Chapter 1053 - 338: The Turning Point of Their Fate

Words : 1378 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

No one could stop him from reversing the situation. Yes, the competition is fierce this year, with many strong teams. Roger is very happy to have so much competition! Meanwhile, outside this nationally televised game, another match is underway, but not many people are paying attention. Atlanta Hawks VS Toronto Raptors, this is Michael Jordan’s debut with the Hawks, but the lack of national broadcast already indicates people’s lost expectations of Jordan. From the moment he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks and Michael Reed was swapped away, his fate seemed sealed, and he would end his career in mediocrity. The game was intense, beyond the expectations of Atlanta fans. When the Hawks decided to make that trade, the Hawks’ management inevitably faced backlash. Because that trade was equivalent to the team raising the white flag in January, giving up on the season, and diving for the lottery. Yes, Dwight Howard is tempting, but no fan wants to see their supported team lose game after game. Giving up Reed is tantamount to giving up victory. However, today the Hawks’ performance was far different from what fans imagined. At this moment, there are only a few seconds left in the game, and the Atlanta Hawks lead by 1 point. But under the Raptors’ offensive, the Hawks’ 1-point advantage is precarious. The old men are already sweating profusely, and no one knows if they can hold on till the end. On the court, Vince Carter navigates outside the three-point line using a screen, receives the pass from Jalen Rose, and shoots a three-pointer. If this shot goes in, it will be enough to knock down the Hawks. Scottie Pippen actively moves around the screen, squeezes out the last bit of energy in his legs, and jumps to contest, sealing Carter. The basketball flies over everyone’s head, ultimately bounces off the back of the rim! Kurt Thomas secures the rebound, giving the Hawks a chance to extend their lead! At Philips Arena, all fans stand and cheer. Yes, this is what is different about the Hawks today. Just when everyone thought the team would comfortably tank, when everyone thought Jordan and Pippen would enter a rapid retirement mode, they played exceptionally hard tonight, just like those days in Chicago! After this defensive success, the Hawks look to be about to win against the youthful and energetic Raptors! However, Michael Jordan’s jumper in this possession hit the front of the rim. The range was obviously short, indicating that Jordan’s stamina was nearly exhausted. The Raptors immediately launched a counterattack upon seeing this, with Chris Bosh grabbing the rebound and directly finding the forefront Jalen Rose! Pippen suddenly dashed out, nearly snatching the basketball from Jalen Rose. Jalen Rose hurriedly protected the ball with a back dribble to avoid the pressure, but because his dribbling skills were not that strong, the basketball nearly went out of control; fortunately, he managed to regain possession without a turnover. However, this still delayed the Raptors’ counterattack speed, allowing Pippen to have already reached the frontcourt. Jalen Rose, after readjusting, immediately sprinted at full speed, confident even in the face of Scottie Pippen. Jalen Rose quickly drove into the opponent’s half-court, with Scottie Pippen spreading his arms wide, defending the middle, forcing Jalen Rose to take a layup from the right. Just as Jalen Rose gathered the ball, Pippen reached to steal. However, he failed. His palm just grazed the front of the basketball as Jalen Rose confidently took off, lifting the ball. Pippen felt a chill; if he were in his prime, he might still leap to block after a steal failure. But now, Pippen only had one chance; after failing the steal, he couldn’t jump in time. If Jalen Rose makes this layup, it will be a game-winner. All the Hawks’ previous efforts would become nothing. At this moment, Pippen saw a shadow rise, enveloping the paint. Then, a pair of big hands directly slapped Jalen Rose’s layup against the backboard and grabbed the ball while landing. "Michael Jordan executed a chase-down block! Dear God, is this really 40-year-old Michael? Did you see his recovery speed? Unbelievable, simply unbelievable!" Indeed unbelievable, even Pippen found it incredible; Jordan’s stamina seemed completely drained earlier, how did he squeeze out such speed? After grabbing the basketball, Jordan directly threw it into the air. Before the ball hit the ground, the buzzer sounded on the scene. They used all their strength, holding onto the last one-point advantage and securing the victory! In the stands, Marcus Jordan and Larsa embraced passionately. Marcus’s smile at this moment was the brightest in the world; he must be proud of his father. Well, maybe. As the game ended, Michael Jordan sat directly on the ground, gasping for air. After the effect of adrenaline dissipated, Michael Jordan felt like his legs were going to break, his lungs seemed like they would explode entirely. But he still mustered the strength to hammer the floor: "First victory, Scottie! We will get in; we definitely will!" Washed up? Trod over by rookies? Embarrassing and tragic late career? No, Michael Jordan wants to reverse everything! Pippen smiled and extended a hand to pull Jordan up from the floor. In Minneapolis, Timberwolves fans were already drenched in sweat. This man was terrifying. When Stademeyer kept scoring, forcing KG to focus more on defending Stoudemire in the fourth quarter, Roger scored 13 consecutive points in the final moments of the fourth quarter without missing! He was so determined, so cold-blooded. Like a professional hunter, ruthlessly using a shotgun to take down the entire wolf pack, even wanting to strip their skins as trophies. This time, Roger switched to playing off the ball, navigated the screen to the corner, received Allan Houston’s pass, faked Trenton Hassel off the ground, and then shot over the defender rushing to contest. Roger was hit by the defender, but the basketball remained unaffected, still finding the net. Roger got the opportunity for a four-point play! "The shot is good, and a foul! Without KG’s support, the Timberwolves can’t handle No.14 at all!" Marv Albert could sense the despair in Timberwolves fans’ hearts. Roger didn’t celebrate, nor did he shout, he just stood and walked toward the free-throw line, like an executioner approaching the guillotine. The referee handed the "knife" to Roger, who dribbled twice, but suddenly seemed to remember something, then stopped and turned to look at KG ready to rebound. "Kevin, just a reminder. You’ve seen my regular season self tonight, but you’ve never seen my playoff self." After saying that, Roger shot with seemingly casual ease, and the ball swished through the net. Seventeen consecutive points, Roger scored 44 points in total to kill the game. Kevin Garnett was in extreme excitement before the game, but now he felt the extreme cold of Minneapolis. Because this unstoppable Roger was just the regular season Roger. He did not make Roger feel the terror of Minneapolis; at this moment, fear completely enveloped him. After Pippen pulled Michael Jordan up, Jordan, with hands on hips, stared at the four championship banners hanging in Philips Arena. After the end of Roger’s game, hands on hips, he stared at the Warriors’ wins on the big screen. The reporter approached Roger and extended the microphone: "Roger, yet another championship-contending team fell before you, how confident are you about winning the championship with the Warriors this year?" The reporter approached Michael Jordan and extended the microphone: "Michael, this is your first victory with the Hawks, how confident are you about leading the Hawks to the playoffs?" They were in different places, with the same stance, the same unshakable gaze towards the camera, delivering the same response. "100% confident." They both have destinies they need to reverse. That night on TNT’s show, Charles Barkley played the clips of both interviews together, making everyone amazed at the similarities between these two guys. Then, Barkley spread his hands and shrugged. "Did you see their eyes? As someone who has been beaten up by both these bastards, I want to ask, who wants to stop them? If there is, then good luck, because that’s the only thing you can hope for." (Only one update today, as it directly reached 10,000 words)

Chapter 1053 - 338: The Turning Point of Their Fate

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