Chapter 73: Do You Believe in the Light, Tang Lei?

"Hah…" Seeing the basket miss by just a fraction of a second, Tang Lei exhaled a deep breath of relief. Honestly, that had been way too close. Giannis had reacted lightning-fast, and his second jump for the putback had been fierce, practically unstoppable. Fortunately, Lady Luck was still on their side.

On the sidelines, Caroline and a crowd of Chinese fans cheered as their initial disappointment turned to excitement. Some were so stirred they were close to tears.

Over on Tencent's livestream, the announcers—Su Yi, Coach Zhang, and Zhu8—breathed sighs of relief after seeing the replay and the refs' final decision.

"That last play showcased Giannis' talent to the fullest," Su Yi started, maintaining his professional tone. "Just a fraction of a second short of a game-winning buzzer-beater—what a shame."

"True, Giannis' Achilles is the longest in the NBA, measuring a full 34.3 centimeters. That makes him an athletic marvel; most people just can't keep up with his leaps and bounds," Coach Zhang agreed.

Zhu8, serving as a guest analyst, chimed in, "This gives our own Tang Lei a chance to shine now. Let's see if he can capitalize on it."

Fans watching the livestream responded in droves, their comments practically flooding the screen.

"Whoa! So close! That was almost a game-winner!"

"Karma's real, man. Try to pull that foot trick again, Giannis. And you wanted the MVP? Maybe next life!"

"Now's your time, Thunder King! The new storm is here—no holding back! Cross time and space with all you've got!"

"Haha! Dude above is quoting song lyrics, that's epic!"

"Thunder King, keep pushing forward. Danger's no excuse; dreams are closer than ever! Be brave, and the miracle will happen!"

"And I gotta say it too—Thunder King, do you believe in the light?"

" (=￣ω￣=)" 

" (→_→)" 

" (￣▽￣＃) = "

Break time over.

Both teams' starters returned to the court, but the East had adjusted their lineup. Kemba Walker requested to sit, with Harden subbing in to power up their offensive line. Western fans weren't thrilled to see this move—Harden had been nearly unstoppable with the Rockets these past few years, racking up scoring titles, MVP honors, and first-team selections. Were it not for tensions with Paul and a slight dip in form this season, he wouldn't have found himself on the All-Star bench. Even as a substitute, he was the best of them all.

Eastern fans, meanwhile, roared with excitement, especially the Hornets crowd, who cheered for their star, Kemba Walker, for his selfless play. 

For the Western lineup, no changes. However, for this critical jump ball, Giannis stepped in for Embiid—to jump against Tang Lei!

Unlike the game's opening jump, this time possession meant everything, with the first play in overtime giving a shot to break the deadlock and potentially gain control. Tang Lei faced pressure, knowing Giannis had the height and power advantage. Yet, in terms of vertical leap, he feared no one. Even though Giannis' physical edge was undeniable, Tang Lei was confident his jump could outdo anyone's in the league.

With a swift move, Tang Lei tipped the ball with his fingertips, sending it to Durant. Durant took possession, pushing forward before passing to Curry, who faced off with Harden, shooting a high-arcing three-pointer that found the net!

Score: 159-162. The West was back in the lead.

But immediately, Harden responded with his own lethal step-back three over Curry, closing the gap again at 162-162.

On the next play, West's James drove to the rim, drawing a foul on Embiid but only sinking one of his free throws, edging the lead by a single point. 

East was quick to answer as Giannis barreled into the paint, drawing a foul and completing the and-one, pushing their lead further.

Score: 165-163.

On the West's possession, Tang Lei tried a three from beyond the arc. The moment it left his hands, though, he could feel the shot lacked power—it was a dreaded "air ball." Embiid snatched up the rebound, throwing Tang Lei a mockingly raised brow that dripped with scorn. 

"Looks like fatigue is starting to affect my shot," Tang Lei mused inwardly. While he hadn't played extensive minutes in the first three quarters, the grueling fourth and now this overtime was draining his energy reserves.

....

Note: This phrase, "Do you believe in light?" comes from the classic Japanese series Ultraman Tiga (1996). In the show's finale, the Earth faces destruction, and Ultraman Tiga loses his power. Viewers' belief in "light" revives him, symbolizing hope and courage.

 "Do you believe in light?" represents hope, courage, and faith. It encourages people to hold onto their belief in brighter days, even in the darkest moments.