Chapter 87: Splitting Mount Hua with Sheer Force!

"The first play for the Orlando Magic at the start of the second quarter goes to Michael Wu!" The commentator's voice grew louder as the ball changed hands. "Just as you wished, folks, Michael is about to wake up every sleepy fan in the house with one of his dunks!"

When it comes to Rui Wu, what stands out most—aside from sharing the name "Michael" with the legendary Michael Jordan and his identity as a Chinese-American player—are his thunderous, breathtaking dunks.

So far in his career, Wu hasn’t scored many points, but he has made the day’s top five plays twice already—and each time, he claimed the number one spot! And both times, with a dunk!

The fans straightened in their seats, fully aware of what was coming. Those rocket-powered legs of his never failed to astonish. What’s more, it seemed the Magic had drawn up a special play just for him. Now, standing two steps inside the three-point line, Wu found himself completely unguarded—a perfect chance for a dunk!

Whoosh!

Yet, just as the crowd braced for Wu’s charge and slam, he remained rooted in place, leapt high, and released a mid-range jumper!

Michael Wu just took a mid-range shot!

As the ball traced a beautiful arc through the air, the excitement on the fans’ faces slowly gave way to disbelief. Wu’s previous shooting woes had been plain for all to see; a mid-range shot from him was as good as a giveaway!

Swish!

Before their surprise could subside, the ball dipped and dropped cleanly through the net!

"Michael Wu hits the mid-range jumper!"

Even before the scoreboard could update, the commentator sprang from his seat in excitement. "Oh my goodness, it’s Michael Wu!"

"Until now, he had made only one mid-range shot in his entire career, and tonight, his very first attempt is from mid-range—and it’s good!"

"And more than that, this was clearly drawn up by Coach Frank; Bismack Biyombo set the screen perfectly," another commentator added, swallowing hard. "But it’s shocking—Michael didn’t even flinch!"

"It looked as if it was inevitable—as if his mid-range was a sure thing!"

No sooner had the words left the commentator’s mouth than the arena, after a brief stunned silence, erupted in thunderous applause!

"Look at that—Michael didn’t go for the dunk, but confidently took the jumper, and made it! Goodness, is he playing with cheat codes?"

"Incredible! I’ve never cheered so long for a simple jump shot—this is a first for me as a fan!"

It wasn’t just the fans and commentators; even the Magic players on the court were visibly excited. Although Wu had shown astonishing efficiency from this spot in yesterday’s team scrimmage, this was no practice—this was a real NBA regular season game!

"Michael, you’re something else!"

Biyombo, who had set the pick for Wu, was the first to high-five him. "Thank my screen, or you wouldn’t have had such an open look!"

"Thank you, Bismack," Wu replied to his teammate. "I’ll be counting on you next time, too."

Next time?

Indeed, the very next time!

With Wu sinking the first basket of the second quarter, the Magic widened their lead, and the Mavericks quickly inbounded the ball.

Seth Curry dribbled up the court, scanning the defense, searching for a weakness in the opposing second unit to exploit. Unfortunately for him, the Magic played with relentless energy!

Especially Wu. After Barnes’ earlier display of arrogance on defense, Wu was determined to give the Mavericks’ big summer signing a taste of frustration.

“Harrison, losing the championship last season—how does that feel?” Wu kept up the chatter as he guarded Barnes. “Doesn’t feel great to be cast aside by your team, does it?”

Everyone knew the Warriors had let Barnes go before the season and signed the Thunder’s Kevin Durant instead. Wu, as an outsider, could only speculate about the details, but it was indisputable that Barnes had been cast off.

“Shut your damn mouth!” The wound of being replaced by Durant was still raw for Barnes, and Wu’s words only twisted the knife. "You’d better not try to rile me up!"

"Hey, man, I’m just speaking the truth," Wu replied with a sly glint in his eye. "Honestly, it’s no wonder Golden State let you go. The shots you missed in the Finals outnumber all my career misses!"

Wu had only taken a handful of shots in his career, while Barnes could surpass that total in just a few games. But said at this moment, it struck Barnes like a psychological blow.

“Shit!”

Unable to contain himself, Barnes shoved Wu aside and stepped back. "Seth, give me the ball!"

How dare this guy taunt him—he’d show Wu how easily his defense could be broken!

Hearing Barnes’ shout, Seth Curry hesitated for a split second, then made his decision—the ball went to Barnes.

Barnes caught it, faked a shot to draw Wu into the air, hoping to shake free for a jumper. But as he raised the ball, he found the space in front of him empty—Wu had not fallen for the bait.

“That’s the exact spot where you lost the O'Brien Trophy in June,” Wu called out from three steps away, unfazed after being shoved aside. He wasn’t even watching the ball, his eyes fixed on Barnes’ feet. “Go on, Harrison, take another shot.”

A buzzing sensation filled Barnes’ mind as Wu’s relentless barbs echoed in his ears. He’d faced plenty of trash talkers in his career, but Wu’s words cut deep.

Wu’s taunting stare brought last season’s disastrous performance in the Finals flooding back—memories he couldn’t shake.

“Fuck!”

With an angry roar, Barnes leapt up and let fly.

He might have cost his team the championship here last season, but he was no longer that same Harrison Barnes!

DUANG!

But luck was not with him—his shot fell just short, bouncing off the front rim right into Wu’s waiting hands.

Wu grinned at Barnes and tossed the ball to D.J. Augustin, then sprinted up the court with C.J. Wilcox at his side!

A three-on-one fast break!

Augustin raced up the floor and passed to Wilcox on the right, who drew the defender away and, in one fluid motion, tossed the ball behind his head.

In the next instant, the Magic's number zero soared into the air, controlled the ball with one hand, and thundered it down with a powerful slam!