Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Battle of the Sixth Men! Tang Lei vs. Lou Williams

Doc Rivers called a timeout as the Clippers were getting hammered, but it did little to turn the tide. The Warriors surged ahead to a nine-point lead at 28–19 as Curry, Green, and Durant rotated out.

Tang Lei entered the game as the Warriors' sixth man, greeted by enthusiastic applause from the home crowd. The fans knew he was capable of a starting spot but also understood the depth of the Warriors' lineup. With Curry, Thompson, and Green as core players and Durant holding two Finals MVP titles, Tang had willingly embraced his role off the bench.

The crowd's applause was both an acknowledgment of his talent and a nod to his sacrifices for the team. Tang acknowledged their support with a quick wave.

The Clippers responded by bringing in Lou Williams, Tang's competition for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Averaging 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists this season, Williams had starter-level stats and could even be considered for an All-Star spot. However, his defensive weaknesses were what kept him in a sixth-man role.

Lou wasted no time, pushing the ball up the court and working quickly to score. Despite Tang's solid defense, Williams' quickness and deft ball handling helped him shake free and drive to the hoop. With a quick hesitation and a soft floater over Looney, the ball dropped through the net, closing the gap to 28–21.

Tang responded on the other end, confidently pushing the ball up the floor, now fully trusted as a capable ball handler. Ever since mastering Jason Williams' "White Chocolate" passing flair, Tang's assists had become so captivating that fans started calling him "Yellow Chocolate." Tang didn't mind the nickname—it was a mark of respect for his passing prowess.

Faced with Lou's defense, Tang swiftly sidestepped him, stopped sharply, elevated, and released a clean mid-range shot. The motion was smooth, drawing cheers from the crowd as the ball swished through the net, restoring the Warriors' nine-point lead at 30–21.

With the limited scoring options among the bench, Tang knew it would be up to him to carry the offensive load. These playoff games were his chance to showcase himself—and build up his stats for the next contract.

On the Clippers' possession, Lou tried to create a shot again, but under Tang's pressure, he was forced to pass to Gallinari, who took the ball and, with barely a moment's hesitation, released a high-arcing shot. The ball hit nothing but net, inching the Clippers closer at 30–24.

Tang then attempted a three-pointer, but his shot bounced off the rim. The Clippers snagged the rebound and quickly countered, with Lou assisting Harrell for an explosive dunk that sent him into a roar of excitement.

The following possessions turned scoreless for both sides, with Tang missing another attempt. Realizing that forcing shots would frustrate teammates and coaches, he decided to ease up and involve his teammates in the playmaking.

With only 40 seconds left in the first quarter, Lou took possession for the Clippers, opting for a quick shot to ensure his team could have another offensive opportunity. However, his jumper missed, and Tang took control with 32 seconds on the clock.

Like Lou, Tang saw this as a chance to squeeze in one extra possession. Facing Lou at the three-point line, he glanced at the clock before casually launching a deep shot from the logo, surprising the crowd.

"OH—" Gasps filled the arena as everyone watched the ball arc through the air, curious to see if Tang's bold attempt would hit its mark.

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