
Greg Monroe and Ben Wallace both jumped to compete for the rebound with “The Little Tyrant” Amare Stoudemire. The ball was hit by one of them and bounced out of bounds.
At a critical moment, Zhou Yi quickly rushed from the outside to the inside court and saved the ball just before it went out of bounds, passing it to Ben Gordon while he himself fell among the reporters.
“Zhou, great save!” Ben Gordon caught the ball excitedly, adjusted his stance quickly, and shot it again from outside the three-point line.
“Swish.” This time, the ball went in…
87:93.
The Pistons’ fans who saw the shot go in breathed a sigh of relief, touching their chests and pressing down on their hearts, which were pounding from nervousness.
Zhou Yi was helped up by Ben Gordon. The two smiled at each other and returned to their half of the court with the other teammates…
“Thwack, thwack, thwack…” Zhou Yi clapped his hands and said loudly, “Alright, everyone, give it your all! Victory belongs to us!”
“Okay,” the teammates replied in unison, their voices filled with confidence and a desire for victory.
The Pistons’ fans were inspired by the players’ fighting spirit and passion on the court, and they cheered loudly for their team with all their might. At that moment, everyone understood that the Pistons’ players were giving it their all, fighting without any regrets.
Zhou Yi took control of the ball and moved to the outer arc beyond the three-point line. In front of him, Landry Fields kept a close eye on him. Zhou Yi glanced to the left, and upon noticing this slight movement, Landry Fields immediately shifted his weight slightly to the left. But just as he did, Zhou Yi suddenly accelerated, crouched down while dribbling, pushing his speed to the limit, and charged like a sharp blade into the Knicks’ interior defense. Landry Fields, who was guarding him, couldn’t stop him or keep up with his pace.
With the interior defenders occupied by their teammates, Zhou Yi entered the three-second area and immediately leaped into the air, diving toward the basket like a sword. Gritting his teeth, he raised the basketball high in his right hand and slammed it into the basket with a powerful dunk.
“Thud.”
The familiar yet stunning sound of the basket echoing once again—simple, decisive, and dominant—a perfect powerful dunk completed. The fans took a deep breath and then started screaming loudly. They were cheering, excited—not only because of Zhou Yi’s stunning dunk but also because, at the same time, the Pistons had tied the score.
98:98, with 3 minutes left, the teams were finally tied.
“Ding~~~” At that moment, Mike D’Antoni finally called a long timeout.
Mike D’Antoni was extremely frustrated. More than 9 minutes had already passed in the final quarter, yet due to the Pistons’ aggressive defense and hard fighting, the Knicks had only scored 8 points. In those 9 minutes, the Pistons had prevented them from scoring much in critical moments. It was a humiliation for the Knicks. So when the Knicks players returned to the bench area, they all looked gloomy and silent.
In contrast, the Pistons were full of morale, filled with the joy of having caught up in the score. When Zhou Yi and the other five players on the court returned to the bench, the remaining players rushed forward to high-five those five brave warriors, expressing their immense joy.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there are only 2 minutes and 47 seconds left until the end of the game. At this critical moment, the Pistons have already tied the score. Zhou Yi has currently scored 21 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, provided 8 assists, and made 3 steals. Additionally, Greg Monroe has recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while McGrady has scored 23 points. In the final quarter, the Pistons have performed excellently on both offense and defense; over 9 minutes, they allowed the Knicks to score only 8 points, while scoring 19 points themselves. In the final moments, the Knicks will surely make adjustments to find ways to score. Whether the Pistons can maintain control and continue their scoring momentum will determine the outcome of the game.”
At this moment, tens of millions of eyes in China are watching intently what’s happening at the Auburn Hills Palace. Everyone’s heart is pounding fiercely, everyone is trembling with excitement, all waiting in anxiety and anticipation. Everyone knows that once the timeout ends, the final sprint will begin.
The timeout passes quickly, and the strongest lineups of both teams step onto the final battlefield with a determination to win. The countdown officially begins…
2 minutes and 46 seconds…
The Knicks have the ball, and play starts in the middle of the court. The ball goes to Raymond Felton.
2 minutes and 45 seconds…
The ball is passed to Landry Fields.
2 minutes 44, 2 minutes 43, 2 minutes 42…
Landry Fields attempts several breakthroughs but fails, then passes the ball to Sean Williams…
2 minutes 41, 2 minutes 40…
McGrady suddenly reaches out to steal the ball from Sean Williams, but unfortunately, after hitting it, the ball flies out of bounds…
2 minutes 39…
The Knicks all move around, and finally, Sean Williams passes the ball to Landry Fields…
2 minutes 38…
After receiving the ball, Landry Fields turns and jumps from 1 meter outside the three-point line…
2 minutes 37…
Zhou Yi jumps after him but fails to stop Landry Fields—the ball is shot by Landry Fields…
2 minutes 36, 2 minutes 35…
The basketball traces a high, graceful arc through the air and lands in the basket after 2 seconds of flight—Landry Fields’ long-distance backshot three-pointer hits…
98:101…
2 minutes 34… 2 minutes 30, 2 minutes 29…
The Pistons quickly took possession, but the Knicks employed a full-court press, causing the ball to go through several passes before crossing half-court…
2:28…
The ball was passed to Zhou Yi…
2:27, 2:26…
Zhou Yi dribbled sideways to the 90-degree mark in the center…
2:24…
Zhou Yi suddenly swung his right hand 2 meters outside the three-point line and threw the ball toward the basket…
2:23, 2:22…
The ball flew vertically toward the backboard and was caught by Ben Wallace, who had jumped up, before being forcefully dunked into the basket with both hands…
100:101
After landing, Ben Wallace let out a roar and celebrated by bumping chests with Zhou Yi…
2:21… 1:37…
Under intense defense from both sides, several attempts by each team failed…
1:32, 1:31, 1:30…
Randall Fields missed a three-point shot, but Amare Stoudemire grabbed the rebound and passed it back to Randall Fields…
1:29, 1:28…
After catching the ball, Randall Fields shot again decisively; the Pistons’ defenders were unprepared, and the three-point shot finally connected…
100:104—the gap between the teams widened again…
“Whistle.” The Pistons called another timeout…
At this moment, the hearts of the Pistons’ fans were pounding with tension, anxiety, and urgency. With just over a minute left, the gap between the teams had widened to 4 points. This intense, tense, and anxious atmosphere caused many people’s heart rates to rise continuously. Such suffocating tension was definitely beyond what people with heart conditions could endure…
“Listen up, there’s only a little over a minute left…” John Kuester said firmly. “The outcome depends on how we perform in these final moments. I think everyone understands that. As for tactics, I’ve already told you everything I can. You all know how to play. But I still want to remind you not to be careless in these last moments. Just play as you know how. Work together and play steadily. Absolutely no silly mistakes—everyone should understand that mistakes in these final moments can be fatal.”
“Yes, coach.”
After the words of encouragement, the players rushed to regain their strength, while McGrady sat down next to Zhou Yi and said softly, “Zhou, in the final moments, be more decisive in attacking—don’t be afraid. Trust me, and trust everyone else. Even if you miss, we’ll still grab the rebounds.”
Zhou Yi was momentarily stunned, then nodded silently. In McGrady’s words, he felt McGrady’s trust and support. So, to live up to everyone’s expectations, he would give it his all in those last moments…
Soon, the whistle sounded again, and the countdown began once more…
After receiving the ball, Zhou Yi controlled it as he moved outside the three-point line, calmly searching for an opportunity to attack, slowly wasting the remaining time, as if it weren’t they who were behind and as if there was still plenty of time.
The fans were all anxious, wondering why Zhou Yi continued to waste the already limited time. Of course, no matter how anxious they were, they wouldn’t shout loudly, because every Pistons fan feared their voices might disturb the players on the court.
When the number on the 24-second shot clock dropped to 5, Zhou Yi finally took action—he suddenly sped forward like an unstoppable blade, using his speed to cut from a 45-degree angle outside the three-point line into the paint. Landry Fields, who was defending him, couldn’t keep up, allowing Zhou Yi to easily reach the Knicks’ interior and approach their basket.
At that critical moment, the Knicks’ star Amare Stoudemire rushed in to block Zhou Yi’s path at the basket.
This time, Zhou Yi didn’t choose to avoid confrontation; he stepped straight into the paint and, as he did, used one foot to launch himself into the air.
No chance of success.
“Ah~~~” Amare Stoudemire also jumped up with a loud roar, raising his arms to block Zhou Yi’s shooting path.
With his path blocked, Zhou Yi wasn’t anxious, because his goal was to make Amare Stoudemire jump—he slammed the ball hard onto the floor. After bouncing, the ball landed perfectly in Greg Monroe’s hands.
After catching the ball, Greg Monroe gritted his teeth, jumped up with all his strength, and used his powerful hands to slam the ball into the basket.
“Bang.”
A brilliant teamwork effort, culminating perfectly with Greg Monroe’s powerful dunk.
“Well done.” Zhou Yi and Greg Monroe clapped each other in agreement—their teamwork was indeed of high quality. Cheers echoed throughout the arena, and the shouts moved the hearts of Pistons fans around the world. 102:104, just two points apart. 1 minute and 5 seconds left… At this critical moment, the Knicks once again showed their strength, thanks to Amare Stoudemire and the changes made last summer. The Knicks moved the ball calmly with strategic passes and breakthroughs, eventually getting it to Amare Stoudemire. But when he was surrounded by Pistons players, he passed it to Sean Williams, who had just moved to the outside. After catching the ball, Williams quickly adjusted his stance and shot… Swish. The ball went in—perfect, smooth… 102:107—the score gap widened again. The countdown for the final minute began… Chapter 359: Attack Underway After a fierce final minute of play, the Pistons, led by Zhou Yi, narrowly defeated the Knicks, with the final score at 109:108—just a one-point win for the Pistons. Zhou Yi scored the highest amount in the game, 33 points, along with 12 assists and 6 rebounds; McGrady scored 27 points, adding 10 assists and 8 rebounds, just two rebounds short of a triple-double; Andre Iguodala also scored 21 points, and the new trio combined for 81 points. The best performer for the Knicks was rookie Landry Fields, who scored 28 points. Amare Stoudemire’s poor performance in the final quarter was the main reason they lost the game. After the match, all five starting players for the Pistons were extremely tired, especially Zhou Yi. But the joy of victory made the exhaustion worth it. After settling everything in the locker room, Zhou Yi went with his teammates to the post-game press conference. After that, they left the arena. “Zhou Yi!” A voice called out as he approached the arena exit. Zhou Yi turned around—it was Xiang Yun. “You haven’t gone back yet?” Zhou Yi asked curiously. “Yeah, I was waiting for you!” Xiang Yun said, sticking out her tongue. Although Will Bynum and the others couldn’t understand the Chinese conversation between Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun, they could tell that Xiang Yun was waiting for Zhou Yi. After greeting him, they all left.
Zhou Yi helplessly rolled his eyes and said, “Let’s go!”
“I’m a bit hungry. How about we get some late-night snacks?” Xiang Yun gently patted her stomach and asked pitifully.
“Uh, let’s go home and eat then!”
“We have to go to the kitchen at home, it’s too troublesome. Let’s just grab something from a street food stall over there. You’re not trying to save money, are you?” Xiang Yun teased.
Three dark lines appeared on Zhou Yi’s forehead as he shrugged and said, “Alright, so as not to make you think I’m stingy, let’s go get something over there!”
“Hehe…” After achieving her goal, Xiang Yun smiled and got into Zhou Yi’s car.
The two arrived in an area populated by Asians, where there were many specialty snack shops.
After parking his car, Zhou Yi walked with Xiang Yun to a street food stall. They ordered some food and sat down to wait.
“Hey, Brother Jack, look at that guy over there. Doesn’t he look familiar?” A bald black man whistled at a white man with a colorful mohawk and then spoke.
The man with the mohawk glanced at Zhou Yi and also found him very familiar.
“Brother Jack, isn’t that guy Zhou Yi? The one who got us locked up last year. Now he’s a star player for the Detroit Pistons,” another white man shouted.
“Hehe, the Pistons have been doing well this season, actually crushing the Heat with their three stars. Damn it, if we don’t show this kid some respect, we’ll never realize that East Asians can’t stay here! It’s a good chance to avenge last time. Hehe, without this kid, the Pistons’ record will definitely drop, and then the Heat can rise, haha…” The man with the mohawk laughed loudly.
“Brother Jack, you’re right. He got us locked up for three months last time and also crushed our favorite Heat. If we don’t teach him a lesson, he’ll keep getting arrogant. This time, we must make him suffer!” the black man said.
“Stop talking and go!” The man with the mohawk gave the order.
“Zhou Yi, it seems those guys are walking towards us?” Xiang Yun felt a badbad feeling as she saw some unfriendly youths coming their way.
Zhou Yi turned around and immediately recognized them as the people he had conflicts with before. Especially seeing that man with the mohawk, he was even more sure of it.
“Xiang Yun, let’s go quickly.” Zhou Yi stood up right away and pulled Xiang Yun to run towards their car.
“Chase them!” Baldy shouted loudly.
“We haven’t even been paid yet!” The snack shop owner was Chinese and realized those foreigners were looking for trouble with his compatriots, so he stopped them to buy time for Zhou Yi and the others.
“Get lost!” Baldy pushed the snack shop owner aside and rushed forward with the others behind him.
Although Zhou Yi reacted quickly, Xiang Yun was wearing high heels that day and sprained her ankle while running. With no choice, Zhou Yi had to support her as they hurried toward their car.
Soon, the men behind them caught up with Zhou Yi.
“Hehe, the Chinese speedster, right? Last time, you caused us so much trouble!” Baldy blocked Zhou Yi’s path, speaking maliciously, then glanced at Xiang Yun a few times.
Zhou Yi protected Xiang Yun behind him and said to Baldy, “This is a public place. If you don’t want to get caught by the police again, go ahead and try!”
“Hmph, even if it means ending up in jail again, I’ll still beat you half-paralyzed. And having some fun with this pretty girl beside you is also a good thing.” After saying that, Baldy waved at his accomplices.
He knew how strong Zhou Yi was, so he didn’t want to be the first to die.
“Be careful!” Zhou Yi whispered to Xiang Yun.
Zhou Yi and Xiang Yun were surrounded by five men, including Baldy. Although many people in the vicinity had noticed the commotion, they didn’t dare step in to stop them.
Suddenly, under the faint moonlight, Zhou Yi seemed to see something flash to his left—that bright light had a metallic sheen.
An alarm flashed in Zhou Yi’s mind. Almost purely by reflex, he leaped forward, placing his hands on Xiang Yun’s shoulders from behind. The two fell to the ground together due to Zhou Yi’s momentum and rolled around messily. At that moment, they heard a very clear “ding” sound!
The bright light hit the car’s body, and sparks flew out in the darkness! Only after falling to the ground did Zhou Yi realize it was a dagger!
Before he could get up, he saw three or four figures rushing at him from the side. In the darkness, Zhou Yi saw that they were tall black men with fierce expressions, holding shiny, long-bladed weapons—steel pipes and apparently daggers as well!
“Damn it!”
Zhou Yi didn’t have time to think. He immediately let go of Xiang Yun, rolled to the ground, and reached for the dagger lying there. The hilt was cold and made of cork; the dagger had blood grooves on both sides. Zhou Yi grabbed it with his reverse hand as the person behind him rushed forward quickly.
The first black man’s target was clearly Zhou Yi. It was obvious these attackers were experienced—they wanted to eliminate Zhou Yi, the only one capable of resisting. A gust of wind came as the black man swung a steel pipe at him. Zhou Yi dodged to the side, not retreating but advancing instead, using his shoulder to push into the man’s chest. The man was unprepared; the pipe missed its target, and instead, he stumbled backward due to the impact. Zhou Yi quickly stabbed the dagger into his shoulder while using his elbow to strike the man’s chest hard. The man groaned and fell. Without time to look back, another attacker rushed at him. Zhou Yi rolled away just in time as the man slashed at the ground. He quickly kicked the man’s ankle, causing him to cry out and fall. Zhou Yi turned sideways, propped himself on the ground with one hand, and slashed at the man’s neck with the other.
After being attacked, Xiang Yun immediately tried to open the car door, but someone caught up to her from behind. Her arm was grabbed, but strangely, when Zhou Yi stood up, he heard a groan behind him. The burly man who had grabbed Xiang Yun knelt down, clutching his abdomen. Thinking of the high, thin heels Xiang Yun was wearing that night, Zhou Yi felt a shiver run down his spine.
Someone else pounced from behind, wrapping his arms around Zhou Yi. The steel pipe he held was pressed against Zhou Yi’s neck. Zhou Yi tried to break free twice but failed. Meanwhile, someone on the left rushed to his side and swung his weapon at him. With no other choice, Zhou Yi raised his left arm to block…
With a bang, Zhou Yi felt intense pain in his arm. Fortunately, the man was holding a steel pipe rather than a machete; otherwise, Zhou Yi would have lost an arm that night. The pain ignited his fighting spirit. He grabbed the arms of the man holding him, used his waist strength, and threw him aside with a shoulder toss. It was then that he heard a cry from Xiang Yun’s side. Her arm had been twisted by someone. Xiang Yun was clearly stronger than most girls, and the man holding her seemed to be struggling, unable to fully control her.
Zhou Yi rushed over quickly. Watching Zhou Yi’s movements, Xiang Yun suddenly bent down, exposing the man to Zhou Yi’s view. Zhou Yi took a deep breath, leaped sideways, rising a meter into the air before delivering a precise kick to the man’s chest—a vicious spinning kick that sent the man flying two meters away.
Zhou Yi didn’t look at him again. He knew well the power of that kick; an ordinary person hit by it would suffer at least two broken ribs. Having practiced martial arts for a few years as a child, it was enough for him to deal with such scumbags.
He pulled Xiang Yun up and caught his breath for a moment.
“Be careful!” Xiang Yun exclaimed, pushing Zhou Yi away abruptly.
“Ah…” Xiang Yun screamed as one of the thugs stabbed her arm with a dagger.
Seeing this, Zhou Yi’s face twisted instantly. He kicked the thug in the chest, sending him flying away.
Furious, Zhou Yi pushed Xiang Yun into the car, then knocked the remaining thugs to the ground before calling the police. After reporting the incident, he quickly drove Xiang Yun to the hospital.
Chapter 360: Mo Keer Has Arrived!!!
“Xiang Yun, are you okay?” Zhou Yi asked worriedly, looking at the bandage wrapped around her arm.
“Hehe, I’m fine. By the way, it seems you were also hit in the arm by those thugs with a sharp object. Are you alright?” Xiang Yun asked in return.
“I’m fine. I’m just worried about you. You shouldn’t have blocked that strike for me,” Zhou Yi said guiltily.
Xiang Yun smiled and said, “If I hadn’t blocked it for you, the Piston Team would have been in trouble.”
Hearing her words, Zhou Yi realized that if he had really taken that stab, the Piston Team’s performance would indeed have been affected. With that thought, his gratitude toward Xiang Yun grew even stronger.
“Alright, don’t worry about me. It’s getting late. Let’s go back!” To prevent Zhou Yi from worrying, Xiang Yun smiled at him and took his hand to lead him out of the hospital.
The worry on Zhou Yi’s face didn’t fade even with Xiang Yun’s smile. He was still concerned about her. The doctor had just told him that the stab had reached the bone and caused significant blood loss.
“By the way, those thugs must have ended up in jail again because of you, right? They really are unlucky—every time they encounter you, they end up in jail. Hehe…” Xiang Yun tried to lighten the mood.
Zhou Yi gave a faint smile and focused on driving.
After returning home, Zhou Yi helped Xiang Yun back to her room.
After returning to his room, Zhou Yi let out a deep sigh and lay down on the bed. Suddenly, his phone rang. He picked up the phone and saw it was Mo Keer. He quickly pressed the answer button and said, “Hello?”
“Hello, Zhou Yi!” Mo Keer’s sweet voice reached his ears.
“It’s me. Why are you calling me so late? Why aren’t you sleeping?” Zhou Yi asked worriedly.
“Didn’t I miss you?” Mo Keer said playfully.
Hearing Mo Keer’s words, Zhou Yi felt warm inside and smiled, saying, “I’m the same.”
“Really? Hehe, you’ll be able to see me tomorrow!” Mo Keer said with a smile.
“See you tomorrow? Are you coming to Detroit tomorrow?” Zhou Yi asked curiously, feeling a hint of worry.
“Yes, I’ve already delayed starting school by almost half a month. If I don’t go now, I might not be able to go at all. Hehe, didn’t you want to see me already? What’s the matter? Aren’t you happy I’m coming now?” Mo Keer asked playfully.
“Hehe, how could I not be? Of course I’m happy you’re coming. When will you be here?” That was what Zhou Yi really cared about.
There was a brief silence on the other end before she replied, “I might not be able to go to you for a while. There’s a lot of coursework this semester, and since I’m a half month late, I’ll have to stay at school for a while. Zhou Yi, you won’t blame me, right?”
Hearing this, Zhou Yi immediately breathed a sigh of relief and said, “How could I blame you? By the way, are you really coming to Detroit tomorrow? Do you want me to pick you up?”
“Uh, no need. Someone from school will pick me up. Besides, you have training tomorrow, right?” Mo Keer replied thoughtfully.
“Oh, I see. If I have time, I’ll definitely come to see you.”
“Okay, then go rest early. Good night!” Mo Keer said sweetly.
“Good night!”
After Mo Keer hung up, Zhou Yi took several deep breaths.
“Thankfully, Keer won’t be here for a few days. I can take some time to think about how to handle this.”
……
Early the next morning, several police officers arrived at Zhou Yi’s residence. They were there to investigate what had happened the previous day. It was more like taking statements rather than a proper investigation.
By the time the police arrived at the scene, a group of hooligans led by Explosion Head had already been surrounded by people, who had already told the police what had happened. Zhou Yi was purely acting in self-defense, so he certainly wouldn’t be arrested by the police. After giving his statement, Zhou Yi went to the gym. However, he didn’t participate in today’s training because his arm was also injured. Head coach John Kuester was aware of this, so to protect Zhou Yi and ensure no accidents occurred before the playoffs started, he didn’t let Zhou Yi attend any training that day. Zhou Yi also wasn’t in the game against the Eagles on March 20th. It was to protect Zhou Yi that John Kuester didn’t take the risk of having him play! Moreover, with the season nearing its end, the Pistons were at the top of the league standings and had already secured a spot in the playoffs, so it was only natural to let Zhou Yi and several other key players rest. Although Zhou Yi didn’t play, the Pistons still defeated the Eagles by a huge margin. After beating the Eagles, the Pistons would face the Heat in a challenge game three days later. During these three days without games, Zhou Yi went to the school where Mo Keer was studying twice. Three days later, the Pistons hosted a game against the Heat at home. This season, the two teams had already met three times, with the Pistons winning all three. With the Heat coming again, they were determined to win at least one game; otherwise, if they were completely swept by the Pistons, it would be a huge embarrassment for them! At 7:30 p.m., the game started on time! The clash of the Heat’s three stars versus the Pistons’ three stars attracted countless fans! As the game was about to begin, the starting players from both teams entered the court, and the large screen on site displayed the starting lineups for both sides. The home team, the Pistons: point guard Zhou Yi, shooting guard Tracy McGrady, small forward Andre Iguodala, power forward Greg Monroe, and center Ben Wallace; the away team, the Heat: point guard Mike Bibby, shooting guard Dwyane Wade, small forward LeBron James, power forward Chris Bosh, and center Joel Anthony. “Ding!” The whistle blew, and this highly anticipated game officially began.
The result of the jump ball was obvious—Chris Bosh used his experience to push Greg Monroe aside and passed the ball to LeBron James. LeBron James used his broad frame to firmly control the ball before passing it to Mike Bibby. Mike Bibby took control of the ball and moved into the Pistons’ half. He passed the ball back to James, who attempted a mid-range jump shot, but it fell short; Greg Monroe grabbed the rebound and passed it to Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi controlled the ball and slowly advanced into the Heat’s half. He broke through from the left wing, struggling to get past Carlos Arroyo. Seeing Arroyo easily bypassed, Chris Bosh shook his head and headed in Zhou Yi’s direction to help Arroyo temporarily stop him. “Greg!” Zhou Yi shouted. “Damn it,” Chris Bosh growled, turning around hastily and running toward Greg Monroe. But the expected pass didn’t happen, causing Chris Bosh to frown, and even Greg Monroe grew puzzled. However, after seeing Zhou Yi’s next move, the confusion on Greg Monroe’s face disappeared, replaced by admiration. Meanwhile, Chris Bosh’s expression darkened upon seeing Zhou Yi’s action, muttering that the guy was too cunning. After calling out to Greg Monroe, Zhou Yi intended to pass the ball to him. But Chris Bosh reacted too quickly, returning to defend Greg Monroe. With a wry smile, Zhou Yi realized he was open and shot without hesitation. The ball swished through the net, scoring 2 points. Zhou Yi waved his arm and rushed toward the Pistons’ half. The Heat had Dwyane Wade in control of the ball; after breaking through, he passed it to Chris Bosh inside. Greg Monroe trapped Chris Bosh in place, who quickly spun around, using his supporting foot as an axis to sway slightly before swiftly bringing his moving foot back and starting to move. By then, Greg Monroe’s balance was disrupted, leaving him unable to stop Chris Bosh’s progress. Chris Bosh scored 2 points for the Heat with an easy layup. On the Pistons’ offense, Tracy McGrady took the ball to the top of the key and attempted a three-point shot, but it missed. Greg Monroe held Chris Bosh behind him, allowing Ben Wallace to grab the offensive rebound.
Ben Wallace attempts a free throw, but it seems today’s basket is against the Pistons—his shot from above also misses, with the ball bouncing off the rim before being grabbed by LeBron James.
On the Heat’s offensive drive, LeBron James drives and takes a jump shot. To the delight of the home crowd, his shot also misses, and Zhou Yi secures the defensive rebound.
Zhou Yi drives past the opponent’s three-point line, not holding the ball for even a second before quickly passing it to McGrady. Faced with Wade’s defense, McGrady immediately takes a jump shot, which bounces off the backboard. Ben Wallace grabs the offensive rebound and attempts a free throw, but it also misses, with Chris Bosh protecting the defensive rebound.
Mike Bibby receives a pass from Chris Bosh and quickly drives across half-court. Seeing LeBron James looking his way, Mike Bibby honestly passes the ball back. Hearing the cheers, the Heat players become even more motivated.
LeBron James holds the ball, looking at Andre Iguodala in front of him with a smile. Using a crab-like step, he shakes off Andre Iguodala and cuts straight into the Pistons’ paint, then leaps for a powerful dunk.
Dominant—absolutely dominant!
Andre Iguodala watches LeBron James deliberately bump into him and feels a surge of fighting spirit. Next to Andre Iguodala stands another person with no less fighting spirit—perhaps even more intense—this person is Zhou Yi!
Thinking of his last encounter with LeBron James and seeing his arrogant behavior just now, Zhou Yi’s fighting spirit is stronger than ever against any opponent he’s faced before.
Zhou Yi looks at Andre Iguodala and nods at him.
The Pistons attack—Greg Monroe grabs the ball inside and turns to attack. But Chris Bosh blocks his path tightly.
Greg Monroe suddenly passes the ball, and Zhou Yi has already cut into the paint. With both man and ball in position, Zhou Yi catches the ball and rises to dunk, aiming to respond to LeBron James’ previous dunk and intimidate the Heat.
“Not happening,” says Mike Bibby, who catches up from behind and tries to block the shot.
Zhou Yi turned a deaf ear, pushing his speed to the limit. He pushed off the ground with both feet and leaped upward. At that moment, Mike Bibby also jumped. Zhou Yi had intended to dunk with one hand, but with Mike Bibby’s interference, it was difficult to complete the dunk. Fortunately, Zhou Yi grabbed the basketball with both hands and slammed it hard into the basket.
The ball went in, and the dunk also resulted in a defensive foul on Mike Bibby, earning a free throw!
It was a stunning dunk, and immediate loud applause and cheers filled the Auburn Hills Palace.
Zhou Yi scored the free throw, and two plus one was achieved!
LeBron James glared at Mike Bibby, took control of the ball, and advanced toward the Pistons’ half-court. Andre Iguodala was still in his path.
This time, neither of them spoke, but the tension between them was palpable. LeBron James drove with the ball and passed it to Chris Bosh at the high post.
Chris Bosh took the ball and attempted a mid-range shot, but it missed. He then grabbed the offensive rebound. Just as he was about to attack again, the ball was snatched away from him.
Chris Bosh looked closely and saw that a player in jersey number 37, with black hair and yellow skin, had stolen the ball. Frustrated, he rushed back to defend.
After stealing the ball, Zhou Yi swiftly drove with it toward the opponent’s half-court. Just past the half-court line, he saw Tracy McGrady already at the opponent’s basket, making a upward gesture at him.
Zhou Yi understood immediately. Without even looking at LeBron James rushing toward him, he threw the ball straight toward the basket. LeBron James had already noticed the “communication” between McGrady and Zhou Yi, so he didn’t stop when he reached Zhou Yi and rushed straight toward McGrady to prevent the alley-oop.
But LeBron James was still a step too late. Not only did he fail to stop the alley-oop, but he also became part of the backdrop for this stunning play.
As the ball approached the basket, McGrady jumped up, caught the ball, and dunked it with both hands in a dominant and seamless motion, without any hesitation.
“Wow… T-MAC… T-MAC… T-MAC…”
Enjoying the fans’ enthusiasm, McGrady slowly backed away toward his own half-court.
Chapter 361: The Three Giants vs. The Three Giants (Part 1)
LeBron James took the ball from Dwyane Wade and advanced toward the Pistons’ half-court.
LeBron James drove to the Pistons’ half-court, took in the situation on the court, then passed the ball to Dwyane Wade. Dwyane Wade changed direction and feinted a break to the left; seeing Tracy McGrady move to the center-left, he quickly pulled the ball back, jumped up, and shot. With a clang, it was a miss—the ball bounced out of bounds, but it was touched by Andre Iguodala as it left the court, so the Heat still had possession. Chris Bosh inbounded from the baseline as the Heat continued their attack, though little time remained. LeBron James held the ball and pushed past Andre Iguodala, using his superior strength to force his way through and shoot. But Andre Iguodala’s long arms were no joke; despite his attempts to disrupt him, the shot missed and went awry. At the basket, Joel Anthony and Ben Wallace, along with Chris Bosh and Greg Monroe, were all jostling for position—several big men ready to fight for rebounds. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade, who had been tangled up with McGrady on the perimeter, suddenly broke free, accelerated into the paint, jumped high, caught the ball with one hand, and slammed it hard into the basket. With another clang, the expected image of the ball going through the net didn’t appear—instead, everyone saw Dwyane Wade throw the ball away due to excessive force, and Zhou Yi, standing at the free-throw line, miraculously caught the rebound. The entire crowd erupted in laughter at this ridiculous scene. “Damn!” Dwyane Wade cursed. Although the shot didn’t go in, everyone had to admire Dwyane Wade’s extraordinary jumping ability and explosive power. “Damn, Wade jumped really high just now,” Zhou Yi thought to himself as he dribbled the ball. The offense and defense switched. After driving past half-court, Zhou Yi took the ball and broke through from the right wing; seeing an opportunity for McGrady, he quickly passed the ball to him. McGrady caught the ball and immediately shot—a swish—as the ball went through the net. After the shot, McGrady gave Dwyane Wade a casual glance. Seeing this, LeBron James chuckled and said to Dwyane Wade, “Dwyane, that old guy Tracy is really fired up today. We need to show some strength—otherwise, we might actually lose this game, and that would be a huge embarrassment.” “No problem, I’ll give it my all from now on,” Dwyane Wade replied with a nod. The Heat launched another attack.
Dwyane Wade drove past the Pistons’ three-point line, signaling Chris Bosh to come out for a pick-and-roll. Seeing this, Chris Bosh rushed out to act as a human shield. Dwyane Wade bypassed Chris Bosh, while Tracy McGrady was blocked by him. LeBron James also slipped past Chris Bosh and headed toward the basket. Dwyane Wade passed the ball forward; LeBron James caught it and stepped over the free-throw line, ready to lay it in. At that moment, Greg Monroe let go of Chris Bosh, who rushed back in, while Ben Wallace took his position, ready to block LeBron James. But LeBron James flipped his wrist and passed the ball. It was caught by Chris Bosh. Chris Bosh, who had just completed the pick-and-roll, had already run back to the basket and was unguarded; after receiving the pass from LeBron James, he immediately dunked. The trio of the Heat played in perfect coordination. Zhou Yi drove past Mike Bibby, drawing Dwyane Wade’s defense, then made a bounce pass to McGrady, who was cutting toward the basket from the middle. After catching the ball, McGrady immediately dunked with one hand; the ball went in, and Joel Anthony, standing under the basket, could only serve as a backdrop to McGrady and Zhou Yi’s flawless teamwork. “Ding,” said the Heat’s head coach Erik Spoelstra, calling a timeout in frustration. The Pistons led the Heat 11–6 by 5 points, and loud cheers filled the arena—these cheers were for Zhou Yi. Although frustrated by the Heat’s poor performance earlier, Erik Spoelstra couldn’t get angry with LeBron James and the others; he could only patiently explain tactical issues to them. The timeout ended, and play resumed with the Heat’s offense. Mike Bibby was replaced by Mario Chalmers, who now held the ball. The Heat’s center, Joel Anthony, was also substituted out by veteran “Big Z” Zydrunas Ilgauskas. After half a court pass, Mario Chalmers passed the ball to LeBron James. James grabbed the ball with one hand, staring intently at Andre Iguodala—his previous offensive attempt had been blocked by Iguodala, so James had to be cautious. Otherwise, he might end up looking as embarrassed as Dwyane Wade had just done.
James took huge steps and suddenly rushed toward Andre Iguodala’s left side. Iguodala pressed James’s waist with his left hand while raising his right hand high. James pulled back sharply, raised the ball high with both hands, and jumped. Iguodala quickly tried to cover him, but James didn’t shoot—instead, he passed the ball high to Big Z. After catching it, Big Z turned and hit a beautiful hook shot, scoring the point.
The crowd booed LeBron James, who, upon hearing the boos, turned his face dark and ran back to his own half of the court. Zhou Yi glanced at the smug LeBron James and dribbled toward the Heat’s half. Iguodala ran to an open spot, and Zhou Yi quickly passed the ball to him. He caught it and shot. “Clang”—a miss. Dwyane Wade grabbed the defensive rebound. After grabbing the rebound, Dwyane Wade didn’t pass either; instead, he dribbled quickly toward the Pistons’ half. Big Z positioned himself ready to grab a rebound if his teammate missed. Unexpectedly, Dwyane Wade passed the ball directly to him when he saw Big Z in position—something even Big Z himself didn’t expect.
Big Z faced Ben Wallace and went one-on-one with him at the low post. Sensing Ben Wallace’s strong physique and solid defense, Big Z didn’t try to force it. Instead, he distracted Ben Wallace and passed the ball to Chris Bosh. Chris Bosh caught the ball, turned, and was about to lay it in, but Greg Monroe was right on his heels. Seeing Monroe’s youthful vigor, Chris Bosh grew angry. He flipped his wrist and made a cross-pass. Dwyane Wade, lurking outside the three-point line at the corner, caught the ball with no one around him—everyone else had already moved to another position. Dwyane Wade adjusted slightly after catching the ball and then shot, hitting the target.
It was the Pistons’ turn to attack. The ball went to McGrady, who was watched closely by Dwyane Wade. McGrady slowly controlled the ball, then suddenly accelerated, changed direction, stepped forward, and turned—all in one smooth motion. By the time he turned back, the ball was gone, flying straight toward Zhou Yi at the top of the key. Mario Chalmers was blocked by Greg Monroe, so he couldn’t keep up with Zhou Yi. In other words, Zhou Yi was completely open now. Zhou Yi jumped, flicked the ball with his right hand, and it shot straight toward the basket.
“Ding, ding, ding” — the basketball collided inside the hoop before reluctantly falling through. A three-pointer was made; Zhou Yi bumped into McGrady, then stepped back together to defend.
In these back-and-forth exchanges, both teams showed fierce determination. Though it was only the first quarter, the tension was high.
With 3.5 minutes left in the first quarter, both teams switched to their bench players.
On the Heat’s side, aside from LeBron James, Mario Chalmers, and Dwyane Wade who had just entered the game, all other players were substituted out, replaced by Mike Miller and “Uncle Ho” Jwan Howard.
On the Pistons’ side, except for Andre Iguodala and McGrady, everyone else was taken off the court. The substitutes were Samuel Dalembert, James Posey, and Will Bynum.
As soon as James Posey entered the game, he used his extensive experience to shoot a three-pointer over Mike Miller.
“Nice shot,” Zhou Yi said, taking a sip of his drink and smiling at Greg Monroe.
“Yes, James’ experience will be a huge help to us,” Greg Monroe replied, also grabbing a drink, saying that to Zhou Yi before taking a big gulp.
The Heat failed to score on their next attack; James Posey grabbed a defensive rebound and passed it to Will Bynum.
Bynum turned around and, using rotational defense, shot a three-pointer over Mario Chalmers.
“Wow, Will is pretty accurate too, haha…” Zhou Yi laughed heartily after seeing Bynum score a three-pointer.
Greg Monroe also laughed, squinting as he watched the game unfold.
The Heat once again failed to score; McGrady grabbed a defensive rebound and converted it into a fast break layup.
The Heat were playing poorly today — not only in offense but also in defense. Otherwise, how could the Pistons easily score two three-pointers in a row?
Eric Spoelstra shook his head as he watched the game.
LeBron James once again took on Andre Iguodala alone, drove to the basket, changed hands, and scored a layup, also drawing a foul on McGrady.
Seeing McGrady get fouled and considering he had already played nearly ten minutes, John Kuester decisively substituted McGrady out with Charlie Villanueva to let him rest.
LeBron James made his free throw.
On the Pistons’ side, Andre Iguodala used a pick-and-roll to score 2 points with a mid-range shot, responding to LeBron James.
Next, Mario Chalmers’ three-point attempt missed, and Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound and passed to the perimeter, where LeBron James took another shot and finally made a three-pointer. Will Bynum drove and hit a backdoor jump shot in front of Mario Chalmers. In the final three and a half minutes, both teams’ mostly bench players played vigorously, though the Pistons were more impressive. With the whistle blowing, the first quarter came to an end. The score was 26-18, with the Pistons leading by 8 points temporarily. The Pistons’ players on the bench cheered excitedly as they greeted their teammates coming toward them, while the Heat were relatively quiet, even subdued. “Let’s play harder from now on—no more defensive lapses,” LeBron James said, trying to suppress his anger. Though he controlled his anger, his words still carried a strong hint of frustration. “LeBron is right. We need to show intensity and definitely not lose to them,” added Heat coach Eric Spoelstra. On the Pistons’ side, the atmosphere was very positive, with coach John Kuester smiling as he explained tactics to his players. “We’ll continue playing this way—team basketball. Even though they have superstars like LeBron and Dwyane, as long as we play as a team, we’ll definitely win,” Kuester added. “Understood,” the Pistons replied in unison. Kuester then outlined the tactics for the second quarter, with all the players listening attentively. “Alright, let’s go, guys,” Kuester said as time approached. “Go, go, go!” the Pistons encouraged each other. With the referee’s whistle, the second quarter began, with the Heat in possession. LeBron James played the entire first quarter and was now replaced by James Jones, while Chris Bosh took over along with a group of bench players. The Pistons also made some adjustments to their lineup: point guard Will Bynum, shooting guard James Posey, small forward Austin Daye, power forward Taylor Hansbrough, and center Samuel Dalembert. Mario Chalmers drove with the ball, attempted a quick stop jump shot, but missed, and Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound. Taylor Hansbrough raised his right hand to push against Chris Bosh.
Chris Bosh’s sudden reverse layup caught Taylor Hansbrough off guard. The ball went in, and Bosh stepped back triumphantly. On the Pistons’ offense, James Posey assisted Will Bynum for a successful layup. The teams continued to trade blows, and at 4:31 remaining, the Pistons called a timeout to bring in their starting lineup. By this point in the second quarter, led by Chris Bosh, the Heat had narrowed the gap to 34–30, only 4 points behind the Pistons. The 20-second timeout ended quickly, and the Pistons substituted Zhou Yi for James Posey, Charlie Villanueva for Austin Daye, and Greg Monroe for Samuel Dalembert. The Heat, of course, also brought in their starters. LeBron James drove into the Pistons’ half, with Charlie Villanueva closely following. Glancing at Villanueva, LeBron sneered and darted past him from the left. Villanueva shifted his weight in that direction, but as he did, LeBron pulled the ball back and shot a jump shot. With a swish, the ball went in, reducing the Heat’s deficit to 2 points. Without looking at Villanueva, LeBron turned and ran back to his own half. Will Bynum took control of the ball, guarded by Dwyane Wade. After moving past half-court, Bynum passed the ball to Zhou Yi. Facing Mike Bibby, Zhou Yi used a crossover to get past him. But Dwyane Wade quickly closed in, while Mike Bibby shifted to guard Bynum. Zhou Yi accelerated suddenly, breaking toward Dwyane Wade’s right side. Dwyane Wade didn’t dare take chances; the earlier encounter had made him take Zhou Yi more seriously. He quickly stepped back, shifting his weight to the right. But Zhou Yi suddenly executed a crossover, breaking in the opposite direction, causing Dwyane Wade to stumble. However, just as Zhou Yi rushed toward the basket, he lost control of the ball. Dwyane Wade stole it, allowing the Heat’s Mike Bibby to grab it and score on a fast break, while also drawing a defensive foul on Will Bynum. Zhou Yi stood in the middle of the court with his hands on his hips, frustrated, watching Mike Bibby take the free throw.
Mike Bibby takes a free throw, but it misses. Thankfully it didn’t go in, otherwise the Heat would have taken a 1-point lead.
The Pistons attack; Will Bynum, perhaps provoked by Bibby’s earlier taunt, throws a three-pointer almost right at Bibby’s face — 37:34.
Seeing Bibby’s annoyed expression, Bynum must have been overjoyed.
Dwyane Wade asks LeBron James for a screen, finds space, and shoots without hesitation. The ball goes in — 37:36!
John Kuester shakes his head as he sees Bynum unable to contain Dwyane Wade, quickly substituting Bynum for Tracy McGrady and then Charles Villanueva for Andre Iguodala.
Zhou Yi accelerates, using nothing but speed to bypass Mike Bibby in one step. After passing Bibby, Zhou Yi feels no joy, as Dwyane Wade is already in front of him.
Zhou Yi pretends to drive but actually passes the ball to McGrady behind Wade. McGrady catches the ball, charges to the basket, pushes Joel Anthony aside, and scores, also drawing a foul on Anthony.
McGrady immediately executes this brilliant play with Zhou Yi, earning cheers from many fans, including those who previously supported the Heat’s “Big Three.”
“Heh, Zhou still plays the best with Tracy!” says one of Kuester’s assistant coaches.
“Yeah, their chemistry is getting better and better. It seems they really have a chance to become the Pistons’ backcourt duo,” says Kuester, smiling as he watches Zhou Yi and McGrady celebrate.
The assistant coach nods in agreement.
While McGrady is taking his free throws, Pistons head coach John Kuester quickly substitutes Taylor Hansbrough for Samuel Dalembert. Hansbrough had scored 4 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and blocked 1 shot in nearly 7 minutes on the court, fulfilling his role well.
On the Heat’s side, they also substitute Joel Anthony for McGrady while he’s at the line, bringing in Dwyane Wade.
McGrady takes his free throw and makes the extra shot.
The Heat attack.
Chris Bosh took a jump shot near the free-throw line after receiving a pass from LeBron James, but missed. McGrady outmuscleled the big men inside and secured the rebound. Just as McGrady was about to get the rebound, Zhou Yi rushed frantically toward the Heat’s half-court. McGrady dribbled twice, saw that Zhou Yi had already entered the Heat’s half-court, and then threw the ball forcefully forward. With a swish, Zhou Yi scored an easy layup! The entire arena erupted, and Zhou Yi smiled as he headed toward the Pistons’ half-court. LeBron James drove with the ball, passed it to Mike Bibby, who tried to drive to the basket but missed; Zhou Yi, who was following him, grabbed the defensive rebound. Andre Iguodala’s mid-range shot from the free-throw line missed, and Greg Monroe leaped high, dunking the ball back in the basket while also drawing a foul on Chris Bosh. Chris Bosh angrily rushed at the referee, trying to argue that Greg Monroe had pushed him while grabbing the rebound, but the referee ignored him. Then, Chris Bosh went at Greg Monroe, exchanging harsh words. Greg Monroe took a free throw, but unfortunately missed, and Chris Bosh grabbed the defensive rebound. Mike Bibby drove with the ball, passed it to Dwyane Wade in the corner; Wade stepped back beyond the three-point line and shot a three-pointer, which actually went in. The Heat cheered, and the Heat fans in the stands applauded enthusiastically in support. On the Pistons’ side, McGrady and Greg Monroe set up a pick-and-roll, then passed to Greg Monroe, who ran back to the basket. Greg Monroe caught the ball, jumped, and scored a powerful dunk. The Heat’s Dwyane Wade and Mike Bibby played with three substitutes, while the Pistons’ McGrady and Andre Iguodala also played with three substitutes. The two-and-a-half-minute game ended quickly, and during that time, McGrady of the Pistons and Dwyane Wade of the Heat seemed to be competing fiercely, both performing exceptionally well, almost giving their all. In that short period, McGrady scored 6 points, 1 assist, and 1 block, while Dwyane Wade scored 8 points and 2 blocks. At the end of the first half, the score was 55:48, with the Pistons still leading by 7 points.
LeBron James scored 15 points in the first half, the highest on his team, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but also 2 turnovers. Dwyane Wade scored 14 points, though his shooting percentage was low, hitting 4 out of 11 attempts. The third member of the “Big Three,” Chris Bosh, scored 10 points and added 7 rebounds. Together, the Heat’s “Big Three” scored 39 points, accounting for most of the team’s total, while the other players scored only 9 points.
On the Pistons’ side, the highest scorer was McGrady with 16 points, along with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Zhou Yi scored 13 points and 3 assists. Besides McGrady and Zhou Yi, another player scored in double figures for the Pistons—Andre Iguodala, who hit three three-pointers and one two-point shot in the first half, totaling 11 points.
During the halftime break, many media reporters interviewed both teams. The main focus of the interviews was naturally the violent altercation that occurred in the second quarter, while the second focus was the confrontation between the two teams’ “Big Three.” Soon, the second half began. Both teams started the second half with the same lineups as at the start of the first quarter, with no changes.
With a “ding,” the third quarter commenced. The Heat took control of the ball and started their first offensive drive of the quarter. Mike Bibby handled the ball, drove half-court, and passed it to Dwyane Wade. After receiving the ball, Dwyane Wade took a tentative step forward before suddenly accelerating and breaking toward McGrady’s left side. McGrady stayed close to Dwyane Wade, trying to block his path. Dwyane Wade pushed McGrady hard before suddenly stepping back and taking a jump shot, which went in. McGrady frowned, clearly finding it difficult to defend Dwyane Wade.
Zhou Yi took control of the ball, steadily advanced to the front court, and passed it to the interior player Greg Monroe. Naturally, the player defending Greg Monroe was the former “Dragon King” Chris Bosh. When Greg Monroe and Chris Bosh faced each other, they exchanged trash talk. However, since both had already been warned by the referee, their trash talk remained relatively mild. Greg Monroe sneered, leaned against Chris Bosh, pushed hard backward, then suddenly turned and pretended to take a backboard jump shot. But just as Chris Bosh closed in, he flipped his wrist and passed the ball.
It was Zhou Yi who caught the ball. Zhou Yi cut toward the basket from the middle, Chris Bosh was tricked into jumping by Greg Monroe, and Joel Anthony was drawn aside by Ben Wallace. So, for Zhou Yi, the area under the basket was practically empty. But Mike Bibby was right behind Zhou Yi. Thus, it wasn’t easy for Zhou Yi to attack under the basket either.
After rushing to the basket, Zhou Yi didn’t attempt a dunk or even shoot as people expected. Mike Bibby, who was behind him, also chased up and kept a close eye on Zhou Yi to prevent him from attacking under the basket.
At that moment, Greg Monroe, who had tricked Chris Bosh into jumping earlier, rushed in front of Chris Bosh, and Zhou Yi naturally passed the ball to him.
“Damn it…” Seeing this, Chris Bosh muttered under his breath and turned to charge at Greg Monroe.
But Greg Monroe didn’t hesitate at all and immediately jumped up for a one-handed dunk.
Chris Bosh and Mike Bibby were completely left in the background.
Although this whole thing took some time to unfold, it happened in an instant. All the fans in the arena were deeply shocked by this play, and they couldn’t help but praise Zhou Yi’s ability to control the game.
If Zhou Yi had attacked on his own earlier, although the chances of success were high, the risk of failure was also significant due to Mike Bibby’s interference. But by connecting with Greg Monroe and having him break through Chris Bosh’s defense to attack, the chances of success were greatly increased. It’s truly amazing how calm and strategic Zhou Yi was.
Chris Bosh grunted angrily at Greg Monroe, then glared at Zhou Yi, the one who started it all, before going to set up a free throw.
“Chris, don’t worry about it. We’ll get it back,” LeBron James said after glancing at the furious Chris Bosh.
“Mm,” Chris Bosh replied.
LeBron James drove across half-court without passing, choosing to attack on his own. After signaling for Chris Bosh to set up a pick-and-roll, LeBron James suddenly accelerated, shaking off Andre Iguodala like a tiger out of its cage and heading straight for the basket.
Seeing Andre Iguodala being left behind by LeBron James, Greg Monroe quickly released Chris Bosh and had Ben Wallace help defend him, then rushed forward to cover LeBron James.
Faced with LeBron James’ attack, Greg Monroe showed no sign of backing down.
LeBron James saw Greg Monroe’s defensive stance, smirked, then leaped upward like an eagle spreading its wings. Holding the ball in one hand, he moved with the confidence of a king who could crush any obstacle in his path, almost as if he were riding Greg Monroe to dunk the ball into the basket. After completing that fierce dunk, LeBron James landed and raised his arms, seemingly listening to the cheers from the crowd. But there were no cheers—only loud, deafening boos. The teams switched sides, with the Pistons taking over offense. McGrady played one-on-one against Dwyane Wade and passed the ball to Greg Monroe, who was near the free-throw line. Monroe caught the ball and shot, scoring right off the backboard. As time passed, 6 minutes had already gone by in the third quarter, yet the score remained close: 67-65, with the Pistons still leading by 2 points. Although the Pistons held a 2-point advantage, they showed no signs of complacency. Perhaps LeBron James’ dunk had boosted the Heat’s morale, as the Pistons reduced their earlier 7-point lead to just 2 points in those few minutes. Thus, the battle between the two teams remained fiercely close. Mike Bibby drove to the basket, and Zhou Yi suddenly found an opening to steal the ball. Unfortunately, though he succeeded in stealing it, the ball hit Mike Bibby’s hand, and the referee immediately called a foul on Zhou Yi. John Kuester checked the time—there were still over 4 minutes left in the third quarter, so it was time to bring in the bench players for rest. So, John Kuester took the opportunity to switch to his reserve lineup. Seeing the Pistons bring in their substitutes, the Heat also replaced their starters to prepare for the intense battle in the fourth quarter. Now, everyone knew this game would be a tough, fierce fight, with the fourth quarter being the most critical part of it. In the last 4 minutes of the third quarter, the bench players fought fiercely, signaling that the final quarter would be even more intense and brutal.