Chapter 109: Shaking Off Bagley! A Displeased Cousins

As the tense fourth quarter began, the atmosphere in Oracle Arena was heavy with anticipation. Warriors fans watched with concern as Curry and Durant took a brief rest, leaving Tang Lei, Draymond Green, and DeMarcus Cousins to lead the charge.

Cousins, after several games of getting back in rhythm, was now unrestricted in minutes. Yet, despite solid stats of 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists on average, he was still struggling to fully adapt to the Warriors' fast-paced, space-oriented offense. Cousins' low-post style didn't mesh seamlessly with the team's high-speed ball movement, making it harder for Curry and Durant to find openings when he was on the court. A sixth-man role might have suited Cousins perfectly, but with his fiery nature and pride—still considering himself the league's premier center—a bench position was out of the question. 

Meanwhile, the Kings hadn't benched their starters. With the score at 88-86, they were just three points shy of taking the lead—a chance they were eager to seize.

The Warriors won possession for the fourth quarter, and the ball quickly found its way to Cousins, as his role in the rotation took precedence over Tang Lei. Facing the Kings' center, Cousins muscled his way to the hoop, finishing a basket with ease. His athleticism had waned since his peak, but his skill and confidence were undeniable against the Kings' less experienced defender.

With a smooth post move, the Warriors extended their lead to 90-86. Yet, on the Kings' next possession, Buddy Hield answered back with a three-pointer, cutting the lead back to one, 90-89.

Back on offense, Green tried the same setup, sending the ball to Cousins again. But this time, the Kings anticipated the play. Bagley, guarding Tang Lei, doubled Cousins the moment he touched the ball. Tang Lei raised his hands, signaling he was open, but Cousins ignored him, forcing up an off-balance shot that clanged off the rim. Bagley snagged the rebound and quickly passed it to Fox, who streaked down the court on a fast break. After a slick fake, Fox converted an easy layup, putting the Kings ahead, 91-90.

As boos started trickling down from the stands, Cousins once again called for the ball in the next play. But Green, visibly frustrated, bypassed Cousins and passed to Tang Lei instead. Cousins' stubbornness in ignoring open teammates hadn't gone unnoticed, and Green wasn't one to let it slide.

With the ball in his hands, Tang Lei took on Bagley one-on-one. A few swift crossovers had Bagley off-balance and stumbling, eventually losing his footing and crashing to the floor. The crowd gasped as Tang Lei coolly rose for a shot, his form smooth and confident.

Swish!

His three-pointer sailed through, giving the Warriors a 93-91 lead. The fans erupted, thrilled by the move, while Tang Lei felt the ease and precision his maxed-out control brought to his game. The boost in his dribbling skills allowed him to pull off moves effortlessly, which gave him an edge in breaking down defenses.

As Green high-fived Tang Lei in celebration, Cousins looked on with a dark expression. He felt sidelined, almost ostracized, and it was not a feeling he could easily shake.

On the next Kings possession, Fox launched a three-pointer. Though it looked promising, it missed by a hair, and Cousins grabbed the rebound. But instead of passing to Green or Quinn Cook to push the pace, Cousins decided to bring the ball up himself, dribbling past half-court.

Both benches watched with surprise. Kings coach Dave Joerger shouted, "Defense! Defense!" as Fox turned and bolted toward Cousins, the closest defender.

"Pass it! Pass it!" Green shouted from the sidelines, clearly losing his patience. But Cousins, determined to prove himself, ignored his teammates. As he dribbled forward, Fox made his move, sneaking a hand around Cousins' waist to slap the ball loose.

With the ball now in Kings' possession, Fox sprinted down the court alone and capped off the play with a soaring dunk. 

The score tied, 93-93.

Oracle Arena fell silent, a collective unease settling over the crowd.