Harden dribbles to the front court, passing the ball to the emerging Harrell.
Harrell gives Harden a handoff screen, Harden uses the screen to cut inside again.
Faried switches defense to press Harden, Harden bounces the ball to Harrell.
Harden thinks Harrell should have no problem with this mismatch against Zeng Xingyang.
Indeed, if Harrell charges, Zeng Xingyang can’t stop him.
But he didn’t charge, at the moment Harrell combined the ball, Zeng Xingyang decisively intercepted it.
The basketball bounced off Harrell’s leg out of bounds, the referee signaled the ball possession to the Nuggets.
Harrell argued with the referee about a foul, but the referee ignored him.
Zeng Xingyang’s interception was very clean.
Harrell’s face was unpleasant, he knew this ball could very well make the team lose the game.
On the court, Faried passed the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang didn’t hold the ball, instead, he passed it to Jokic.
In the final moments, Zeng Xingyang trusted Jokic to handle it well.
Jokic dribbled past half court, backing up to the three-point arc to observe.
Howard spread his arms out to defend Jokic.
Zeng Xingyang continued to run from the inner three-second zone to receive the handoff pass from Jokic.
Jokic screened wanting to delay both Howard and Ariza.
But Ariza quickly bypassed and didn’t let Zeng Xingyang shoot a three-pointer.
Ariza pressed aggressively, Zeng Xingyang took the opportunity to accelerate the breakthrough on the right.
Howard’s defense was also drawn by Zeng Xingyang.
When Zeng Xingyang attacked to the right low post of the three-second zone, his offensive angle was completely blocked.
Zeng Xingyang chose to make a behind-the-head pass to the right side of the free throw line to Jokic.
Jokic received the ball in front of an open space, made a fake shooting move, and the off-positioned Howard and Harden on one side were both fooled.
Jokic retracted the ball, took three slow steps, bypassed Howard in front, and immediately made a one-handed floater.
"Damn, I feel like Jokic could make this shot wearing old Beijing cloth shoes."
"Zeng Xingyang and Jokic’s pick-and-roll is unstoppable."
"Jokic looks like he is using standard park grandpa moves, how does he fool people so fiercely?"
"He’s got the shot, and then Zeng Xingyang’s breakthrough draws in the defense."
"Tears falling, if Big Yao had such a super guard to cooperate with in pick-and-rolls back then, he would have won the championship long ago."
"I’m curious how this guy dropped to the second round to be picked, his touch is too soft."
"Loved it, I love this kind of pick-and-roll cooperation."
"Harden is watching this pick-and-roll with envy.
Fans at home and abroad are frantically discussing.
The cheers at the scene roared up again.
Zeng Xingyang and Jokic turned into court metronomes, frantically arousing the fans’ emotions.
Zeng Xingyang and Jokic high-fived to celebrate.
Now, his ability to break defenses completely is not enough; Jokic’s presence is extraordinarily important.
When it’s his turn to attack, he never dawdles.
Is this MVP-level potential?
McHale called a halt to the game.
The live camera focused on the backs of Zeng Xingyang and Jokic.
Many think their style of play will stir the league.
At this moment, these two are still chatting about the upcoming cooperation arrangements.
Barkley shook his head and lamented, "These two will win a championship sooner or later; their decision-making is too calm, too mature."
Smith was also shocked, saying, "No one expected they were actually rookies; this cooperation is too undefeatable."
McHale shouted, "Guys, give the ball to James, spread out, let James handle it."
"James, try not to challenge Zeng’s defense, you can try playing a mismatch with their big guys inside."
"If there’s a double team, pass the ball out."
"On defense, pay attention to those two rookies’ pick-and-roll."
"Damn, their cooperation is too tacit."
McHale could not imagine that after not seeing them for a while, the Nuggets had changed so much.
The last time the two teams met, Zeng Xingyang and Jokic were still substitutes, and this time they met, the two were already starters and at a core level.
They have become very difficult to limit.
Rockets’ biggest tactical failure tonight was underestimating the impact of Zeng Xingyang and Jokic.
They never expected the two to blow up the pick-and-roll, responding to the Rockets’ offense wave after wave at critical moments.
If Harden and Howard had such pick-and-roll chemistry and willingness, McHale would dream of laughing.
Thinking about it, he just felt miserable.
"Stop Zeng’s three-point shots, he’s most likely to become the terminal point."
"Force him inside, interfere with him, his success rate won’t be too high."
"Come on, guys, beat them!"
McHale shouted with passion.
Several of the Rockets’ veterans played along, each making an effort with high energy.
However, Harden and Howard didn’t seem too interested.
There were only 32 seconds left in the game!
On the other side, the Nuggets’ bench.
After setting up the defense, Mike Malone prepared to draw up an offensive play.
Zeng Xingyang directly said, "Give me the ball, I’ll lead you to the highlights!!"
Upon hearing Zeng Xingyang’s words, Mike Malone put down the strategy board.
Indeed, drawing up a play would just mean giving the ball to Zeng Xingyang anyway.
No Nuggets player had any doubts; everyone felt their hopes of winning should rest on Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang had already earned the respect of everyone on the team.
The Rockets’ offense.
It was still Harden coming out of the screen to receive the ball.
Zeng Xingyang was the main defender on Harden.
Harden held the ball, watching and running down the clock.
The fans in the arena kept booing.
Harrell and Howard both stepped up to trap Zeng Xingyang.
Jokic switched, Harden quickly drove to the right, then stepped back to create space.
A long two-point jump shot from the line.
Harden took this shot very decisively, gambling that Jokic wouldn’t catch up.
Indeed, Jokic was too heavy to keep up right now, and Harden wasn’t greatly disturbed.
The fans in the arena suddenly went silent.
The camera kept focusing on Harden.
Harden started celebrating, running back to his half-court.
Now only 12 seconds were left in the game.
Just one more stop on the Nuggets’ last possession, and they would win.
Malone didn’t call a timeout, letting the game proceed.
The crowd was absolutely buzzing.....
Faried passed the ball to Nelson.
Zeng Xingyang instructed Nelson not to pass it to him but to bring it past half-court and first give it to Jokic.
Nelson, very experienced, took 4 seconds to drive to the front and passed to Jokic, who was ready at the top of the arc, then stationed himself on one side, out of the play now.
Zeng Xingyang came out from the inside to receive the hand-off from Jokic.
Ariza continually chased Zeng Xingyang, and Jokic’s initial screen didn’t succeed; Ariza was still defending in front of Zeng Xingyang.
Jokic quickly stepped over from beyond the left three-point line for another screen.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the left, showing Ariza’s top-level persistence, as he again slipped past Jokic to chase Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang drove left towards the inside.
Howard intercepted Zeng Xingyang, blocking his driving line on the left.
Zeng Xingyang was pushed to a stop just inside the left 45-degree three-point line by Ariza and Howard.
Zeng Xingyang’s dribbling couldn’t completely shake the defense yet.
At this moment, Jokic approached from beyond the three-point line to Zeng Xingyang, and Zeng Xingyang passed the ball out to Jokic.
Jokic took another step towards Zeng Xingyang, who feigned a cut inside, then ran in reverse to the top of the arc to receive the hand-off pass.
This time, Jokic slightly delayed Ariza, giving Zeng Xingyang space to break through.
Zeng Xingyang drove right to the free-throw arc, stopped quickly!
Ariza was finally left behind, unable to keep up.
Zeng Xingyang took a jump shot with 1.5 seconds left.
Ariza, helpless and breathless, could only watch the shot.
All he could do was pray!
The area under the basket was a frenzy.
The basketball drew a beautiful arc!!!
"Nelson gave the ball to Jokic, Howard didn’t give Jokic a chance to drive."
"Jokic found Zeng Xingyang, the pick-and-roll between Yang and Yu."
"A classic two-man game, no space, a return pass, gave it back to Jokic."
"Jokic, another pick-and-roll."
"Zeng Xingyang, mid-range from the free throw line!"
Kovan and Ma Jian from Penguin Sports stood up and shouted.
As the ball went in, the electronic buzzer also sounded.
Zeng Xingyang made a "good night" gesture.
Jokic came over and hugged Zeng Xingyang tightly.
The entire Nuggets team rushed onto the court, and the Pepsi Center in Denver immediately erupted into a sea of cheers.