Chapter 200: Curry's Heroic Performance

"Damn!"

"Damn!"

"Damn!"

The fans all exclaim in shock.

McGrady dunks on Patterson? This shock is far greater than when Wade Dong dunked on Patterson. The familiar McGrady is back!

"Damn!!!"

Kidd is excitedly jumping around on the sidelines.

McGrady's dunk gives Kidd the feeling that even if they lose this game, it's worth it.

The reason the Suns signed McGrady, who is in the twilight of his career, was for moments like this.

95:106!!!

After landing, McGrady is excited and roars with a clenched fist.

The last time he dunked on an opponent was... well... many years ago.

Patterson slinks away, embarrassed. Any player who gets dunked on feels humiliated.

But Wade Dong's previous pass was so deceptive that Patterson's attention was on Curry, and he didn't notice McGrady coming from behind.

After all, it's the Thunder's home court.

If it were the Suns' home court, this dunk would have energized the fans for a long time.

But McGrady's dunk boosts the Suns' morale again. In most games, team morale is more important than individual ability. Last season, the Suns won the championship largely due to their united spirit, with role players inspired by Iverson's relentless effort.

After Patterson avoids McGrady, he inbounds the ball.

Westbrook receives the ball and dribbles to the frontcourt. There are 7 minutes left in the game, and the Thunder lead by 11 points.

"Come set a screen!"

Westbrook shouts at Patterson, then drives into the paint. At this moment, Harden runs to the top of the key to receive the ball.

Westbrook looks at Harden and then fakes a pass, bouncing the ball in the opposite direction.

Westbrook thinks Durant will appear from the other side, like McGrady did earlier.

But...

"Whoosh~~~"

The ball flies out of bounds.

Westbrook turns around and realizes his mistake, asking Durant, "Why didn't you move?"

Durant, "???"

This mistake is a bit funny, and it happens right in front of the Suns' bench.

"Hahaha..."

Tucker laughs so hard he leans on Frye's shoulder.

Nash also finds it amusing. Not everyone can pass the ball without looking as perfectly as Wade Dong.

Westbrook's passing mistake gives the ball back to the Suns.

Wade Dong dribbles the ball and pretends to pass it to Curry again, but this time, fooling the Thunder players isn't as easy. As McGrady receives the ball, Harden sticks to him defensively.

McGrady isolates Harden!

After a fake spin, he turns and shoots a jumper!

"Swish!!!"

He scores again!

97:106!!!

The Suns have cut the deficit to 10 points. After Wade Dong replaces Nash, the Suns' ball movement becomes smoother, and Wade Dong's defense puts more pressure on the Thunder's perimeter.

Green defends Harden, and Wade Dong defends Westbrook.

Durant is guarded by McGrady... Harden and Westbrook struggle to score, so Durant starts to take over the game.

"Swish!!!"

Durant hits a mid-range shot.

"Swish!!!"

Curry hits a three-pointer.

"Swish!!!"

Durant scores on a layup.

"Swish!!!"

McGrady responds with a step-back three-pointer.

With 2 minutes and 57 seconds left in the game, the score is 117:118!!!

The Suns trail the Thunder by 1 point. All the players on the Suns' bench stand up, watching Wade Dong dribble the ball slowly to the frontcourt.

"Shoot it!"

Westbrook defends Wade Dong and keeps taunting him, "Scoring champion, don't you have the guts to shoot?"

Since returning from the locker room, Wade Dong has been organizing the offense. He's played for 5 minutes without scoring but has 6 assists.

"Do you know that..."

Wade Dong is about to respond to Westbrook.

Varlick shouts from the sideline, "Brother Dong, you're one assist away from a triple-double!"

A triple-double???

Westbrook frowns, realizing this is not a simple matter.

Wade Dong also hears Varlick's reminder. He reduced his scoring in the fourth quarter not to chase assists but because his shooting touch was off today. McGrady and Curry have been playing exceptionally well, so Wade Dong is happy to set them up.

But in this crucial moment, as the team's leader, Wade Dong decides to take the shot himself.

From the three-point line, Wade Dong makes a big crossover move, shaking his left shoulder—a signature Iverson move!

Westbrook knows Wade Dong is going to drive right, but he still can't stop him.

Patterson and Ibaka crowd the paint, ready to block Wade Dong.

Jump!

Eurostep!

Dunk!

Wade Dong executes these three moves seamlessly, finishing with his signature Eurostep dunk.

"Great shot!!!"

The Suns' bench erupts in cheers.

119:118!!!

The Suns take the lead for the first time since the first quarter.

"Timeout!"

The Thunder call a timeout.

As Wade Dong comes off the court, all his teammates rush over to high-five him.

This is what a superstar does.

Even when his shooting touch is off for the entire game, and he nearly got injured in the third quarter, he still finds a way to score when the team needs him most.

Kidd says, "Keep this momentum for the last two minutes, and we'll win this game."

"Come on! Come on! Come on!"

The Suns players huddle together, cheering each other on.

Since Wade Dong returned in the fourth quarter, the Suns have been performing well on both ends of the court. Kidd has nothing but praise for the players' performance.

...

After the timeout, Durant has the ball on offense, still guarded by McGrady.

In this game, McGrady has already played 27 minutes, the most he has played in a single game this season. He has also limited Durant's offensive impact.

"Spread out!"

The Thunder players spread out, giving Durant space to isolate McGrady.

Durant makes a few big crossover moves and then shoots a jumper!

"Swish!!!"

Even though McGrady's hand is in Durant's face, Durant still makes the shot.

119:120!!!

The Thunder retake the lead.

The Suns have the ball.

Wade Dong receives the inbound pass in the backcourt and immediately passes it to Curry, who is quickly running to the frontcourt.

Curry catches the ball just outside the three-point line and shoots a three-pointer!

"Swish!!!"

Another three-pointer goes in!

Curry looks at his palm in disbelief, having made 9 out of 11 three-pointers, scoring 32 points so far.

Of course, McGrady has also been playing exceptionally well, scoring 27 points in 27 minutes, a season-high.

In contrast, Wade Dong, after assisting on Curry's three-pointer, has 25 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 8 blocks, not high in scoring but achieving a near triple-double.