Standing at the free throw line, the shot is made. The sideline ball, Turkoglu cos on to replace Christie, who went back to the locker room to change clothes.
On the sidelines, Gan Guoyang suddenly calls for the ball in the low post. Miller makes a long pass to Gan Guoyang, who blocks Weber, turns around for a classic forward-leaning shot, not only scores, but also draws a foul from Weber!
Weber angrily slaps the basketball, and the crowd boos, why foul again!
Weber thinks, this anger sure is directed at , right? Playing ball properly would be fine, why provoke him?
Gan Guoyang makes the additional free throw, and in one play has narrowed the gap by 4 points, with the difference between the teams down to just 1 point.
For the Kings, this crucial attack sees Mike Bibby, under harassnt and nearly losing the ball, pass to Divac. A hand-off at the top of the key results in a successful mid-range jumper once again!
This precise and beautiful mid-range shot is incredible, considering he's only in his third year, yet plays as maturely as a 30-year-old guard.
Bibby's father, Henry Bibby, was also an NBA player, who once played for the Philadelphia 76ers and reached the finals in 1977, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers.
If the elder Bibby had stayed in the NBA a few more years, he could have easily played on the sa court with Gan Guoyang.
Now when Gan Guoyang is playing, he's already facing off against the sons and nephews of his old rivals.
Bibby's mid-range shot has slowed down Glory's attempts to catch up, followed by two unsuccessful attacks from Glory.
But Glory has steadied their defense as well, quickly switching from zone defense to man-to-man, disrupting another wave.
During a dead ball, Glory completed substitutions, Eddie House replaced Porter, and on the inside, Mark Jackson replaced Miller.
In the ensuing fast break, Gan Guoyang received the ball, drawing the defense, broke through the middle and passed to the wing to Padgett.
Padgett decisively takes a three-point shot and makes it! This is his third three-pointer of the night! The ga is tied.
More than halfway through the third quarter, both teams' offensive battle has reached a fever pitch, with Glory relying on the efficiency of three-point shots and free throws to successfully tie the score.
This is when Weber needs to step up to solve the problem. He catches the ball at the left 45-degree angle where he just made consecutive shots and takes another mid-range shot, but the ball hits the front of the rim and misses.
Willis grabs the rebound, and Glory has the opportunity to take the lead.
Eddie House, replacing Porter, receives a pass from Gan Guoyang and with a solid screen assist, fires a three-pointer from the top of the arc!
The ball swishes into the net! House seizes the rare opportunity to play and hits a crucial three-pointer.
This shot halts the Kings, giving Rick Adelman a headache as there are erging issues with the team's defense.
Christie has already changed clothes and is sitting on the sidelines, Adelman hasn't put him back on, fearing he'll be hit.
Christie is quite nonchalant, saying: "Let him hit ! If he hits , he'll be fouled out, and Glory would win."
"Fool, do you think Glory's players are idiots? Haven't you seen Eddie House and Jackson on the court? If you go up, those two would certainly take you down. Wait until the fourth quarter to go back in."
Adelman understands the situation; he knows that now Glory would definitely provide Ah Gan with enforcers.
If anyone dares to use fouls or malicious actions against our only core, I would certainly retaliate against you. Adelman does not want to fall into such reciprocal revenge, it's just the regular season, getting injured would be detrintal.
Adelman is very rational, doing so wasn't wrong, but it also correspondingly lowered the Kings' morale; the players couldn't feel the tenacity to go all out against the opponents.
This might also be one of Adelman's weaknesses in coaching.
By the end of the third quarter, Glory has already taken the lead, going into the fourth quarter with a 3-point advantage.
They've been hitting their threes with astonishing accuracy, especially Padgett, an unexpected hero, making 4 of 5 three-pointers, catching the Kings off guard.
This battle is destined to co down to the critical mont.
It's uncertain whether Chris Weber's legs will turn to jelly again.
The mont to test him has arrived.
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