One Year Left to Play-Chapter 363 - 111: Real Double Kill on the Bulls!

As the time for the offense was running out, Zhang Hao panicked!

Really panicked!

If they were far behind and lost the game, he would have accepted it, even if it meant missing the reward. Losing the Magician’s comeback game would be unavoidable.

But fighting to this point, having exhausted every trick, even the legends racking their brains probably lost some precious hair...

Seeing Van Exel about to force a shot against Pippen’s switch, Zhang Hao shouted "Pashmi," then pushed Jordan away like a sticky bandage, creating some space. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Van Exel instinctively passed the ball, Zhang Hao caught it, jumped up, and shot...

The action of Zhang Hao pushing Jordan, which was supposed to be monitored by the referee in charge of that area, went unnoticed by the referee for a moment!

Who could have expected Zhang Hao to make such a move at this critical moment? Even the referee was stunned.

But no whistle meant no call! Zhang Hao had already shot, and as the ball was falling, the buzzer for the end of the game sounded!

With the buzzer marking the end of regular time, the ball plunged into the basket!

It’s in!

It’s in again!

The Lakers players on the floor excitedly rushed towards Zhang Hao, while the Lakers players and the legends on the sidelines also stormed into the court... in stark contrast to the infuriated Jordan!

The booing from the crowd had already started. After Zhang Hao pushed Jordan, the fans were momentarily stunned, but when the ball went into the basket, the fans began to boo wildly, with some outright cursing.

No matter how calm he was, he couldn’t remain calm in this situation, charging at the referee while shouting: "He pushed me! Why didn’t you call the foul, he pushed me!"

The referee wanted to say "He really did push you," but due to the rules, he couldn’t admit it, couldn’t overturn the decision, and simply ignored Jordan if it were anyone else—but since it was Jordan, the referee relented: "I didn’t see it."

As the referee signaled the goal valid, the scoreboard was adjusted to 121-120, and the big screen displayed "Lakers Win," the boos from the crowd reached a boiling point!

The Bulls protested collectively... but it was useless.

Because Zhang Hao really made the shot!

Jordan watched as Zhang Hao was surrounded by Lakers players and legends, alongside the overwhelming insults from the fans... Lost again!

"He really pushed me... but, he really made the shot..."

On the other side, surrounded by teammates and legends, Zhang Hao, listening to praise and advice to "get out quickly"... he was just as stunned.

"I actually pushed Jordan away and hit a buzzer-beater..."

At that moment, Zhang Hao’s mind was blank, with only one thought: get the space to receive the ball and shoot, Van Exel wasted so many open shots in the fourth quarter, couldn’t let him throw it away again.

Then he just caught the ball and tried to throw it out...

Then it finally hit him.

The fans at the scene were almost uncontrollable, the referees urged the players from both teams to leave, and they themselves had to run away first; no one was managing the live interviews.

...

A controversial buzzer-beater led to a near-riot at the United Center, the grudge was now settled.

During the post-game interviews, although Zhang Hao scored 45 points tonight—his fourth career 40+ point game—and raised his average points to 23, he was not present for post-game interviews; instead, another Lakers player pleased the media, that person being Magician.

Unexpectedly, before Magician could defend Zhang Hao’s push, Jordan commented on the shot.

"He pushed me, you all could see it, but the referee didn’t.

My post-game anger was only directed at the referee’s call, not Aix; he really made the shot, even if he did make a move that was an offensive foul, but the shot and the foul are two separate things, since he wasn’t called for an offensive foul, he had the right to buzzer-beat me... for the second time."

Everyone was astonished at Jordan’s words, New York journalists responded first, asking pointedly: "You don’t mind being buzzer-beaten in this game? Especially by the same player who buzzer-beat you before? You don’t mind?"

"No, I do mind, I’m just stating my viewpoint, I never want to see such offensive fouls ignored by referees again, but we weren’t ahead enough, we gave the opponent a chance to win with a single shot... but next time it won’t be like this.

The next time we face the Lakers, we’ll definitely win, they won’t have any chance.

However, it’s strange not hearing Aix being traded tonight."

Jordan’s tone was calm, not at all like the anger right after the match, and he even made a joke in the end.

No one knows if Jordan truly thinks as he says...

...

"Aix, you buzzer-beat Jordan again, why do you seem unhappy... you really made the shot!"

"I’m really happy!"

"Doesn’t seem like it..."

Jason Williams rolled his eyes.

Zhang Hao was genuinely happy, his hands shook several times during the ice bath after the game because of excitement... despite playing less than 33 minutes tonight, and the opponent not always using the strongest defensive lineup, it wasn’t fatigue, just excitement causing the tremors!

As for the push before the buzzer-beater to get space.

Initially, Zhang Hao was stunned too, being a positive and optimistic youth he first thought that pushing was wrong...

But as Jason Williams said, he really made the shot! That’s the key.

Not that he’s gloating, but buzzer-beating Jordan is indeed satisfying!

To buzzer-beat Jordan twice in one season, even more satisfying!

Off the charts satisfying!

He just remembered that last time he buzzer-beat Jordan, the first thing he knew post-game was being traded.

All other emotions were very satisfying, the hand tremors during the ice bath were due to the reward for completing the task; didn’t you see him sing in the shower...

Zhang Hao remembered, after joining the Lakers, having several shower experiences together, teammates no longer showered with him.

The biggest gain from tonight’s game for Zhang Hao was a bunch of rewards, besides that, he got to know a lot of team legends, completed a buzzer-beater over Jordan, greatly strengthened the legends’ goodwill towards him.

Anyway, no one from their side cared about Jordan being pushed away... only cared about Zhang Hao making the shot at that moment!