The Golden Age of Basketball-Chapter 173 - 66: The Best Basketball Game_3

The referee’s sharp whistle sounded once again in Chicago Stadium, and the fans all held their heads in complaint, wondering why we didn’t have a superstar post player to stop number 11.

"This is Sonny Gan’s twelfth offensive rebound of the game, and his twenty-sixth rebound overall. The Bulls’ interior line has been shattered by him, and then it’s Michael trying hard, picking up the pieces one by one, trying to put together a complete team,"

When Gan Guoyang scored a three-pointer, the score reached 120:113, with the Trail Blazers still maintaining a 7-point advantage.

It was a lethal offensive rebound, and a fatal blow.

With less than 1 minute left in the game, Jordan’s solo 21 points in the fourth quarter, and a total of 53 points for the game, were destined to be in vain.

Jordan already felt very tired, like a fearless warrior in the fourth quarter, using his incredible aerial performances to help the Bulls close the gap, trying to turn the tide.

But Gan Guoyang’s 18 points in the fourth quarter, 50 points for the entire game, 12 offensive rebounds, and 27 rebounds total made Jordan’s spectacular performance regrettably empty.

Jordan didn’t give up at the last moment, but he was really tired; from outside, he tried a three-pointer, but the ball didn’t even touch the rim.

Gan Guoyang grabbed the ball, did not launch a counterattack, but handed it to Valentine, who dribbled the ball past half-court to run out the 24 seconds.

The sweat soaked through Gan Guoyang’s jersey and shorts. For the first time, he felt a bit tired from playing the game—not physically exhausted, but a weary fatigue after the sudden relaxation following intense concentration.

Gan Guoyang and Jordan stood with their hands on their hips, not far from each other, waiting for the final whistle to blow. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

The Chicago fans didn’t leave their seats but stood up to applaud both players after the game ended.

They had presented an exceedingly brilliant duel, a competition of will and skill, and many people said in later years that it was the most spectacular basketball performance they had ever seen.

The two walked to the center of the court and lightly gave each other a high-five, but said nothing, did not embrace, and didn’t even make eye contact before turning their heads and walking away towards the locker rooms.

Gan Guoyang returned to the locker room, sat down on a bench, and ignored the surging crowd of reporters outside. He covered his face with a cold towel, and a wave of heat rose.

The game was over, they had won; it was a feeling indescribable—not simple pleasure or exhilaration, but a sense of happiness that transcended victory, a joy found in meeting one’s match.

At the same time, there was a trace of faint emptiness.

In the Bulls’ locker room on the other side, Jordan also sat on a bench with a towel covering his face, not wanting anyone to see his tears flowing freely.

He could accept defeat; as a basketball player, no one never loses, but tonight he felt very sad, extremely sad, the kind of sadness that could only be expressed with tears.

Gan Guoyang finished the game with 50 points, 27 rebounds, 5 assists, 8 blocks, and 2 steals; Jordan finished with 53 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks.

"Tonight we’ve witnessed a performance that’s beyond words, with two rookies presenting the most remarkable duel of my commentary career. I’ve been sitting here watching games for 13 years, and I’m certain none can compare to this one. Not the playoff battle between Gilmore and Bill Walton in 1977, not the fight between Seth and Gilmore against the Celtics in 1980, none of them. But we might get to see an even more splendid duel in the future, because these two are still so young, just 20 years old. My listeners, 20 years old, this is our good fortune, to share the same era with them,"

"Tonight, I can go to sleep peacefully, even die peacefully, because I have witnessed the best basketball game." — Jim Durham