Chapter 23: A Stunning Putback Dunk – A Top 10 Play of the Year?

In the Tencent live broadcast, the chat was buzzing with tension.

"Last minute, down by five points… The Warriors are in trouble this time."

"This next possession is crucial. If they can score, there's still a chance. If they miss and can't defend, it's over."

"CP3 just have too much experience, man. He really controls the rhythm of the game. Without Durant, the Warriors can't handle this."

"Rockets for the championship!!"

"Ha, Rockets might look good in the regular season, but they trash in the playoffs."

"Win or lose, it doesn't matter. At least Tang has already played his heart out. The only question left is whether he can secure his first career triple-double."

"One minute left, one rebound and two assists short—it's a long shot unless there's overtime."

As fans watched nervously, the weight of the situation was clear on everyone's faces. The Warriors faithfully wanted a win, but they knew how formidable the Rockets had become.

If it was just Harden, the Rockets weren't as much of a threat, but since CP3 joined, they had gained a winning mentality.

Back on the court, Curry brought the ball up the floor. Every fan in the arena was on their feet. Silence washed over the stands as everyone held their breath. Some female fans even clasped their hands together in prayer. They all knew how pivotal this next possession was for the Warriors.

If they scored, hope would remain. If they missed, it was practically over.

With a five-point gap, the team faced a tough question: should they foul or not? If they fouled, the Rockets would head to the free-throw line. But if they didn't, Paul would run the clock down before taking his shot.

Either way, they were in a tough spot.

Curry knew how important this possession was. As the franchise star, he had to step up, and take responsibility. Standing near half-court, he signaled for everyone to clear out. It was clear: he wanted to go one-on-one with Paul, a battle of two elite point guards.

Despite Paul's smaller stature, his defensive ability was never in doubt. His multiple All-Defensive Team honors were proof of just how good he was at locking down opponents. What made this face-off even more intriguing was that it was a duel between the new-school point guard, Curry, and the old-school, traditional point guard, Paul.

Since Curry was so far from the basket, Paul didn't crowd him, giving him about half a step of space—enough to defend both the shot and the drive.

In front of a captivated audience, Curry made a sudden move, crossing over and driving to the left. Paul reacted instantly, staying right with him. Curry darted to the three-point line before stopping abruptly, pulling the ball back, then exploding to the right. But again, Paul was there, sliding with him, cutting off the lane.

It seemed Curry knew Paul could keep up. So, after taking a small step back, Curry elevated for a shot—a step-back three. Though this was usually Harden's signature move, Curry executed it to perfection.

However, Paul hadn't lost a step. He leaped as Curry released the ball, just barely getting a fingertip on it. Though the touch was slight, it was enough to alter the ball's trajectory.

Clang!

The unmistakable sound of a missed shot echoed throughout the arena, hitting the Warriors' fans hard. Their collective hope shattered as the ball ricocheted off the rim.

But just when it seemed all was lost, a figure flew in from beyond the three-point line, sprinting toward the basket at full speed. Without breaking stride, he launched himself into the air, reaching the ball at its peak. In a thunderous display of power, he threw down a massive putback dunk over the opposing center.

BOOM!

The ball slammed through the hoop, the sound reverberating through the arena. The player's body collided with his opponent, sending them both crashing to the floor.

"OH MY GOD! A MONSTROUS DUNK BY TANG!!!"

The arena's DJ, voice filled with disbelief, broadcasted the play to the stunned crowd.

For a few moments, the entire arena froze in shock. Then, as reality set in, the crowd erupted in wild cheers, and the benches of both teams sat dumbfounded, unable to process what had just happened.

The play had unfolded so quickly, that no one had noticed Tang Lei's movement until the ball was already slamming through the rim.

The putback dunk was nothing short of spectacular, as Tang Lei had posterized the opposing center, snatching the rebound out of thin air and throwing it down with authority.

Meanwhile, the Tencent livestream chat exploded with excitement:

"WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!"

"PUTBACK DUNK! 666! LEI EMPEROR IS UNBELIEVABLE!"

"Capela's gonna have nightmares about this dunk. RIP Capela."

"I'm calling it now—dunk of the year! GOAT status!"

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