Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Epic Comeback! Curry Seals the Game
With a deafening silence sweeping across the Nuggets' home arena, Tang Lei received the ball for his second free throw. The scoreboard read 111:109, with the Warriors trailing by two. If Tang Lei made this free throw, they'd still be down by one, leaving them little time—only 11 seconds—hoping for a miracle turnover or a quick steal to gain possession again. But there was hardly any time to execute another possession, not to mention Denver's tight defensive setup on the inbound.
In this critical moment, Tang Lei made a calculated decision. Rather than sinking the free throw, he chose to intentionally miss, aiming to grab the rebound himself and keep the ball in his team's hands. Tang Lei wanted control of the game to stay firmly in his hands, not left to chance or dependent on an opponent's error.
All eyes were on him as he raised the ball. In the paint, Jokic, Millsap, Durant, and Green jockeyed for position, knowing that a rebound could decide the outcome of the game.
Tang Lei released the shot deliberately to hit the rim's outer edge, just as he had visualized. The ball bounced off the rim exactly where he aimed, falling toward his position. Anticipating the rebound perfectly, Tang Lei surged forward, timing his jump flawlessly, and snatched the ball away from Jokic and Millsap.
As his feet touched the floor, Tang Lei executed a precise no-look pass to Curry, who was waiting near the three-point line. Without hesitation, Curry caught the pass and went straight up for the shot, his form flawless as he let the ball fly.
Time seemed to slow down as the ball arced toward the basket, and the arena fell into a tense, anticipatory silence. Then came the swish.
111:112!
For the first time in the game, the Warriors had taken the lead, completing an incredible comeback.
The Warriors' bench exploded with cheers, and Tang Lei and his teammates celebrated as Curry's shot brought them to the brink of victory. But head coach Steve Kerr stayed focused, clapping his hands and shouting, "Defense! Defense!" to rally the team. There were still 7.8 seconds left—more than enough time for the Nuggets to attempt a final shot.
The stunned Nuggets gathered themselves quickly. Jokic inbounded the ball to Craig, who had been hot all game, scoring critical points for Denver. Craig pushed downcourt, charging toward the Warriors' defense, which scrambled to cover every option. Tang Lei and Durant marked their men, while Livingston shadowed Craig closely, preventing an easy shot.
With no time to waste, Craig pulled up for a deep three, just a step outside the line. He launched a high, arcing shot over Livingston, but his body was slightly off balance. The crowd held its collective breath, watching the ball's elegant trajectory toward the hoop. But fate intervened—the ball hit the inner rim, bouncing high off the cylinder.
The buzzer sounded, and with it came the realization that the Warriors had achieved an improbable victory. The Warriors' bench erupted, storming the court to celebrate, surrounding Tang Lei and Curry with shouts and cheers. The euphoric players reveled in their accomplishment, embracing each other in disbelief and joy.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets players stood frozen, trying to process the surreal defeat. They had been up by 18 points with just over two minutes remaining, and yet somehow, they had lost. They had played a clean game, avoiding significant turnovers and executing their plays with discipline. Yet here they were, watching the Warriors celebrate an epic comeback.
What had seemed impossible had become reality!
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