Chapter 18: The Seventh Record—Three Points Scored!

By the third quarter of the game, he had already sunk five three-pointers, effortlessly treating the Mavericks’ perimeter defense like a mere game. At this rate, a bench role simply wouldn’t satisfy him.

As long as he maintained this form, a starting position was within reach. For a rookie picked 60th overall in the second round, to deliver such performances game after game, with solid defense to boot, he was clearly worth developing.

Bynum and Odom exchanged celebratory high-fives with him. Perfect off-ball movement, flawless catch-and-shoot execution—this was exactly the sharpshooter the Lakers desperately needed.

When Kobe returned to his half-court, he knew the defensive pressure would ease. He called out to him, “Li, nice work.”

“You passed well. Keep it up,” Li responded politely.

If Kobe hadn’t passed, there was nothing Li could do—after all, Kobe was the undisputed leader, even the coach dared not reprimand him. But Kobe’s willingness to share the ball showed he was no longer the same player he once was.

“Li’s on fire, scoring right off the bat.”

“That movement is razor-sharp.”

“Keep it up—fifth three-pointer today. This guy’s got the makings of a top-tier shooter.”

“The Mavericks’ defense isn’t paying enough attention to Li; this is his chance.”

Fans on the domestic Hupu forum were ecstatic. With Li’s current form, his spot in the rotation was assured for the next game.

Back on the court, the Mavericks pressed their offense. Harris dribbled into the frontcourt. As a starter, Harris’ offensive involvement was limited, giving Li some breathing room.

Harris stood at the top of the arc, scanning his teammates’ cuts but showed no intention of passing to Li. Instead, he fed the ball to Terry on the right side.

Terry then passed to Nowitzki low in the post.

Bynum guarded Nowitzki—this was a mismatch.

Nowitzki took advantage, battling Bynum physically.

*Bang!*

*Bang!*

After a couple of solid collisions, Nowitzki realized he couldn’t overpower Bynum. He spun back, balancing on one leg.

Bynum lunged forward forcefully, but here the young man’s innate talent shone through.

Surprised by Bynum’s high leap, Nowitzki’s shot was disrupted.

As a shooter, Li instinctively predicted the ball wouldn’t drop and decisively sprinted forward on the fast break.

Just as Li anticipated, the ball slammed hard against the rim and bounced off.

Odom secured the rebound.

Odom’s passing vision was excellent. Spotting Li sprinting ahead, he launched a long pass.

Harris, noticing the connection between Odom and Li, quickly retreated to the paint.

Li leapt high on the right side of the frontcourt, catching Odom’s pass.

Seeing Harris return inside, Li had no intention of driving in with the ball. Instead, he dribbled forward a step to recalibrate his rhythm.

Just one step beyond the three-point line, Li executed a sudden stop and transitioned into a jump shot.

Harris, back under the basket, slowed when he saw Li’s reduced speed and sensed trouble. He instinctively thought Li was going for a two-point fast break, never expecting this crafty guard to seek a three-point shot on the break.

By the time Harris lunged, it was too late.

The crowd erupted as Li once again found space for an open three-pointer.

“Ohhh!!”

“Shoot it!”

“Shoot him!”

The fans shouted wildly.

Li’s eyes were resolute as he watched the ball leave his hands.

That step-back open three was effortless for him.

*Swish!*

Fifty-nine to fifty-six.

His sixth three-pointer of the night!

Li’s shots were like sniper rounds—precise and devastating.

“Ha! Another one! Li’s quick-break instincts are lightning fast.”

“How is the Mavericks’ defense so easily cracked?”

“It’s not that their defense is weak; Li’s off-ball movement is just too cunning.”

Threads on Live Broadcast and Hupu exploded with posts.

The Staples Center crowd was in a frenzy.

“I told you, Phil, this kid’s the real deal,” Daniel said.

The coach smiled and nodded, pleased with the decision to bring Li in.

Since entering, two three-pointers had come exactly as the strategy intended.

Li’s performance since stepping on the court was flawless.

“He’s improving beyond our expectations. Let’s give him more minutes,” the coach said.

“Agreed. I’ll keep working on his ball-handling,” Daniel added enthusiastically.

Daniel was visibly excited for Li; the coach clearly valued him more and more.

On the court, Odom gave Li a high-five.

Odom hadn’t expected Li to knock down that transition three-pointer. Seeing Harris retreat, he thought Li would slow down and wait for teammates, but Li shot immediately.

“Passing to me is like an assist,” Li joked.

“Haha, Li, I trust you now,” Odom said, admiring Li’s confidence.

The Mavericks pushed their offense again, with Harris orchestrating in the frontcourt. The ball circled back to Harris.

Harris took the ball and quickly drove past Li.

*Whoosh!*

Harris was lightning fast, blowing by Li. But Li’s reaction was swift, trailing closely.

Feeling the pressure, Harris passed to Dampier on the other side.

Dampier caught the ball in the paint and, facing Bynum, ignored him and went straight up for a dunk.

But after the tense first half, Bynum was ready to showcase his skills.

*Bang!*

*Smack!*

They jumped almost simultaneously, but Bynum swatted Dampier’s dunk attempt away.

Li kept pushing the fast break—his instinct for transition play was almost second nature.

Walton received the ball and passed it to Li.

Harris recovered quickly, closely guarding Li to disrupt.

This time, Li couldn’t go for a three-pointer and nearly turned the ball over. He steadied himself and passed to Kobe, who was ready to receive.

Kobe’s catch shifted Harris’s defensive focus slightly.

After passing, Li didn’t stop but quickly made a reverse cut, sprinting toward the left corner beyond the three-point line.

“Hah!”

Harris was frustrated by Li’s relentless change of pace and rhythm.

Continuous acceleration and deceleration like that drained him.

If Li knew what Harris was thinking, he’d be mocked—compared to the Splash Brothers, his movement was just the beginning.

If you really tried to guard Curry, wouldn’t you be exhausted?

Kobe drove through the middle, then kicked out to Li at a sharp angle beyond the three-point line.

The instant Li caught the ball, he faked out Harris perfectly, lifting him off the ground.

Then he dribbled sideways a step, creating complete space.

Rising to his highest point, Li flicked the ball out and released his shot.

His form remained textbook perfect, the pre-shot motion clean and fluid.

“Oh my God, another one!”

The crowd erupted into cheers early, sensing a celebration.

*Swish!*

The three-pointer flew like an arrow, striking the target.

Fifty-nine to fifty-nine.

After scoring, Li couldn’t help but kiss the back of his hand.

His touch was truly on fire.

Clay Thompson was incredible, but no—tonight, it was Li!

A three-point barrage worthy of the Splash Brothers; it was no exaggeration.

Kobe couldn’t help but smile, coming over to slap Li’s backside in celebration.

His seventh three-pointer of the night!

Had this rookie gone mad?

“Timeout!!”

The Mavericks had no choice but to call a halt.

Avery Johnson was stunned.

What was this?

The league’s top Mavericks were being hammered by a second-round 60th pick rookie from the Lakers, who had just hit three consecutive threes?

On the bench, Barea exhaled slightly, glancing at the bewildered Harris with a look of shared misery.

Now it wasn’t just him facing Li’s onslaught—it was Harris too.

The Mavericks’ scouting report had barely mentioned Li.

Who would have taken him seriously?