Chapter 477: Chapter 144: Competitions Are Always Unexpected

"Use Silver Lottery..."

Just before going on the court, Zhang Hao had an idea. He wanted to try something. Yesterday’s game wasn’t suitable, but today he’s going to give it a shot.

"When the host uses lottery during Zhang Hao’s special contract player game, it can choose to bind player Zhang Hao for this game lottery. The lottery items are limited to this game only. They might have immediate impact on the game. Do you want to bind the lottery?"

"Not for now..."

"I knew it was like this!"

Previously, Zhang Hao wondered if there would be any difference if he used the lottery during a game, but at that time he urgently needed to enhance his skills, so he used the lottery as soon as he got the chance.

Now, it’s not that he’s satisfied with his abilities, but he already has plenty of things to train and improve. He knew the probability of winning a medal, and the Silver Lottery only has a five percent chance of drawing a medal, so he decided to be patient.

Sure enough, using the lottery during the game really makes a difference.

Of course, he didn’t regret not using the lottery in previous games. During the early lottery draws, he needed long-lasting rewards more. Now, it’s the same; he could afford to wait for a bit and not be so anxious, especially since there’s only one game before the All-Star Weekend.

Naturally, he wouldn’t draw immediately now either. The words like "maybe" in the description made him feel there might be many issues...

Let’s play the game first, it doesn’t have to rely on the lottery. It’s just a regular season game.

The game was about to start, and the referee notified both teams’ starters to get ready. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The Lakers sent Van Exel, Anthony Peeler, Zhang Hao, Magician, and Campbell as the starting lineup.

The Utah Jazz sent Stockton, Horace, David Benoit, Malone, and Felton Spencer.

The small forward position, when you play it for a while, you really get used to it. Like during the jump ball, Zhang Hao went to the center circle.

Facing Spencer, who was only strong but had no other advantages, felt frustrating.

At that moment, Zhang Hao felt someone was staring at him... it was Malone!

"Why does he look at me with even more hunger than last time?"

Of course, Zhang Hao didn’t expect that the Imperial Channel would actually broadcast his interview about wanting to compete elbows with Malone.

The Imperial Channel took it as a joke from Zhang Hao, but the American media ended up forwarding it...

Whether it’s a joke or not, it made an interesting topic for the media.

But for Malone, this wasn’t interesting; it was a taunt!

Iron elbows are Malone’s pride!

Always staring at Zhang Hao, Malone immediately raised his arm and flexed his biceps as soon as Zhang Hao looked at him...

"Show off, show off, always showing off!"

Zhang Hao didn’t even roll his eyes, expressionless, turned his head back to the front, ready for the jump ball.

Malone was furious! Apart from Bird, Moning, and a few other inside players, who dares to ignore his impressive muscles like that?

Soon, the game started. Zhang Hao won the right for the Lakers to attack first. Although they didn’t manage a fast break due to the obstruction from Malone and David Benoit, Van Exel came over and nailed a three-pointer!

Once the game started, both teams were surprisingly in good form, so good that they focused on making better shots and defending each other. The Lakers fans’ worry about an "iron elbow battle" didn’t come up. Both teams were shooting too accurately, so Zhang Hao and Malone had no time for that.

The Lakers took the initiative in the first quarter!

Unlike the previous matchup when Karl Malone and John Houston Stockton’s shooting was shockingly bad enough to offer advantages, during that time, their Lakers hadn’t reached this explosive form, it was purely because the Utah Jazz played poorly, making it easy for the Lakers to win.

This time, Malone shot 4-for-4, with 3-for-3 in free throws, played for 10 minutes in the first quarter, easily scoring 11 points and 3 assists, and the Utah Jazz scored 28 points while he was on the court.

After Malone went off, Utah Jazz’s scoring remained steady, ending the first quarter with 34 points.

However, the Lakers played even better in the first quarter!

Van Exel scored 9 points and 2 assists with 3 three-pointers in the first quarter, with extremely hot shooting feeling, and played energetically and wildly... when the Magician hit two three-pointers from beyond the arc, how should the opponent’s defense guard them?

The mid-range was Zhang Hao’s playground!

In the previous two encounters, David Benoit was the Utah Jazz player who defended Zhang Hao the best, but it required Malone’s help. This time, Malone was pulled out to the three-point line by the Magician, and Zhang Hao shot 3-for-3 in the first quarter, 5-for-6 in free throws. David Benoit had two fouls in that quarter, and Zhang Hao cut to the basket causing an additional foul from substitute Ostertag, also scoring 11 points in the quarter.

With teammates playing well, especially with great shooting from the outside, Zhang Hao benefitted the most. Campbell’s height held natural restraint under the basket. When the outside also had restraint, without a forward with height, weight, or speed, it’s impossible to defend Zhang Hao one-on-one.

When Zhang Hao, Van Exel, and Magician had an explosive first quarter, shooting 10-for-8 collectively, scoring 26 points... all three imagined, if they played the Bulls with such hot shooting feelings on that day... well, the Bulls once lost to them while in a berserk state, it wouldn’t offer opportunities for opening shots at the start.

Thanks to Utah Jazz’s usual slow defense.

The Lakers led 43 to 34, 9 points ahead of the Utah Jazz entering the second quarter!

In the second quarter, Utah Jazz made a response, attempting to increase resistance, successfully suppressing the Lakers’ scoring efficiency, limiting them to only 27 points in that quarter. But, they sacrificed their offense, scoring only 25 points in the second quarter, unable to close the gap.