Chapter 178

The second quarter turned entirely into a battle between the two teams’ outside shooters. The Heat’s forward-guard combination made aggressive breaks, repeatedly breaking through the Pistons’ defense, while Zhou Yi and McGrady also hit their three-point shots one after another.
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The Heat led 67–61, with such a high halftime score being rare even in regular-season games, let alone in the defense-focused playoffs against the league’s most efficient defensive team. Such high-quality offense thrilled the fans in attendance.
“A score this high is uncommon in the playoffs, but the situation on the court isn’t clear. For either team to win the series, defense is key. Compared to them, the Heat are clearly more adept at balancing offense and defense,” said Clyde Drexler. At present, the two teams are evenly matched, with the outcome still uncertain.
John Kuester appeared very anxious about the situation. The opponent’s continuous scoring kept the Pistons from closing the gap. The team’s biggest problem now was their inability to break through inside. The clash between Chris Bosh and Greg Monroe was fierce, with every inch of the paint fiercely contested, making it difficult to find a comfortable shooting position. By the final moments, both players were exhausted—Greg Monroe had three fouls, while Chris Bosh had four.
It was by looking at the statistics that Zhou Yi made up his mind. With both teams’ outside shooters in top form, the battle inside was what truly mattered. Greg Monroe and Chris Bosh were irreplaceable for their respective teams, and the loss of either would bring irreparable harm to their squads.