Three and Seventeen

Price posted a farewell message thanking real basketball people, and everyone understood the insult. Charlotte lost the next game by twelve. But in the fourth quarter, down twenty, Dawson kept the kids in. Marcus called out the coverage before the opponent signaled it. Luka hit two cutters. Tyrese made a corner three and slapped the floor on the next possession. Jamal blocked a dunk attempt, fell hard, got up slowly, and waved away the trainer. The crowd, small and tired, stood for the final minute of a loss. Afterward a reporter asked Daniel how he could defend 3-17. He looked into the cameras. "I won't defend the record," he said. "I'll defend the work. And the work is starting to show." Online, the quote was mocked within seconds.