Sethston made a sharp sidestep, trying to break through Nie Chuan’s defense, but Nie Chuan kept up. His ankle movements were agile, but just as he caught up with Sethston, Sethston suddenly shifted in another direction. Nie Chuan stopped abruptly, his sneakers screeching against the floor. Sethston extended his left arm, bringing the ball back with his unique rhythm, and Nie Chuan missed again.
Larvin let out a regretful sigh.
Nie Chuan didn’t hesitate, sprinting after Sethston, showing no sign of giving up. He seemed to be fueled by a force, persistently following Sethston, getting closer and closer. No matter who blocked his path, Nie Chuan smoothly maneuvered past, determined to follow Sethston to the basket.
The audience held their breath. As Sethston raised his hand to shoot, Reese had already reached his side, jumping with Carlo. Sethston swung his legs, using his core strength to pass the ball backward!
Ben was waiting there!
Nie Chuan suddenly jumped, intercepting the ball less than ten centimeters from Sethston’s fingers. Ben rushed over, surprised, but it was too late. As Nie Chuan landed, he immediately turned and charged towards Azu’s basket.
Sethston’s eyes widened at Nie Chuan’s back. That backward pass was an impromptu move, completely unexpected, yet Nie Chuan intercepted it!
Reese had already run past Sethston, going to support Nie Chuan.
Nie Chuan’s mind was blank as he sprinted. Edgar rushed from the side, teaming up with Bracey to trap Nie Chuan.
“Not a chance!” Carlo blocked Edgar. Edgar tried to fake out Carlo, but Carlo held firm.
Carlo’s only thought was not to let Edgar and Bracey team up again!
With just one person, Nie Chuan’s ball-handling skills could easily get through, but with two, Sethston would catch up!
Carlo’s defense made Edgar grit his teeth, unable to do anything.
“I never noticed DK’s power forward Carlo had such strong defensive skills!”
“Yeah, I only knew he was good at rebounds!”
Bracey came to intercept Nie Chuan, appearing suddenly. It seemed Nie Chuan would crash into Bracey, and the audience held their breath. Bracey doubted if Nie Chuan would knock him over, as Nie Chuan showed no sign of slowing down. But Nie Chuan suddenly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding him!
Gasps erupted, even Sethston, trailing Nie Chuan, raised his chin in slight surprise.
It felt like a comet skimming Earth’s atmosphere, thrillingly close.
Nie Chuan’s speed didn’t decrease as he headed straight for the basket, challenging the boulder one-on-one!
Many spectators craned their necks, even Robert stood up from the commentator’s seat.
Nie Chuan leaped, the boulder jumping with him. Nie Chuan turned sideways, about to flick the ball in with his fingers.
But Sethston also jumped beside him, his leap impressive, matching Nie Chuan’s height, ready to swat the ball away.
Nie Chuan’s breath caught in his throat.
No, he couldn’t let Sethston intercept again!
This wasn’t the end!
Using his core strength, Nie Chuan spun, pushing the ball to the other side just as it was leaving his fingers.
Reese jumped, catching Nie Chuan’s pass with his left hand. Bracey jumped to block, but Reese smoothly switched the ball to his right hand, scoring with one hand!
The entire move was seamless, as if he had anticipated Nie Chuan’s pass!
“Well done!” Robert applauded.
DK’s fans cheered loudly.
In the stands, Mao Xian elbowed Zhou Bin: “Even though Reese scored, I think Ah Chuan’s pass was the coolest!”
Zhou Bin’s previously furrowed brow slowly relaxed: “I was worried Ah Chuan would be crushed by Sethston… seems I overthought it.”
“I really want to see Ah Chuan intercept Sethston!” Mao Xian said.
Although the pass was impressive, Nie Chuan still couldn’t stop Sethston in their confrontation.
“Nie Chuan is facing the fact that he can’t stop Sethston head-on. If he can’t do it, he shouldn’t force himself. Focus on what he can do well and make it tough for Sethston,” Owen said.
“Yeah, he intercepted the pass to Ben… so if he can’t stop Sethston’s drive, intercepting his pass is good too!” Larvin was also excited.
Nie Chuan high-fived Reese, flashing a big smile at him.
Reese’s expression didn’t change much, but the slight curve of his lips showed he was in a good mood, filling Nie Chuan with energy as DK launched a full counterattack.
Sethston dribbled, facing Reese and Nie Chuan’s front and back interception. This time, Nie Chuan didn’t stand to the side but behind Sethston.
Nie Chuan remembered when he and Reese double-teamed Sethston, they were easily tricked into colliding by his fakes. Based on Reese’s performance in the first half, even alone, he could defend Sethston’s lateral cuts. Since the cuts could be blocked, Nie Chuan decided to focus purely on stealing.
After two shoulder fakes, Sethston executed his signature “Sethston crossover,” sidestepping right then pulling back left, but the ball remained on the right. He seemed aware of Nie Chuan lurking behind, reducing his movement to increase pullback speed.
Nie Chuan was intensely focused. Reese cooperatively blocked the other side, forcing Sethston to change direction, and Nie Chuan quickly moved away with the ball from Sethston’s side.
Sethston immediately chased, with Bracey blocking Nie Chuan again.
Nie Chuan switched the ball from his right to left hand, about to pass to Reese. Sethston moved quickly, already behind Nie Chuan, leaning forward, extending his arm to steal.
“Watch out!” Mao Xian almost fell off his chair in excitement, luckily caught by Zhou Bin.
But Sethston was faked out by Nie Chuan. Nie Chuan made a same-side move, sidestepping back, and Sethston stopped, positioning himself between Nie Chuan and Reese, cutting off their connection. But Nie Chuan passed the ball to the other side, where Ewin caught it!
“Shoot!” Nie Chuan shouted.
Ewin’s heart felt like it was punched. Nie Chuan’s gaze was cold, freezing all chaotic thoughts.
Ewin jumped with the ball, Ben quickly moving, and Bracey, who was originally going to defend Nie Chuan, rushed towards Ewin. Carlo only blocked Edgar, but luckily Heishan blocked Bracey before he reached Ewin.
Ewin’s breath caught in his throat. He knew he could pass the ball, but doing so would lose another scoring opportunity!
Three-pointers were crucial for DK!
Ewin steeled himself, even if it was a cliff, he had to jump!
As Ben reached a step away, Ewin jumped to shoot.
The hurried, seemingly unprepared shot made everyone widen their eyes. Under the basket was only Azu’s boulder! If the shot missed, it would surely be Azu’s ball.
Ewin stared at the ball, Heishan rushing to the basket. With a “swish,” the ball went in.
Applause erupted. Although the shot wasn’t as spectacular as Owen’s midcourt shot or Ben’s quick shot, it was made under intense pressure.
“Isn’t this Ewin’s fastest shot?” Commentator Engel said.
“If it’s luck, Ewin’s shooting form was standard. But if it’s skill, Ewin’s shots are usually stiff, lacking the confidence of league sharpshooters like Ben Robbins and Owen Whishaw,” Robert squinted. “This shot was half luck, half skill!”
Ewin didn’t expect to make it. He slowly clenched his fist, exhaling the breath stuck in his throat.
Carlo came over, patting Ewin’s shoulder: “Well done! Your shooting speed isn’t slower than Ben’s!”
As if something flashed in his mind, Ewin suddenly felt an impulse.
He remembered the feel, the arc of the ball, the on-the-edge sensation, and he wanted to try again! To see if he could do it again!
This shot reduced Azu’s lead over DK to six points.
But soon, Sethston passed to Ben. As Ben caught the ball, he realized Nie Chuan was beside him.
Against anyone, Ben could shoot quickly, but in front of Nie Chuan, he seemed to lose accuracy. As the ball left his hand, Ben clearly felt Nie Chuan’s fingertips touch it, and the ball bounced off the rim. The boulder and Heishan jumped simultaneously, drawing everyone’s attention.
Both hands grabbed the ball, but Heishan twisted his waist, using his full strength to press it down! Without hesitation, he quickly passed the ball to Nie Chuan!
Nie Chuan took two steps before Sethston blocked him.
“What will he do?” Owen clenched his fist.
If he used the old method, Nie Chuan would only repeat past failures.
But Nie Chuan suddenly stepped back, then without any shoulder fakes or direction changes, directly cut in!
His speed was incredible. Sethston sidestepped to block but missed, realizing Nie Chuan retreated to advance. The closer he got, the higher the chance of being intercepted, so he simply stepped back!
But this didn’t completely shake off Sethston.
