Chapter 490: A Lucky Strike, Morale Soars

Fan Xi has no way out.

Over twenty thousand fans are present.

Sitting at the sidelines are the NBA's top ten legends.

Also the TV commentators and countless viewers in front of the television.

Everyone is willing to believe this is the most desperate moment since Fan Xi entered the basketball world. The difficulty is visible to the naked eye, and the chance of a miracle is vanishingly small.

Although Fan Xi's first championship was legendary, back then the Heat's interior wasn't as tight as now, and they were still overconfident.

Fan Xi's second championship was relatively easier, because the Heat still weren't prepared at that time, and the Kuaisuan's overall lineup had the advantage.

Fan Xi's Olympic championship is a legend among legends, yet it also depended on Durant and others getting injured; Le Bu Lang Zhang Si couldn't fully showcase his abilities under the FIBA system, and at that time he didn't yet have his current power.

Now both teams have laid their cards on the table.

Both sides have openly taken up arms.

The Heat have produced their best offense and defense since the team's founding; their Three Giants have sparked unprecedented chemistry and personal power, complementing each other perfectly.

Fan Xi, however, has lost support; his teammates still fight hard on defense, but suddenly go silent on offense.

If Nowitzki were still on the court, Kuaisuan would be much more at ease.

According to the TNT commentary booth's prediction, if Kuaisuan loses this game, even a Game Seven comeback won't shake the Three Giants, because their synergy will only improve; once they find confidence and a winning formula, it will be hard to disturb them.

"This game should have been Jie Ke's best chance; his scoring tonight is excellent, and his moves in the paint are unbelievable," Kenny Smith said regretfully.

Shaquille O'Neal said, "The only possibility now is Fan Xi taking down the Heat with his individual offense. But the odds are too low."

Swish!

O'Neal's words just fell.

Fan Xi receives the ball beyond the three‑point line, uses Huaiti Seda's screen and shoots directly, hitting a three.

After the basket, Fan Xi doesn't celebrate for a moment; he immediately retreats to half‑court to defend.

Kuaisuan players also fall back to half‑court in orderly, military‑like formation, setting up a formation with tenacious stance to meet the Three Giants' innate assault.

James attacks Leonard's defense; Leonard grits his teeth and holds firm, but James doesn't rely solely on brute force. When he reaches the paint, he stops abruptly, then spins with his back to the defender. Though the move looks ugly, it shocks the defense, allowing him to glide into the basket and lay it up... Little Jordan rushes in wildly.

The two collide in the air.

The head referee blows the whistle.

James's thrown basketball hits the backboard and goes in.

God seems to be on the Heat's side tonight.

The entire Staples Center erupts in cheers.

James calmly walks to the free‑throw line.

At that moment, people see Fan Xi walk over and whisper two words to James.

Except for James, no one knows what Fan Xi said.

But five seconds later, James's shot... Boom!

It rims out.

Fan Xi rushes into the paint and grabs the rebound.

This piques Michael Jordan in the stands, who asks Kobe, "Did Jie Ke cast some magical spell on Le Bu Lang Zhang Si? It actually made his free throws miss."

Kobe shrugs; perhaps he says, "The Sunday mailman doesn't work."

Hahaha. (gibberish)

Everyone bursts into laughter; it's a famous trash talk about free throws.

But in fact, Fan Xi did utter a spell.

He walks to James's side and softly says, "One two three four five."

He uses Chinese.

James doesn't understand.

He is a meticulous thinker; at the time he was slightly puzzled, but his gaze was steady. Then Fan Xi quickly says, "Little mouse on the lantern."

James's mind is somewhat disturbed.

Combined with the earlier intense clash that tightened his muscles, his free throw fails to land and bounces out of the hoop. Fan Xi times his rush into the paint perfectly and picks up an easy rebound.

In reality, Fan Xi has no other options; he can only use this kind of chaotic, even childish, meddling to distract James. He knows trash talk won't work, so he simply recites two nursery rhymes.

This counts as a lucky strike.

The morale of the Staples Center inexplicably lifts.

Because James missed the free throw, and because they've always trusted Fan Xi.

They think Fan Xi must have given James a Final Ultimatum, and that Fan Xi will now unleash a nuclear weapon.

So, just after Fan Xi crosses half‑court with the ball, he sees the entire Staples Center crowd standing, including his teammates on the bench.

They all rise together, eyes blazing on the court, directing all attention toward Fan Xi.

Fan Xi instantly feels the pressure bearing down; he knows this shot carries the whole arena's hope, even the Staples Center's final hope.

This time, it's truly a backfire, amplifying the pressure.

James quickly steps forward, teeth clenched, his gaze sharp and unwavering as he tells Fan Xi, "You definitely can't beat me; God will be on my side. God isn't Chinese; God is American!"

Though James lowers his voice, he somehow sounds hysterical.

Clearly, he also believes Fan Xi just gave him a Final Ultimatum, just as Fan Xi has done before.

Otherwise, why would the entire audience stand?

Otherwise, why would the Kuaisuan bench all stand?

This is the counter‑attack Fan Xi intends to sound.

Watching James stride forward aggressively, Fan Xi's blood boils with excitement.

Since we hit the mark by accident, let's use this ball to completely ignite the morale.

Fan Xi bent down, lowered his center of gravity, and shifted direction back and forth.

At first, his dribbling strength and speed were relatively slow.

Bang!

A trajectory visible to the naked eye.

But James dared not act rashly.

Bang!

Fan Xi increased his strength.

The basketball's trace became blurred, and its speed turned fierce.

James's gaze became more focused.

Bang!

Fan Xi increased his strength again.

The basketball's trajectory became swift, even leaving an afterimage.

Bang!

The strength increased again.

The sound of the basketball hitting the floor was like a war drum.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

The war drum grew louder and louder, the ball's shadow became denser and denser, more and more unfathomable, and it seemed to have no limit.

Until Fan Xi suddenly stepped forward.

The highly tense James quickly stepped back one step.

But Fan Xi suddenly stepped back, he was about to make a fake shot, and Wade came charging from the side.

Fan Xi paused slightly, as if freezing for half a second, waiting for Wade to come before him, then he suddenly gathered the ball, turned, and shot… Although James lunged forward.

But the basketball flew over his head, and Wade also interfered from below.

Yet Fan Xi's release was so steady, the basketball slipped out of the defensive encirclement from the only angle.

This time Fan Xi did not use a one-stage jump shot.

After landing, he still maintained his shooting posture.

At this moment, the entire Staples Center fell silent.

Until 1.5 seconds later.

…