Chapter 158: Three-Point Contest (Final)
Novak smiled bitterly, knowing he wouldn't make it to the final.
Wade Dong still had plenty of time, so at the last shooting spot, he was very relaxed, casually tossing the ball with one hand towards the basket.
"Wade Dong is having fun!"
"Hey~ Too arrogant, very fitting for his personality!"
The commentators laughed as they saw Wade Dong's shooting style.
Compared to the other players, Wade Dong was almost shooting blindly at the last spot... until the last money ball, Wade Dong picked up the ball, turned to Jordan, and smiled, "Old man, is this shooting style familiar?"
"Get out of here!"
Jordan was also amused.
The players in the front row of the audience laughed heartily.
Years ago, when Jordan participated in the Three-Point Contest, his shooting at the last spot was just like Wade Dong's blind tossing. The difference was that Wade Dong was shooting blindly because he was sure to enter the final, while Jordan was shooting blindly because he was sure not to enter the final.
"Swish!!!"
Wade Dong made the last money ball, scoring 23 points in total, ranking first in the preliminary round and advancing to the final along with Curry and Irving.
"The players entering the PK round are Irving~~~ Curry~~~ Wade Dong~~~"
The DJ's voice echoed through the arena.
The PK round began, with Curry being the first to shoot.
"Hoo~~~"
Curry placed both hands on the basketball, took a deep breath, and with the sound of the whistle, he started shooting.
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Clang!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
Curry had a good touch at the first spot, scoring 5 points. Then, Curry quickly moved to the forty-five-degree angle, picked up the basketball, and continued shooting.
"Clang!!!"
The first shot at the forty-five-degree angle missed, Curry made adjustments, and then made three consecutive shots, but missed the last money ball.
8 points!!!
Curry ran to the center line, continuing his hot shooting touch.
By the time he reached the last spot, Curry had already scored 19 points. This was the PK round, and he was the first to shoot, so Curry couldn't relax like Wade Dong.
"10!!!"
"9!!!"
The countdown on the court also sounded.
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Clang!!!"
"Clang!!!"
"Swish!!!"
At the last spot, Curry made three shots, including the last money ball, bringing his total score to 23 points.
This was Wade Dong's preliminary round score.
It was Irving's turn, but Irving's touch was not good this round, missing consecutive shots, and ended up with only 14 points, basically out of the final.
Seeing Irving's low score, Jordan ran onto the court, hugged Wade Dong's neck, and jokingly threatened, "If you dare to imitate me again, I'll kill you!"
"No way, no way!"
Wade Dong laughed and walked to the first shooting spot, but not imitating Jordan was impossible.
"Swish!!!"
"Clang!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Clang!!!"
Wade Dong increased his shooting speed, scoring only 3 points at the first spot, then quickly moved to the second spot.
However, at the second spot, Wade Dong made some adjustments, significantly improving his accuracy.
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
Wade Dong made all five shots at the second spot.
...
Yu Jia, "Oh wow~ Wade Dong scored 6 points at the second spot."
Coach Zhang, "This way, Wade Dong only needs to score 6 more points to enter the final with Curry."
...
Yu Jia, "Wade Dong is having fun!"
Coach Zhang, "Yeah, just having fun."
...
At the center line shooting spot, Wade Dong scored 4 points, bringing his total to 13 points.
At the fourth spot, Wade Dong steadily made the first two three-pointers, surpassing Irving's score and securing his place in the final, with 30 seconds remaining.
Wade Dong picked up the third basketball but did not shoot. Instead, he turned to Jordan, "Old man, have you heard of shooting three-pointers with your eyes closed?"
"Oh my god!"
Jordan had just threatened Wade Dong not to imitate him, and now Wade Dong was pulling this stunt.
Closing his eyes to shoot free throws was one of Jordan's famous moments, and now Wade Dong was going to shoot a three-pointer with his eyes closed. Moreover, Wade Dong and Jordan's conversation was broadcast live to basketball fans around the world.
Coach Zhang exclaimed in surprise, "Wade Dong is going to shoot a three-pointer with his eyes closed?"
Then, the camera focused on Wade Dong, who really closed his eyes, picked up the ball, shot, and made it!
"Wow!!!"
The audience erupted in amazement as Wade Dong actually made a three-pointer with his eyes closed.
But it wasn't over yet. Wade Dong kept his eyes closed, picked up the second ball, shot, and made it!
The third money ball, made it!!!
This time, the arena erupted in thunderous cheers. Although it was after securing his place in the final, Wade Dong was the first to shoot three-pointers with his eyes closed in the Three-Point Contest, and he made all three shots with his eyes closed.
"How about that, old man?"
Wade Dong turned to Jordan and waved his hand.
Jordan covered his face, "I've been outdone by this kid!"
At the last spot, Wade Dong's shooting was very relaxed, and in the end, he scored 22 points in the PK round, advancing to the Three-Point Contest final with Curry.
...
In the final, Wade Dong became serious.
Wade Dong was the first to shoot.
When he placed his hands on the ball, Wade Dong's expression changed.
"Beep!!!"
The starting whistle sounded.
Wade Dong picked up the ball, shot with a smooth motion, and made all five shots at the first spot.
"Swish!!!"
"Swish!!!"
...
"Swish!!!"
At the second spot, Wade Dong made all five shots again!
"12 points!!!"
The DJ's commentary also became excited.
At the third spot, Wade Dong missed one money ball. At the fourth spot, Wade Dong missed one regular ball.
"21 points!!!"
The DJ excitedly shouted, "He has a chance to break the Three-Point Contest record!"
"Hoo~~~"
At the last spot, Wade Dong paused for two seconds to adjust his stance, then picked up the basketball and shot!
"22 points!"
"23 points!"
The audience also shouted Wade Dong's score with each made shot.
"25 points!!!"
Wade Dong tied the Three-Point Contest scoring record, with only the last money ball left and 4 seconds remaining.
Wade Dong made another adjustment, and the basketball drew a semicircle in the air.
"27 points!!!"
"Wade Dong broke the Three-Point Contest record!"
Nash and Bynum were both excited and ran onto the court. Scoring 27 points in the Three-Point Contest was the highest score in the league's history!
"The pressure is too great~"
Curry smiled bitterly and prepared to shoot. He had to make sure every money ball went in and miss no more than two shots to break Wade Dong's record.