One Year Left to Play-Chapter 294 - 100: This Night Is Especially Wild

However, when Zhang Hao reached the left baseline mid-range, the defender wasn't Pippen, but Jordan!

Jordan directly asked Pippen to step aside; he wanted to defend Zhang Hao personally.

Unlike Pippen, Jordan waited until Zhang Hao received the ball to initiate contact!

Can't push through!

Pippen is notably strong among outside players, but compared to Jordan... Jordan can post up like a center and forcibly attack.

Zhang Hao bumped into him again, not only failing to move him, but the experienced and strong Jordan stealthily exerted force when Zhang Hao did, pressing forward. The referee didn't catch Jordan's movement, making it seem like Zhang Hao bumped into Jordan and bounced back instead! This time, not only did Zhang Hao not get closer to the basket, he was pushed half a step back!

Can't break through! His turnaround skills aren't good enough; any turnaround fadeaway in this situation will be disrupted. Passing? Zhang Hao glanced at the countdown on the basket at his side of the court, only 6 seconds left; he quickly abandoned the idea, deciding to keep backing down!

Thus, everyone watched as Zhang Hao pushed several times, not only failing to advance but getting pushed back to the corner!

With two seconds left, Zhang Hao bent his knees, and Jordan was ready; he thought Zhang Hao would force a shot, preparing to confront and disrupt him.

But Zhang Hao bent his knees not to bump, but grabbed the ball, took a step beyond the corner three-point line, and turned around!

Zhang Hao stepped out, turned around, and jumped, his body floating out of bounds!

While turning, Zhang Hao held the ball from his right chest to his right shoulder, protecting the ball with his left hand, and at the peak of his jump, he smoothly released the ball...

The turnaround fadeaway shot made Jordan gape, having been fooled and pressing forward immediately; however, he was a step too slow, Zhang Hao's shot was too quick!

Jordan quickly turned to look at the basket; Zhang Hao, who landed outside the court, also stared at the ball.

This shot was quite unpredictable...

The halftime whistle blew while the ball was in the air.

Under everyone's gaze, the ball swished through the hoop!

Scored!

Zhang Hao's solo pair against Jordan's turnaround fadeaway three-pointer went in!

61 to 60, the Brooklyn Nets led by 1 point at halftime!

With 22 points at halftime, Zhang Hao set a personal best for half-time scoring!

Watching the Nets players rush to Zhang Hao, celebrating together, hearing the crowd's initial cheers for the visiting team turn into frenzied shouts for their players, looking at Zhang Hao's expressionless face...

Jordan had played for so many years, experienced countless games, faced numerous player outbursts, including some young, non-top-tier players exploding, and he had lost such games more than a few times.

But when the erupting player is a recognized genius, it's quite different.

What does it mean for talent to illuminate reality?

Jordan saw it!

However... Jordan had faced Michael Adams multiple times, and during Adams' peak, he was familiar with the shooting motion.

Thinking of Barkley's post-up, Michael Adams' shooting motion combined with his own post-up...

"It got dirty! My post-up has really been sullied!"

...

Jordan was human too; he also had urgent moments, as in the Bulls' last attack in the first half.

The Nets led by 1 point at halftime, not just due to a good touch, not just due to seizing scoring opportunities, not just due to aggressive rebounds even Rodman found frustrating.

They also capitalized on every Bulls' error!

Yet Jordan was experienced, and the Bulls were formidable, capable of quick adjustments.

For tonight's game, Jordan knew resolving the opponent quickly was unlikely.

A month ago, compared to now, the Nets really weren't yet a strong team but weren't pushovers either.

At certain moments, Jordan and his teammates would still become anxious, displeased with the current situation, but after the third period began, the Bulls played more steadily.

Constantly probing for opportunities to establish a leading advantage, if failed, not getting anxious, playing slowly.

On the Nets side, no other choice, just fight! Every key player giving their all as long as they're on the court!

Starting the third quarter, Kenny Anderson, Edwards, Almon Gilliam, Zhang Hao, and PJ Brown went up fiercely; they sensed their rhythm in the first half.

Relying on effort and feel, they remarkably ended the third quarter with an 88 to 86 lead, entering the fourth quarter ahead by two points!

This quarter, both teams' scoring efficiency declined; even the Bulls weren't immune.

Zhang Hao shot 3-of-7 in the third quarter, along with 3-of-3 free throws, scoring 9 points. After three quarters, his personal score rose to 31 points!

This quarter, Zhang Hao made no three-point attempts, but the opponent began guarding him, one reason why the Nets managed a 27 to 26 score in the third quarter.

During the intermission, Jordan gritted his teeth staring at Zhang Hao; tonight, he had scored 30 points, but Zhang Hao had reached 31 points!

His matchup with Zhang Hao was limited; maybe he was the most suitable Bulls player to defend Zhang Hao, but he couldn't defend the opponent's main scorer for extended periods—that's what Pippen and Rodman were for?