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Chapter 504 - 217. Tie-breaker battle!_4

Chapter 504: 217. Tie-breaker battle!_4

Hamilton, with 27 points in three quarters, was surrounded; none of the three able to shoot found the basket in the frontcourt... it was up to himself now!

Billups went one-on-one with Gerald Wallace and managed a quick stop for a long two-pointer, and the Pistons finally scored a field goal in the final quarter.

But Rondo answered back immediately, pushing into the paint for a floater that widened the gap again to 9 points.

Just as they scored one basket, the opponents could immediately respond, spreading a sense of despair in Billups’ heart, reminiscent of the finals two years ago. Although the approach was different, they were worn down bit by bit by the Spurs...

In the following eight minutes, Billups started a lonely frenzy, shooting wildly, but he only made 3 out of 9 shots, scoring 6 points.

Hamilton’s weakness was exposed at this time—poor ball-handling. Facing Zhang Yang, Rondo, and Felton rotating in pairs, he was helpless; managing only two points from counters in the last quarter.

Along with Rasheed Wallace’s desperate rebounding and layups for 4 points, the three Pistons managed a total of 16 points in the final quarter, the same as the team’s total.

On the Bobcats’ side, after Zhang Yang’s 10 points in a single quarter, he scored on a fast break layup with 4 minutes and 19 seconds left, hit a three-pointer at 6 minutes and 39 seconds, and had another fast break layup at 8 minutes and 59 seconds, raising his tally to 17 points for the quarter!

With Rondo adding 8 points, and Gerald Wallace, Perkins, and Okafor each chipping in 2 points, the Bobcats exploded for 31 points in the last quarter!

On the night of June 8, 2007, at 11:21 PM, as Zhang Yang’s buzzer-beater three-pointer missed, the Eastern Conference Finals came to a close.

Seeing Zhang Yang’s three-pointer hit the rim, the Bobcats’ players and fans all let out sighs of regret, but the fans immediately erupted in wild cheers. The Bobcats’ players, coaches, and management staff all rushed onto the court, joining the players in a raucous celebration!

Joe, belly protruding, was the first to dash onto the court.

He was not supposed to get past the Pistons for at least another two years, just as he had done back in the day, taking four years to sharpen the blade, from losing in ’88 to ’90, before finally getting revenge in ’91.

Unexpectedly, they achieved revenge against the Pistons the very next year! For him, nothing could be more exciting!

Furthermore, they reached the finals in just the third year of building the team!

Joe tried to suppress the smile on his lips, but he simply couldn’t contain it!

On the other side, the four Pistons stood together, reluctant to accept defeat but unable to do anything about it. After losing Game 6, they had already felt victory slipping away.

At that moment, their emotions were not frustration or anger, but lonesomeness.

Hamilton scored the game-high 27 points with an impressive 10 out of 20 shooting in the first three quarters, but in the last quarter, he only got three chances and made just one basket, missing out on a 30-point game.

Billups went 9 for 23, netting 22 points, while Rasheed Wallace made 5 out of 14 for 12 points... Their performance was far worse than in the first five games.

But the young players on the opposing team got better and better!

Rondo had a satisfying night, sinking 5 of 8 shots, along with going 2 for 2 from the free-throw line, notching up 12 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals. His performance in the second quarter with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, as well as in the final quarter with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, played a crucial role when the Bobcats tied and then extended their lead.

Felton and Okafor, tonight mainly played the role of attrition, creating better offensive opportunities for Zhang Yang and Gerald Wallace.

Gerald Wallace ended the night with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.

Zhang Yang was even more impressive, scoring 4 points in the first quarter, 12 in the second, 4 in the third, and exploding for 17 in the final period. Playing 34 minutes, he made 13 out of 25 shots, including 4 of 9 threes, and hit 7 of 8 from the free-throw line... If that last-second buzzer-beater three had landed, it would have been another 40-point game!

With 37 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, Zhang Yang led the Bobcats to an impressive 98-82 comeback and blowout victory over the Pistons.

Scoring 30+ points in seven consecutive Eastern Conference Finals games, including two 40-point games, Zhang Yang averaged 36 points per game, leading the Bobcats to a 4-3 series reversal over the Pistons, advancing to the finals to face the Spurs!