12dz Chapter 610 "The King's Time" - Cracking and Counter-cracking!
Chapter 610 "The King's Time" - Cracking and Counter-cracking!
Compared to the first encounter between the two teams, the lineups of both sides are exactly the same.
Both sides are in a state where all players are available to play.
Jokic's pivotal role came into play right from the start.
Whether it's passing the ball or using his body to attack, Jokic is highly efficient.
There aren't many players in this league who can stop Jokic head-on. Although Towns is known as a "meatball cannon," he was repeatedly backed down by Jokic and forced into the paint.
The Nets couldn't stop Jokic from scoring.
However, the Nuggets also had no good solutions for Wang Xiucheng.
The game went smoothly, and before we knew it, there were still 3 minutes left in the first quarter.
With Westbrook and Durant both resting, only Wang Xiucheng, Dillon, and Towns are left on the court as starters, along with Royce, O'Neal, and Joe Harper.
Just as Jokic scored two points, Wang Xiucheng went back and drove into the paint against Pope, then passed the ball to the three-point line.
Although he also looked a bit clumsy, Towns, who was more agile than Jokic, roamed to the outside and caught the ball from Wang Xiucheng.
Towns took a three-pointer before Jokic could get there.
The net nimbly slipped into the basket.
Towns hit the first three-pointer of the game.
The score was now tied at 25-25.
This marks the fifth time tonight that the score has been tied.
This shows just how intense this Christmas battle was.
Then, it was as if the two sides suddenly went silent.
Both sides launched four consecutive attacks, but none of them managed to score.
Until the final minute of the game.
The Nuggets have possession of the ball.
Jokic personally dribbled the ball up the court, running down the 24-second shot clock before backing down and driving into the paint. With only one second left, he turned and shot the ball.
Swish!
The ball goes in.
beep!
The referee blew the whistle, then pointed at Towns and called a foul on him for hitting his hand.
Jokic, who hadn't been doing anything wrong, stumbled back several steps like an old man with shaky legs when he heard the whistle, only stopping when he was almost back to the three-point line.
Swish!
Jokic scores the free throw.
The Nuggets are now leading by three points.
The good news is that there are only 36 seconds left.
The bad news is that this is enough time for Wang Xiucheng.
The Nuggets brought in a player whose name Wang Xiucheng didn't even know, and he stayed with Wang Xiucheng the whole time.
So Wang Xiu stopped holding the ball and let Dillon take it to the frontcourt.
After waiting a few seconds and making a few feints, Wang Xiucheng suddenly ran towards the outside.
Towns moved ahead to block the defender, allowing Wang Xiucheng to receive the ball safely. Without adjusting, he immediately pulled up and shot.
The basketball flew towards the hoop!
Swish!
A crisp sound rang out!
"Guaranteed Three-Point Shot Card" activated!
The score was tied again at 28-28.
The Nuggets have 16 seconds left.
As soon as Jokic received the ball, Joe Harper hugged him.
With a whistle, the referee blew the whistle.
The timer stopped with just over 14 seconds remaining.
Jokic was awarded two free throws.
The Nets got one last chance to attack.
Marlon, standing on the sidelines, glanced at Udoka not far away.
Udoka was also looking towards Malone's position.
The two of them smiled at the same time.
Last season, Ma Long was the coach who most insisted on fouling Wang Xiucheng during "Wang's Time".
This season, more and more coaches have started to use this tactic, which means the league recognizes Coach Malone's tactic.
The Nets' solution was to commit the same foul.
The opponent fouled Wang Xiucheng to prevent him from shooting a three-pointer.
The Nets' purpose in fouling their opponents was to give Wang Xiucheng time to shoot.
At worst, everyone will commit a foul every second and see who dies first!
In the end, only the one who loses face will know!
Jokic stood at the free-throw line, first resting his knees for a few seconds, and then straightened up when the whole crowd cheered.
Jokic looked exhausted in the first quarter.
Towns is not easy to deal with; otherwise, no one on the Nuggets would be able to physically contend with him.
He played the entire first quarter, as did Towns.
Both of them were exhausted, but neither of them left the field to rest.
Seemingly still not rested enough, Jokic threw the ball that the referee had tossed to him back.
Then Jokic said something to the referee. Wang Xiucheng was far away, but he heard the gist of it: the ball you gave me was too low, which disrupted my rhythm and affected my free throws.
Wang Xiucheng almost burst out laughing.
This fat guy wanted to rest a little longer, but he insisted on finding a reason in the referee.
The referee didn't want to argue with him, and when Jokic stood up again, he threw the ball back to him.
The basketball angle was actually the same as last time, but Jokic didn't waste any words this time.
He patted it, spun it around, and then kicked the ball.
I don't know if it was because the rest time was too long, but the ball slammed into the backboard with a loud bang!
Yes, it didn't even touch the rim!
Jokic seemed somewhat incredulous, and even looked at his hand, as if it had slipped from his grasp!
Durant and Westbrook on the Nets' bench burst out laughing.
Wang Xiucheng shook his head with a helpless smile.
As for the others, they could only cover their mouths and turn their heads away, trying their best to hide their expressions.
After all, this is Jokic. Apart from Wang Xiucheng, Durant, and a few others on the Nets, no one else dares to laugh at this fat guy to his face.
Jokic wiped his hands on his shorts and then caught the ball from the referee.
Swish!
This time the ball went in.
The Nuggets are leading by one point.
Although Wang Xiucheng was always standing in the backcourt, there were two Nuggets players around him, so Towns didn't dare to pass the ball directly to Wang Xiucheng.
So they had no choice but to pass the ball to Reus O'Neal.
Royce O'Neal knew time was precious, so he took two steps before the opposing defender came over, and then passed the ball back to Dillon in the center circle.
Wang Xiucheng attracted two defenders, and Jokic was the last one to leave, so there must be someone on the Nets who was unguarded.
Finally, Dillon crossed the finish line with 8 seconds left.
Wang Xiucheng stood at the top of the arc this time.
Seeing Dillon turn around, Wang Xiucheng immediately ran towards the inside, pointing towards the basket.
Dillon's eyes seemed to light up, and he raised his hand to throw the ball.
Pope and Watson, who were following Wang Xiucheng, immediately sandwiched him and reached out to pull him back, preventing him from having the opportunity to lob the ball.
However, the imagined scene of Wang Xiucheng taking off towards the basket did not occur.
Wang Xiucheng suddenly stepped out from between the two, leaving them behind in a large stride.
The momentum kept the two running towards the basket, but Wang Xiucheng had already retreated to beyond the three-point line.
Dillon kept holding the ball but didn't pass it.
At this moment, Dillon passed the ball to Wang Xiucheng, and at the same time turned around to block Jokic who had come over.
When Wang Xiucheng received the ball, he didn't seem to crouch down to gather his strength; instead, he jumped up and shot the ball.
The basketball flew out like a cannonball!
Swish!
Almost instantly, the basketball swished into the hoop with a crisp sound!
Three-pointer, in!