NBA: Miracle Workers

Chapter 866 The more crucial the moment, the more disastrous the performance. (Daily Chapter)
On Monday, June 10, 2013, the AT&T Center erupted after three quarters as San Antonio fans witnessed Tim Duncan's career-defining night!
After a complete collapse in Game 2, Duncan bounced back at home at the age of 37, performing so efficiently that he was frequently tweeted by basketball commentators on social media.

In 32 minutes of play, Duncan went 13-for-16 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line, scoring 30 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, making 1 steal, and committing 2 turnovers. He completely exploded, carrying the Spurs on his own!

Without relying on the referee's calls, Duncan's jump shots near the free-throw line were incredibly accurate tonight, setting the tone for the game early on. If his teammates hadn't performed poorly, the Spurs would likely have taken a much bigger lead.

With the score at 80-82, the Spurs entered the fourth quarter with their first lead of the series.

"Oh!!"

Amid cheers from Spurs fans, the Knicks, who took the lead on offense, missed another shot. Danny Green, like most of his teammates, seemed to have a black brick streak, a far cry from his excellent performance at home.

Popovich, who was being interviewed by Doris Burke, was also quite excited. The old man praised the outstanding performance of "Big Three" during the game:

"It's hard for me to describe how I feel right now. Tim stepped up in the most crucial game of the series. Don't forget he's 37 years old. I can't ask for more."

"The Spurs will not take any chances. We need more people to step up and help Tim. Tactics are no longer important at this moment. This will be a battle of wills."

"."

ABC broadcasters frequently focused their cameras on Duncan on the bench. The former MVP was not sitting in his seat as usual, but stood up and loudly directed the game. Anyone could see the veteran's desire for victory.

The broadcast director also made sure to show the viewers the stats of the two teams' key players again. For the Knicks, Li You's performance was as consistently solid as ever.
14中12，三分线外7中5，罚球8中8，37分10篮板7助攻3抢断1盖帽。

Unlike the previous two games, Li You failed to achieve a triple-double in the first three quarters. Tonight, the Knicks are currently shooting 7-for-25 from three-point range, showing a rare trend of getting worse as the game progresses.

Above the arena, in the CCTV commentary booth, while Diaw missed a shot in the left-side blocking area, Kobe continued to chat with his two teammates about the game:

"There will always be a night when good opportunities arise but cannot be converted into points."

"But I really admire the fighting spirit of the Knicks' young players. At least they are willing to take responsibility. In a game like this, there's no need to worry about shooting percentage. When an opportunity arises, you just have to take it."

"Both teams did a great job in this regard, and the Spurs showed their hunger for victory tonight."

As Zhang Weiping translated, he began his usual supplementary remarks. The old man spoke at breakneck speed, launching into his usual boastful remarks for the series:

"Kobe is right, but I think Li You wasn't in a hurry at all. He could still chat and laugh with his teammates at this time, which shows that he was confident."

"We're only this far behind because my teammates are shooting like this. Once our outside shooting gets going and we get on a run, the game will be over in no time!"

"."

Yu Jia, standing to the side, was speechless. If he remembered correctly, when Duncan missed several shots in Game 2, the old man criticized Duncan's expressionless face as "lacking competitive spirit."

The Knicks are currently trailing on the road, and Li You's performance has been "mediocre," but the old man keeps praising him, almost saying that the Spurs are destined to lose.

Parker, who had performed well in the third quarter, was resting on the bench. During the rotation, George Hill took over the point guard position. Tonight, Popovich's favorite player had a tough time, going 1-for-5 in three quarters. After taking on defensive duties, his offense completely collapsed.
George Hill held onto the ball too long on offensive possessions, and Splitter's screen at the top of the key couldn't shake off Irving's pursuit. During the rotation, the Knicks' young players played harder on defense, sparing no effort to squeeze through the screens.

Upon hearing Ginobili's voice, George Hill eventually passed the ball to the veteran, and the Spurs reorganized their offense, with Leonard and Diaw spreading out on the right half of the court.

Splitter rushed to the left wing to set a screen, and facing Danny Green chasing and Vucevic delaying his move, Ginobili risked sending a nutmeg bounce pass.

"Oh"

Amidst low cheers, the basketball bounced and landed precisely in Splitter's hands under the basket. The big man caught the ball and attacked the rim directly, and Ibaka, who was helping on defense, was unable to stop the opponent from scoring.

The AT&T Center erupted once again, and McGrady, who had remained silent on the bench for the first two games, stood up and pumped his fist in celebration.

With the team in a favorable position, Tracy McGrady, who was nominated for Qingdao's Top Ten Youth Award in the CBA, has even higher expectations. If the lead is even greater, he might get a chance to play!

The Spurs double-teamed Irving with a pick-and-roll, but the young player still couldn't find Vucevic rolling to the basket in time, so they had to pass the ball safely to Butler on the left wing.

Butler almost had the ball stolen by Leonard's long arms again, but he turned around in time, put the ball down with his left hand and made a quick breakthrough, only to be caught up by the opponent again.

After dribbling a couple of steps and feeling the defensive pressure on his side, Butler, having figured out the call marking, stopped drawing fouls and made a bounce pass to Ibaka in the low post.

Upon receiving the ball, facing Diaw's tight defense, Ibaka, relying on his old teammate, launched a one-handed lob shot that swished through the net.

At 82:84, the boos continued unabated.

When the Spurs were close to 24 seconds left and Ginobili drove to the free-throw line, head coach D'Antoni complained to the referee twice.

Danny Green, who was missing several shots and making mistakes, helplessly put his hands on his hips. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Li You on the bench give him a thumbs up.

Less than two minutes later, Duncan returned to the court, replacing Splitter. Seeing the Spurs' rotation adjustments, Yu Jia, the commentator for CCTV, asked again:

"Will Duncan's stamina be affected by playing early again? He has had very little rest tonight."

"This is the finals. In such a crucial game, Tim's desire to win will overcome his physical fatigue."

As soon as Kobe finished speaking, Zhang Weiping began translating again, the old man embellishing the story as always:

"Kobe is right, this is a test of willpower, but it's hard to say whether Duncan can hold on until the end. Once Li You has rested enough, a few three-pointers from Bangbang could change the course of the game."

"."

Despite the Spurs' key players returning early and Leonard returning to the power forward position, the Knicks' young players withstood the pressure and prevented the point difference from widening further.

With 7 minutes and 03 seconds left in the game, Li Youcai returned to the court. D'Antoni still used the clock to rotate players. After the substitution, the mustachioed player returned to the bench and used a fadeaway jumper, seemingly unconcerned about the 4-point difference.

As time ticked away, the atmosphere at the AT&T Center grew increasingly tense. Lee Yu's three-pointer before the 24-second shot clock expired sent San Antonio fans into a frenzy, while Parker's crucial shot from the top of the arc ignited wild celebrations among the crowd.

Duncan's missed layup under the basket made the Spurs' bench players cover their faces, while Ray Allen's continued misses on three-pointers elicited cheers from the crowd.

With 1 minute and 07 seconds left, Duncan was repeatedly disrupted by Ibaka's fronting maneuver when he tried to receive the ball in the low post. Parker didn't hesitate any longer and accelerated into the left wing despite Ray Allen's defense.

Duncan quickly set a screen for his teammates, but despite being contested by Ray Allen and Gasol, the Frenchman still couldn't find an opening. When he reached the lower right side of the basket, he quickly passed the ball to George Hill on the wing.

After passing the ball, Parker accelerated towards the top of the arc to try to receive it again, but George Hill saw Li You shouting instructions and simply released the ball with his right hand and accelerated to break through.
In the crucial round, George Hill, who had just gotten past Li You, felt that the time had come to "decide the game"!

Noticing the movement behind him, George Hill suddenly changed his pace while moving, skillfully pushing the ball and changing direction to instantly reach the vicinity of the free throw line in the paint.

With a fluid crossover and step-back, the moment George Hill finished his jump shot, Li You, who had just been out of position, seemed to have anticipated his opponent's move, his outstretched left arm perfectly slicing the ball away.
"what!"

With a scream, George Hill leaped into the air and performed a spectacular "Flying Horse Stomp," prompting Parker to chase after him from beyond the three-point line. However, upon reaching the paint, Parker abandoned his defense and watched as Li You glided and slammed the ball down!
At 105-106, the Spurs immediately called a timeout.

Popovich, his face flushed, waved directly at Diaw; George Hill's reckless attack had greatly disappointed the old man.

Almost all the San Antonio fans in attendance stood up to watch the game, marking the Spurs' closest brush with victory.

ABC broadcasters then focused their camera on Lee Woo, who seemed out of place in the atmosphere. With 58 seconds left and trailing by one point, he still wore a relaxed smile, a stark contrast to his opponent.

"There aren't many options. The Spurs can only double-team Lee and keep a few players around him." "That sounds a bit far-fetched, but praying to God that the other players miss their shots is obviously more effective."

After giving his opinion, Van Gundy shook his head. The game seemed intense, but in reality, the Knicks were just too cold tonight. If their open perimeter players had been able to capitalize on their opportunities, the Spurs would have been overtaken long ago.

"I'm more concerned about Duncan's condition. He didn't score in the last quarter, and his physical condition seems to have reached its limit."

After reviewing the statistics, Mike Breen was somewhat surprised. 0-for-3 shooting, aside from 2 rebounds, Duncan, who is usually very active on the court, had actually been "invisible" for quite some time.
"Go Spurs Go!"

Amidst the resounding cheers from the arena, Parker received the ball at the top of the key immediately after the inbound pass, and Duncan quickly moved to the elbow area to receive it. As everyone moved, the Spurs calmly executed their standard tactics.

With half the shot clock expired, Leonard passed the ball back to Parker, and Duncan once again stepped up to set a screen.

He tried to find a mismatch opportunity with Gasol, but Li You squeezed past him in time. Parker could only wave to his teammate Lacazette, take a step back and push the ball to change direction. The Frenchman switched to his right hand and accelerated to break through.

Amidst a low murmur, Parker gritted his teeth and forcefully drove to the vicinity of the blocking area. After the confrontation, he slowed down and decisively turned around. When he arrived in the paint, the Frenchman leaned back, trying to dodge the block, but was still blocked by Li You.

"Oh"

With the shot clock running out, amidst gasps of surprise, Ginobili, quick-thinking and agile, seized possession of the ball before Ray Allen could react.

Near the free-throw line, the Argentine leaned to one side against the defense and threw the ball toward the basket. The referee blew the whistle, and the shot clock expired.

The Spurs got another chance to shoot free throws, and the fans in the arena celebrated wildly. In this desperate situation, Ginobili stepped up once again, and the cheers just kept going.

"That's the hunger for victory! The Spurs did a better job with the details of the game."

On the CCTV commentary booth, Kobe immediately offered words of praise, and Mamba was in high spirits, wishing he could go up and "show off a bit".
"Oh! You missed the penalty! That shouldn't have happened; you might have been just one point short in the end."

Zhang Weiping didn't translate at this point, but the old man instead gloated. Yu Jia, standing to the side, felt somewhat helpless listening to the two men's completely different tones, and could only offer his comments:
With 34.2 seconds left, the Knicks still have a chance to take the lead.

"."

The opponent made one of two free throws, but D'Antoni didn't call a timeout. The mustachioed man with his arms crossed remained calm, and he only frowned slightly when he saw Ray Allen continue to miss shots after being left wide open.

With 17.4 seconds left, Marion was called for a rebounding foul. The veteran shrugged and laughed after hearing the referee's explanation. Leonard, who secured the rebound, quickly walked to the free-throw line.

The once-boiling arena fell silent again, and after Leonard missed his free throw with a blank expression, many fans covered their mouths in dismay.

For the second free throw, the rookie took a deep breath at the free throw line, and as he released the ball and watched it spin, Leonard was completely numb. Fortunately, the ball eventually spun into the net.

105-108, Popovich shouted loudly. The old man didn't expect the opponent to still not call a timeout. At this moment, he wished he could go on the court and double-team Li You.
Gasol, who was standing near the free-throw line, tilted his head to ask if he should set a screen. When he saw the tactical hand gesture made by Li You, he calmly stepped forward to screen.

The familiar scene made Duncan's eyes widen. His exhausted energy instantly returned, and the 37-year-old veteran made no more mistakes. He cooperated with Leonard to delay the pass and precisely cut off the passing lane.

Watching Duncan's agile sliding movements, the shouts almost broke the stadium.

With consecutive pick-and-rolls disrupted and little time remaining on the shot clock, McGrady on the Spurs' bench shouted excitedly.

When Gasol received the ball near his right elbow, he intended to pass it back to Li You, but after receiving a signal, he decisively turned around, dribbled a step up the court, and promptly passed the ball to Ray Allen, who had bounced outwards.

"Oh"

Parker, who was trying to defend, couldn't get past him. When Ray Allen took a jump shot without any interference, the Spurs fans in the arena all gasped in surprise.

The moment the ball bounced off the rim, Duncan had already quickly returned to the lower left side of the basket. Years of rebounding experience allowed him to anticipate the landing point. At that moment, the veteran only had the basketball flying through the air in his eyes.

Duncan, who was jumping with all his might, suddenly heard another scream. Just as he was about to grab the rebound, the basketball suddenly changed direction, and Li You, who had rushed to the basket, slapped the ball away first.

"God! Lee slammed the ball into the corner!"

Mike Breen, the commentator on ABC, exclaimed in surprise, thinking there had been a mistake. But in the blink of an eye, Ray Allen, who had just been on the wing, "appeared" at the point where the basketball was about to land and made a drifting jump shot.

The AT&T Center suddenly turned into a library. Parker, who was making a desperate defense, almost flew out of bounds along with Ray Allen. Duncan, under the basket, stared wide-eyed as the basketball fell into the net.

"Bang!"

"New York has tied the game! Ray Allen hit the first three-pointer of the second half with 3.2 seconds left. An incredible shot!"

An excited Mike Brin shouted repeatedly. Although losing the game meant winning the championship at home, he would be just as happy as a die-hard New York fan if he could get the match point on the "night of missed shots".

The Knicks' cheerleading squad rushed onto the court, and Li You, celebrating with his friends by bumping chests, couldn't help but joke:
"Bro, you almost stopped my triple-double! But I know you can always find your rhythm."

Ray Allen, surrounded by young players, thumped his chest repeatedly and shouted as he made his first truly disastrous performance since joining New York in the Finals.
"I swear, I can handle them tonight!"

Watching the Knicks' young players yelling and screaming on the court, McGrady on the Spurs' bench stared wide-eyed again.

The replay on the big screen showed that at the crucial moment, Leonard missed his man, and Li You accelerated early, making extremely accurate predictions about the ball's landing point, thus seizing the opportunity.

Popovich loudly encouraged his players, but unfortunately, everyone who returned to the bench had blank stares, and the momentum between the two sides suddenly reversed at the last moment.

As the timeout ended, Parker's final attack was an airball against Li You's defense. Many San Antonio fans who had gotten up to watch the game covered their faces with their hands, and everyone felt that the game was over.

Amidst the noise, in the first overtime possession, Duncan, who had been invisible in the fourth quarter, had his pick-and-roll attack blocked behind his head by Li You.
Seeing Duncan stumble and fall out of bounds, Popovich suddenly lost his composure and stared intently at the Knicks as they launched their counterattack.

A fake pass to Gasol, who was unguarded, led to Li You's 11th assist. The Spanish big man then slammed the ball down with one hand, pounded his chest, and roared, displaying his tough-guy demeanor!

After the pick-and-roll, Parker's pull-up jumper in the right elbow area was interfered with by Li You and missed. Duncan and Gasol were entangled under the basket, and after falling to the ground, they watched as Ibaka grabbed the rebound.
After receiving the ball, Li You immediately found Ray Allen, who forced a jump shot on the left wing against the defense and made it!

"shush"

The boos didn't dampen the Knicks' spirits; the young players joined in Ray Allen's shouts, and the game seemed to return to its familiar rhythm.

Ginobili's drive and pass found Duncan under the basket. Duncan's layup was interfered with by Gasol and missed. He fought hard for the second-chance rebound and froze on the spot when he threw the ball out to the outside.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Li You suddenly accelerated, heading straight for Parker at the top of the arc. While Duncan's pass was still in mid-air, the Frenchman could only watch as his opponent headed the ball towards his own half.
As Li Youshu executed his spectacular 365-degree dunk, the entire arena fell silent. Overtime had just begun, and with a 0-7 deficit, the San Antonio fans in the screaming seats began to silently leave.

The timeout failed to help the Spurs' offense. Duncan missed his mid-range jump shot, couldn't finish at the basket, and ultimately missed even his free throws.

Duncan, retreating on defense, saw the Knicks' grinning atmosphere on the sidelines and completely broke down, fouling Gasol when he received the ball in the low post, sending him to the free throw line.

"It's over! Duncan really did his best."

Zhang Weiping started making sarcastic remarks again. Kobe, who had been silent all along, pursed his lips, looking very dejected. The Mamba could only sigh helplessly at this point:

"Time finally defeated the 37-year-old veteran."

(End of this chapter)