The Spartans set up first, their bench leaning forward like they could will the comeback into existence.
Darius Coleman dribbled up with his usual calm, chest puffed, eyes scanning. He called a set with two fingers in the air a horns action.
Tank Wilson muscled his way up from the block to set a high screen.
Flash Johnson darted baseline, curling off Skywalker Brooks's pin-down, hunting daylight.
Ethan crouched low, eyes sharp, but didn't jump the screen this time. (Let's see how they try to punch first.)
Coleman turned the corner, Tank sealing Ethan with his hip like a wall of granite. Coleman zipped it out to Flash, who caught it in stride.
Flash rose in one motion, pulling from deep clean mechanics, fearless.
Clank! Back rim.
But Tank bulldozed inside, bodying Brandon Young out of the way to tip the rebound back in. The Spartans' bench howled, voices cracking with hope.
"YEAH, BIG TANK!" one sub shouted, slapping the scorer's table.
