To reach the finals was not Ray Allen's goal; defeating He Xi Meng and becoming the new Three-Point Contest champion was!
Thus, Ray Allen performed with great consistency in the finals. After shooting 3 for 5 at the first two spots, Ray Allen exploded at the third and fourth spots, making 10 consecutive shots, ultimately scoring 20 points!
Whether 20 points could defeat He Xi Meng, Ray Allen didn't know, but this result was the limit of what Ray Allen could achieve today.
As Ray Allen left the court, he smiled without regret.
Peja, who shot second, was somewhat unsettled after witnessing both He Xi Meng and Ray Allen score over 20 points. His final performance was not as good as in the preliminaries, scoring only 16 points and prematurely losing his chance to contend for the three-point king title.
The final suspense rested on He Xi Meng!
Could He Xi Meng score over 20 points, defeat Ray Allen, and claim his third championship?
As He Xi Meng officially stepped onto the court, the arena DJ specifically reminded the fans to remain quiet during He Xi Meng's shooting, to minimize noise and avoid disrupting his shot...
"How's it going? Want me to lend you some luck..." Duncan, by the sidelines, extended his 'magic claw,' asking if He Xi Meng wanted his blessing.
He Xi Meng shot Duncan a glare and decisively rejected his kind offer, "As long as you don't mess around, that's the greatest support you can give me!"
After taking the court, He Xi Meng took a deep breath. With the sound of the whistle, he began to shoot rapidly!
He Xi Meng's shooting form was markedly different from Ray Allen's. Ray Allen had a textbook-perfect shot, jumping high and releasing at the apex. He Xi Meng, however, did not adopt the standard shooting method but chose Curry's 'flick-and-shoot' style. The flick-and-shoot was much harder to practice than the standard shot, but once mastered, its advantages were obvious: quick release and long range!
The Three-Point Contest doesn't award points for range, but it does reward speed!
A standard shooting form offers virtually no opportunity for adjustment mid-shot; any adjustment would certainly take too long.
However, the flick-and-shoot style inherently saves time, and adjustments from one motion to the next are quicker and more agile than in the standard method!
Therefore, He Xi Meng hardly had to worry about exceeding the time limit while shooting. He only needed to shoot all the balls at his own pace.
Do not underestimate the subtle difference of "shooting at his own pace." In a contest of high-level sharpshooters, this minor difference could easily translate to a few points. And a few points on the Three-Point Contest stage could directly determine the championship!
He Xi Meng again started hot, making all five shots at the first spot! This time, the fans admirably controlled their surprise, refraining from exclamations. And He Xi Meng did not disappoint their restraint, making all shots at the second spot as well, extending his consecutive streak to 10 shots!
"What's the longest consecutive streak in the Three-Point Contest?"
"I think it's 11 shots, right? Hubert Davis made 11 in a row in 1996!"
"Larry Bird also made 11 consecutive shots in the 1986 Three-Point Contest!"
"But 11 shots isn't the highest record in the Three-Point Contest, it's the second highest! The highest record was set by Craig Hodges, who made 19 consecutive shots in 1991!"
"My goodness! 19 consecutive shots, how high must his final score have been?"
"That year, Craig Hodges made a total of 21 shots and scored 24 points! 19 consecutive shots, 21 shots made in a single round, and 24 points - these three highest records in the Three-Point Contest were all set in the 1991 contest by Craig Hodges! But unfortunately, that was in the preliminary round, not the finals. Although Craig Hodges won the championship that year, his finals score was only 17 points, far less than his preliminary round performance..."
"So, does that mean He Xi Meng has a chance to break Craig Hodges' record this time?"
"Looking at the momentum, it's quite possible..."
While the two commentators babbled on in the stands, He Xi Meng had already extended his streak from 10 shots, 11 shots, 12 shots... to 18 shots!
Just one more shot, and He Xi Meng would tie Craig Hodges' league-leading record of 19 consecutive shots set in 1991!
Perhaps sensing the record approaching, He Xi Meng's inner rhythm faltered slightly. And it was this falter that caused his 19th shot to bounce off the rim!
The crowd couldn't help but let out a wave of regretful gasps!
Yes, it was too unfortunate! Just one more shot, and they could have witnessed He Xi Meng setting a new record for consecutive shots in the Three-Point Contest!
"Don't be discouraged, everyone! Although Simon won't break the consecutive streak record, he has a chance to challenge the other two records..." the arena DJ quickly tried to salvage the atmosphere, urging everyone to quiet down.
This was because after missing his 19th shot, He Xi Meng immediately missed his 20th shot as well.
On one hand, He Xi Meng's internal composure was shaken, leading to the fluctuation in his previously exquisite touch. And once a fluctuation occurs, it's like stirring a calm bowl of water; it's not easy to return to a tranquil state.
Consequently, in the final five shots, He Xi Meng, like searching for a level surface in waves, managed to make three shots!
He Xi Meng's final number of made shots was also 21, barely tying the league's all-time record!
However, due to He Xi Meng's 'mysterious' makes on the 25th shot, meaning He Xi Meng made a total of 4 'money balls,' his final total score was 25 points! Successfully surpassing Craig Hodges' record of 24 points!
"He broke the record! He broke the record! Ladies and gentlemen, you have witnessed the birth of a new piece of history! After 10 years of dormancy, Craig Hodges' record has finally been broken..."
The arena DJ shouted ecstatically, igniting the entire atmosphere. Most of the fans joined in the host's cheers, but a small portion remained bewildered. Some were still stuck in the disappointment of He Xi Meng making 18 consecutive shots and failing to break Craig Hodges' 19-shot streak; some were still dwelling on the regret that He Xi Meng tied Craig Hodges' record of 21 shots made in a single round...
Regardless, He Xi Meng had delivered a classic three-point battle for all the spectators present!
Ray Allen and Peja, defeated with conviction, stepped forward to congratulate He Xi Meng on his successful third consecutive championship!
"Don't be discouraged, the future stage of the three-point king belongs to you..."
Whether they believed it or not, He Xi Meng offered his best wishes to both of them.