The NBA's Twilight Star System

Seeing the Warriors fall behind, Steph Curry put away his playful antics and began weaving through the defense, relentlessly running off-ball screens.

Jay Sun kept himself glued to Klay Thompson, unable to spare any attention to help Kyrie Irving.

Kyrie chased after Curry, but the momentary lapse in defense was all Curry needed.

Catch. Shoot.

Swish.

This time, Curry didn't miss.

Watching Curry jog back on defense, head bobbing and shoulders swaying, Kyrie could only sigh.

"I'm trying my best… but it's never enough."

Basketball was cruel that way. Effort wasn't always enough. What mattered was effectiveness.

Back to the Cavs' offense.

Jay Sun brought the ball up the court.

At this point, everyone knew that Jay thrived in the fourth quarter.

Even Tyronn Lue had drawn up plays specifically to get the ball into Jay's hands in crunch time.

Kyrie and Love? No complaints.

Why argue when Jay kept delivering?

Jay stood at the top of the key, staring down Klay Thompson.

Klay wasn't an easy defender to beat. His footwork and discipline were elite.

Jay feinted with a triple-threat stance before exploding forward with a quick first step.

Klay stuck to him like glue, cutting off the driving lane.

Jay had no intention of forcing a shot.

Instead, he kicked the ball out to Kevin Love at the top of the arc.

Love caught it cleanly, but Draymond Green was already there, closing the space.

Love passed the ball back out, and Jay immediately darted toward the corner before curling back to the wing.

Mike Miller set a solid screen, freeing Jay for a brief moment.

Love saw the opening and fired a pass.

Jay caught the ball, feet set, in rhythm.

No hesitation.

Three-pointer launched.

Swish.

Jay turned to jog back on defense, a small smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"So, we're trading threes now? Fine by me."

Back on the other end, Klay wasn't going to take that lying down.

After some quick movement through screens, Thompson caught the ball and pulled up immediately, despite Jay's tight coverage.

Against most defenders, that sliver of daylight would be enough.

But Jay wasn't most defenders.

His Defensive Anchor badge activated, pressuring Klay into rushing his shot.

Clank.

Miss.

Kevin Love snatched the rebound and immediately fired a full-court pass to a streaking Kyrie.

Kyrie caught it in stride and finished with a smooth layup.

102-98. Cavs lead by 4.

The Warriors called timeout.

During the break, Jay glanced at the scoreboard.

Fourth-quarter Jay had already racked up 15 points.

His total stat line: 28 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds.

"Another 30-piece in the making," Jay thought to himself with a grin.

But the job wasn't finished.

Back from timeout, the Warriors got to work.

Their off-ball movement was a blur of cuts, screens, and misdirections.

Draymond Green, usually a facilitator, suddenly caught the ball and launched a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Swish.

102-101. The lead was down to 1.

Jay raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't expect that."

He glanced at Draymond, smirking.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, buddy. A few years from now, you'll be treated like Rondo on the perimeter."

On the Cavs' next possession, Kyrie Irving refused to let the opportunity slip again.

Facing Curry one-on-one, Kyrie drove hard into the paint, pulled up for a mid-range jumper, and nailed it.

104-101.

But the Warriors weren't done.

They quickly inbounded the ball, and Curry charged up the court.

Just past half-court, he stopped on a dime and launched a deep three.

Bank shot. In.

104-104. Tie game.

Tyronn Lue immediately called timeout.

Jay sighed in frustration.

"I'm on fire in the fourth, and yet we're still neck and neck."

With just over a minute left, the Cavs ran a familiar play.

Kevin Love set a high screen for Kyrie, who drove inside before kicking the ball back out to Jay at the top of the arc.

Jay caught it cleanly, but the Warriors' defense rotated lightning fast.

There was no open look.

Andre Iguodala closed in, smothering Jay.

Jay didn't panic.

He drove inside, drawing Iggy with him.

Seeing Love cut toward the basket, Jay lobbed a high pass over the defense.

Love caught it in mid-air and gently tipped it in.

106-104. Cavs back on top.

The Warriors inbounded quickly.

Curry pushed the tempo again, but this time, he passed off to Thompson.

Klay pulled up for three.

Swish.

107-106. Warriors lead.

The Cavs called their final timeout.

Tyronn Lue gathered the team, but his expression showed hesitation.

Who should take the final shot?

If LeBron were here, the choice would be easy.

But without LeBron, the responsibility logically fell to Kyrie or Love.

Yet, in this game, neither had been as reliable as Jay.

Lue hesitated.

Jay noticed and spoke up:

"Coach, give it to Kyrie. He's got the best shot."

Tyronn Lue nodded.

Jay smiled to himself.

"It's okay. I'm still a rookie. My time will come."

"A few years from now, nobody will dare take that last shot from me."

The final play began.

Love inbounded from the sideline.

Jay darted through the Warriors' defense, creating just enough confusion to free up Kyrie.

Kyrie caught the pass and dribbled to the top of the arc, with Curry shadowing him.

The clock ticked down.

10 seconds.

8 seconds.

Kyrie sized up Curry, crossing over repeatedly, searching for an opening.

At 3 seconds, Kyrie took a long step to the right and pulled up for a contested three.

Buzzer.

The ball hit the rim… bounced up… and out.

Final score: Warriors 107, Cavs 106.

Kyrie stood frozen, hands on his head, disbelief written across his face.

Jay walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't beat yourself up, Kyrie. We'll meet them again in the Finals."

Kyrie glanced at Jay, puzzled.

"You're that sure the Warriors will make it?"

Jay simply smiled.

"Yeah. And when that time comes, you won't miss."

Later, in the locker room, Tyronn Lue informed Jay and Kyrie that they would be speaking at the post-game press conference.

During the presser, the questions were sharp:

"Kyrie, why did you choose to shoot a three? You only needed a two." "Do you think that decision shows a lack of trust in your teammates?" "Kyrie, do you think you lack the leadership skills that LeBron brings to the team?"

Kyrie handled the questions calmly. He'd been through this before.

On the way back to the hotel, Kyrie broke his silence.

"Jay… you think I made the wrong call, don't you?"

Jay shook his head.

"No. I trust you, Kyrie. You've got to trust yourself too."

"Next time, when that moment comes… don't miss it."

Kyrie smiled faintly.

"Thanks, man."

As he walked away, Kyrie stopped and turned back.

"I promise you, Jay — I won't miss again."