Under the continued performance of Hansen and O’Neal, the Cavaliers quickly took back the lead.
This forced Van Gundy to make adjustnts and put his main players on the floor earlier than planned.
Seeing this, Brown also replaced his main players one after the other.
Hansen was benched after playing for 5 minutes in the second quarter.
In the first half, he played for a total of 8 minutes and contributed 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Of course, there were also many defensive plays that didn’t show up in the stats but were noted by the fans.
At halfti, the Cavaliers led 59 to 51.
"Hansen is a surprising force, his excellent performance during the bench play changed the ga’s montum, and we have a reason to rember his na."
At the end of the half, Kenny Smith also gave Hansen very high praise.
He didn’t reminisce about Hansen like Barkley did, after all, there are so many people on each episode of "NBA Entertainnt," but this indicates that his evaluation was rational.
After halfti, the ga resud.
Varejao was still in the starting lineup.
It wasn’t because Brown was Stubborn, but rather that the starting lineup generally isn’t changed between the first and second halves of a ga.
After all, no one knows if players performing poorly in the first half would adjust and improve after the break.
Well, the answer was no.
Because the problem with the Cavaliers was not about the players’ form but purely a lineup issue.
The Magic Team seized this opportunity and were also very lucky; their outside shooting was successful, hitting a series of three-pointers, with Carter alone scoring 2 of them. They not only reclaid the lead but extended it.
By the ti Brown subbed Varejao out for Conningham again, the Magic Team had once again widened the gap to double digits.
The cara cut back to a pacing Brown on the sidelines.
This ti, the arena was not just restless, but there were even so booing sounds.
They ca to see their team take revenge, not to awaken painful mories from last year’s playoffs.
At this mont, Hansen sowhat felt pity for Brown.
Actually, from the preseason training regin, it was evident that Brown intended to adjust the starting line-up, but he could not go against Jas’s wishes.
It had nothing to do with whether he was firm because if he had been, he would’ve been kicked out of Cleveland just like all those predecessors.
What’s the first requirent of the Imperial Guard? What’s the first requirent of a ball boy? What’s the most important duty of LeBron’s head coach?
The answers to these three questions were consistent.
Hansen was subbed in again with 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
This ti, Brown put him in earlier and it was also his first ti playing alongside Jas.
During this period, Hansen didn’t have as many opportunities to finish plays as in the first half, but he showcased his defensive capabilities well, continuing to limit Carter’s performance.
The Cavaliers managed to cut down the point difference during this stretch.
Then, as the fourth quarter began, a familiar scene played out.
Brown again fielded the Hansen and O’Neal combination.
This duo once again rescued the Cavaliers, sparking a counter-attack climax that erased the point difference and forced Van Gundy to once again bring his starters back prematurely.
The teams then beca deadlocked.
Hansen was subbed out after playing for another 5 minutes in the fourth quarter.
In the second half, he mainly contributed on the defensive end, seizing an opportunity to land a three-pointer on offense.
After he was bened, Hansen put on his warm-up suit.
That essentially marked the end of his first ga.
In 18 minutes, he scored 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block, shooting 5 of 8 from the field, and 3 of 5 from three-point range.
Such a debut, along with the help he provided on defense, could be described as perfect.
The remaining question was whether the Cavaliers could successfully clinch tonight’s ga.
Impressive stats are like a piece of gold, cleanly dazzling when winning, but dust-covered and dim when losing.
This ti, Brown did not continue with Varejao but instead had Conningham play the power forward position.
Conningham’s characteristics were sowhat similar to Hansen’s, having the ability to stretch the floor with long mid-range shots, though he hadn’t developed a three-point shot yet, and his defensive efforts were high.
His presence on the court was clearly effective, and the Cavaliers closely trailed in score.
However, entering the final two-minute crunch ti, the Magic Team started targeting O’Neal on the offensive end.
Carter, taking turns with Howard on pick and rolls, punished O’Neal twice from beyond the three-point line.
He had already made 4 three-pointers that night, hot-handed from the distance.
With one minute left in the ga, the Magic Team again extended their lead to 4 points, forcing Brown to call a tiout.
During the coach’s tactical setup, normally the starting players are gathered closest, followed by the substitutes in their warm-up suits.
At this mont, Hansen stood on the outer layer, but before Brown picked up the tactical board, he directly called his na.
He was to replace Parker, playing this final critical minute.
Hansen really hadn’t expected this.
What kind of coach does this? If he intended to play him in the crucial mont, he would have brought him in earlier. This last minute seed like... he was being handed a tough situation.
But upon hearing the call, Hansen quickly stripped off his warm-up suit.
Regardless of how many minutes, to stand on court during the decisive mont was an opportunity.
Moreover, he had played 5 minutes in the fourth quarter; considering that, he hadn’t sat off-court long enough for his body to cool down completely.
After the break, the cara gave Hansen, now on the court, a close-up shot.
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Though just a substitute and a rookie, Hansen’s performance was clearly acknowledged by the fans.
Such cheers made Hansen clench his fist tightly.
He hoped others criticized him because fundantally, it was for him to beco stronger and gain more people’s recognition.
Tonight, he had already won so many people’s appreciation.
For himself, and for these fans who acknowledged him, he must help his team win this ga!
As the Cavaliers started their offense, Jas drove towards the basket, clashed with Howard, won a whistle, and walked to the free-throw line.
Jas made the first free throw, but the second one veered off the rim, and Howard secured the rebound.
With the final 40 seconds left, the Cavaliers trailed the Magic 99 to 102.
"Defense! Defense!"
The screams of the Cavaliers fans filled the arena, deafening.
The Cavaliers only had to stop this play to possibly drag the ga into overti, only then could they discuss winning.
Nelson, sticking his butt out and pressing against Williams, dribbled the ball to run down the clock.
When the shot clock was down to about 14 seconds, he passed the ball to Carter, who had co around a screen.
Carter caught the ball, but Hansen had gotten past Howard’s pick to confront him.
Seeing this, Carter executed a crossover step then boldly stepped right, driving hard to the basket.
At this mont, the Magic Team was up by three points. Even if he couldn’t make the shot, causing so havoc would have secured the ga.
Hansen, a rookie, was indeed excellent in defense, but his lack of experience was his Achilles’ heel.
That was Carter’s assessnt, but as he drove into the lane, relying on his body against Hansen and shooting, he realized his judgnt was once again mistaken.
Hansen’s experience was honed against top penetrators like Wade; he wasn’t easily fooled by Carter.
Carter’s shot went off the mark, and O’Neal secured the rebound.
Only 17 seconds left in the ga.
Brown called the Cavaliers’ final tiout.
The ho crowd unconsciously looked up at the scoreboard.
The Cavaliers had one last chance to tie the ga, but it was incredibly difficult since the Magic Team knew they had to shoot a three and would definitely extend their defense.
At this point, Jas was anxious, snatching the tactical board from Brown’s hands and began drawing up the play himself.
No one on the Cavaliers found it unusual.
Including Hansen.
He used to find Jas taking the tactical board a bit odd, but when a player could casually change practice tis, decide the starting lineup, why not grab a tactical board?
To quote so LeBron fans, grabbing it once isn’t like grabbing it for the whole ga.
In the strategy drawn by Jas, Hansen knew his role was to crouch in the weak side corner.
Just like that, very real.
The tiout ended, and the ga continued.
The crowd was not shouting, just staring tensely at the field, hardly daring to breathe.
Though theoretically, the Cavaliers could go for a two-pointer and then gamble on the Magic Team’s free throws.
But cleverly, Van Gundy had already preemptively substituted Howard out.
The ssage was clear: if you’re going for a tough two, the Magic Team wouldn’t bother.
Of course, Hansen knew that Jas had drawn a three-point strategy.
The whistle blew on the sideline, Williams rapidly advanced the ball then passed it to Jas in the frontcourt.
The final 14 seconds, Jas with the ball.
The Magic Team extended their defense, offering no chances.
Jas tried to use O’Neal’s screen to find space for a shot, was unsuccessful, and got double-tead.
The Magic Team perfectly predicted the three-point attempt, ignoring all else.
Forced out beyond the three-point line, Jas found himself running out of ti, and the strategy had failed.
Well, you can’t expect a player to draw up an excellent tactic, but Jas’s was indeed lacking.
However, just then, Hansen moved from the corner to a 45-degree angle, successfully utilizing a screen off the ball by Conningham for an opening.
Initially despairing, Jas saw hope, decisively passing the ball.
Hansen caught the pass and without hesitation leaped to shoot, but a figure flew towards him from the side.
No, it was a UFO!
Having been continuously stymied by Hansen that evening, Carter was determined to reclaim everything he had lost with his proud leaping ability tonight!
Hansen ignored Carter’s attempt to block, just as he ignored Varejao’s disturbances during team practices.
"Smack!"
Carter’s hand hit Hansen’s arm, the contact clear.
The referee’s whistle blew tily.
A three-point foul, the Cavaliers now had a chance to tie the ga.
No, more than just tying.
Because of his decisive shot, Hansen had already released the ball amidst the foul!
The basketball spiraled towards the hoop.
The entire crowd held their breath, hearing only the beats of their hearts.
The basketball descended past its highest point.
Excitent sparked in the eyes of the fans.
Though it was a shot prompted by a foul, the trajectory of the ball was perfect!
"Swoosh!"
A crisp sound passed through the speakers as the basketball cleanly pierced the net.
Hansen’s three-pointer was good, plus a penalty shot!
The Cavaliers’ three-pointer could bring the ga to overti, but this 3 1 gave them a chance for a buzzer-beater!
Cheers erupted like a tidal wave from the crowd.
Jas wildly celebrated on the court.
Hansen’s initially intended celebration gesture awkwardly halted mid-way, he then shook his head and walked to the free-throw line.
The noisy scene gradually quieted down.
With just one second left in the ga, this free throw would decide if the ga would extend to overti.
The referee made a "1" gesture, passing the ball to Hansen.
Hansen took the ball, took a deep breath to calm his wildly beating heart, but it was minimally effective.
Even living two lives, in such monts, it’s impossible not to be nervous.
"I bet you can’t make this shot," said a familiar voice from the free-throw line at that mont.
It ca from Carter, who had just committed a fatal error, his final bit of defiance.
Hearing this, Hansen felt as if he was back in an NCAA match, and all his nervousness disappeared mysteriously in an instant.
"How about, bet 500,000 US Dollars?"
After saying this, Hansen shot the ball.
The basketball traced a perfect parabola and swished net-only.
"Rember, you owe 500,000."
Hansen finished Carter.
The scene was boiling over.
—Dividing Line—
The rule prohibiting intentional fouling in the last two minutes only started in the 2016-2017 season.
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