9:00 p.m.
Bradley Center.
20 minutes before tip-off.
The Bucks and the Suns were both on the court warming up. Tonight... the Bucks were fully united, stepping onto the court with a firm belief in victory.
Meanwhile, inside the ESPN studio.
Hubie Brown watched the Bucks players training intensely and said, "The Bucks' franchise record winning streak is 20 games. If the Suns win tonight, that'll also be 20 straight wins.
And if they do,
it'll be like the Suns stepping over the Bucks to match their franchise-best 20-game streak. Winning like that on someone else's home court… the home team definitely won't feel good about it."
"Exactly."
Mike Breen nodded with a faint smile. "But you can't blame the Suns. That's just how the schedule is arranged. If the Bucks have what it takes, then stop the Suns from winning.
Hubie Brown, the Bucks have Jennings, the former youngest 50-point scorer, while the Suns have Blake Su, who recently broke that record and is now the youngest 50-point scorer.
Who do you think is stronger if these two go head-to-head?!"
"Blake Su!"
Hubie Brown answered without hesitation. "Blake Su's strength goes far beyond just being the 'youngest 50-point scorer.' He just fought through waves of superstar-level competition.
He was named Player of the Month, topping both the Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month rankings at the same time.
Blake Su… is on a completely different level from Jennings."
After praising Blake Su at length, Hubie Brown softened his tone. "That said, Jennings is still an incredibly talented player who scored 50 points as a rookie.
Tonight.
If he can perform at the level he showed back then, he might be able to put up a fight against Blake Su."
"Right."
Mike Breen tapped the desk lightly and continued, "The game is about to begin. Let's turn our attention to the court and look forward to the showdown between the former and current youngest 50-point scorers."
As his voice faded, the camera cut to the court.
Warm-ups quickly ended, and both teams' starting lineups took the floor.
Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup: 185 cm (6'1") point guard Brandon Jennings, 200 cm (6'7") shooting guard John Salmons, 198 cm (6'6") small forward Carlos Delfino, 208 cm (6'10") power forward Ersan Ilyasova, and 213 cm (7'0") center Andrew Bogut.
Phoenix Suns starting lineup: 191 cm (6'3") point guard Steve Nash, 188 cm (6'2") shooting guard Stephen Curry, 198 cm (6'6") shooting guard Vince Carter, 211 cm (6'11") power forward Channing Frye, and 215 cm (7'1") center Blake Su.
"Jump ball!"
The tip-off between Blake Su and Bogut.
Looking at Bogut, who appeared harmless and even somewhat honest, Blake Su couldn't help but recall his dirty playing style and the disgusting things he'd done.
A wave of nausea rose again.
"Bang!"
With a powerful bend of his knees, he exploded upward. His terrifying vertical leap and explosiveness allowed Blake Su to snatch the ball from well above Bogut's head, by more than a hand's length.
"Wow!"
"Blake Su can really jump!"
As fans marveled at his incredible athleticism, they also mocked Bogut for his lack of lift.
With just the opening tip, Blake Su, who despised Bogut, had already humiliated him. And… this was only the beginning.
"Slap!"
Steve Nash secured the ball and, as usual, initiated the Suns' first possession.
At the top of the key.
Using Blake Su's high screen, Nash got around Salmons, accelerated down the right wing, and after drawing the switch, delivered a slick bounce pass through his legs to the trailing man behind him.
"Slap!"
Blake Su, sliding laterally into position, caught the pass.
Ilyasova, who was supposed to be guarding him, couldn't keep up at all. By the time Blake Su caught the ball and rose for the jumper, Ilyasova was still rushing over.
Too slow.
"Swish!"
Blake Su knocked down the jumper, giving the Suns the first points of the game.
Bucks ball.
Jennings brought it up, called for a screen at the top, got past Curry, accelerated down the left side, and with Carter rotating over to help, he pulled up sharply for a mid-range jumper.
"Swish!"
He drilled it right over Carter.
On the very next possession, Jennings powered past Curry into the heart of the Suns' defense. Facing a double-team from Curry and Frye, he hung in the air, adjusting mid-flight to avoid the block.
"Swish!"
The layup off the glass went in.
"Whoa…"
"He can drive and shoot. This is the former youngest 50-point scorer. His offensive ability is undeniable, and…"
Hubie Brown was in the middle of praising Jennings' strong start when
Blake Su, pushing the ball up at full speed, pulled up right in front of Jennings and fired a three straight in his face!
"Swish!"
Clean through the net.
An absolutely unreasonable make.
"Wow! Blake Su answers right back!"
Jennings knew exactly what that meant. His expression turned cold.
As the former youngest 50-point scorer, he had thought his record would last five years, ten years, maybe even longer. Who would have thought it would be broken in just one year, by Blake Su, who also took all the spotlight?
Because of that,
he had long felt displeased, harboring a quiet resentment.
The Bucks couldn't allow the Suns to step over them to reach 20 straight wins. That was the source of their determination tonight.
And for Jennings,
beating Blake Su head-on and reclaiming the spotlight
was another reason he was going all out.
"Whoosh!"
Jennings stopped abruptly, then burst forward, shaking off Nash. Facing Blake Su's help defense, he used his speed to attack, accelerating even more as he drove into the paint. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Blake Su trailing him by a full step.
"Bang!"
Jennings rose confidently for the layup.
But
just as the ball rose and touched the backboard, a massive hand suddenly appeared. In the next instant, it smashed the ball against the glass and grabbed it cleanly.
"What… he was clearly a full step behind!"
Jennings, catching that glimpse, was filled with disbelief.
But that was the reality. Blake Su's vertical leap, wingspan, and explosiveness far exceeded Jennings'. A single step of separation meant nothing.
Even with that gap,
Blake Su still pinned the shot to the backboard and snatched it out of the air.
"Whoosh!"
Blake Su pushed the ball up himself, sprinted to the top of the key, stopped on a dime, and pulled up for a transition three. Jennings chased hard and leaped with everything he had to contest.
But the moment he jumped,
he already knew it was pointless.
With a full 30-centimeter height difference, Blake Su, rising with the ball high above his head, left Jennings with nothing but something to look up at. There was zero chance of a block.
"Swish!"
Right through.
Blake Su knocked down the pull-up transition three.
"Wow!"
In the ESPN studio, Mike Breen exclaimed, "A chasedown block off the glass, followed by a pull-up transition three right over the defense. One play on defense, one on offense. Blake Su has completely outclassed the former youngest 50-point scorer!"
...
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