Chapter 102: Honoring McGrady – Tang Lei’s Superhuman Performance

The score read 109-99 with only 1:03 left on the clock. What had been an 18-point, seemingly insurmountable lead had dwindled to just 10 points, leaving the Nuggets in shock. But with time still on their side, Denver regained its composure. After inbounding, Murray slowly brought the ball up, under full-court pressure from Curry, Durant, and the rest of the Warriors. Their defense was now relentless, inspired by Tang Lei's incredible display.

Facing the aggressive pressure, the Nuggets couldn't get a shot off in time, letting the 24-second clock expire. Though they hadn't scored, the time they wasted was strategically valuable, eating precious seconds off the clock.

With only 38 seconds left, the Warriors reclaimed possession. Seeing the Nuggets back on defense, Green rolled the ball slowly toward Tang Lei, saving every second they could. In the NBA, the clock doesn't start until the ball is touched, so the ball crept over half-court, taking full advantage of the rules.

As the ball crossed half-court, Barton made a move to pressure Tang Lei, who calmly held his ground, sensing Barton's approach. Just as Barton closed in, Tang Lei scooped up the ball and instantly activated his "Fastest First Step," blowing past his defender.

Approaching the three-point line, Tang Lei pulled up without hesitation, releasing a high-arcing shot. In that moment, the Denver crowd fell silent, every eye trained on the ball as it sailed toward the hoop. This shot could decide the fate of the Warriors' historic streak.

Swish!

The ball found the bottom of the net, barely grazing the rim. The arena went dead silent as Warriors fans exploded with hope, and Nuggets fans clasped their heads in disbelief. The score was now 109-102, with Tang Lei responsible for 13 consecutive points in a matter of seconds, including a three-point play. His performance was nothing short of miraculous.

The Nuggets' head coach, Michael Malone, couldn't ignore the shift in momentum and used his final timeout to regroup.

Meanwhile, in the online streaming chatroom, fans flooded the screen with reactions.

"Unbelievable! 13 points in seconds! Lei King is a monster!"

"I just did the math – Tang Lei's pulled off 13 points in exactly 35 seconds. This is McGrady's moment all over again!"

"This is insane! I'm actually tearing up."

"Lei King might be amazing, but with only 35 seconds left and still down by 7, it's almost impossible."

"Yeah, but what if he pulls off another McGrady moment?"

"Come on, that's one in a million. Getting one miracle in a game is already defying all odds."

Back on the court, Coach Kerr's voice rose with intensity. "Get the ball to Tang Lei! Everyone, feed him! Full-court press! Foul if you need to! Do not let them run out the clock!"

The Warriors players had no objections; Tang Lei's performance had electrified them, restoring their belief. They nodded in agreement, determined to make the most of this final push.

As the timeout ended, Jokic prepared to inbound for Denver, using his height advantage to his benefit. He successfully passed the ball to Millsap, but Durant was there instantly, forcing a quick foul. Millsap stepped to the line, his nerves showing under the pressure. Despite his experience, he only made one of two free throws, putting the score at 110-102.

Denver then switched to full-court press, trying to deny Tang Lei any easy reception. But with a burst of speed, Tang Lei broke free, securing the ball. Simultaneously, he mentally activated his "Miller Moment."

Knowing they had no time to waste, Tang Lei moved up the court swiftly, watching the defense close in.

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