NBA M3 - Chapter 542: Rampage Continues, 70 Points (Patreon)

During the break between quarters, US Airways Center was shaking.

"BOOM!"

Blake's third-quarter rampage had the home crowd roaring at the top of their lungs.

Everyone was fired up.

This was the Blake they wanted to see.

Paul and Kobe were terrifying together, so what?

Once The Emperor Blake entered full offensive rampage mode, it did not matter who the opponent was.

In the commentary booth, Van Gundy burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

"Twenty-five points, one rebound, one assist."

"When Blake completely focuses on offense, he is terrifying."

"Absolutely."

Mike Breen smiled.

"After all, Phoenix now has another pillar in the paint besides Blake."

"Who?"

"Yao Ming."

"He hasn't done much scoring tonight, but he's done an excellent job on the glass."

"He already has 12 rebounds through three quarters."

"Uh..."

Van Gundy thought for a moment.

"Since you brought up Yao, let me ask you this."

"Tonight is his first game back after nearly two full seasons, but he hasn't shown much desire to score."

"Do you think he's simply protecting himself, or has the injury taken away some of the offensive ability he used to have even after his recovery?"

"That's hard to say."

Mike Breen considered it for a moment.

"Honestly, I think either is possible."

"But no matter what, 12 rebounds through three quarters already show Yao's value."

"As for everything else, the season has only just begun."

"It's too early to judge him."

"Let's watch for a while longer."

"Fair enough."

Van Gundy nodded, then turned the discussion back to Blake.

"Twenty-five points in one quarter. Fifty-three through three."

"In the season opener, The Emperor Blake, Phoenix's Sun God, is still every bit as explosive as ever."

"His talent is still translating into unbelievable production."

"But Kobe and Paul also scored 10 points each in the third."

"Paul has 32 points, 3 rebounds, and 11 assists through three quarters."

"Kobe has 45 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists."

"The Point God and the Black Mamba have been outstanding too."

"So even with Blake scoring 25 in the quarter, Phoenix only cut six points off that 13-point halftime deficit."

"The Lakers still lead by seven."

"If we want a winner tonight, it'll have to be decided in the fourth."

"Exactly."

The commentators continued analyzing the game.

Before long, the fourth quarter began.

The first few minutes belonged to the rotation players.

In only two minutes, Nash ran the offense while Carter scored on several straight possessions.

Nash added points of his own.

In an instant, the deficit fell from seven to only three.

"Beep, beep!"

Mike Brown called timeout and brought the starters back earlier than planned.

This was opening night.

The first game of the new season.

With his trump-card duo of Paul and Kobe, Brown wanted to beat the defending champions and announce something to the entire league.

This season was going to belong to the Lakers.

Phoenix had just as much confidence in winning and also brought its starters back.

Once again, however, Klay replaced Nash.

It was not because Nash was no longer good enough.

As a master at controlling a game, as long as he avoided a major injury, Nash could still start for almost any team in the league until the day he retired.

The problem was simply that tonight's Lakers Twin Stars were an especially bad matchup for Nash and Curry together.

Phoenix had no choice but to stagger them.

Play resumed.

Lakers ball.

"Thump, thump, thump!"

Kobe brought it up against George.

He crossed the ball back and forth in front of him.

The instant it reached his left hand, he exploded left.

"Screech!"

One hard step.

A sudden stop.

Kobe rose into the fadeaway.

"Thud!"

George reacted immediately and leaned over to contest, but he was still just a little short.

"Swish!"

Kobe's picture-perfect fadeaway dropped through.

The Lakers led by five.

Phoenix came right back.

Curry pushed the ball up the middle and handed it off to Blake.

Blake moved left to create space.

Artest and Paul immediately closed in.

Blake fired the ball across to Klay.

"Whoosh!"

Klay rose for three.

"Clang!"

No good.

Rebound?

Yao Ming tipped it out.

Blake jumped, secured the ball, and landed nearly five feet beyond the three-point line.

In the next instant, he fired.

"Whoosh!"

A sudden deep three.

"Swish!"

Nothing but net.

The Lakers answered in transition.

Kobe called for a screen and hunted Curry again.

He attacked without hesitation, powered his way to the basket, and finished through the defense.

"Swish!"

Good.

But George immediately inbounded to Curry.

Curry launched a pass over half court and found Blake running ahead.

Blake caught it and went straight to the rim.

Artest crashed into the play.

"Beep, beep!"

The whistle sounded.

Off balance, Blake still sent the ball high off the glass.

"Swish!"

Good.

And one.

Blake made the free throw too.

"Blake's touch is still scorching in the fourth."

"He's still in rampage mode."

"Right now, nobody can stop him."

"Paul pulls Yao Ming away from the basket and attacks the big man after the switch."

"He changes rhythm repeatedly, shakes Yao enough to create an opening, but Klay rotates over."

"Paul immediately dumps the ball inside."

"Bynum catches it with Curry switched onto him and powers up for the finish."

"Now Phoenix comes back and goes straight to Blake again."

"Artest and Murphy surround him, but Blake isn't afraid at all."

"He attacks the double team head-on."

"He muscles into the lane, twists through the two defenders, and finishes the layup."

"Sixty-one points."

"Blake already has 61 in his first game of the new season, and there is still half a quarter left."

"He is still rampaging!"

"Blake attacks the rim again."

"This time he goes directly at Little Shark Bynum, absorbs the contact, and somehow twists into a difficult bank layup."

"Does he have it?!"

"Yes!"

"And the foul!"

"The free throw is good too."

"Blake is up to 64."

"Oh my God!"

"Blake already has 68 points tonight, and there are still several minutes left."

"Is he actually going for 70?!"

"Unbelievable!"

"Blake posts up, turns, and hits the jumper again!"

"The Emperor has reached 70 points tonight!"

"Blake's rampage continues."

"He has scored another 17 points in the fourth quarter and has exploded for 70 in the game."

"This is unbelievable."

"Kobe has scored nine during this stretch too, bringing him to 54, but the five-point gap has still been erased by Blake's relentless attack."

"And more importantly, this is Phoenix."

"This is the defending champions' home floor."

"The undisputed leader of the Suns has just scored 70 points, and the arena has completely erupted."

"US Airways Center is being swallowed by deafening cheers."

"Phoenix has seized all the momentum."

Van Gundy's voice rose with every sentence.

His face was flushed.

Watching a performance this insane had him just as excited as the crowd.

"Beep, beep!"

Lakers head coach Mike Brown's eyes widened.

He immediately called timeout.

He had no choice.

He needed to stop Blake's rampage, even if only for a moment.