Chapter 229: The Knockout!
“Let's win this game fair and square!”
With just a few words, Malone pulled everyone’s focus back together.
“Yeah!”
Durant was the first to rise, extending his right hand. “Let’s take them head-on! Let this win show everyone—we’re unstoppable!”
Inspired by his energy, the rest of the team stood and stacked their hands together.
“Victory!”
Fueled by that burning conviction, the Kings players stepped back onto the court.
“All good?” Durant asked quietly as he walked past Butler.
“No problem.”
Butler’s expression was calm, but beneath that still surface, turbulent emotions churned. “They got under my skin for a second. Won’t happen again.”
...
Play resumed. The Cavaliers sank both free throws and still had possession.
“I’m not letting you through that easily!”
Durant took the front line, the spearhead of the Kings’ defense, locking in on James as he brought the ball up.
The energy was different now.
James could feel it immediately—the Kings weren’t just playing harder, they were burning hotter. What had been a simmering flame before was now a wildfire.
“Not that easy!” James growled, lowering his shoulder and driving toward the rim.
But Durant slid perfectly into position, cutting off every possible lane. James glanced sideways—every Cavalier was tightly marked.
With no opening, he rose for a mid-range jumper.
Durant pushed off his back foot, stretching those long arms high to contest. He didn’t block the shot, but he forced James to adjust, sending the ball on a steeper arc.
Clang!
The shot bounced off the rim.
Thompson crashed the paint for the rebound, but Jokić’s easygoing grin was gone. He powered his massive frame forward, muscling Thompson completely out of the lane.
Jokić grabbed the board, but instead of launching a fast break, he handed the ball to CJ to organize the offense.
“They’re slowing it down—half-court play!”
Tyronn Lue wiped sweat from his forehead. This was exactly what he’d feared.
With Irving and Love being weak defenders, the Cavaliers were vulnerable to the Kings’ tall core—Jokić and Durant—swinging the ball to break down their coverage.
“They’re going for the knockout.”
CJ crossed half-court and passed to Jokić, who faced Thompson at the top of the key.
With a sudden behind-the-back dribble, Jokić created space.
He wants to take me one-on-one?
Thompson froze, dumbstruck. What the hell? A walking refrigerator doing guard moves?
He didn’t have time to think. Stepping forward to challenge, he fell right into Jokić’s trap.
With shocking speed for his size, Jokić spun past him cleanly.
“Hey!”
Thompson turned to chase, but Jokić was already barreling down the lane.
When that tank starts rolling, no one wants to be in front of it. Love quickly slid over to help.
As the two defenders closed in, Jokić crouched and brought the ball up as if preparing to force the shot—but then, with the vision of a magician, flicked it backward without looking.
Durant, already in perfect position, caught it and rose for the jumper.
Swish!
A simple two-man game between CJ and Jokić had already pushed the Cavaliers to their limits—but now Jokić and Durant together? Impossible to contain.
Thompson and Love, never known for their athleticism, were getting picked apart. The Cavaliers’ perimeter defense was in chaos.
“I’ve got him!”
Two possessions later, LeBron stepped up to guard Durant himself.
“Perfect!” Durant shouted, stepping back and firing from beyond the arc.
The sudden pull-up caught LeBron completely off guard—but this time, the shot bounced off iron.
“Our turn!”
LeBron grabbed the outlet pass, accelerated downcourt, and charged straight to the rim, fighting through Durant’s contest to finish the layup.
96–92.
Cavaliers by four.
Two minutes left.
“Play the high-percentage shot!”
Butler yelled from midcourt as CJ looked to sprint forward.
“Oh—right!”
CJ slowed down immediately.
“Give it to him! Kevin!” Butler barked, pointing at Durant.
Moments like this were made for superstars—and Durant knew it.
He caught the pass, faced LeBron, and jab-stepped before exploding into the lane.
The Cavaliers tightened their defense, every man locked in.
With two long strides, Durant reached the paint. Feeling LeBron behind him, ready to swat, he glided up and twisted mid-air for a smooth reverse layup.
“That was way too easy!”
Coach Lue was fuming on the sideline. “Wake up! Don’t let him blow by like that!”
The final two minutes turned into a slugfest—both teams trading baskets, neither giving an inch.
Then Kyrie Irving’s three clanged off the rim.
Jokić hauled in the rebound and glanced up—20 seconds left.
Score tied, 102–102.
The tension was thick enough to taste. He hugged the ball tight, as if afraid someone might steal it.
“Nikola! Ball!”
Durant sprinted over, extending his long arms.
“About time you got here!” Jokić exhaled in relief, practically shoving the ball into Durant’s hands.
Durant crossed half-court slowly, eyes fixed on the clock.
This shot would decide everything.
He dribbled side to side, a few feet behind the three-point line—running down the clock, locking in his rhythm, getting his body and mind in sync.
Eight seconds left.
Durant moved.
He drifted toward the left wing, to the 45-degree mark. LeBron stood a step inside the arc, studying every motion.
Then, without warning, Durant planted his feet, rose straight up, and launched the shot—ignoring LeBron’s outstretched arm completely.
Swish!
Author's Note
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