The Timberwolves inbounded the ball, and it quickly made its way back into Wiggins' hands.
Jay Sun immediately stepped in front of him.
You wanted to go at me, right? Let's see who schools who!
Wiggins thought the previous play was a fluke, so he went right back to trying to drive past Jay.
But once again, Jay activated his Clamps badge, making Wiggins feel like he was trapped inside a vice.
Feeling stuck, Wiggins passed the ball to Peković in the post.
However, Peković wasn't in a great position. Kevin Love was bodying him from behind, while LeBron James loomed nearby, ready to provide help defense.
Peković kicked the ball out to an open Anthony Bennett.
Bennett, however, had no choice but to hoist a rushed shot as the shot clock ticked down. Predictably, it missed.
Bennett: Oh, so you guys take all the good shots, and I get stuck with the garbage ones?
On the other end, Jay took control of the offense. This time, he didn't pass. He drove straight at Peković, wanting to test his boosted abilities head-on.
Jay reached the paint, planted his feet, and pulled off a smooth euro step. His shoulder bumped into Peković as he went up for a layup.
Bang—Swish!
The ball banked off the glass and in.
Jay clenched his fist in celebration, then quickly turned back to glance at Peković.
Jay: I'm not scared… I'm just polite.
With Jay's basket, the Timberwolves went from leading to trailing. Meanwhile, Wiggins still hadn't figured out how to get past Jay's defense.
As Minnesota's morale crumbled, the rest of their players seemed to lose interest.
Final score: Cavaliers 105, Timberwolves 96.
Wiggins finished with 33 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds — but only managed 3 points in the fourth quarter, looking like a completely different player from earlier in the game.
Jay? He matched Wiggins' scoring output with 33 points, along with 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals — with 15 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
Although Wiggins had the edge through the first three quarters, those who watched the game all agreed: Jay was the better player when it mattered most.
Well, except when it came to raw athleticism.
Wiggins' lack of aggressiveness in the fourth quarter raised eyebrows. Media pundits began asking why he hadn't attacked the basket more and instead settled for jumpers.
Wiggins couldn't exactly say the truth out loud:
I didn't want to drive? Well… okay, I didn't really want to. But more importantly, Jay's defense was so tight I couldn't even get inside.
Having gone head-to-head with Jay's full defensive intensity, Wiggins no longer saw him as an easy target.
Other players who'd faced Jay's fourth-quarter defense — including stars like Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant — shared similar respect for him.
—
After the Timberwolves game, Jay didn't take much time off to celebrate. He got up early the next day and headed straight to practice.
It wasn't about being a workaholic. His Dwyane Wade card was nearly fully integrated, and Jay could feel it coming together.
When he reached that final breakthrough, he wanted to be ready.
Jay couldn't help but feel like a kid opening a mystery box every time he neared unlocking a new player template. It was exhilarating and nerve-wracking. What surprise would the system give him next?
Would it be a mid-range maestro like Kobe or Jordan? A dead-eye shooter?
With that mix of excitement and determination, time flew by, and soon it was February 13.
The Cavs had just lost their last game before the All-Star break to the Chicago Bulls, 113-98. Derrick Rose put up 30 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists, thoroughly outplaying Kyrie Irving.
Jay didn't fare much better. The Bulls' big men — Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah — clogged the paint, making it difficult for him to drive. He finished with 13 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds, the third-highest scorer on the team after LeBron and Kyrie.
Kevin Love had missed the game due to injury, highlighting how much the Cavs struggled when one of their stars wasn't available.
Still, the upcoming All-Star Weekend would give everyone a much-needed breather.
Back at home, Jay reviewed his performance and identified a few weaknesses in his game.
He was undoubtedly one of the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year, but teams were beginning to scout him more closely.
Jay's game revolved around three core weapons:
Driving to the basket. Shooting threes. Perimeter defense.
But his mid-range game? That was still a weak spot. His shooting percentages weren't bad, but he lacked consistency and struggled with contested shots.
Although the NBA's shift toward three-pointers had made mid-range shots less valuable, Jay understood their importance. A reliable mid-range game could be a deadly weapon.
If only I could draw Kobe or Jordan next…
—
February 14: The Rising Stars Challenge was set to tip off at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Just before the game, it was announced that Michael Carter-Williams would sit out due to injury, further weakening the U.S. Team.
The World Team, on the other hand, boasted both Jay and Wiggins — the two brightest stars of the 2014 rookie class.
Predictably, the media swarmed the pair during pre-game interviews.
"Andrew, how does it feel to team up with Jay Sun for the first time?"
"Jay, what's it like playing alongside Andrew Wiggins instead of competing against him?"
Despite being on the World Team, Wiggins still had plenty of American fans rooting for him, especially those from his native Canada.
Coaching the World Team was Hawks assistant Kenny Atkinson, while the U.S. Team was led by Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry.
Lineups for the game:
U.S. Team:
Elfrid Payton
Victor Oladipo
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Nerlens Noel
Cody Zeller
World Team:
Dennis Schröder
Jay Sun
Andrew Wiggins
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Rudy Gobert
Jay wasn't about to let the opportunity slip by. He was determined to claim the Rising Stars MVP — and he knew he could do it.
After all, his Wade card was almost fully integrated.
The game began, and Jay's offensive aggression was evident right away. He relentlessly attacked the rim, blowing past Oladipo for easy buckets.
By the five-minute mark of the first half, Jay was subbed out, having already put up 18 points, 5 assists, and 2 rebounds.
Wiggins, meanwhile, seemed content to play second fiddle, scoring 11 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
At halftime, the World Team led 60-56.
Jay didn't return to the court immediately in the second half, but he wasn't worried. His moment would come.
Sure enough, with eight minutes left, Atkinson sent both Jay and Wiggins back in.
The score stood at 100-95 in favor of the World Team.
Jay continued his aggressive play, driving hard to the basket and setting up teammates when necessary.
He even ran a pick-and-roll with Wiggins, which led to an alley-oop dunk.
You know… Jay thought to himself. Wiggins would make a perfect second option. No ego. No drama. Just defense and occasional scoring.
Jay chuckled at the thought of Minnesota planning to build around Wiggins as their franchise player, while he envisioned Wiggins as a capable sidekick.
The World Team went on to win 121-112.
Jay finished with 28 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal.
Wiggins put up 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block.
Following the game, the MVP announcement came as no surprise:
Jay Sun was crowned the Rising Stars MVP.
As Jay held up the trophy and posed for photos, he couldn't help but smile.
This is just the beginning.