Chapter 128: Just A Ray Of Light Needed
Before the fourth quarter began, both head coaches were making tense deployments.
But in reality, after the game had reached this point, both sides had a clear understanding of what the other could and couldn’t do, just like the films of Kamiya Nao and Ozawa Toru—due to too many collaborations, all of which were plot-driven ones requiring some acting skills, they developed an unspoken rapport with just a glance in the movie.
For the Grizzlies, the situation was even more dangerous. The reason they had held on this long was entirely Xu Ling seizing every opportunity like threading a needle, plus the shooting touch holding up. Even so, without Trevor Ariza’s explosion, this game might have ended long ago.
So, in the final twelve minutes, tactics would simplify to the extreme, becoming more of a battle of will and on-the-fly adaptation.
The fourth quarter begins.
In the first possession, Kevin Garnett calls for the ball inside, facing Warrick. With footwork and height advantage, he spins for a hook shot and hits.
“!#￥!@#￥%”
Kevin Garnett roars, as if he has endless energy.
This version of Kevin Garnett drives the Celtics to immediately show even tougher defense.
Kidd tries a pick and roll with Xu Ling, but the Celtics’ switch is very quick. Kevin Garnett instantly appears in front of Xu Ling, looming like a shadow, giving no shooting space at all.
Xu Ling doesn’t force it, passes back to Kidd, and quickly cuts empty. But Pierce’s chase defense and Rondo’s help defense nearly seal all passing lanes.
With the 24-second shot clock winding down, Kidd is forced to jack up a contested three-pointer, and the ball clangs off the rim.
This is suffocating defense, and the Celtics’ comfort zone.
However, even the Celtics can’t guarantee stable offense while executing this kind of defense. After Garnett’s hook shot, they too fail to find their touch, and the Grizzlies can’t find a way to break through.
Missing shots become the main theme again. In the next three minutes, neither side scores a point; every possession is incredibly tough, with physicality ramping up higher and higher.
“This is playoff-level game intensity!” Mike Breen says. “The Grizzlies and Celtics are fighting for every inch of space. Every shot comes with fierce physical contact! It’s really hard to score in this situation!”
The one to break the drought is Xu Ling and Josh Howard.
When the scoring drought hits the fourth minute, Xu Ling drives with the ball from outside, drawing Ray Allen’s attention.
Allen decides to sag off, because Howard’s performance tonight has been flat, especially offensively with ice-cold shooting, not worth special attention.
This decision allows Xu Ling to pass before the double team forms.
Josh Howard hasn’t made a three all night, but he knows opportunities are rare, so he fires a three decisively.
“Swish,” Howard hits his first three of the night. This not only ends the Grizzlies’ scoring drought but awakens a possibility: it looks like the Grizzlies have a third scorer stepping up besides Xu Ling and Ariza.
Josh Howard yells out loud, as if releasing all the pressure.
63-62
Grizzlies take the lead.
Ray Allen uses Garnett’s screen, curls out for the ball, and before Kidd can close out, quickly fires a three and hits.
“Ray Allen! Clutch time, never soft!”
Celtics regain the lead.
The TD Garden atmosphere remains hot, but Kidd keenly senses the subtle shift on the court. After Howard’s three, the Celtics no longer dare leave him wide open.
This means the offensive space opens up a bit.
Xu Ling handoffs with Kidd at the top of the arc.
Pierce and Rondo immediately try to trap.
But this time, the instant Xu Ling catches, he doesn’t hesitate at all, step-through drives, shoulders Pierce half a body off, and barrels into the paint.
“KG!!!”
Pierce yells loudly, as if it’s his last hope.
Xu Ling can’t yet control the game like Kidd, but as a scorer, he’s extremely sensitive to defensive shifts when handling the ball. He’s the type who can find open teammates in these situations.
This is why he averages 5 assists per game.
As soon as Garnett moves, Xu Ling lobs high into the air. Darko Milicic grits his teeth, leaps full force to catch it, and slams it home.
65-65
The Serbian roars excitedly, as if it’s a game-winner. Xu Ling shows no reaction, ignoring the emotional Garnett and the dissatisfied Pierce.
His mind holds only the belief in victory; everything else can be ignored.
This might be the highest form of arrogance.
Simply focusing on the goal is more offensive than any trash talk. Even without talking trash anymore, it strangely makes Pierce miss that rookie from the first half who ran his mouth.
This thought makes Pierce feel inexplicably inferior. Damn, P.P., you’re so pathetic!
“Damn it, we can’t let a rookie lead us around!” Garnett says while inbounding.
But Pierce no longer has the fire from the start to devour Xu Ling: “KG, that bastard is tough to handle!”
Garnett doesn’t care; handling that bastard is Pierce’s job. He just needs to talk: “That’s exactly what we’re doing to him.”
Pierce isn’t inspired by Garnett; he doesn’t get good position.
The Celtics’ defense is undeniably the league’s model and a key to their competitiveness, but their offensive flaws are significant.
Rivers isn’t a coach with his own system. If Popovich in the 2010s is a hexagon coach, Rivers is an exaggerated inverted triangle—he might max out only in oratory and charisma.
This ultimate motivational coach fits superteams like the Celtics but not perfectly. He balances the stars’ egos and pride, but while he unites them, he can’t make them synergize.
The Celtics’ defense is so strong because of Garnett and because the coaching staff has Thibs the defensive master, but offensively, it’s hard to find a suitable system for this team.
Usually Rondo the young gun organizes, but in trouble, they like letting the Big Three take turns solving it.
But this possession
Pierce has no position, Ray Allen can’t get open, Rondo can’t hit shots, so they go to Garnett.
Garnett posts up Warrick; this looks like the highest-efficiency matchup.
But Garnett has a deep-rooted issue, like those dog directors who encourage male actors to remove stockings in specific genre scenes—they could make the film perfect but stubbornly don’t.
Garnett could bulldoze Hakim Warrick with his physique and strength anytime, especially in crunch time, but he rarely does what fans expect. He just posts up as usual, elegantly shoulders left-right shake, then fadeaway jumper.
That might be the most elegant jump shot you’ve ever seen from a big man.
You can’t help thinking: is “elegant” fitting for a big man in crunch time?
“Bang!”
It’s not.
It might never be, so Garnett needs Pierce and Ray Allen—really needs two with bigger hearts to shoulder this responsibility.
But maybe not tonight.
Kidd grabs the rebound under Milicic’s positioning, turns and spots the Grizzlies’ No. 1 already breaking.
The one carrying the team tonight, like a blue lightning bolt, has crossed halfcourt.
Kidd delivers a precise full-court long pass!
Xu Ling catches, only retreating Ray Allen in front. He takes a big stride, forces the jumper amid contact, banks it in—the collision so fierce even tonight’s referees call defensive foul.
Boos erupt again.
Fans’ resentment is the byproduct of this moment.
Xu Ling doesn’t look at Ray Allen knocked down by him, just turns and salutes far away to Kidd for the pass. What a pass; he can’t imagine a better one.
The old man is reliable.
Those active thoughts never show on his face.
All this fits Mike Breen’s pre-game evaluation of Xu Ling.
Born cold-blooded human? Something like that.
Xu Ling steps to the free throw line. Mike Breen praises opportunely: “From the season opener buzzer-beater over the Spurs, Eli Xu became Memphis’s basketball hero, and tonight, he delivers another heroic performance!”
Then Xu Ling does what heroes do, sinking the free throw.
68-65
Grizzlies regain the lead entering the final half of the fourth.
A subtle anxiety brews in the arena. Boston fans can’t believe this most championship-contending Celtics since 1987 are being pushed this far by the Western Conference ninth seed.
Pierce finally gets good position. Ironically, when he was clawing to eat Xu Ling, he got crushed.
Now acknowledging the opponent’s strength, he plays to his own, posts up and hits a tough-to-block fadeaway jumper off the glass.
67-68
After the make, Pierce glares at Xu Ling. He starts missing the trash talk; he doesn’t want to be ignored.
This look says: if you’re so good, score back!
Xu Ling doesn’t like to keep people waiting.
Kidd brings it up, tempo steady.
Every possession crucial now. Xu Ling runs off multiple screens, catches on the left wing beyond the three-point line. Ray Allen switches onto him.
Xu Ling gets in triple-threat stance. Allen’s center of gravity low, denying drive space.
But Xu Ling pumps a huge shot fake. Allen, experienced, doesn’t fully bite but shifts slightly. In that split second, Xu Ling puts the ball on the floor, crossover dribbles lightning fast, blowing by Allen on the right.
Before other Celtics react, Xu Ling lays it in at the rim.
70-67
Xu Ling turns to defense. Ray Allen slaps the floor hard, frustrated by his defense.
Celtics push. Ray Allen catches at right 45 degrees, faces Josh Howard’s defense with crossover dribbles to find rhythm, then pulls up a fadeaway jumper.
Howard contests the jump. The ball hits the back rim and bounces out.
But Garnett descends like a god between Milicic and Warrick, tips it in one-handed. Whistle blows—Warrick foul!
“AND ONE! Kevin Garnett! Unbelievable offensive rebound! He owns the paint tonight!”
Garnett charges the sideline, roaring deafeningly at the crowd. The green sea boils.
Garnett hits the free throw.
70-70!
Tied again!
Game heats up white-hot, teams trading blows, score alternating.
Score stays tight. Whoever scores, the other answers next possession. From 70-all to 76-all, two minutes left in the fourth.
Air feels frozen. If arrogant Boston quiets, maybe they’d hear court breaths and heartbeats.
Grizzlies ball. Kidd patiently controls. With 10 seconds left, he sets pick and roll with Xu Ling again. Celtics switch hard—Rondo on Xu Ling.
Mismatch. Kidd passes quickly.
Xu Ling handles for isolation. Garnett suddenly doubles—a surprise attack, but Celtics have trapped Xu Ling most of the half, so not shocking.
Xu Ling passes instantly as double forms, but it’s a trap.
On his passing lane, Ray Allen appears suddenly. Celtics didn’t abandon the trap just because Xu Ling broke it once—it still exists, forcing Xu Ling’s turnover at crunch time.
Allen feeds trailing Rondo. Celtics fast break.
Rondo streaks like light to the frontcourt. Only Xu Ling and Kidd recover in time.
Frontcourt 2-on-2!
Rondo dishes to trailing Pierce. Pierce drives straight to the basket, faces Kidd’s defense, jumps for a dunk to end it.
In this do-or-die moment, Xu Ling abandons perimeter Rondo, sprints back to the paint.
Xu Ling leaps full, long arms like wings spread. At the instant Pierce dunks, he swats the ball precisely.
“Smack!!!!!”
“BLOCKED BY XU!”
TD Garden erupts in huge gasps and incredulous boos. Pierce lands stunned, staring at Xu Ling like a monster.
Xu Ling lands, no celebration, quickly sets defense, yells to teammates: “Let’s protect this one!”
The block massively boosts Grizzlies’ morale, heavily dents Celtics’ confidence.
Celtics sideline out-of-bounds, 1:10 left.
After passes, ball back to Pierce, time running out.
Pierce faces Xu Ling, hesitation dribbles then drives hard, but Xu Ling’s defense like an iron wall, no cracks. Pierce forced into tough fadeaway with no space.
Miss!
Milicic battles for the key rebound. Celtics fans clutch heads in despair.
Grizzlies call timeout. 48.7 seconds left, 76-76 tie.
Iavaroni makes a bold adjustment: subs out Hakim Warrick for Ariza, moves Josh Howard to power forward. This amps up the firepower.
Xu Ling towels his head, quietly listens to Iavaroni’s plan.
“Last possession, we aim to score, don’t give opponents too much chance!” Iavaroni stresses. “Jason, run the play as designed; if no shot, kick to Eli!”
Celtics adjust too: Tony Allen for Ray Allen—their best defensive lineup.
Timeout over. Grizzlies frontcourt sideline out-of-bounds.
Every green-jerseyed fan screams to make noise.
Ball to Kidd cleanly. He dribbles at his own pace, eyes coolly scanning ahead.
Even small-ball with Howard inside, Celtics can drop Garnett out, Perkins rim protection ensures defense holds.
Shot clock ticking.
Xu Ling tightly guarded by Tony Allen. Finally Trevor Ariza cuts free for Kidd’s pass. Pierce delayed slightly. Ariza doesn’t hesitate, fires three.
But Ariza doesn’t become the game-deciding hero. Benched too long in fourth, third-quarter hot hand gone.
Ball smashes back rim, bounces high!
Garnett has position, about to snag the key defensive rebound.
But Darko Milicic leaps from the side, at the ball’s descent, taps it outward with all his might.
The priceless offensive rebound isn’t grabbed but slapped precisely to the top of the arc!
Ball flies right to Xu Ling!
Xu Ling jumps for the priceless board. Clock into final 24 seconds. Arena wails—this worst for Celtics in tie, opponents can milk clock.
Tied score means Xu Ling handles near-pressure-free.
Considering his performance tonight, what could be scarier?
Final possession starts with Mike Breen’s drawn-out call: “Eli dribbling outside! Grizzlies have the last shot!”
Xu Ling steady at top, doesn’t attack right away, holds up one finger signaling hold—he’ll run clock.
Tony Allen sticks like glue, every contact to stop acceleration. Garnett roams near free-throw line, green defense tightens like noose.
Time slips in digits and heartbeats.
10 seconds
Xu Ling lowers, senses every ounce of Allen’s pressure with his back, like a beast eyeing prey.
7 seconds
Xu Ling sudden half-spin fake, Allen shifts right. Split-second, Xu Ling yanks ball back, body drifts left in spin like dancer, shakes half body free seamlessly!
“Eli beats Tony Allen!”
But Celtics rotation suffocatingly fast!
Pierce ghosts in for help, blocks path; Garnett anchors paint, arms sky-high—perfect help defense trap.
3 seconds left!
Pass? Vision sealed. Force shot? Two mountains ahead.
Do-or-die, Xu Ling defies basketball sense—not retreating, drives into Pierce’s body, hard step forward, uses contact to launch!
Garnett and Pierce’s four long arms weave inescapable net, blotting out rim.
Airborne, time freezes.
Nearing imbalance, Xu Ling’s core strength shines. Like impossible mid-air second burst, switches ball right to left, twists body bow-like, spies sliver through four palms!
He needs just that sliver!
Final second!
Under 20,000 horrified eyes, Xu Ling flicks left wrist piano-soft. Ball spins impossibly over Garnett’s fingertips, arcs weirdly, kisses glass softly.
Simultaneously, backboard red light blares.
“Swish!!!”
Crisp net like assassin’s dagger into TD Garden’s heart.
It goes in!!!
Buzzer-beater!!!
“He did it!!!” Mike Breen screams full force. “Eli Xu!!! Buzzer-beater!!! He did it! He shredded Boston’s steel defense! Over Pierce and Garnett! Memphis Grizzlies win! They beat the league-first Boston Celtics!!!”
TD Garden erupts in unwilling shrieks and howls.
Celtics players frozen, faces shock, confusion, disbelief.
Xu Ling lands, calmly eyes them. Wants to say something, but next second, Kidd, Howard, Milicic… all Grizzlies swarm like tide, piling on him.
Unspoken words melt into the mad dogpile.
Now, no need for words. The outcome is the loudest declaration.
