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Chapter 5 - Buzzer-Beater to the Playoffs

The scoreboard read 89-88, 3 seconds left.

 

Lin Mo's lungs burned. Davis had fouled

out, but his replacement—6'10" Miller—dominated the paint.

 

[SYSTEM: Miller's weakness: slow to rotate

on pick-and-rolls.]

 

"Screen!" Lin Mo yelled.

 

His teammate set a hard pick, freeing Lin

Mo at the three-point line.

 

He caught the inbound pass, Miller lunging.

 

[James' Stepback (unlocked): Create space

with lateral movement.]

 

Lin Mo stepped back, Miller crashing past

him.

 

Time froze.

 

Lin Mo rose, releasing the ball as the red

light flashed.

 

Swish!

 

The gym roared.

 

Global U won, advancing to the knockout

stage.

 

Lin Mo collapsed to his knees, grinning as

the system exploded:

 

[BUZZER-BEATER! Compatibility: 7%.

Unlocked: James' Clutch Shooting (+10% in final 2 mins).]

[Global Rank: #52,109 → #38,942.]

 

Coach Wang clapped him on the back. "That

shot? Replayed on ESPN. You're on their radar."

 

Lin Mo's phone blew up—his mom, teammates,

even a text from a mysterious number:

 

Impressive. Keep going. — L.J.

 

Lin Mo blinked. L.J.? LeBron James?

 

Coach Wang laughed. "LeBron follows U19

trials. Guess he saw your highlights."

 

Lin Mo stared at the message, then at his

#23 jersey.

 

[NEW QUEST: Make the final 12. Reward: NBA

scout attention.]

 

In the locker room, he found a note:

 

"12 spots. You're #13 right now." — Coach

Wang

 

Lin Mo crumpled it, grinning.

 

Time to prove them wrong.

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