1135: Don't be too busy to be sad (5/5)
There are not many fans left in the Toyota Center. The gap in the stands for blockbusters reminds the fans who have just changed the stage if you only watch this game at the last critical moment, then you will be disappointed.
Many fans who were stuck in time to change channels to watch the final battle in the fourth quarter widened their eyes and couldn't believe the score under the TV screen.
At this time, there are five minutes left in the fourth quarter, and the Rockets are already 32 points behind!
Then, the camera gave Link a close-up. Under the TV screen, Link's data was immediately displayed.
With 53 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Link scored 50+ points in a single game this season. His last scored 50+ points were also facing the Rockets. On December 13 last year, Link scored an unprecedented 50+15+15 data on the Rockets.
Today, Link's violent output has not stopped.
Although his data today is not as surprised as 50+15+15, Link scored 50 points today, only three quarters of the game!
"What's the situation?" All the fans who were stuck in time to watch the fourth quarter were shocked.
What exactly did Link do in the first three quarters?
50 points in the third quarter? Listen, is this what people do?
"Incredible, before the game started, no one would have thought that the final game would be the result. Both sides had a hard time fighting in the first three times. The biggest difference in points was only 4 points, but today, Link lost his old opponent in just three quarters."
Mike Brynn recalled Link's performance in the previous three quarters, and found it incredible.
He scored 20 points in a row in the first quarter and played against the Rockets 20-to-0, and the Rockets were completely confused.
Later in the second and third quarters, the Rockets did not organize any decent resistance. Their three-pointers felt cold as if they had just taken out of the refrigerator, and their defensive end was also lazy. Their determination to win had already been wiped out in the first quarter.
However, Link did not relax his offensive. Although he did not perform another magical performance of 20 points in a row, at the end of the three quarters, Link's score had accumulated to 53 points!
Compared with Klay Thompson's 60 points in three quarters and Kobe's 61 points in three quarters that year, Link's 53 points in three quarters is indeed not the highest record.
But everyone has to admit that this is also an incredible scoring performance.
At that time, Harden and Gordon's scores were not as much as those of Link alone.
Under Link's crazy offensive, at the end of the third quarter, the Rockets were almost 38 points behind, and the score difference was almost 40 points!
Unless the Rockets can suddenly draw the three-pointer that they have not been accurate today in the fourth quarter, they will have no chance of winning.
So, after the fourth quarter game started, Jogel replaced all the main players and officially announced that the game had entered garbage time!
After the Rockets resisted for four minutes without success, D'Antoni also withdrew all the main players.
In this way, the game entered a state of no interest.
Although Mike Brin witnessed the entire process of the game with his own eyes, he still couldn't believe it until now.
In front of the Rockets with such strong offensive firepower, Link actually established a 20-point lead as soon as he got up.
And those 20 points have laid the foundation for the next victory for the Grizzlies.
No wonder there are very few fans in the Toyota Center now. Their desire to win this game was ruthlessly crushed by Link.
50 points in three quarters, and the game that may be full of suspense was added to garbage time
Only Link can do this kind of thing
In the three consecutive games, the Grizzlies solved the battle before the fourth quarter, which is by no means a coincidence!
How can the Grizzlies save energy for the playoffs under such a difficult schedule? Link gave his answer.
And his "problem-solving method" is definitely something that many people dare not think about.
How to save energy? Just throw the game into garbage time. It's like when you ask Kobe how to score, he will tell you to shoot in the open space where the double team is double-teamed.
Not everyone can learn this method.
The garbage time is always very long. After a few minutes of suffering, Harden finally heard the electronic beep.
Harden hated this voice very much after fighting against the Grizzlies three times before. Because if there was more time, the Rockets might be able to win the game.
But today, this sound sounded like a sound of nature to Harden.
138 to 105, the Rockets were finally relieved.
The 33-point difference completely nailed the Rockets to the pillar of shame.
The fans at the scene booed dissatisfied, but today, the booed was definitely not for the Grizzlies, but for the Rockets.
"The game is over, it's finally over. Today, Houston fans no longer have to worry about traffic jams. Because more than half of the people have left the stadium early!" Mike Bryn shook his head. This live-streamed game across the United States was "destroyed" by the Grizzlies again.
Link, who scored 53 points in the third quarter, stood up from the bench and hugged his teammates.
The Grizzlies solved their first crisis since March, and they successfully achieved two consecutive wins in the Texas away back-to-back schedule.
Of course, most importantly, they have another victory gap with the Warriors in the rankings!
"I think the Warriors fans may be even more disappointed than the Rockets fans at this time. The Thunder just lost to the Bulls a few days ago, while the Grizzlies won two games in their away trip to Texas. Now, the difference between the two sides has been further widened. In the subsequent games, if the Warriors make a mistake, the gap will be further widened."
Mike Bryn's words hit the pain points of many Warriors fans. Yes, they feel more uncomfortable than anyone else when they see the Rockets lose!
Originally, everyone was worried about the fate of the Grizzlies in March. But now, after the Warriors lost to the Bulls, everyone was worried about the defending champion.
The awesome man who won the No. 1 in the West is not so easy to fulfill now.
At the post-match press conference, D'Antoni was completely beaten to the point of being terrible.
"I knew what he wanted to do when Link came up. He didn't want to make the game a tug-of-war, which would be very bad for the Grizzlies. So, I've been trying to stop him from the first second. As a result, you all saw it, we can't stop it at all."
D'Antoni's answer is equivalent to raising the white flag directly at the press conference.
But today no one will laugh at D'Antoni for being incompetent or cowardly. When Link scored 53 points in the third quarter, he would not be able to withstand the others.
"He played very well today, and we thought it would be a tough game, but we were taught a hard lesson."
Next to D'Anthony, James Harden was also convinced.
The two teams met four times this season, and the Rockets lost four times. Harden was somewhat unwilling to accept the first three times.
But today, I really lost completely.
The Rockets were directly defeated, but Link was not complacent on the Grizzlies.
It seems that he is still very motivated.
"I know, I broke the fantasy of many people. I ruined the game that should have been anxious and ruined the Warriors' expectations. However, I am very happy to do this, and I will continue to do this. Sorry, Kevin, our performance in this round of back-to-back games must have disappointed you. Don't be so sad, because something even more sad is still coming!"
Link smiled on the stage, but no one could laugh below.
Today's battle has proved that Link will not go back on his promise even in the most difficult schedule.
He said he would solve the crisis, and he did.
Chapter completed!