NBA: The Dynasty Crasher

Chapter 24: Fighting

"No, Zhao Dong, don't fight!" Van Gundy shouted urgently, rushing to prevent the confrontation. Garnett had a sharp tongue but, seeing Zhao Dong's aggression, quickly turned and ran toward the tunnel entrance, not daring to stay on the court.

"Don't run!" Zhao Dong chased after him.

"No, Zhao Dong, don't hit him! Just let it go, it's not worth it," Van Gundy said, grabbing Zhao Dong from behind and refusing to let go.

Zhao Dong couldn't help but laugh at his coach's words. "Ha ha... Look, that jerk is running away!"

The Knicks fans found it amusing as well, laughing at Garnett's retreat. "What's his name? The big guy from the Timberwolves? With that kind of guts, he dares to elbow Zhao Dong? Zhao Dong is tough enough to dunk on Shaq!"

"Screw that!" Larry Johnson, who had already removed his jacket and was ready to fight, muttered in disappointment when he saw the confrontation fizzle out. Zhao Dong, glancing over at him, grinned and said, "Larry, we'll save the fight for next time. We don't want to get thrown out together."

Larry Johnson, surprised, shook his head and laughed. "Still hoping for a fight? Get back on the court."

Van Gundy, frustrated, kicked Zhao Dong lightly. The referee took action, and because Zhao Dong had been elbowed, he received a first-degree malicious foul. Garnett, still hiding near the entrance, glanced back at the court, only to be beckoned by the referee. He walked out with his head held high, his expression fierce.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden let out a loud, resounding boo.

Immediately, the referee called Garnett for a first-degree malicious foul, and Zhao Dong stepped up to the free-throw line, making both shots.

As the Knicks got the ball back to attack, Zhao Dong ran to the low post on the left wing and yelled at Garnett, who was behind him, "You dare to elbow me in the head? I'll make you pay for that."

Garnett, clearly shaken by the confrontation, responded with a defensive tone, "Who told you to throw me off? You almost got me hurt."

"Dare to dunk on me again, and you won't be able to stand up," Zhao Dong said coldly. The words were harsh, and Garnett's eyes narrowed, his confidence faltering. At that moment, no one else on the Knicks was calling for the ball, so Zhao Dong took charge. Charlie Ward passed the ball to him, and as soon as Zhao Dong received it, he slid downwards, dribbling the ball with his left hand while using his right elbow to push between Garnett's chest and abdomen.

"Bastard!" Garnett grunted from the elbow, his body freezing involuntarily.

"Boom!" Zhao Dong seized the opportunity, powering into the paint for a tomahawk-style dunk. The ball smashed into the Timberwolves' basket, and the crowd erupted in cheers. "No. 21, I'm going to take you down on both offense and defense today!" Zhao Dong taunted after scoring, feeling confident that his strength was on par with Garnett's. The repeated blows to his opponent's morale had shifted the momentum, and Zhao Dong now had the upper hand.

"Bring it on," Garnett said angrily, turning around and charging toward Zhao Dong. But just as Garnett moved to enter the paint, Ewing came over to help defend and slapped the ball away.

"Patrick, I'm not out of position yet," Zhao Dong protested, jumping up in frustration. He was still three blocks and steals short of his goal. "Why didn't you block the shot?"

Ewing, glaring at Zhao Dong, replied, "Feilong, your opponent slipped to the bottom. You need to retreat quickly and stay close to him to stop the jump."

"I know," Zhao Dong nodded quickly, realizing he had been a half-step too late. The Timberwolves attacked again, and Tom Gugliotta made a successful shot. After two more plays, the score stood at 10:14 in the sixth minute of the first quarter, with the Knicks leading by 4 points.

On the left wing, Zhao Dong took the ball again, faking left and right before slipping toward the baseline. Garnett, knowing Zhao Dong would rush the basket as he had several times that night, stepped back in anticipation. But just as Garnett expected Zhao Dong to drive, Zhao Dong stopped at the edge of the paint and, with his body poised, took a nearly two-point shot.

Garnett, unable to get close enough to block, could only jump in an attempt to contest the shot. But Zhao Dong's bounce and wingspan made it nearly impossible for Garnett to disrupt it. "Shh!" The ball swished through the net, firmly sinking into the basket. With his calm demeanor and 88-level shooting skills, Zhao Dong was able to make 8 or 9 out of 10 shots from that range.

"Papa..." The crowd applauded, and Van Gundy clapped from the sidelines, clearly pleased with Zhao Dong's smart play.

He believes that Zhao Dong should not blindly attempt to drive to the basket, as the defensive intensity is higher inside, which consumes more energy. As a key player, he must learn to manage his energy, or else the lack of it in the fourth quarter or during crucial moments could have a significant impact. Therefore, increasing his shooting range is essential.

On the offensive end, Garnett impatiently called for the ball. After two quick dribbles, he attempted a turnaround jumper instead of a step-back, as he still wasn't confident in that move. Zhao Dong, positioned next to Garnett, took off with more force. As soon as Garnett released the ball, Zhao Dong was there to block it. The ball bounced off the rim and fell to the floor, where both players scrambled for it. Zhao Dong finally secured the ball and immediately launched a fast break.

"Oh, Zhao Dong with the block on Garnett! He's taking the ball down the court quickly... no pass... Garnett is chasing him!" The commentator's voice boomed over the arena. Marbury, faster than Charlie Ward, rushed back to the paint. When he saw Zhao Dong charging from the right wing, the momentum was unstoppable, like a truck barreling down the lane. Zhao Dong charged directly ahead without hesitation.

He entered the paint, made a swift move to the sideline, and soared into the air, gliding forward with high speed. With one arm raised, he smashed the ball down in a powerful dunk. "Boom!" The basket rattled as the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Yes! A tomahawk dunk—gliding with a perfect mix of power and finesse! The crowd is going wild!" the commentator shouted.

Garnett, who had been chasing him, stopped under the basket, panting. As Zhao Dong walked past, he dropped a comment: "You bastard, I'm taking you down today!"

Garnett, furious, had a blood-red face, his fists clenched, but he didn't dare to retaliate.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was 18-28, with the Knicks leading by 10 points at home. This quarter set the tone for the rest of the game. By the final buzzer, the Knicks won 102-74, with a commanding 28-point lead.

Under Zhao Dong's intense defense, Garnett, the second-year player, shot 4-for-17, 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 turnovers, and 4 fouls—far below his usual performance. On offense, Zhao Dong contributed 4 blocks and 1 steal, while Ewing added 3 blocks. Zhao Dong played 35 minutes, his longest on the court, showing his versatility on both ends of the floor, though it drained his energy. After the game, he barely had the strength to move his fingers and sat on the floor in exhaustion.

Zhao Dong finished the game with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 5 blocks, 2 turnovers, and 5 fouls. While not as efficient as in the previous games, he added several jumpers to his performance. With Ewing's help on defense, Zhao Dong successfully limited Garnett's impact, earning a reward for his efforts. However, Marbury's task was unfulfilled, as he reduced his drives, preventing Zhao Dong from having the opportunity to steal or block. Ewing was named the best player of the game, with 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

(End of this chapter)

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