439: 168: Someone’s Going to Bleed (Seeking Monthly Tickets!) 439: 168: Someone’s Going to Bleed (Seeking Monthly Tickets!) After the screen, Stockton skillfully passed the ball to Malone at mid-range.
Malone lifted the basketball, and Derrick McKey immediately began to interfere.
But Malone didn’t shoot; after faking out McKey, he dribbled toward the paint.
The Magic’s defense quickly contracted, including Roger who also rushed towards Malone.
Malone saw Hornacek open, but this time he didn’t pass.
Hornacek had just missed a wide-open shot, which had eroded Malone’s trust in him.
Karl Malone held no grudge against Hornacek, but going 0-for-8 in the game was a bit much.
Anyone, any star player who has some responsibility, wouldn’t entrust the ball in a crucial moment to a teammate who was off his game.
Tonight, even his daughter wouldn’t trust his shot!
Besides, the Magic’s interior was now defended by Travis Knight, a promising scoring opportunity.
Malone jumped up to face Knight; although Knight was taller than Cage, Malone was confident this center with average athleticism couldn’t stop him.
Indeed, Malone completely dominated Knight in the air.
Film Essentials came from behind in pursuit, but jumping from too far away, his fingertips couldn’t reach the basketball.
Knight could only raise both arms; that was all he could do.
In the air, Malone leaned against Knight, cradling the basketball with one hand, ready to throw it into the hoop.
But as he was about to shoot, Karl Malone saw someone behind him grab at the basketball, causing him to lose grip.
Upon landing, Malone turned around sharply and saw that the person who had blocked him was actually Roger!
Karl Malone didn’t trust Hornacek, but Roger had a great deal of trust in him.
He knew Hornacek’s morale was shattered, so even a delayed interference could still affect his jump shot.
Therefore, Roger had just charged into the paint with full force, completely leaving Hornacek behind.
To protect the rim now, they had to emulate the previous Bulls, relying on quick rotations for defense.
Roger was successful; he blocked Malone directly.
It was the first physical clash between MVP candidates!
“That block may well be the nail in the coffin for this game.
Will Roger personally take down Karl?” Steve Jones really liked the feeling of dreams becoming reality; he had been thinking how exciting it would be if Roger and Malone faced off directly, and now his wish had come true.
Meanwhile, Jim Gray’s fantasy was shattered.
He had fantasized about Roger losing, about what his defeat would look like.
But today, Roger was winning again!
Roger picked up the ball he had just blocked and quickly passed it to Harper.
Meanwhile, an infuriated Karl Malone, under the guise of turning to get back on defense, threw a vicious elbow at Roger.
The elbow was thrown with unrestrained force, as if it meant to kill.
Fortunately, Roger sidestepped to dodge the attack; otherwise, he would probably be knocked out by now.
To be honest, Roger felt as if his heart had been struck by a hammer.
Malone’s elbow, stained with the blood of many, stopped mere centimeters from Roger’s face.
Is this all you can resort to?
Your response to defeat truly breaks my heart.
I thought you were a worthy opponent.” Roger quickly regained his composure and continued to run forward.
Malone didn’t say a word, as he had to focus on defending this round.
The game went on, with Roger routinely going to the low post, then raising his hand for the ball.
But this time when Roger received the ball, Karl Malone didn’t hesitate and immediately double-teamed.
Roger promptly passed the ball to McKey, but Malone pushed Bryon Russell over to him.
He signaled to Russell to cover McKey, taking on the defense against Roger himself!
The crowd was buzzing with excitement at this true head-to-head confrontation!
Karl Malone looked ferocious, as if he could breathe fire from his flaring nostrils.
Roger, however, moved to the three-point line asking for the ball, facing Karl Malone directly.
The Jazz team didn’t double-team; it was Sloan’s strategy not to leave any man open in key moments.
Malone’s double-team had been an improvisation, but so far it hadn’t caused any big mistakes.
The only thing he changed was making himself Roger’s direct defender.
Malone lowered his center of gravity, the weak wait for opportunities, the strong create them, and he certainly didn’t want to wait for Roger to make a mistake.
Facing Karl Malone’s defense, Roger calmly handled the ball.
One of the candidates was about to be killed off!
Roger quickened his dribbling, then took a step to the left.
Karl Malone made a lateral motion to intercept; although he played the power forward position, and could post-up, his speed was not slow either.
This was key to his selection to the All-Defensive First Team for three consecutive years in the future.
With Roger’s explosiveness, he couldn’t blow past such a defender like peak Jordan could.
Entangled by Karl Malone, Roger was at a great disadvantage in the physical contest and was about to be stopped by Malone.
But at that moment, Roger suddenly stopped, performed a behind-the-back dribble, and prepared to go right.
Karl Malone immediately shifted his center of gravity to block, but just as Roger was about to dribble down, he changed direction to the left in front of his body!
Now, Karl Malone was no longer able to keep up with Roger, who blew past Malone and didn’t stop his steps, immediately pulling up for a fadeaway shot.
Hornacek was there for the defensive rotation, but his interference was no threat to Roger.
The ball swished through the net, Roger landed steadily, 42 points!
The lead extended to six points, Roger successfully took down Malone in the one-on-one!
“You can always trust the truth in the clutch!”