Chapter 12: Durant Goes Down, Tang Lei the Savior?

After spending 25 system coins, Tang Lei's balance dropped to a mere 1 coin. But after successfully purchasing Tracy McGrady's (T-Mac) breakthrough ability, Tang Lei immediately felt a surge of unfamiliar energy rushing through his body. Most notably, his legs seemed to be enveloped by some magical force.

With McGrady standing at 6'8" (205 cm), almost identical to Tang Lei's height, there was no need for much adaptation. Everything felt as if it fell into place naturally.

Despite gaining this new ability, Tang Lei still didn't get the call to return to the game as the fourth quarter started. But he wasn't anxious. Though he had struggled a bit earlier, his efficiency had been decent, and he knew he was still capable of pulling defenders and creating space. Confident that his opportunity would come, Tang Lei remained patient.

As the game resumed, the Bucks wasted no time. Khris Middleton and Nikola Mirotic combined for four consecutive three-pointers, extending the lead to 15 points. The Warriors tried to answer with shots from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, managing to cut the lead back to single digits.

Durant found himself isolated against Giannis Antetokounmpo on the left wing, at the 45-degree mark. He faked a shoulder move, but Giannis didn't bite, blocking Durant's driving lane. KD then pulled the ball back, using a hesitation move before launching into a signature "shamgod" crossover. This time, Giannis jumped to contest, and Durant seized the opening, driving past him and throwing down a ferocious dunk.

"Wow! SheeshI!" The Warriors' bench exploded in cheers, as Durant's monster dunk had them all fired up. The lead was cut back to seven.

On the other end, Giannis responded with a powerful drive of his own. But Durant wasn't done. Isolated again, he went to work, putting the ball on the floor twice before pulling up for a jumper. Although Giannis was a step behind, he lunged forward to contest the shot.

Whistle!

And one! But the celebrations quickly subsided. Durant had landed awkwardly on Giannis' foot, grimacing in pain as he crumbled to the floor. The entire arena fell silent. The Warriors' players held their breath, while the team's medical staff rushed to check on him.

After a few agonizing moments, Durant was helped to his feet but limped noticeably, causing even more concern. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr's expression darkened. This season had been filled with challenges for the Warriors, and now, with their hopes of a three-peat hanging in the balance, losing Durant could be a catastrophic blow.

After making his free throw, Durant was immediately subbed out and escorted back to the locker room. The early assessment wasn't promising—he would not return for the rest of the game, with further tests required to determine the severity of the injury.

In the live stream, Chinese fans in the chat were livid:

"How blind are these refs?! That was a clear flagrant on Giannis! This isn't basketball; it's an attempt to injure!"

"Giannis should be renamed the 'foot-sweeper'! Disgusting behavior. He knew he was beaten and still stepped forward. Just filthy."

"Put Tang Lei in! Warriors need something!"

"Calm down, guys. Tang Lei's limitations have been exposed. The Bucks have those long arms, and their defense is suffocating. It's not gonna work."

"It's not about this game anymore. KD's health is the key! We need him to win the three-peat!"

With Durant out, Kerr put Tang Lei back in with seven minutes remaining. The score stood at 92-98 in favor of the Bucks.

Giannis immediately took advantage of Durant's absence, bulldozing his way to the basket and scoring again. The Bucks hit the century mark first, increasing their lead to eight.

Curry brought the ball up the floor for the Warriors, but as he crossed half-court, Tang Lei moved into position to request the ball. Curry didn't hesitate to pass it over.

"An Asian rookie like you stands no chance against me! Get off the court while you still can," taunted Sterling Brown as he applied tight defense.

Tang Lei ignored the trash talk, staying focused. He was never one for words—he let his game do the talking. Catching the ball, Tang Lei pivoted on his right foot to face Brown. The Bucks defender gave him no space, sticking close, clearly doubting Tang Lei's ability to penetrate.

In an instant, Tang Lei exploded into his first step. Quick and powerful, it left Brown in the dust. With no one in front of him, Tang Lei soared toward the basket, slamming it down with authority.

94-100.

The dunk electrified the Warriors' bench, while Kerr felt a flicker of hope. Backpedaling, Curry gave Tang Lei an enthusiastic high-five, saying, "Great move, keep it going! We need you."

Tang Lei nodded. That first step had felt incredible, as though scoring had become effortless. On the next Bucks possession, Green stripped the ball away, igniting a fast break. Tang Lei sprinted ahead, receiving the pass in stride. With a quick move to the right, he blew past the defense for an easy layup.

96-100.

The Bucks attempted a quick three-pointer, but it rattled off the rim. Green secured the rebound, racing upcourt. The Bucks had recovered well on defense, forcing Green to slow down. With Curry blanketed by defenders, he swung the ball to Tang Lei, who stepped up once more to demand the ball.

Brown, visibly irritated, resumed his trash talk: "Lucky shots don't last forever, rookie. I'll lock you down this time. You'll be crying by the end of this possession."

This time, Brown gave Tang Lei a little more space, wary of another blow-by. Sensing the hesitation, Tang Lei sized him up with a quick jab step, and as Brown overcommitted, Tang Lei pulled back into a smooth jumper.

Swish!

The shot was as silky as ever, leaving Brown stunned.

In this chapter, Tang Lei fully embraces his newly acquired first-step explosiveness, leaving defenders like Sterling Brown grasping at the air. With Durant sidelined, Tang Lei begins to step up and show just how deadly he can be with his upgraded skills.

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