277: 120: King and his Knights!
(Vote for monthly ticket!)_4 277: 120: King and his Knights!
(Vote for monthly ticket!)_4 They had failed in the third quarter, but gaining even one more point now could help them fight for an opportunity in the fourth.
Chicago’s basketball deity slowed down the pace after crossing half-court, not intending to give the Magic a chance to counterattack.
With only 8 seconds left on the shot clock, Jordan finally started his move from near the midcourt line, approaching the three-point line.
Harper immediately closed in; he was nearly spent, but he didn’t back down and kept playing for keeps against Jordan.
Jordan first backed Harper down with his body, showing an aggressive stance, then spun to his right for the breakthrough.
But as he turned, he saw Roger had already double-teamed him from the front!
Jordan had thought that after Pippen had just hit that three-pointer, Roger wouldn’t dare to leave him open again.
But as it turned out, Roger was a very focused individual—tonight, he only had eyes for Jordan!
Alright, and for Laetitia, whose shirt buttons were about to pop off.
Jordan immediately released the ball back to Pippen; Roger reached out to intercept, but was a step too slow, the ball flew past his hand.
Pippen was also ready to shoot, “You damn fool, since you’ve left me open time and again, I’ll make sure to make you pay dearly!”
But just as Pippen was about to receive the ball, the young King’s most loyal and valiant Knight burst out!
Saru rotated over to Pippen and reached out to knock the ball from Jordan’s pass away!
The basketball went loose; Saru and a fumbling Jordan both chased after it.
Jordan, in the tussle, knocked Saru down—the Lithuanian seemed so frail before him.
But Saru turned the tables, going with the force to grab the ball.
He lay on the ground, not looking at Jordan closing in for the scramble, and threw the ball forward.
All eyes followed the basketball, whoever got this ball would determine the outcome of the quarter.
A large hand picked up the ball, it was Ron Harper, who had been defending with all his might throughout the game!
The Magic successfully grabbed possession in the final moments!
Harper charged forward with the ball, Pippen chased him relentlessly from behind and gradually closed in.
To prevent Harper from making a surprise pass to a trailing teammate like he did in the first quarter, Pippen also kept an eye on Harper’s every move, ready to steal the ball at the slightest indication of a pass.
Harper didn’t pass; he leapt up after entering the paint and tossed the ball single-handedly into the air.
Scottie Pippen leapt with full force, this basketball would never escape his palm.
But as the ball climbed higher, Pippen felt something was amiss.
it didn’t seem aimed at the basket!
The ball flew over Pippen’s palms and headed behind him.
Pippen looked back in mid-air, only to see Roger catching the ball.
Yes, Harper had faked a layup and lofted an alley-oop to Roger!
Pippen hadn’t expected it because Harper had given Roger no look, as if he just knew Roger would be following up!
Indeed, Harper didn’t look back at all; he just caught a glimpse of Roger running forward the moment he picked up the basketball, and that was enough.
Saru threw the ball without looking but managed to pass to Harper.
Harper likewise didn’t look when throwing the ball but successfully passed to Roger.
Roger caught the ascending ball with both hands and slammed it into the hoop!
The crowd cheered, and NBC commentator Steve Jones jumped up, “If that fast break had been in slow motion, it would’ve been as graceful as a work of art!
That ball was simply the epitome of this quarter’s game!
Roger and his backcourt partners, with the power of the team, have successfully broken out of the Chicago Bulls’ death zone!”
The third quarter ended with the Orlando Magic leading the Bulls by one point heading into the final quarter showdown!
They had survived the Bulls’ ruthless strangulation!
Though the Bulls had managed to close a deficit of nine points to just one, it was still a complete failure for them!
Roger wrapped his arms around Harper and Saru’s shoulders, then looked at Jordan and a frustrated Pippen, grinding his teeth: “The basketball god and his aide couldn’t handle the young King and his knights!”
Jordan and Pippen had no response, they were speechless.
Amidst the thunderous cheering, Bob Costas swallowed hard.
To be honest, he hadn’t expected the Shaq-less Magic to match up to the Bulls , hadn’t anticipated they could maintain the lead in what was the Bulls’ killing field.
“You’re right, Steve,” Bob shook his head, “For the Bulls, this will be the toughest game!”