Date: November 11, 2024
Midair contact.
Zoran felt the arm first—shoulder-to-shoulder, not a dirty play, but hard. Bobby Portis had rotated late, and the two collided mid-launch. Zoran twisted, adjusting instinctively to protect his landing.
He came down awkwardly. Not on his back. Not flat.
But off-balance—knees catching, heel skidding. He stumbled, arms wide for balance, then steadied.
The whistle blew. Blocking foul. Two free throws.
The crowd held its breath until Zoran straightened.
Then the applause hit.
Thunderous, unified, defiant.
"ZOOOO-RAN!"
He walked calmly to the line.
He didn't glance at the bench. Didn't flinch as Portis offered a quick nod of respect. Just took the ball from the ref.
One bounce. Spin. Bend.
Swish.
One more.
Swish.
Orlando 65, Milwaukee 55.
On the next possession, Giannis stormed back in and forced a quick post-up against Isaac, drawing a foul. The Bucks clawed two points back.
But something in the rhythm had shifted.
Zoran was still on the floor.
And now Milwaukee had to deal with him.
He wasn't the fastest player. Not the most athletic. But every time he touched the ball, the crowd leaned in.
In the halfcourt, he ran sets with precision. Snaked around screens, shifted defenders with subtle footwork. He didn't force a single shot. He didn't need to.
Because he kept putting people in the right places.
He found Paolo trailing for a dunk. Franz on a corner skip. Suggs off a flare. All of it clean, efficient.
Every action had weight.
And the Bucks began to show cracks.
"Timeout, Milwaukee," the PA announced.
Coach Mosley pulled Zoran aside during the break.
"You good to go another few?"
Zoran nodded. "Leg's fine."
"You're reading them perfectly. Keep the pace up. We'll stretch it and pull you before the fourth."
Zoran nodded again. No ego. Just mission.
The final two minutes of the third were all Orlando.
Zoran dribbled into a late-clock situation and, for the first time all night, called his own number.
He crossed over Lillard. Once. Twice. Then stepped back, fading slightly.
Splash.
The bench jumped. Paolo clapped hard enough to echo.
Zoran jogged back, expression neutral.
Next play: another deflection. Another push. This time he found Wagner on the break, who hammered it home.
Milwaukee looked stunned.
The horn ended the third.
Magic 80, Bucks 66.
On the bench, players crowded around him.
"You want that matchup with Dame in the fourth?" Suggs asked.
Zoran didn't answer right away. He looked across the court.
Dame had 17 points, but was being hounded. And frustrated.
"I don't chase names," Zoran finally said.
"Yeah," Paolo replied. "But you end them."
Coach Mosley kept him seated for the first three minutes of the fourth. Standard rest.
Then came the cue.
"Z," Mosley said. "Close it."
The crowd felt it too. As he approached the scorer's table, they surged into motion.
"LET'S GO ZO-RAN!"
He checked in.
Nine minutes to go.
Magic up nine.
But Giannis was still lurking. Dame could still erupt. The Bucks were a moment away from swinging it back.
And Zoran knew it.
He stared across the floor at Lillard.
This time, the matchup was personal.
To be continued.
Next: Chapter 47 – Fourth Quarter Fire
Score: Magic 80, Bucks 71.
Date: November 11, 2024 – 4th Quarter Begins