CHAPTER 1205: CHAPTER 492: FORTUNE FAVORS THE BOLD, COWARDS GO HUNGRY

The three star players were furious, so angry that they... took a moment to collect themselves.

Pierce was the first to turn and walk toward the bench, followed by the contemporary Jordan and the White Devil.

Everyone is a civilized person... there’s always a time when someone is left alone.

Another crucial point—Zhang San’s trash talk wasn’t just empty words, he actually beat them 8 to 2!

In this situation, even Pierce had no face to retort.

Zhang Yang scored those 8 points, adding to the previous 7 points, for a total of 15 points in the quarter, while Felton also had 10 points in that quarter... the two of them combined for 25 points.

While their trio, in the final quarter so far, added up to 18 points.

Zhang Yang also walked back to the bench, feeling a thrill of dancing on the knife’s edge. If the three opponents lost their temper and got physical... he did feel a slight delayed sense of regret, but that wave of offense just now was so exhilarating, he couldn’t control himself!

But his teammates were already used to it, especially those older teammates.

Their third brother had been like this from the start, and after winning the championship the year before last, he became even more carefree in the past two years.

Even Carlisle was no longer surprised, seizing the time to gather the players together, make substitutions, and organize the tactics.

With 1 minute and 17 seconds left, leading by 6 points, it seemed like a very safe margin... he subbed in Mike Miller and Brad Miller to play with Felton, Zhang Yang, and Okafor.

The opposing trio, each of them had completed the feat of scoring several points in the last moments to achieve a comeback, even though in the past two minutes all three were clearly exhausted, Carlisle still didn’t choose a conservative approach, but aggressively met offense with offense!

After the timeout, as expected, all four stars of the Hawks were on the court, and the interior, just as Carlisle anticipated, was reinforced with the more aggressive rebounding Darius Songaila.

The Hawks had a frontcourt ball, and it was quickly passed to Joe Johnson, who was leaning against Zhang Yang.

Joe Johnson spun and quickly made a shot... and scored!

This attack took the Hawks only 6 seconds, almost no consumption for a 2-point reduction in difference!

The contemporary Jordan’s mid-range shot, which reignited the hope of the Hawks players, still 1 minute and 11 seconds, with a 4-point difference, enough for them to turn the game around!

Seeing the increased expression of determination on the Hawks players’ faces, Carlisle was relieved that he didn’t take a conservative route. Against those three, you can never expect them to miss, only prepare to respond... and he did!

Felton pushed to the frontcourt, initiated the attack with a pick-and-roll with Okafor, Okafor cut through the middle, Felton pushed forward on the right, Brad Miller from the left ran a loop to the high post, setting a screen for Zhang Yang around the free-throw line on the left sideline, Zhang Yang went straight to the right corner, and Pierce left Mike Miller open to cover.

Felton passed the ball to Mike Miller, who adjusted and took a three-point shot...

If they were losing or tied, in a playoff game, especially in a game like tonight, Mike Miller would likely shoot under pressure and struggle to control the force and direction.

But leading by 4 points, he wasn’t afraid at all... and the three-point shot went in steadily!

to 103, the Bobcats’ lead expanded to 7 points!

The flicker of hope the Hawks players had just sparked was extinguished!

Not only Horford and Darius Songaila, even Joe Johnson felt hopeless.

In the remaining 55 seconds, Pierce and Bibby, refusing to give up, took quick shots each, but missed, then Darius Songaila forced a foul during a scramble and got two free throw points; no other scoring.

On the Bobcats side, in the last 55 seconds, there were no baskets either, but it didn’t matter...

At 10:23 PM, the final whistle sounded on time.

Zhang Yang scored 7 points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, 9 in the third, and 15 in the last quarter, playing 38 minutes, with 14 out of 31 field goals, including 6 out of 13 three-pointers, and 7 out of 9 free throws, totaling 41 points.

Felton scored 5 points in the first quarter, 8 in the second, 5 in the third, and 10 in the last quarter, playing 42 minutes, with 10 out of 24 field goals, including 3 out of 8 three-pointers, and 4 out of 5 free throws, totaling 28 points.

Okafor made 5 out of 12 shots, plus 4 out of 5 free throws, totaling 14 points.

Pierce had 31 points, Joe Johnson 27 points, Bibby 23 points, and the Hawks’ three stars combined for 81 points, but couldn’t rival the three young stars from the Bobcats!

to 105, the Bobcats prevailed over the Hawks, leading the series 1 to 0!

The game had the spectators’ hearts racing, leading by 11 points in the half, losing 12 points in the third quarter, and a long tug-of-war in the last quarter... only in the last two-plus minutes did they secure victory with an 11 to 4 run; they decided to buy a box of quick-acting heart-saving pills for the next game.

The Bobcats players also gathered around to celebrate the victory; who wouldn’t like a game that went down to the wire? As long as they weren’t the ones losing...

Zhang Weiping squeezed through the crowd with the cameraman, making a path, and shoved the microphone in front of Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang exclaimed, it’s no wonder he was the top figure in Chinese basketball in the 20th century, he looked much more robust than himself...

They exchanged pleasantries, then Zhang Weiping asked, "Tonight’s game wasn’t an easy win, starting high and ending low, but you withstood the pressure at the end, reclaiming the victory. Is there anything you’d like to say to your opponents?"

Zhang Yang glanced at the camera, expressed his attitude, and replied, "Starting high and ending low, I wouldn’t say that. Our performance in the third quarter wasn’t worse than the first half, the opposition just played better in the third; that’s normal, they have that capability. Otherwise, it would be disappointing... It was a great game, and I hope they bring us more fun the night after tomorrow."