The First Spark

Luka threaded a pass between three defenders that made the crowd gasp before the layup even dropped. With nineteen seconds left, Charlotte trailed by one. Dawson put Marcus in the corner, Luka at the elbow, Jamal screening, Tyrese lurking baseline. The defense expected Marcus to come get the ball. Instead Luka caught, turned, and saw Tyrese's defender blink toward the shooter. The pass arrived like a secret. Tyrese dunked with 2.8 seconds left. Charlotte won by one. On ESPN that night, the highlight ran fifth, but it ran. Calvin Roarke frowned as if tasting something unfamiliar. "I still do not believe in this team," he said. "But I will say this: they are no longer funny." Daniel heard the line in his office after midnight.