Danny meets his mother on Saturday. Although everyone is talking about the championship, “Ali didn’t want to talk about the big game, she wanted to tell [Danny] he needed a haircut as soon as he got home and was he packed and if he was packed, was he sure he had everything?” (224). Tess comes with Ali to watch Danny play. Danny brings his mother around each of his friends, especially his new friends, like Tarik, Zach, and Rasheed. After his mother double-checks his packing and they have lunch, Danny prepares for the big game.

Before tip-off, Coach Powers speaks to his team. To explain the significance of this game against the Lakers, he tells the boys, “‘So if I told you that tonight was only one of the three or four times in your life when you might play for the title of something, how dear would you hold this one game of basketball?’” (227). He urges the team to make sure nothing stops them from winning.

While Danny and Will warm up on the court, Lamar chucks a ball at Danny. Danny ignores this. The two teams play a quarter with neither gaining a lead. Danny watches Lamar play, noting how Rasheed and Lamar match up.