Chapter 313: Chapter 85: [3:1, Match Point]

Carl Malone’s Finals journey ended on his knees, as did his career.

At that moment, countless victims of his "iron elbows" were celebrating. People like David Robinson, whom he’d knocked into shock; Isaiah Thomas, who needed 40 stitches; Tim Duncan, who he’d flying-kicked... and countless other ’nobodies’.

Considering the way Carl Malone played, he deserved to go out like this.

The Lakers’ team doctors had a grim prognosis. They carefully helped Carl Malone to his feet, settled him into a wheelchair, and pushed him away.

The network repeatedly played the replay of Malone’s injury.

Even though he cut a pitiful figure as he was wheeled away, very few people felt any real sympathy for him.

In the words of Charles Barkley: "If Jack had gone for a layup just now instead of passing, the back of his head would’ve been split open. Never underestimate the power of Carl Malone’s iron elbows."

If Carl Malone had played normal defense, he never would have lost his balance, and he never would have been knocked to his knees by Bender and injured his knee.

With the Lakers losing Carl Malone, their situation went from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, the Pacers’ morale was soaring.

More and more Lakers fans began to vote with their feet, leaving the Staples Center.

Fans of powerhouse teams are often like that. They’ve seen it all before and know when to call it a night.

It’s like playing a scratch-off ticket; once you reveal the first "Sorry, not a winner," you don’t bother scratching the rest.

In the end, the Lakers couldn’t pull off a miracle. Kobe and O’Neal didn’t play badly; their offensive efficiency was still high.

It was just that the Pacers’ was higher.

Su Xi secured a triple-double with four minutes left in the game.

The Pacers ultimately defeated the Lakers 121–106.

They secured a match point in the Finals at the Staples Center, taking a commanding 3–1 series lead.

In this game, Su Xi posted a super triple-double with 32 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks, breaking another series of records... a whole slew of them, including team records, the record for the youngest player to get a triple-double, Finals triple-double records, and more.

Su Xi was collecting more and more ’Historical Superstar Fragments’.

And he was about to obtain a historic-level one: the Finals MVP.

With the Pacers on match point, the Finals MVP award became the hottest topic of discussion.

Su Xi himself was asked about it.

"It’s still too early to talk about that. Our goal is to win one more game," Su Xi told the TNT sideline reporter.

"I have no opinion on Carl Malone’s injury. That poster dunk was pretty incredible, though. When I saw the replay on the big screen, I couldn’t help but give myself some props."

"The Lakers are still a very strong team. The OK Combination is completely dominant. I don’t think Carl Malone’s injury will weaken them. The Lakers already won a three-peat led by the OK Combination without him."

"I’m not interested in stats. Triple-doubles, quadruple-doubles... I’ve gotten them before, haven’t I?"

"My stamina? That’s a mystery I’m not going to solve for you. You want to know what my stamina is really like? I can only tell you this: it’s enough."

"Scarlett? Jessica? This is a basketball court, man. Let’s end this interview. Goodbye, everyone."

Su Xi waved at the camera, cutting a stylish figure as he walked away.

This was classic Su Xi.

It had an air of powerful swagger.

But he was also telling the truth, leaving you unable to argue.

In contrast, the Lakers were in a sorry state. They had started with grand ambitions, ready to take on the world. Before the Finals, with the F4 plus Phil Jackson, you tell me—how were they supposed to lose?

Four games into the Finals, Carl Malone was in the hospital, and the Lakers had lost three games.

"How can the Lakers possibly win? How can they turn this situation around?"

As soon as Phil Jackson entered the players’ tunnel, a reporter chased him down with questions.

Staff members blocked the reporter. Phil Jackson didn’t break his stride, waddling into the tunnel like a giant drake.

In his entire coaching career, he had never lost in the Finals.

His Finals loss count was zero. He had led his teams to the Finals nine times and won the championship all nine times.

Now, on his tenth trip, he was hoping for a perfect ten.

He had already prepared his victory speech.

Now, it seemed he wouldn’t get to use it.

’Can the Lakers still win?’

He kept asking himself that question on the way to the locker room.

Theoretically, the Lakers still had a glimmer of hope, but it was truly just a glimmer.

...

After the game, the atmosphere in the Pacers’ locker room remained serious, though it was a seriousness mixed with excitement.

Reggie Miller kept telling everyone to stay focused and not to relax; they were only one win away from their goal.

Reggie Miller had waited for this for too long. Eighteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.

And because he had waited so long, he had more than enough patience to wait for one final victory.

The Pacers’ players knew full well that the Lakers wouldn’t go down without a fight. It wasn’t time to celebrate yet.

But that didn’t stop all his teammates from rushing over the moment Su Xi walked into the locker room, tossing the hero of their victory high into the air.

Su Xi’s status as the team’s core had been proven time and again, and it was now rock-solid.

Tonight was even stronger proof that Su Xi was the Pacers’ most indispensable superhero.

Later, Larry Bird called the team in Los Angeles to congratulate them on securing match point. He also passed on the owner’s regards—regards that were quite tangible. Although the NBA forbids owners from giving players bonuses outside of their contracts, there were always ways around the rules.