LeBron James running away? He's going all in on Curry.

Tim Duncan's game-winning shot in Game 3 of the Finals made his name resound throughout the United States once again.

The 37-year-old veteran pulled the Spurs back from the brink of defeat.

This victory not only preserved San Antonio's dignity but also made those legends across the United States who had been pessimistic about small-ball celebrate like it was New Year's Day.

"See that? That's the dominance of a dominant center! Against a true meat grinder of defense, those fancy three-pointers are completely unreliable!"

"Big men are always the most reliable weapon on the basketball court! The Cavaliers' small-ball lineup will be exposed as soon as their shooting touch cools down, especially against teams with top-tier centers!"

"Tim taught that arrogant number one draft pick a lesson; the experience of the Finals can't be bought with money!"

Public opinion began to shift subtly.

Although the Cavaliers still lead 2-1, their collective three-point shooting slump in the second half of Game 3, coupled with Anthony Davis being thoroughly dominated by Tim Duncan in the paint, has led many to believe that the Spurs may have finally found a way to break down the three-point shooting plus small-ball system.

With this slightly oppressive and tense atmosphere.

Two days later, on June 12, Game 4 of the Finals was played at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.

However, as the players from both sides stepped onto the field to warm up, a suffocating heat hit them!

"Damn it! What's going on in this arena? It feels like a sauna!"

Patrick Beverley tugged at his sweat-soaked training clothes and complained irritably to the referee.

Not only the Cavaliers players, but also the reporters and fans on the sidelines were so hot that they picked up cardboard signs to fan themselves.

Soon, the large screen and the announcer provided an explanation that was both laughable and absurd:

"Ladies and gentlemen, due to a sudden malfunction in the air conditioning system at the AT&T Center, maintenance personnel are working urgently to repair it. Tonight's game will be played without air conditioning."

The air conditioner is broken?!

In mid-June in Texas, a high-intensity NBA Finals game was played in a packed, enclosed arena with over 20,000 people, and there was no air conditioning?!

"What kind of international joke is this? Is this some kind of underhanded tactic by Popovich?!"

Sitting in the private room, Su Yang felt a wave of heat mixed with the smell of sweat wash over him. He irritably loosened his suit tie and frowned.

In the past, the infamous "air conditioning incident" did indeed occur in Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals, which resulted in LeBron James suffering severe cramps and being carried off the court.

Unexpectedly, in this timeline, the air conditioner broke down at the time of Game 4 of the 2013 Finals!

"beep--!"

Despite the complaints from the outside world, the match still started on time in temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius.

The high temperature, the sweltering heat, and the psychological shadow cast by the Game 3 loss made the young Cavaliers team appear unusually impatient at the start of the game.

Stephen Curry was eager to find his rhythm beyond the three-point line, but sweat dripped into his eyes, blurring his vision, and his two consecutive three-point attempts hit the front edge.

Kawhi Leonard's breakthrough seemed somewhat sluggish.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis, in the paint, looked noticeably more wary and insecure when facing Tim Duncan, who had just hit a game-winning shot against him in the previous game, and his defensive movements became hesitant and timid.

In contrast, the Spurs' experienced veterans appeared even more composed under the high temperatures.

Especially Tim Duncan, he seems to have carried over his form from the last game to today!

"Bang!"

Duncan received a pass from Parker at the free-throw line, and facing Anthony Davis who dared not close in, he made that familiar 45-degree bank shot!

"Whoosh!" It hits the target squarely!

In the next possession, Duncan received the ball in the low post with his back to the basket. After a series of fakes, he made a delicate hook shot, and despite Anthony Davis's long arms blocking the shot, he once again put the ball into the basket!

In the first quarter, the Spurs established a lead.

In the second quarter, the temperature in the arena rose higher and higher, and the players' physical exertion increased exponentially.

The Cavaliers' signature switching defense and fast-paced offense, which they rely on for survival, operated extremely poorly in this sweltering environment.

The Spurs' half-court offense, on the other hand, conserved energy to the maximum extent.

"Whoosh!"

With Ginobili hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer just before halftime, the Spurs extended their lead to double digits!

Halftime score: 58-46!

The Spurs led the Cavaliers by a full 12 points!

……

The Cavaliers' visiting team locker room.

The door was closed tightly.

The locker room was no longer filled with laughter and chatter; only heavy breathing and the whirring of the fans remained.

The players slumped in their chairs as the team doctor frantically distributed ice packs and electrolyte drinks to them.

Anthony Davis lowered his head, tightly covering his face with a towel, his shoulders trembling slightly, his heart filled with frustration and self-doubt.

Curry looked at his reddened ankle with frustration; the intense physical battles of the first half had caused a slight, uncomfortable soreness in his old injury.

This young team seems to be gradually losing confidence under the pressure of the Finals and the harsh away environment.

"Bang!"

The locker room door was suddenly pushed open!

Su Yang, covered in sweat, strode in with a gloomy face.

Coach Byron Scott was about to start reporting on the tactics when Su Yang waved him off.

Su Yang walked to the center of the locker room and glanced at each player with their head down.

He knew very well that while Stephen Curry was a perfect leader on the court, he was too mild-mannered and better suited to leading by example than to be the "villain" who berates teammates and ignites their fighting spirit in adversity.

Tim Duncan was the same, but Duncan had the tyrant Gregg Popovich by his side to take on the role of the "bad cop" in the locker room.

Now, the Cavaliers need someone to fill that role!

"Lift your head up!"

"What? Down by 12 points, you're all like wilted eggplants? Are you here for the Finals or to attend some damn funeral?!"

Su Yang walked up to Anthony Davis and ripped off the towel covering his face.

"Anthony Davis! Tell me, what are you afraid of?! Are you afraid of an old man who's almost forty?!"

Su Yang pointed at Anthony Davis's nose and yelled, "He taught you a lesson last game, and you paid your tuition! But this is the Finals! You only need to pay the tuition once! Your talent, your jumping ability, your wingspan! Are you just here to be a spectator, watching him bank the ball over you again and again?! Get tough! Even if you foul out, you have to keep him out of the paint!"

Anthony Davis's face flushed red from the scolding, and his fists clenched tightly.

Then, Su Yang turned his head and looked at Marc Gasol sitting in the corner.

"Mark! You're the team's interior anchor! But all I saw today was a fat guy strolling around the court! Where's your playmaking? Where's your three-point shot? If you don't even have the strength to jump in that damn heat, then get to setting screens, boxing out, and creating space for Stephen!"

Gasol lowered his head in shame.

"Kawhi Leonard!" Su Yang's barrage continued, "Where did your suffocating grip go?! Tony Parker crosses the street in front of you like it's nothing! Show him the composure you use to defend LeBron! Bit him to bits!"