Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Is He About to Become the Next Isaiah Thomas?
Hearing that he was being subbed out, Beverley couldn't hide the disappointment on his face. He had wanted to atone for his earlier mistakes, but he was determined to shut down Tang Lei's scoring. But foul trouble and a lack of trust from the coaching staff sealed his fate.
Beverley couldn't entirely blame Coach Rivers. Tang Lei had just scored nine points on him in three or four possessions—a defensive performance that was anything but acceptable. Instead of containing Tang Lei, Beverley's efforts had only fired him up, leading to an explosive scoring spree.
"Damn it! This is bullsh*t!" Beverley muttered angrily as he took his seat on the bench.
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The game resumed.
Tang Lei remained at point guard, as his playmaking had proven invaluable so far. The Clippers adjusted their defense, assigning Harrell to guard Tang Lei. Harrell's combination of strength and relentless energy made him an intimidating presence. For someone with Tang Lei's slender build, a collision with Harrell could very well end with him sprawled on the court.
However, Tang Lei didn't force the issue against Harrell. Instead, he shifted into playmaking mode. After all, with Curry, Thompson, and Durant surrounding him, there was no need for him to carry the offensive load alone.
With a quick between-the-legs dribble, Tang Lei delivered a perfect bounce pass to Thompson, who wasted no time sinking a three-pointer. The Warriors extended their lead to 18 points, 48–30.
But the Clippers weren't ready to give up. Over the next three possessions, Curry and Durant both struggled with their shooting, going 0-for-3 combined. The Clippers capitalized on the missed opportunities, utilizing Zubac's size advantage inside to score three consecutive baskets, trimming the deficit to 48–36.
Tang Lei continued to contribute in the next five possessions. He scored on a drive, assisted Curry for a three-pointer, and set up Durant for a mid-range jumper. While two of his passes to Draymond Green didn't result in points, Tang Lei's impact remained evident. By the time Coach Kerr finally subbed him out, Tang Lei had logged an impressive stat line: 17 points and 5 assists in just over 12 minutes of play.
As Tang Lei left the court, Oracle Arena erupted in applause. His efficiency outshined even some starting guards across the league, and the crowd appreciated every bit of it.
Cousins took Tang Lei's place on the court. With Cousins in the game, the Warriors' offensive rhythm noticeably slowed. Because of Cousins' lack of speed, fast-break opportunities were squandered, allowing the Clippers to set up defensive schemes and even execute a few five-on-four transition plays.
That said, Cousins wasn't entirely ineffective. In half-court sets, his post presence remained a significant threat. He even delivered a thunderous dunk over Zubac, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
At halftime, the Warriors led the Clippers 60–49, holding an 11-point advantage.
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During the break, the Tencent Sports Live chatroom buzzed with activity. Surprisingly, viewership numbers were underwhelming, with less than a million concurrent viewers.
This wasn't entirely unexpected. Pre-game predictions had given the Clippers just a 1% chance of advancing past the Warriors. For many fans, this first-round matchup seemed like a foregone conclusion. Without suspense or intrigue, the appeal of sitting through a lopsided game waned.
"Cousins is dragging them down. If it weren't for him, the Warriors would already be up by 20!"
"That Achilles injury is brutal. The era of Cousins being the league's best center is over."
"Sad to say it, but Cousins might just end up like Isaiah Thomas—never the same after an injury."
"Tang Lei is solid, though. I feel like he's about to set another record tonight."
"Tang Lei isn't just breaking records; he's redefining them. Tang Lei forever GOAT!"
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