Barton instinctively caught the ball.
The live broadcast camera immediately zoomed in on him—his face frozen in pure confusion.
On the court, Brandon Ingram stood awkwardly, his usually lazy gaze flashing with panic.
"Hey, Brandon—we all know what you're capable of. You just need more confidence."
Ogawa Tetsuya walked over, patted Ingram on the shoulder, then pointed toward the Nuggets' bench.
"Other than their centers—Jokić and Plumlee—everyone else out there is shorter than you."
"You've got a height advantage on all of them. Leave the paint to me—when the chance comes, go punish them."
Ingram turned his head, staring at Ogawa Tetsuya in surprise.
Then he nodded obediently.
This was the man once hailed as Durant's successor—but his personality was introverted, his confidence fragile.
Ogawa Tetsuya urgently needed this win.
Because he needed Honor Points.
Meanwhile.
At the commentary table, Big Mouth Barkley immediately launched into a full-blown rant about what had just happened.
"Ingram passed the ball to Barton? Oh my God—was he sleepwalking?! Shaq, this is the second overall pick the Lakers chose? The foundation of their rebuild?!"
He continued firing wildly.
"I don't see hunger in his eyes—no desire to win! That Ogawa Tetsuya is playing far tougher. Hell, he even went over to encourage Ingram! Tetsuya looks more like the Lakers' leader than anyone else!"
Host Kenny Smith couldn't take it anymore and cut in.
"Listen, Charles. Ingram is only a sophomore. He's not Kevin Durant. You can't judge him by KD's standards."
Shaq chimed in with a calmer analysis.
"The Nuggets' perimeter shooting has been ridiculous tonight. The Lakers aren't applying enough pressure on the outside. Ingram struggling is just one symptom of why the Lakers are trailing."
"Shaq, then what do the Lakers need to do if they want to win?"
Kenny asked, turning to him.
Shaq pointed at Ogawa Tetsuya on the big screen and grinned.
"It's simple. Just give the ball to Tetsuya. He'll take care of everything."
"Oh come on, Shaq—you're treating Tetsuya like the old, invincible Big Shark now, aren't you?"
Barkley laughed as he pushed back.
"The Nuggets are stronger than the Lakers, and tonight they're shooting lights-out. Tetsuya isn't strong enough yet to flip the game all by himself!"
"Let's wait and see, Charles," Shaq laughed wickedly.
"You said the same thing about my brother Yao back then. Or did you forget how it felt kissing that donkey's ass? Hahahaha"
Shaq's laugh was downright demonic.
Barkley's face instantly turned red.
8:15 remaining in the second quarter.
After a brief rest, Ogawa Tetsuya checked back in, replacing backup center Larry Nance Jr.
31 : 43
The Lakers were still trailing by 12 points.
Lonzo Ball brought the ball up.
Ogawa Tetsuya powered his way into position, backing down hard and extending his hand.
"Lonzo—get me the damn ball!"
If the outside wasn't working—
Then they'd crush the inside.
Jokić lowered his center of gravity, fully braced.
BAM!
Ogawa Tetsuya slammed backward with the dribble, producing a deep, muffled collision.
No.
Not muscle on muscle.
It was Ogawa Tetsuya's muscle smashing into Jokić's pork belly.
Even the cameraman and fans sitting behind the basket heard it clearly.
Jokić let out a grunt and stumbled back two steps under the overwhelming force.
Just as he adjusted his balance to continue defending
Ogawa Tetsuya gave him no chance.
With Prime Shaq–level talent, Ogawa Tetsuya's speed and footwork near the basket were shockingly sharp.
He planted his left foot—
But sold a right spin.
Jokić slid his right foot laterally, trying to cut off the lane.
However
It was a fake.
The very next second, Ogawa Tetsuya snapped his right foot back, stepped forward—
And exploded upward.
BOOM!
Smooth as flowing water.
A clean, effortless one-handed tomahawk slam.
Jokić, shaken out of position, stared at Ogawa Tetsuya in disbelief.
His eyes seemed to ask—
Aren't you just a brute who relies on raw strength?
How do you have footwork like this in the paint?!
33 : 43!
Ogawa Tetsuya didn't bother answering.
He turned and sprinted back on defense.
Denver possession.
After a series of perimeter passes, the ball ended up in the hands of Gary Harris.
A quick set of crossovers
He blew past Caldwell-Pope.
Accelerating with a long stride, Harris attacked the rim and went for a banked layup.
SMACK!
Ogawa Tetsuya—who had been guarding Millsap—launched across the lane and pinned the ball against the backboard.
A brutal chase-down block.
With a 232 cm wingspan, Ogawa Tetsuya was a nightmare for anyone daring to enter the paint.
No hesitation.
Ogawa Tetsuya whipped a long outlet pass to Ingram streaking ahead.
In half-court offense, Ingram struggled.
But in transition
He was lethal.
BOOM!
Three long strides.
Ingram soared and finished with a one-handed slam.
35 : 43!
One attack.
One defense.
Ogawa Tetsuya single-handedly dragged the Lakers' deficit back to single digits.