NBA: Rising Superstar!

Chapter 486 - 398: Defeating the Rockets

On the court, Paul was drenched in sweat, with droplets continuously trickling down from his forehead onto the floor.

Paul’s expression was already very fatigued; facing Zeng Xingyang’s relentless offense, he felt a tremendous amount of pressure.

The Rockets’ offense.

Paul dribbled to the front court, continuing to move the ball around.

Soon, after the ball was passed around, it ended up in his hands again.

Harden and Paul were basically the initiators of the Rockets’ offense.

Paul gestured, Capela came out to screen, Zeng Xingyang was delayed, and Jokic switched out to defend.

Zeng Xingyang didn’t just watch Paul play against Jokic but instead, they trapped him front and back.

Feeling the pressure, Paul executed a clever bounce pass through the gap between the two.

Capela rolled to the basket, striding up into the air, and at this moment, Gordon flew in from the other side.

At the high point where Capela caught the ball, Gordon also reached his peak.

"Bang!"

Gordon had been waiting a long time for this opportunity, seeing through the Rockets’ tactical play.

The basketball was blocked.

"Argh!!"

Gordon roared towards the sky.

Zeng Xingyang picked up the ball on the court.

Harden immediately tried to stop Zeng Xingyang.

But Zeng Xingyang smoothly tossed the ball forward, then leaned on Harden, accelerated past him without the ball, and received the ball in stride.

After slipping past Harden, he turned to chase Zeng Xingyang but could only see Zeng Xingyang’s back.

Zeng Xingyang led the charge, caught up with the ball, and the Nuggets’ layup was made steadily.

The Nuggets have been pressing the Rockets on the court.

In critical moments, it was still Harden who stood up.

Harden started to go one-on-one on the right side, using a double screen to play against Gordon.

Despite Gordon’s excellent physical capabilities, he couldn’t stop Harden.

Harden combined low dribble with step-backs to create space and then made the shot.

Harden also contributed in the following defense, during a fast-break one-on-one defense.

Zeng Xingyang pushed the ball in a counterattack, and as he was about to reach the basket, Harden reached back and knocked the ball out, hitting Zeng Xingyang and causing it to go out of bounds.

Zeng Xingyang rare one-on-one failure.

Zeng Xingyang didn’t complain about a hand foul, just bitterly smiled and spread his hands.

When Harden is serious about defense, he can still create a lot of trouble for people.

In the next possession, the Rockets attacked again.

Harden once more used a screen to change direction and surged in.

This time the Nuggets’ defense was disrupted by him.

Harden decisively passed the ball to P.J. Tucker in the corner.

Zeng Xingyang quickly chased after P.J. Tucker, but helplessly, he wasn’t Superman and couldn’t actually fly, so he couldn’t catch up.

P.J. Tucker hit another three-point shot.

"The Rockets might be the toughest opponent the Nuggets have faced this season, they’ve quickly closed the score gap again."

"Mike Malone called a timeout."

"Let’s see how they adjust after the timeout."

After the timeout.

Zeng Xingyang and Jokic’s pick-and-roll.

Capela and Harden double-teamed Zeng Xingyang, who passed the ball through them.

Jokic rolled to a floater.

The basketball was precisely thrown into the basket.

The Nuggets quickly extended the lead again.

The Rockets’ offense.

Harden dribbled to the front court, then bounced a pass to the cutting Ariza.

Ariza was very present on the court; he took the ball and headed straight for the basket, ignoring Jokic’s influence on the game.

Jokic interfered with Ariza’s layup.

"Bang!"

Jokic swatted the ball away.

Zeng Xingyang got it.

Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front court as Siakam dashed down.

Siakam pressured Paul as he cut in.

Zeng Xingyang passed the ball to Siakam; under normal circumstances, with the absolute height advantage, Siakam could make the shot.

But Paul cut in to tap Siakam’s ball, disrupting his rhythm, causing Siakam’s layup to hit the rim.

Fortunately, Jokic, following behind, tip the offensive rebound.

The Rockets’ defense instantly shrank.

"Give it to me!"

Jokic heard the call and without hesitation swung the ball outward.

The outside Zeng Xingyang received the ball, and at this moment, the Rockets’ defense was out of position.

Zeng Xingyang calmly faked.

Ariza, rushing from afar, was faked out, and Zeng Xingyang quickly shot another three.

The shot was a push, with a very fast release speed.

Harden could only watch helplessly as the three-pointer traced a beautiful arc.

"Swoosh!"

Accurate hit.

"That was a superstar play."

"Zeng Xingyang is playing so casually on the court."

"Awesome, the score continues to rise."

The fans online were very excited.

This three-pointer led D’Antoni to choose to call a timeout.

Zeng Xingyang’s scoring outburst in the fourth quarter caught D’Antoni by surprise.

Gordon excitedly hugged Zeng Xingyang, having a leader like Zeng Xingyang on the court made them play very easily.

While Zeng Xingyang just smiled, such shots were easy for him.

"The game isn’t over yet."

"We need to keep winning."

Zeng Xingyang emphasized.

The Nuggets players were all excited.

On the Rockets’ side, Paul excitedly explained to his teammates the techniques to defend against Zeng Xingyang.

Although these techniques were theoretical, as he himself couldn’t do it in practice.

But Paul liked to teach to prove his own presence.

Harden was a bit frustrated looking at Paul’s demeanor, feeling Paul wasn’t as strong as imagined, and in critical moments, they still relied on him.

After the timeout, it was still Harden who stood up.

Using Capela and Tucker’s successive screens, Harden charged into the paint at high speed, facing Jokic’s defense with a floater.

The shot precisely floated into the basket.

Harden executed a crucial offensive play.

However, the Rockets still couldn’t organize against Zeng Xingyang.

This time, Zeng Xingyang received Jokic’s pass on the outside right of the three-point line, employing a triple threat to directly get Ariza defending him up into the air.

Then he dribbled forward with long strides.

Paul and Tucker’s double team were late, and Capela was held up by Jokic on the other side.

As a result, Zeng Xingyang found an open lane to the basket.

Zeng Xingyang decisively went for a power slam.

"Boom!"

The basketball was slammed heavily into the basket.

The momentum of the Toyota Center was stifled.

In the next possession, Harden again attempted to drive in for a floater but was disrupted by Zeng Xingyang.

Jokic grabbed the rebound and quickly pushed forward.

Capela tried to block him but was bypassed by Jokic’s change of direction.

Despite his clumsy movements, Jokic had better dribbling skills than other centers.

After reaching the front court, Jokic faced Tucker’s defense.

Though Tucker was short, he could keep up with Jokic on the outside, so Jokic couldn’t pass him; he quickly shielded the ball with his back.

At this time, Paul came back to double Jokic, trying to steal the ball.

But Jokic stayed calm, turning around and passing the ball out again.

On the outside, Gordon set a screen for Zeng Xingyang off the ball.

Zeng Xingyang once again got an open chance at the top of the arc.

Jokic then showed why he was different from other centers; he could attract double teams while holding the ball and then feed his teammates.

The Rockets players held their breath.

Zeng Xingyang took a stress-free three-point shot.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc.

"Swoosh!"

Bull’s-eye!!

This shot ultimately sealed the victory.

The final score was 145 to 130.