Chapter 46 Super Long Distance

Stotts reached out and called his last timeout.

With 35 seconds left, both sides theoretically had one more possession each.

Although the Trail Blazers had possession, if they failed to score on this possession, they would most likely be killed by the Pelicans.

You have to know that although they had been deadlocked with the Pelicans until the last moment, they basically hadn't defended the Pelicans at all the entire game.

They hadn't defended the entire game, so expecting a super performance on the last defense was too unlikely.

So no matter what the score was, they had to score on this possession.

After the timeout, Lillard dribbled the ball to the frontcourt. He didn't attack immediately but controlled the ball to kill time.

They had to score, but they couldn't leave the Pelicans too much time.

With about 10 seconds left on the shot clock and 21 seconds left in the game, Nurkic came up to set a high pick-and-roll.

This was a standard pick-and-roll tactic, designed to give Lillard a mismatch opportunity against Dedmon.

However, Dedmon had already left Nurkic and was preparing to double-team Lillard with Butler.

This was also Stevens' arrangement during the timeout, not giving Lillard an easy scoring opportunity.

But at this moment, something unexpected happened to everyone.

Lillard didn't launch an offense using Nurkic's pick-and-roll as planned. He even launched his attack before the pick-and-roll even happened!

Two steps away from the three-point line, he directly launched a super long three-pointer!

With the score tied and the Pelicans still having at least one more possession, this choice was too unexpected.

Even Stotts didn't expect it.

Lillard wasn't Curry, and the hit rate from this distance wasn't guaranteed.

But everyone on the scene looked at the spinning basketball.

Although Lillard wasn't Curry, he had made one from about the same distance on the other side of the court in the first half.

There was a chance for a second one.

And although it was a gamble, if it paid off, the Trail Blazers would take a 3-point lead and be invincible!

The ball spun through the air.

Perhaps it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, the ball's trajectory was right, but the force was a little short.

The fans all watched the spinning basketball nervously.

The ball spun as if it had passed through a century in the air.

"Clang!"

There was no crisp swish.

But the next second, cheers erupted from the scene.

Because after the ball hit the front of the rim, it scraped along the edge and went in!

Lillard had made two super long three-pointers in one game!

He was really Curry possessed tonight!

118 to 115!

Only 18 seconds left in the game!

The Trail Blazers had absolute control of the game.

At worst, they were invincible in regulation!

And in the next defensive possession, they only needed to defend the Pelicans' three-pointer!

The situation was very passive for the Pelicans!

Stevens reached out and called a timeout, which was the Pelicans' last timeout of the game.

"We go for two points. Tang, you draw the defense. Kemba, you get ready to cut to the basket. We still have time."

Stevens made a very clever tactical arrangement during the timeout.

Eighteen seconds wasn't long, but it wasn't short either. Scoring two points and gambling on the Trail Blazers missing free throws was obviously a better opportunity than forcing a three-pointer under defense.

"If they miss the free throw..."

Stevens then arranged the tactics for the next possession.

Because they didn't have any timeouts left, whether the Trail Blazers made the free throws or not, he had to give the players an offensive plan for the next possession.

Tang Tian listened to the tactics while turning his head to look at the Trail Blazers' half.

Lillard's super long three-pointer just now was crucial and very cool.

He had to get one next season.

Putting aside whether he could become a regular weapon like Curry, at least it would greatly increase the threat of key shots.

After the timeout, the players returned to the court one after another.

The Pelicans made substitution adjustments, with Brogdon and Bogdanovic, two three-point shooters, being substituted onto the court.

Although they were going for two points, the tactical deception had to be in place.

When he came on the court, Tang Tian was still chatting with Walker, and it seemed that he was telling Walker the points to pay attention to.

The Pelicans inbounded the ball in the frontcourt.

The Trail Blazers' positioning was very far out.

Without any prediction, any coach could guess that the Trail Blazers would defend like this.

Tang Tian was double-teamed without the ball, and Bogdanovic and Brogdon were also marked by their defenders.

Walker started to cut towards the basket.

The Pelicans' tactics were perfectly executed.

Stevens had blown away Stotts in this possession.

But at this moment, a change occurred on the court.

Aminu was quick-witted. After seeing Walker cut to the basket, he also turned around and rushed to the basket.

He was confident in his help defense speed.

As long as he defended Walker's shot, the Pelicans would have no chance at all!

Davis's pass had already arrived.

Aminu reacted quickly enough, but Walker was faster.

Walker could score with the shot.

But at this moment, another unexpected thing happened on the court.

Walker, didn't choose to layup!

He threw the ball to the right side.

Over there, Tang Tian quietly shook off McCollum and ran to the three-point line on the right!

This run was too unexpected!

Because Walker's cut, especially the cut after receiving the ball, attracted everyone's attention.

No one expected the Pelicans to have this variation!

Even Stevens didn't expect it.

He saw Tang Tian communicating with Walker when he came on the court, and thought he was telling him something, but now it seemed to be tactics on tactics!

With the ball in hand, Tang Tian had a great opportunity. McCollum belatedly realized it, but he couldn't keep up.

"Swish!"

Tang Tian didn't waste the opportunity at all, and the nearly open three-pointer went through the net.

118 all!

This even saved the Trail Blazers the opportunity to take free throws!

At this time, both sides had no timeouts left.

With 13 seconds left, Lillard dribbled the ball forward.

He was killing time.

Now that the two sides were tied, as long as he killed time and made the final shot, even if he didn't score, the two sides would go directly into overtime.

8 seconds.

7 seconds.

6 seconds.

Just as he was preparing to kill another 2 seconds and launch an attack, Tang Tian pounced over and reached out to steal the ball.

He saw it, a turn directly threw Tang Tian over, and a great open three-point opportunity appeared in front of him!

He didn't waste the opportunity, jumped up and shot directly.

The hearts of the fans on the scene rose to their throats again.

Could Lillard seize the opportunity to kill the Pelicans?!

But just as this thought flashed through their minds, their eyes widened.

Behind Lillard, a figure took off almost at the same time.

Tang Tian!

His pounce was not to steal the ball at all, but to gamble, betting whether Lillard would shoot early!

This guy was too cunning!

But he guessed right. Lillard didn't suppress the last 2 seconds, and directly seized the "opportunity" to shoot early.

As soon as Lillard shot, he felt a hand fly out from behind his head, directly grabbing the ball he shot!

A block!

There was an uproar on the scene.

But before their voices could fall, they widened their mouths again.

After the block, Tang Tian directly landed and turned around, and before the buzzer sounded, directly threw it from the backcourt!