Chapter 132: Nash Possessed

The timeout ended, and the final quarter of the game began.

He Xinghui moved off the ball, shook off Jalen Rose, and found a perfect shooting opportunity. The Raptors' defense had been like this from the very beginning; it was just that the Clippers hadn't capitalized on their chances until now. The ball reached He Xinghui, and he fired immediately from beyond the arc. The shot went in—a three-pointer. He Xinghui had gotten off to a great start.

The Raptors countered. He Xinghui focused his attention, tracking Mike James’s position. Jalen Rose had seen very few scoring opportunities this game and hadn't been actively calling for the ball, so He Xinghui didn't need to worry too much about him, allowing him to pour more energy into defending the others. His observation paid off; he noticed Mike preparing to pass to Peterson in the corner. The moment Mike released the ball, He Xinghui abandoned Rose, lunged forward, and intercepted the pass. Because he had been so far from the point of interception, the steal looked spectacular, drawing gasps from the crowd. If he could pull off steals like this more often, he might even earn a nickname like "The Glove." Unfortunately, this was just a flash of brilliance and a bit of luck.

After the steal, He Xinghui passed to Cassell and sprinted frantically toward the front court. The fast break was successful, and He Xinghui added another two points, instantly putting the opposition on a 5-0 run. As he ran back, he couldn't help but taunt Jalen Rose: "If you were even remotely useful on offense, I wouldn't have had the chance to make that steal."

"..." Jalen Rose was speechless. He had already adopted a passive attitude, not caring much about whether he scored or not. Being mocked by He Xinghui like this, however, made him want to prove himself. As it happened, He Xinghui wasn't guarding him tightly at that moment, so he made a proactive run, got open, and reached out for the ball.

Mike didn't ignore his teammate and passed the ball to Rose. However, He Xinghui reached Rose at the exact same time. This was the gap between Mike James and Steve Nash: Mike’s passes arrived when the player arrived, while Nash’s passes arrived *before* the player did. It was only a tiny difference in timing, but the result was worlds apart. Much like how the national football team didn't know how to pass into space, lacking that specific ability meant they couldn't keep up with the rhythm of elite international teams.

Jalen Rose lost his chance for an open shot and was forced to try a drive. He tried to shove past He Xinghui, only to find that the other man's strength was no less than his own. In the end, he couldn't drive, couldn't pass, and couldn't shoot. The scene was incredibly awkward. Finally, Jalen Rose forced a shot, and it clanked off the rim.

"A dog would be more useful than him!" Seeing this, the Raptors fans wished they could put on a jersey and sub themselves in.

"I originally thought your defense was bad enough, but I didn't expect your offense to be just as hopeless. You're taking a 16-million-dollar salary—do you feel like you deserve it?" He Xinghui continued to rub salt in the wound. With a salary of 15.69 million, that was essentially the pay grade of a top-tier superstar in this era; even Brand didn't make that much. This was precisely why the Raptors fans hated him—taking so much money and accomplishing nothing. Jalen Rose retreated on defense with a gloomy face.

The teams transitioned to a set offense. Cassell passed to Brand, who prepared to shoot but was stifled by Bosh. Posting up Bosh wasn't a good choice; Bosh was significantly taller and could contest the shot effectively. At that moment, He Xinghui slipped to the baseline. Seeing this, Brand passed the ball over, and He Xinghui knocked down the shot. Afterward, the two high-fived. This display of chemistry once again refuted rumors of a locker room rift.

82-84. The Clippers forced the Raptors to call a timeout. This 8-0 run sent the Clippers' morale soaring.

"Great play, keep it up just like this!" As the players walked off the court, Dunleavy applauded them. Meanwhile, Smith was mocking Barkley: "See that, Charles? This is the strength of the Clippers. As long as they play seriously, the Raptors can't stop them. With such a brilliant play between Brand and the 'cousin,' do you still have the nerve to say there's conflict?"

"Kenny, don't get excited too early, acting like the Clippers have already taken the lead. The game isn't over yet; the one who laughs last is the winner," Barkley insisted, still stubborn.

"Then let's wait and see," Smith replied.

Amidst the anticipation of countless fans, the timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court. Under Sam Mitchell's stern rebuke, the Raptors increased their focus. Unfortunately, He Xinghui didn't play by the rules; he purchased a "Nash Experience Card"—a three-minute duration for 100 rage points. He knew that the best way to crush an opponent's morale was to deal a heavy blow right when they were trying to build momentum.

The Raptors attacked, and Bosh scored two points in the paint. In response, He Xinghui orchestrated the offense from the top of the three-point arc and delivered a beautiful pass, allowing Brand to finish with an easy dunk. He Xinghui’s sudden surge in passing ability caught the Raptors off guard.

The Raptors' offense faltered, but the Clippers' attack remained sharp. After He Xinghui drove to draw a double-team, he dished a no-look pass, and Maggette suddenly transformed into Marion, rushing in to catch the ball for a thunderous dunk. Not only did he score, but he also drew a foul on Bosh. Maggette made the subsequent free throw, and the Clippers took a one-point lead. More importantly, under He Xinghui’s facilitation, the Clippers' offense suddenly flowed much more smoothly, and the players' morale was greatly boosted.

The Raptors attacked, but in their desperation to regain the lead, their shots became rushed, and Mike James missed. The Clippers countered with Maggette sprinting in the lead; He Xinghui grabbed the rebound and delivered a beautiful long pass. The ball dropped into Maggette's hands with precision, and he finished the layup. During these few possessions, fans began to suspect that the number 60 on the court was actually Steve Nash—it was just that similar. Many spectators stood up to applaud, acknowledging He Xinghui's performance.

Seeing this, the Raptors' players felt a bitterness that could not be described. The fighting spirit they had finally managed to build up moments ago had completely vanished. At this point, the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt. The current Raptors lacked a tenacious spirit and gave up at the slightest sign of adversity. Before the fourth quarter was even over, Mitchell subbed out his starters to avoid an even uglier loss. Afterward, He Xinghui and the others subbed out with smiles, and the bench players for both sides took the floor.

Ultimately, the game ended with a score of 108-100, a narrow 8-point victory for the Clippers. The biggest contributors were naturally the Clippers' twin stars. He Xinghui finished with 22 points, 10 assists, and 5 rebounds—his second career double-double. It was quite a strange quirk, as for most players, getting a double-double is far easier than scoring high points. Yet for He Xinghui, scoring high points was as easy as eating and drinking, while double-doubles were a rarity. Brand finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds, continuing to demonstrate his prowess as a top-tier interior player. It is worth noting that Duncan’s current season average was only 18 and 11. Seeing these stats, and the chemistry he showed with He Xinghui in this game, Clippers fans became even more desperate for Brand not to leave. This combination truly had the potential to challenge for a championship.