Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 327: Yin Yang Knights vs. Shizi Dogs (11)

Everyone knew the stakes—there was no room for error now. The scoreboard showed five minutes left, and with no more time-outs, it was do or die for both teams.

At home, fans were on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to their screens. The excitement was contagious, and even those who weren’t typically basketball fans found themselves swept up in the intensity of the game.

"Man, this is insane," Kexin muttered, gripping the armrest of his chair. For someone who didn’t want to watch the finals because he still felt bitter because of their loss, he was enjoying it way too much now.

"I can’t believe we’re pulling out the illusion for this game," one of the benchwarmers from the Knights muttered.

"We’ve been saving it for the Nationals," another said, shaking his head. "But the Shizi Dogs pushed us too far. We have no choice."

Mark Li’s voice echoed through the gym, his excitement clear as he narrated the final minutes. "No time-outs left, folks! It’s all down to this. Five minutes on the clock, and it’s anyone’s game!"

Kai dribbled the ball up the court, his eyes locked on the defense. He knew they had something up their sleeves.

Coach Guanyu wouldn’t call a time-out without any good reason.

As he approached the three-point line, Fabin stepped up to guard him.

Kai’s mind raced. He remembered a technique Chunlei had once used, a quick sidestep that left defenders grasping at air.

It was a risky move, but at this point, risk was all they had. With a burst of speed, Kai faked left, then sharply sidestepped to the right. Fabin hesitated for just a moment, and that was all Kai needed. He had a clear shot. He rose up, the ball leaving his fingertips with perfect spin.

The ball sailed through the hoop, clean as could be.

87-91.

"Yes!" Sir Dao exclaimed, raising his fist in the air.

Miss Cherry looked at him in amusement. For someone who wasn’t fond of Kai, he sure was enjoying the game.

Coach Guanyu and Max exchanged a quick glance.

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The illusion, their secret weapon, was about to make its debut.

They’d perfected it in practice, but using it in a game—especially one this intense—was a gamble.

"What’s this?" Chunlei muttered as he watched the Knights’ next move.

Those watching felt that something big was going to happen.

The Knights inbounded the ball, and Max set the play in motion. But instead of their usual man-to-man formation, the Knights spread out across the court, each player taking up as much space as possible. They moved slowly and deliberately, almost as if they were setting up a trap.

Kai squinted, trying to make sense of what was happening.

He noticed how big they seemed and how their presence seemed to fill the court. The other Shizi Dogs were equally confused, their defensive stances faltering as they tried to adjust.

Meanwhile, Max started moving—fast.

He weaved in and out of the Knights’ formation, almost disappearing behind his teammates. The way they stood, so big and stationary, made it feel like there were more players on the court than there actually were. It was disorienting, like trying to follow a magician’s hands during a trick.

Kai blinked, realizing what was happening was too late.

Max was creating an illusion—a distraction. The four other Knights weren’t playing man-to-man defense; they were acting as decoys, drawing the Shizi Dogs’ attention while Max worked his magic.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, their breath caught in their throats. Mark struggled to keep up with the fast-paced action. "The Knights are pulling something out of the hat. It’s hard to tell who’s even in possession here!"

Max continued to move, his speed and agility blurring the lines between reality and deception. The Shizi Dogs were left scrambling, unsure of where to focus their defense. As Kai tried to track Max, he found himself misled again and again, his instincts screaming that something was wrong but unable to pinpoint what it was.

The illusion was working perfectly.

Max was everywhere and nowhere at once.

The Knights’ formation made it seem like they were outnumbering the Shizi Dogs, even though they only had five players on the court.

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It was a brilliant tactic, one that played with the mind as much as it did with the body.

And then, in the blink of an eye, Max was on the other side of the court, completely unguarded.

The realization hit the Shizi Dogs too late.

By the time they adjusted, Max was already setting up for the shot. He stopped at the three-point line, planted his feet, and launched the ball into the air.

The gym fell silent, every eye watching as the ball arced high, spinning perfectly. The Shizi Dogs tried to recover, to close the distance, but they were too far away. They could only watch as the ball sailed through the air.

Swish.

90-91.

Three points, clean as a whistle.

The crowd exploded into cheers. The Knights’ fans, on their feet, screamed their approval.

The Shizi Dogs’ lead had been cut to just one point.

Kai’s heart pounded in his chest, and exhaustion and frustration started to weigh on him. He glanced at his teammates, seeing the same exhaustion mirrored in their faces. But he also saw determination, a refusal to give up.

Chunlei, standing on the bleachers, shook his head in amazement.

The Shizi Dogs regrouped, trying to steady themselves as the clock continued to tick down.

There was no time to dwell on the last play. The ball was inbounded to Kai, and he quickly passed it to Andy, who had been their most reliable three-point shooter all night.

But the Knights were ready.

Andy dribbled past one defender, then another, but the pressure was immense. He passed it back to Kai, who found himself face-to-face with Max once again.

Kai took a deep breath.

He made a quick move to his right, but Max was there, cutting him off.

Kai spun back to the left, trying to shake him, but Max stayed with him, their movements almost in sync.

Then, it happened once again.

"An illusion," Kai muttered.