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Chapter 661 - 280. Consecutive 40+!_4

Chapter 661: 280. Consecutive 40+!_4

Bynum made the penalty shot too, 35-34, the Timberwolves were biting at the score!

On the switch from offense to defense, Zhang Yang continued to drive with the ball... encountering an early double team in the elbow area, he passed back to the free-throw line, Rondo received the ball and drove straight down the middle, drawing Bynum out. Then, with a delicate lob pass that just flew over the fingertips of the jumping Bynum, Perkins caught the ball behind Bynum’s back, and slammed it down with both hands, returning the favor to Bynum’s earlier alley-oop!

When Zhang Yang faced defenders who were strong on man-to-man defense, he acted as the off-ball playmaker; when he could play to an absolute advantage on his own, Rondo and Hill took the role of playmaker, and occasionally Millsap got the chance to practice playmaking in live action. After playing for nearly a month, they had a clear response strategy for these situations.

Facing the fierce offense of the league-leading Bobcats, the young and more inexperienced Timberwolves did not fear, but rose to the challenge.

If they could end the Bobcats’ starting streak of 12 consecutive wins... just thinking about it excited them beyond measure.

In the following time, during a regular back-and-forth offense, the Timberwolves and the Bobcats exchanged blows, but whenever it came to star players going head-to-head, the Timberwolves fell short.

Bynum played fairly well during regular time, handling Okafor and Muhammad with ease, and with his teammates’ help, he managed to score even against Perkins’ defense. But when it came to the critical moments that required him to step up and solve problems on his own... that was too much to ask of "poor piggy."

Telfair, Jaric, McCants, Radmanovic and others could only score within team offense, Jarrett Jack and Anthony Walker indeed had the ability to score in one-on-one situations, but when going up against Zhang Yang, Felton, and Jarrett Jack... they were outplayed!

Despite the Timberwolves repeatedly closing the gap, the Bobcats managed to maintain their advantage during the tense moments of the game.

With 9 minutes and 22 seconds to go in the final quarter, the Timberwolves made a 10-4 run following an official timeout, closing the gap to 102-107. The Timberwolves had cut down the 11-point deficit before the official timeout to just 5 points, only two baskets away!

But immediately after, Zhang Yang, facing Jaric’s defense, hit a pivotal turnaround mid-range shot from the high post, extending the lead to 7 points.

It was the Timberwolves’ turn to attack. After a high point, the Timberwolves experienced a brief lull, with Anthony Walker shooting a three-pointer short. This time, Okafor firmly boxed out Bynum, and Millsap pulled in to secure the defensive rebound.

On the switch to offense, Zhang Yang received the ball beyond the three-point line, made a fake drive followed by a step back, shaking off Jaric, took the shot as he jumped... his hands weren’t shaky at the crucial moment, the three-pointer was good!

112-102, the difference went back to double digits!

The young Timberwolves players withstood the blows well tonight. Although they lost their substantial first quarter lead to Zhang Yang’s 2+1 which narrowed the gap to 3 points, they weathered the blow; in the second and third quarters they closed the gap and even took the lead, but did not get discouraged when Zhang Yang and Felton blew them away in one-on-ones. In the first half of the final quarter, the Bobcats made a 17-10 run to create an 11-point lead, yet they held on and counterattacked after the official timeout...

But after Zhang Yang scored that basket, they just couldn’t hold on anymore!

Eleven points in the first quarter, nine in the second, ten in the third, Zhang Yang scored 30 by the end of three quarters. With that basket, his fourth-quarter score reached double figures, 12 points for the quarter!

With less than two minutes left, the Timberwolves failed to mount an effective counterattack, and on Zhang Yang’s end, he didn’t score more, missing another three-pointer.

At 8:23 p.m., the final whistle blew.

out of 29 shots, including 5 of 11 three-pointers, plus 9 out of 10 free throws, Zhang Yang played for 38 minutes, scored 42 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, had 2 steals and 1 block, leading the Bobcats to a 115-104 victory over the Timberwolves.

Zhang Yang scored over 40 points for two consecutive games, leading the Bobcats to a starting streak of 13 wins!