Chapter 112: "Boosting Scores"

The Mavericks found themselves in a rare and precarious position of passivity. Now, Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavericks’ leader, knew it was time for someone to step up. If the Warriors managed to build a 20-point lead by the end of the first quarter, it would not only be a humiliation for the Mavericks but potentially a moment forever etched in the annals of disgrace.

Nowitzki caught the ball near the free-throw line. With a signature Golden Rooster-style spin and a fadeaway jumper, a move emblematic of him and dreaded by interior defenders across the league, he released the shot. It was unstoppable.

The ball swished through the net. At this critical moment, Nowitzki came through, narrowing the gap to 14 points.

Then the Warriors took control. Steph Curry dribbled, passed to Lin Fei, who faked a drive that momentarily shook Baria. Sensing Baria’s weakness in guarding Lin Fei, Terry, originally assigned to defend Curry, immediately tried to help out. But as Terry began to step up, Lin Fei passed back to Curry, who stepped beyond the three-point line and sank the shot.

The lead stretched to 16 points. The Warriors’ strategy was clear: crush the Mavericks quickly and decisively. Even as the first quarter neared its end, they continued to deploy their most potent offensive lineup.

The Mavericks turned to Terry, who faced off against Curry. With a strong drive and a spin, Terry executed a somewhat off-balance layup that still found the net. Despite the Warriors’ tight defense, Terry’s offensive skills remained fluid and effective.

The Warriors resumed their attack, this time with Lin Fei handling the ball. His rapid movement saw him reach half-court in less than three seconds. Baria’s speed allowed him to nearly catch up, but at the crucial moment, Lin Fei took off just beyond the midline, launching into a nearly drifting jump shot. Mid-air, there was a slight, almost imperceptible hesitation—a moment of suspension. It was this pause, that fleeting instant, which made the shot so exquisite. Lin Fei’s footwork and release were lightning-fast, unmatched by any defender, yet the ball’s arc was soft and elegant—a stunning contrast.

The shot was perfect again.

Lin Fei’s stats by now were flawless: 4-for-4 shooting, 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, tallying 11 points and an assist. An absolute scoring machine, he showed no sign of rust despite sitting out two games. His aggression was palpable.

“We absolutely cannot let Lin Fei shoot freely! Not under any circumstances!” Coach Carlisle muttered to himself, then called a timeout. Though it felt somewhat wasteful, it was necessary. Facing a player of Lin Fei’s caliber, the defense had to adjust immediately.

“Double-team him, and emphasize two points: first, never let him get going—no running starts. Second, absolutely deny him any easy shot. This guy hit 60% during the regular season, with over 50% from three-point range—a mark rarely seen in history. It’s justified to throw the entire team at him,” Carlisle instructed his players.

To receive such treatment was perhaps an honor for Lin Fei. Yet on the court, his face remained cold and fierce, radiating lethal intent.

Terry responded with a three-point jumper of his own, keeping the Mavericks in the fight.

This moment tested the Mavericks’ revamped defensive scheme, their best chance yet to stifle the Warriors’ relentless offense.

Lin Fei controlled the ball in the backcourt. Baria crouched low, planting his feet firmly, projecting a lone-wolf aura as if he could hold the line by himself. Lin Fei executed a half-spin; Baria closed in, but at that instant, Lin Fei slipped past smoothly. Baria’s momentum carried him forward, unable to regain balance, forced to watch as Lin Fei glided by. The faint sound of wind seemed to follow Lin Fei’s swift passage.

With speed now fully unleashed, Lin Fei spotted Terry waiting near the midline, anticipating his three-point attempt on the move. Lin Fei attempted a quick one-handed crossover to bypass Terry, who was ready and moved accordingly. Yet Lin Fei’s speed was blinding. Sliding close past Terry’s body, he managed to momentarily slow down but not stop Lin Fei’s advance.

Terry felt a brief sense of success, believing he had at least slowed down the fast break defense. But then Lin Fei executed a between-the-legs dribble and an abrupt stop. Terry’s quick movement rendered him nearly unable to recover, and with Lin Fei’s physical contact and forceful drive, Terry stumbled backward and collapsed to the floor. The crowd watched in stunned silence, waiting to see how Lin Fei would capitalize. For any other player, such a move might have elicited gasps and cheers, but Lin Fei was no ordinary player—expectations were sky-high.

Sure enough, after felling Terry, Lin Fei paused briefly and launched a pure jump shot from where he stood.

A shot like this, if missed, would count as an error for Lin Fei. It was a deep three-pointer, yet for Lin Fei, it held no difficulty.

The crowd’s pent-up excitement exploded into thunderous applause, their shouts of “MVP!” nearly deafening. At this stage of the playoffs, no one’s name rang louder among fans than Lin Fei’s. Had it not been for his previous injury and suspension, he likely would top the official MVP rankings. No one in the league matched his scoring prowess or dominance.

Terry was helpless, resigned. This kid was destined to carve his name into NBA history as one of the most audacious players ever. He had boasted that under his defense, Lin Fei wouldn’t get a single shot off, yet Lin Fei had shown him three different ways to score: pure jumpers, drifting shots on the move, and driving to shake him off and score easily. Each method was a personal affront.

And it wasn’t just Terry. Lin Fei was virtually dismantling the entire Mavericks team singlehandedly. His scoring alone nearly matched the Mavericks’ total points, not to mention the clever assists he sprinkled in. His first-quarter performance was near perfect—5-for-5 shooting overall, 4-for-4 from three, and 14 points.

Soon after, Coach Niels subbed Lin Fei out to preserve his energy. Such a player had to be used judiciously. With such a commanding lead, they couldn’t afford to waste his stamina.

The Warriors appeared determined to exact revenge for their previous heavy loss. This game had to be won in its entirety.

The atmosphere in the Mavericks' locker room turned heavy and subdued. The entire team seemed utterly bewildered by the Warriors’ relentless assault—or more accurately, by Lin Fei’s electrifying dominance. Carlisle’s eyes were wide open, Nowitzki wore no expression, and Kidd glanced at Carlisle. Holding the playbook, Carlisle found himself at a loss for words. Facing a player like Lin Fei, even the worst coach could hardly devise a successful defense. Against such a talent, even the best coaches were left powerless.