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Grant Williams · In a battle between two talented-yet-unproven teams eager to catapult themselves into 2024-25’s playoff discussion, Grant Williams’ experience in high-stakes situations stood as a great equalizer. After falling behind by double-digits in the second half, the story appeared to be written for the Charlotte Hornets, who lost last season’s Rookie of the Year finalist just minutes into the second quarter. Still firmly believing in the Hornets’ chances of recording an underdog victory, Williams uses a pick-and-pop, leaving him uncontested atop the 3-point arc with only 45 seconds remaining. Unrushed, yet urgent, Williams uses a quick pump-fake and relocation before letting fly a go-ahead 3-pointer that ultimately served as the game-clincher. Heroic plays arrived in different forms for Williams, who matched his crunchtime triple with stout defense against the Houston Rockets’ stars, both on the perimeter and interior. By October 23, 2024’s end, he’d constructed a eight-point, four-rebound, one-assist, one-steal, one-block, two-triple tally. · State of Mint