Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Welcome Home? Seven Away Game Road Trip Begins
As trade season kicks off, the schedule continues uninterrupted. The Warriors are now heading into a grueling seven-game road trip, which includes two sets of back-to-back games. If they win all seven, they'll tie the 33-game winning streak record set by the Lakers in the 1971-72 season—a mark even the historic 73-9 Warriors couldn't achieve. Now, once again, the opportunity lies ahead.
Their first game is against the rebuilding New York Knicks. Even on the road, the Warriors are playing with their full roster. But when Tang Lei steps into Madison Square Garden, he's greeted by the unexpected sound of Knicks fans chanting "Welcome home!" Some fans are even holding signs, hailing him as the "future hope of the Knicks." Confused, Tang Lei recalls the Knicks' trade interest from a few days prior and can't help but smile at the irony.
Beside him, Curry, Durant, and Thompson exchange looks of mild exasperation—after all, Tang Lei is already "the apple of the Knicks' eye."
With Cousins back in action, the Warriors start with Curry, Durant, Thompson, Green, and Cousins, meaning Tang Lei has to give up his starting position. Though Coach Kerr and the staff had explained the reasoning to him before the game, Tang Lei can't help but feel a little disappointed. Sitting on the bench and listening to the Knicks fans chant "welcome home" only adds to his sense of awkwardness.
With their starting lineup reunited, the Warriors show off their formidable strength. Within half a quarter, they lead the Knicks by eight points. By the end of the first quarter, they've stretched the lead to 20 points, at which point Tang Lei checks in and takes control of the game. Despite Knicks fans jokingly chanting for a "number one draft pick," deep down, they know the reality—they never truly expected the Knicks to defeat this Warriors "superteam."
By halftime, the Warriors lead by 35 points. In the third quarter, they switch to an all-bench lineup, and while the Knicks' starters manage to regain some points, it's too little, too late. The Warriors cruise to a 122-103 win, securing their 27th consecutive victory.
The next game of the road trip is a back-to-back against the Miami Heat. After taking down the Knicks, the Warriors have enjoyed ample rest time, and the current Heat roster is a far cry from their powerhouse days of the Big Three. Although Dwyane Wade made a return to the Heat at the start of the season, he is no longer in peak form. For the Warriors, this back-to-back matchup doesn't seem like a particular challenge.
After an overnight flight to Miami and a brief period of rest, the showdown with the Heat begins that evening. Once again, Tang Lei is not part of the starting lineup. However, when he sees Wade also on the bench, he feels a slight sense of relief, balancing his own feelings about not starting.
Meanwhile, Heat general manager Pat Riley's reputation for being cold and ruthless is well-known. Wade—an absolute franchise legend—didn't receive a max contract or even a graceful end-of-career role, leaving both Wade and Heat fans disillusioned.
In this setting, Tang Lei's fighting spirit is sparked. Although he enters the game as a substitute, he quickly asserts his dominance on the court. The game's outcome soon becomes obvious, and the Warriors' winning streak continues on their path to history…
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