Chapter 56: Death Grip! Tang Lei Under Kawhi Leonard’s Defense

On the Raptors' bench, Nick Nurse held the tactical board, first outlining the offensive strategy. Then, with a serious expression, he looked directly at Kawhi Leonard and said, "You'll be the one to guard that rookie."

Leonard's face remained expressionless. He simply nodded, giving a calm "Okay." Anunoby, meanwhile, looked disheartened. Having failed to guard Tang Lei, he was now subbed out for the more offensively skilled Siakam.

After the timeout, Tang Lei calmly sank his free throw, bringing the score to 54-61. Almost singlehandedly, he had extended the lead to seven points.

With the Raptors' possession, they played a patient offense, moving the ball rapidly from player to player. Within five seconds, the ball had cycled through everyone's hands before finding its way to Danny Green. Using a high screen, Green rose up for a three-pointer, sending the ball in a beautiful arc that dropped smoothly into the hoop. Three points!

57-61!

Nurse's offensive strategy worked flawlessly, and the home crowd erupted in cheers.

Warriors' possession. Tang Lei had just crossed half-court when Leonard closed out on him. The arena buzzed in shock and amazement—who would have expected the Raptors' ace defender to guard a rookie? But after witnessing Tang Lei's abilities, no one doubted the strategy; they were just surprised.

In the Tencent live broadcast room, fans watching the game also exclaimed:

"Oh my God! Robot Kawhi is guarding Thunder King?"

"No surprise there! Thunder King is a beast. For a rookie to be guarded by one of the league's top defenders, that's a huge honor."

"True, but Kawhi's known for his death grip defense. Once he locks down, it's going to be tough for Tang Lei to make plays."

"This is part of the journey. Even LeBron went through this. Keep fighting, Let's go Tang Lei! Don't slow down—go all out!"

…

Curry brought the ball past half-court. With Leonard glued to Tang Lei, waving his huge hands in his face, there was no opportunity for Tang Lei to receive a pass. Curry handed the ball to Durant, and with Leonard on Tang Lei, Durant faced significantly less defensive pressure against Siakam.

Despite Siakam's impressive performance this season as the most improved player, he struggled to contain Durant. Durant used a wide crossover, easily getting past Siakam and throwing down a powerful dunk.

57-63!

For the next four possessions, Tang Lei struggled to find opportunities. When he did manage to get the ball, Kawhi's tight defense left little space for a clean shot. He attempted two tough shots—one was slightly tipped by Leonard, bouncing off the rim, and the other was stripped during his jump, allowing the Raptors to start a fast break.

At the end of the second quarter, the Raptors had closed the gap to just two points, 66-68. Both teams racked up over 60 points in the first half, delivering an exhilarating, high-paced battle that had the crowd buzzing with adrenaline.

…

After halftime, both teams returned to the court. The third quarter began without Tang Lei on the floor. Since Leonard had started guarding him, Tang Lei had been scoreless, recording only one rebound and one assist. With Tang Lei on the bench, Leonard shifted his focus to offense.

Both teams continued to trade points, keeping the game intense. The first half of the quarter saw high efficiency, with each team scoring almost at will. However, as fatigue set in, shooting efficiency began to drop.

At the end of the third quarter, the score stood at 83-84, with the Warriors clinging to a one-point lead. This season's Raptors were proving formidable, excelling on both offense and defense, especially with a strong interior presence from Ibaka and Gasol.

Tang Lei remained on the bench throughout the third quarter, with Coach Kerr's intentions clear: to rest Tang Lei so he could return in the fourth quarter ready to make an impact.