Leading a 16-5 run in the final quarter
A match where the Nets welcomed the Grizzlies home. Yuta Watanabe showed great success in leading the team to victory in a match that attracted attention as Kyrie Irving’s return match after his suspension.
After failing to make a difference in the first half and trailing 57-62, the Nets fought back in the third quarter. Watanabe scored his first goal with an easy layup on an assist from Royce O’Neill, and in the last possession, he started running when he confirmed Kevin Durant’s recovery, decided to make a quick attack and expanded the lead to 96-93.
And in the last quarter, Watanabe shows a different dimension. From Ben Simmons’ kickoff, he unhesitatingly hit a 3-point shot, and when he got around to it, he also hit a corner 3 and forced the Grizzlies to take a timeout. The unstoppable Watanabe tried to push the ball into a mid-range shot, but immediately switched to a pass for Irving, who ran under the goal, setting up an easy shot.
When he sinks a corner again with three from the transition, he succeeds in a fainting 3-point shot by Kevin Durant on the next possession. Watanabe, who dominated the game as the center of the offense, lured two Grizzlies defenders trying to aim for a 3-point shot and directed Kevin Durant’s unscored goal with only off-the-ball moves.
In this way, Watanabe made four consecutive 3-point shots, and the Nets immediately went 16-5 within about 5 minutes into the fourth quarter, broke the Grizzlies’ heart, and won by a final score of 127- 115.
Watanabe recorded 16 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, including 4-of-6 successful 3-point shots in 25 minutes of play. When he was ejected with five and a half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, he received a standing ovation from his home fans.
