Zhao Dong got the ball on the wing, facing the basket again. The Bucks threw a double-team at him, with Ray Allen dropping down from the top to help.
Zhao Dong suddenly dribbled, took a half step back, then exploded forward again, blowing past Glenn and heading toward the paint along the baseline.
Once he got moving, stopping him was damn near impossible. Even with Glenn reaching out and grabbing at him, he couldn't slow Zhao Dong down.
Ewing, lurking under the basket, suddenly popped up to the high post, pulling Vin Baker's attention with him. That split second was all Zhao Dong needed—he stormed into the paint and hammered a dunk right over Vin Baker.
Baker jumped in desperation, but it was useless.
"BOOM!"
The impact was brutal. Baker got dunked on again and went crashing to the floor under the rim.
"YEAH! THAT'S A DUNK FROM THE GOLDEN TYRANT—JUST BRUTAL AND TERRIFYING!" The Knicks' home announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "HE'S OWNING THE BUCKS' PAINT RIGHT NOW!"
On the sidelines, Spike Lee was jumping like a damn kid.
On the other end, Glenn got the ball, spun, and rose up for a jumper—but Zhao Dong swatted it.
His perimeter defense wasn't elite, but his shot-blocking? Different story.
Glenn was shook after that one.
The Bucks recovered the ball and got it to Vin Baker, who tried to back down Ewing.
Zhao Dong immediately turned and dropped down to help. Baker, caught off guard, lost the handle, and Zhao Dong snatched the steal.
Without missing a beat, he took off down the court, getting the pass in stride. Glenn hustled back, trying to cut him off.
Zhao Dong slowed down, letting Glenn get in front—then hit the gas again, bulldozing him backward step by step into the paint.
He forced him under the rim, then BOOM—another monster dunk right over Glenn!
Glenn collapsed under the basket, staring up in disbelief.
"Oh my god! ANOTHER dunk! The Big Dog just got POSTERIZED!" the announcer lost his mind.
Zhao Dong walked past Glenn Robinson, smirking. "Bucks wasted a No. 1 pick on you, huh?"
Glenn's face twisted with rage. His eyes burned, and he stepped up—but when he met Zhao Dong's cold, killer stare, he hesitated, clenching his jaw instead.
Zhao Dong scoffed. "That's all you got? Weak."
He turned and jogged back on defense.
Glenn got the ball again and forced a few shots, but he was rattled. Missed three straight.
At the 11-minute mark of the second quarter, Vin Baker posted up Ewing again. Zhao Dong swooped in for another help-side block.
HALFTIME: Knicks up 53-42.
Zhao Dong at the break:
25 points (10-14 FG, 5-6 FT)
5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
1 turnover, 2 fouls
Mission Check:
Vin Baker: 3 defensive stops down, 2 to go. 2 steals done, 3 dunks done. 1 block down, 2 more needed.
Glenn: 17 points scored on his head, 13 more to go. 2 blocks done, need 3 more. Dunk mission complete, taunt complete, holding him under 40% shooting. (Big Dog: 4-12 FG)
In the locker room, Zhao Dong muttered, "Gotta rack up some more blocks and buckets on Glenn."
Oakley, sitting nearby, looked over. "What'd you say?"
"Oh, uh—just saying my jumper's feeling smooth today," Zhao Dong replied.
Oakley nodded. "Glenn's defense is trash. Dude puts all his energy into offense."
Third Quarter:
Zhao Dong dialed back the scoring and focused on defense.
Part of it was for the mission. Part of it was pacing—he'd already taken a lot of shots in the first half, and he usually averaged around 20 attempts per game.
By the end of the third, the Knicks stretched the lead to 16 points (79-63).
Zhao Dong's three-quarter statline:
30 points (12-18 FG, 1-1 3PT, 5-6 FT)
9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 6 blocks
2 turnovers, 3 fouls
Mission Update:
Vin Baker: 5 stops done. Need 1 dunk, 1 block.
Glenn Robinson Blocked him again, scored 5 more points on his head. Still need 8 more points, 2 blocks.
Fourth Quarter:
First possession—Zhao Dong posted up Glenn on the left wing, ball in his right hand.
He caught it, squared up, and raised up for a jumper.
Glenn bit, jumping for the contest.
Zhao Dong ducked, blew past him, and attacked the paint.
Vin Baker rotated over, but Zhao Dong didn't even hesitate—he took flight.
"HELL NO!" Baker panicked.
He slammed the brakes, avoiding the contact. Zhao Dong sailed past him…
"BOOM!"
One-handed hammer! The basket shook like it was about to come loose.
"One block away," Zhao Dong grinned as he landed.
Baker saw the smile and got pissed. Was that a diss on his defense?
At the other end, Baker got the ball, but Zhao Dong collapsed down to help. Baker kicked it to Glenn, and Zhao Dong spun back around to contest.
Glenn fired and knocked it down.
"Damn," Zhao Dong muttered. "Can't leave him too open."
Adjusting, Zhao Dong started forcing Glenn inside instead of letting him settle for jumpers. It gave him better chances to help on Baker.
Sure enough, two minutes later, Baker tried him again, but this time, as Glenn cut to the rim for a pass—
BAM! Zhao Dong swatted it away.
Glenn wised up. He stopped driving and camped at the three-point line.
But his three-ball was weak tonight—just 34% on the season, averaging less than one per game.
After bricking two straight threes, he went back to mid-range.
That's when Zhao Dong struck again.
In the seventh minute, Baker posted up, Glenn cut, and Zhao Dong erased his shot for the final block.
Mission complete.
From there, he clamped Glenn, making every shot hell.
Final Score: Knicks 105, Bucks 87
Zhao Dong's full-game statline:
41 points (17-25 FG, 1-2 3PT, 6-7 FT)
12 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 9 blocks
2 turnovers, 4 fouls
Glenn Robinson ? 8-25 FG, 20 points. Solid, but nowhere near enough.
Zhao Dong was one block away from his first career triple-double—damn near had it.
Still, both sniper missions were locked in. That was the real win.
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