Chapter 74: Unleashing Power as the Game Reaches Fever Pitch

As the game flipped to the East's offensive side, Embiid passed to Irving. After crossing half-court, Irving executed a flurry of moves, skillfully shaking off Paul George. He darted into the paint and, with a smooth touch, lofted the ball over Tang Lei, watching it fall neatly through the hoop.

Score: 167-163.

The East widened their lead back to a safer, four-point buffer. With less than two minutes remaining, that cushion put the West under heavy pressure, knowing it would take at least two successful possessions to make up the difference.

The West's possession followed. This time, Tang Lei chose not to force a shot. Instead, he passed the ball to James, trusting in the veteran's steady hand. James seized the opportunity, executing a slightly awkward fadeaway jumper that still banked off the glass and dropped in.

Score: 167-165.

In response, Harden unleashed a step-back three-pointer that hit nothing but net. Yet the West wouldn't let up, as Durant delivered a cold-blooded three from far beyond the arc, landing another shot for the West.

Score: 170-168. The teams were locked in a relentless scoring battle, each side refusing to yield.

With neither side able to build any lasting lead, the game evolved into a series of pure, explosive one-on-one plays, showcasing each superstar's offensive prowess. Both teams' success rates were almost unbelievable—nearly every shot attempt met its mark. Fans could feel the tension mounting, the stakes growing with each possession. As the first overtime ticked down to its final 48 seconds, the score stood at an astonishing 180-177, with the East narrowly ahead by three points. The West, now in possession, felt the mounting weight of the moment.

There was no time for hesitation. The West rushed the ball across the court, hoping to level the score. Curry, seeing Tang Lei tightly guarded by Embiid, opted to pass to Durant instead. Durant, feeling the gravity of the moment, pulled up for a deep three-pointer. However, for the first time in what felt like forever, his aim wavered. The ball clanked off the rim.

The East's Embiid secured the crucial rebound and swiftly passed to Harden, who sauntered across half-court, carefully managing the clock as precious seconds ticked away. With each passing moment, the West's starting five grew visibly more anxious, yet they were bound by the constraints of the game. Any attempt at a foul risked sending the East to the line with a free throw.

Trailing by three, allowing even a single free throw could spell doom for the West.

As the shot clock wound down to its final five seconds, Harden began to inch closer, taking measured steps forward. Despite James' tight defense, Harden unleashed his trademark step-back three, a move so lethal even "King" James found it hard to counter.

The arena fell silent as the ball arced through the air, tracing a perfect trajectory before falling cleanly through the hoop.

Score: 183-177.

The East had stretched their lead to a seemingly insurmountable six points. Only 13.4 seconds remained on the clock.

"Timeout!"

The West's coach signaled for a timeout, sketching a desperate final play. He instructed the team on a three-point strategy, and outlined every remaining option they might have. This was the West's last timeout; he needed to cover every possibility. The key was clear: make this first three-point attempt. Missing the shot would effectively end their chance of a comeback.

The tension was palpable as fans rose to their feet, understanding the gravity of this single play. To remain in the game, the West had to land this shot. Otherwise, the East's victory would be all but sealed.

Tang Lei took up the role of inbounder, leveraging his height and wingspan for a clean pass. As the referee's whistle blew, he took the ball, surveying his teammates. He faked an inside pass, then suddenly whipped the ball across the court to Curry, who was waiting in the far corner.

With a swish of movement, Curry caught the ball and, with Irving pressing in tight, didn't waste a second. He launched a drifting three-pointer mid-motion. The ball spun towards the basket, tracing a perfect arc, but fell just short, grazing the front of the rim.

The arena reverberated with an audible gasp. The missed shot hit fans hard, many already burying their heads in their hands. The stakes of missing this shot couldn't have been clearer.

Positioned beneath the hoop, Embiid leaped to snatch what seemed to be a crucial rebound, smirking slightly as he readied to seal the game for his team. Yet, just as his hands closed around the ball, an unexpected figure streaked in from beyond the arc, moving with lightning speed.

Tang Lei, in a flash, surged forward, launching himself off the floor with explosive power. Gasps of awe spread across the crowd as he soared higher, his hand cutting between Embiid's grip to seize the ball in mid-air.

Tang Lei forced the ball through the hoop with a resounding slam, completing a stunning put-back dunk.

...

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