TL: 100 PS
Chapter 248: The Suns Might Be in Trouble!
At the sound of the referee's whistle, Marcus Camby and Amar'e Stoudemire both sprang into the air for the opening tip. Camby, using his long reach and perfect timing, won it cleanly.
Stoudemire was explosive, but against Camby — one of the best jump-ball players in the last two decades — he didn't stand a chance. Camby had won 481 of 615 career tip-offs, ranking top ten all time in success rate.
The Nuggets drew first blood.
Carmelo Anthony took the ball near the left elbow in a triple-threat stance. The Nuggets immediately cleared out, giving their star space to operate.
After a brief hesitation, Melo took one strong dribble left, stopped on a dime, and rose into his signature midrange jumper.
"Swish!"
2–0. The Pepsi Center roared as the ball dropped through the net.
Melo's words before the game echoed in Chen Yan's head — This will be a war.
The crowd was deafening. The chants and stomps made Chen feel the vibrations through the floor.
From the sideline, George Karl barked orders. "Get back! No transition! Stop the break!"
He knew how deadly Phoenix's fast-paced offense could be.
The Nuggets hustled back immediately, clogging every lane. There would be no easy baskets tonight.
Steve Nash dribbled across half court, seeing no break opportunity. He called for a screen from Stoudemire at the top. As Nash drove around it, the defense collapsed. He bounced a pass inside, but under pressure, Stoudemire nearly lost control.
Denver's defense was suffocating — the kind you only see from a desperate team.
Amar'e steadied himself and kicked it out to Raja Bell, who swung it again to Diaw, then to Chen Yan.
The ball had finally reached its engine.
Chen caught it on the wing. Before anyone could react, he exploded toward the rim.
Kenyon Martin barely moved before Chen was already past him. Two quick dribbles, a spin, and Chen slipped around Camby's help defense, slicing through like lightning.
With one last stride, he extended fully, releasing a fingertip layup that kissed the glass.
But Camby wasn't done.
"Bang!"
The veteran leapt from behind and pinned the ball against the backboard. The crowd erupted—
—until the whistle blew.
Goaltending. Two points counted.
Even so, the message was clear: Denver came to fight.
2–2.
Iverson took over the next possession, acting as the primary ball handler with Anthony Carter on the bench.
He crossed half court, scanning the defense. At the top, he waved for movement. Kleiza looped along the baseline, curling around a screen. Chen trailed him closely — he knew the Lithuanian could shoot.
Iverson didn't rush. He shifted to the wing, then fired a quick pass to Anthony in the corner.
Melo caught it, turned, and fired over Raja Bell in one fluid motion.
"Bang!"
Not this time. The shot rimmed out, and Stoudemire grabbed the rebound.
Instinct kicked in immediately. Run.
Amar'e looked up and spotted Nash sprinting near the half court line. He swung his arm to send an outlet pass—
—but out of nowhere, a blue jersey flashed across his vision.
"Steal!"
Carmelo Anthony intercepted the pass cleanly, using his momentum to bolt toward the rim.
Most of the Suns had already taken off for offense. No one was back.
Melo took one dribble and lifted off.
Stoudemire, realizing his mistake, chased from behind and jumped to contest.
But Melo was already in the air — strong, balanced, unstoppable. He brushed past Amar'e's challenge, powered through contact, and hammered the ball through the rim with one arm.
"BOOM!"
"BEEP!"
The whistle blew mid-dunk. The crowd exploded.
AND-ONE!
The Pepsi Center went insane. Fans jumped from their seats, waving towels and screaming Melo's name.
"Carmelo! Anthony!" the DJ bellowed over the speakers as confetti cannons fired.
Anthony landed, chest heaving, and pounded his fist against his chest twice, shouting something no one could hear over the noise.
For two games, he'd been quiet — passive, criticized by every sports show for disappearing in big moments. But now, back home, he'd come alive.
He stared straight at Chen Yan, eyes blazing.
This wasn't the same Carmelo Anthony from Phoenix.
This one wanted blood.
Barkley's voice boomed from the TNT booth. "Whoa! Now that's how you answer! Melo's saying, 'Don't count me out yet!'"
Kenny Smith laughed, shaking his head. "Man, you can feel it in the building right now. That dunk woke up the whole city of Denver. If Phoenix isn't careful, this could get ugly fast."
"Yeah," Barkley said. "You can tell Melo took that personally. The Suns might be in trouble tonight."
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