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Chapter 225 - 121. Win!_3

Chapter 225: 121. Win!_3

After the fourth quarter began, Brezec and Perkins completely ignored the rest, focusing solely on defending against O’Neal, but they still couldn’t stop him.

O’Neal went on a rampage, battering the Bobcats’ interior defense.

After drawing Gerald Wallace into the double-team as well, O’Neal’s job was done. With no Gerald Wallace to interfere, the shooters on the wings had a clearer view, and Wade found better penetration opportunities, sending Miami Heat’s offense soaring!

In half a quarter, Miami Heat surged with 20 points, limiting the Bobcats to just 8 points.

to 83, Miami Heat took a 4-point lead over the Bobcats heading into the official timeout!

It could no longer be dragged out, Bickerstaff subbed in Felton, Zhang Yang, and Okafor!

After listening to the tactical arrangement, Zhang Yang took off his practice clothes and warmed up.

Old Bickerstaff truly had courage!

Knowing that they likely couldn’t score or defend well in the past half quarter, he simply let the trio rest for half a quarter, returning the favor with a half quarter of attrition war against the opponents.

In the first half of the quarter, only Gerald Wallace was on the court for them, using Karim Rush, Alan Anderson, and Keith Bogans to tire out Wade, and Perkins, Brezec, and Melvin Eli to wear down O’Neal.

As for the effect... the opponent’s half-quarter scoring almost caught up with their entire third quarter.

But this was the best they could do; he had no anxiety or dissatisfaction. Facing this situation, this is what they, who are considered the core, the future of the team, should be doing!

The Bobcats sent out a team of Felton, Zhang Yang, Gerald Wallace, Jumaine Jones, and Okafor.

Miami Heat sent out Payton, Wade, Anthony Walker, Haslem, and Mourning.

O’Neal didn’t continue to play, with 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks in half a quarter, he was like a dead shark that had its fins cut in the second game of a back-to-back.

The Bobcats on offense, Felton on top of the arc protecting the ball against Wade, not attacking, waiting for Zhang Yang to call for the ball at a high position.

The head coach had arranged it this way, and Felton also thought this play should go to the younger brother.

The first offensive play after the starters came back had to be executed well!

Payton also knew this play was critical. If they could stop the opponent’s first offensive play after their starters came back on, it would definitely dampen the opponents’ spirit. He defended with great effort and didn’t care about saving face anymore, choosing to front Zhang Yang to prevent him from receiving the ball!

But alas, when you age, your mind sometimes gets muddled. Payton, with his own low-post position, if he got fronted, he, being shorter, truly had no chance. But Zhang Yang’s post-up position was at the high post...

After Jumaine Jones cut a round along the baseline to reach the right corner, Zhang Yang shook off Payton’s embrace and cut inside with a turn!

Payton quickly turned to chase... but was blocked by Okafor!

Felton seized the moment to pass the ball, and as Zhang Yang reached the edge of the paint he caught it, facing up against the approaching Mourning, the Euro step began!

Mourning didn’t even have time to reach out to foul, as Zhang Yang skipped past with two steps, emerged behind Mourning, leaped, and scored the layup!

to 87, the gap narrowed to two points, and the restless home crowd erupted into a fierce cheer!

Now, it was Miami Heat’s turn to attack. Wade drove into the paint, performing a Euro step, crossing over twice to get to the left side of the paint, and scoring with a bank shot.

Felton and Okafor had defended well, and Gerald Wallace on the wing had successfully prevented Wade from making a direct stop-and-shoot.

But the defensive effort from Jumaine Jones was poor, thankfully he was active enough, not completely useless; at least he managed to increase the difficulty of Wade’s shot slightly.

For the Bobcats’ offense, Payton ’helped’ Zhang Yang come up with an attacking method, and Zhang Yang naturally made use of it, continuing to run a high pick-and-roll with Okafor without the ball.

Mourning couldn’t directly come out from the basket, as Jumaine Jones dragged Haslem to the right corner, leaving the area under the basket as Gerald Wallace’s backyard should Mourning step out.

As Zhang Yang cut in using the screen, Haslem could only help from the wing. Zhang Yang caught the ball, didn’t stop, but flicked it toward the right corner. Jumaine Jones caught it, shot a three-pointer... it went in!

When it comes to defense Jones might not excel, but give him an open three and he’ll secure it!

to 89, Bobcats closed the gap to 1 point!

Scoring inside and out with two consecutive baskets, the young players of the Bobcats were gaining momentum!

On the Miami Heat side, Wade went back to his strategy of bulldozing his way through the inside.

Of course, Wade’s mentality was completely different compared to the first quarter. Thanks to the veterans’ hard work in the third quarter for an entire period, they only got the chance to overtake the score in the first half of this quarter.

Now, he had to secure the victory!

He knew the state the game was in was his issue, so he chose to shoulder the responsibility and move forward!

With 11 minutes and 28 seconds left in the final quarter, the Bobcats were behind Miami Heat by 1 point at 99 to 100.

In the past 5 minutes, the Bobcats grabbed 16 points, but Wade was too stubborn, too reckless, managing to score 13 points by himself, leading his team to resist the Bobcats’ counter-attack.

When it was the Bobcats’ turn on offense, Felton held the ball at the top of the arc, waiting for his teammates to get into position before going for a solo drive!

Wade pushed hard... but Felton dodged him with a crossover step, driving into the paint!

Payton dropped back to help defend, and Felton dished the ball to the left. Zhang Yang caught the ball, jumped, shot... and was knocked to the ground by the soaring Wade.

However, Zhang Yang wasn’t frightened by Wade’s ferocious dive and shot decisively...

As the referee’s whistle blew, the ball fell through the hoop!

Eight points in the first quarter, four in the second, and eight in the final quarter. Zhang Yang’s score hit 20! He managed to score 20 even with Wade and Payton defending him!

The Bobcats went up 101 to 100 over Miami Heat by 1 point, and Zhang Yang still had one free throw to come!