The Players Nobody Wanted

Luka as the passing forward. Jamal in drop, arms wide, moving like a man negotiating with pain. The game changed before the score did. Tyrese blew up a dribble handoff. Luka caught the loose ball and threw ahead to Marcus, who stopped at the arc instead of driving into the shot blocker. Three. Next possession, Jamal swallowed a layup against the glass. Marcus pushed again. Luka faked a corner three, hit Tyrese cutting, and Tyrese dunked so hard the building forgot why it had come to complain. The Hornets still lost by five. But as the players walked off, the boos had gaps in them. Daniel noticed Evelyn Marsh standing near the tunnel. Her arms were crossed, but she was watching Marcus Reed sign a child's program. "We lost," she said.