Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Comeback 3+1！！
Butler stepped up to the free throw line, while Curry swung his arms, urging the crowd to amp up the noise. The fans responded with a deafening chorus of boos, and some even held up massive banners of glamorous models behind the hoop, desperate to distract Butler.
Butler, however, made his first free throw effortlessly.
131–134.
The gap was back to three.
As the fans quieted, hoping to break Butler's rhythm, his second shot bounced off the rim. Tang Lei seized the rebound, and just as Embiid lunged toward him, the referee's whistle blew. Coach Kerr had called his last timeout.
It was time to set up the Warriors' final play, down by just three.
On the other side of the globe, fans in the Tencent livestream couldn't hold back their excitement as the game hit a critical pause.
"This is unreal! This is what Christmas Day games are all about!"
"It's only a three-point game now. Come on, Tang Lei and the Warriors—keep pushing!"
"Overtime! Overtime! We need this game to go into overtime!"
"Who do you think Kerr will go with for the last shot? Tang, Curry, or maybe Klay?"
Back on the court, with the Warriors in possession and in desperate need of a three-pointer, Kerr swapped out Green for Quinn Cook. The Sixers responded by bringing in Ben Simmons for his defensive quickness.
As the whistle sounded to resume play, Oracle Arena's fans rose to their feet. Many clasped their hands, while some closed their eyes, praying for a miracle.
On the sidelines, Caroline whispered anxiously, "It has to go in. Please, just this once!"
Iguodala prepared to inbound as Curry, Thompson, Cook, and Tang Lei set off, attempting to shake their defenders. With the five-on-four defense, the Sixers smothered every potential shot option. As the five-second count neared expiration, Curry darted into the backcourt, and Iguodala just managed to send the ball his way in time.
Curry crossed half-court only to be greeted by Simmons' intense pressure. He struggled to shake him, trying multiple feints, but Simmons clung to him, refreshed and relentless. As the clock ticked down, fans grew visibly anxious.
Seeing Curry stuck, Iguodala rushed over to screen, allowing Curry to find a sliver of space. With no time to adjust, Curry launched a three.
The ball arced gracefully across the arena, but with a loud clank, it struck the front rim. Thankfully, the rebound fell right to Thompson, who, amid a scramble, managed to bat the ball in Tang Lei's direction. Tang caught it firmly as the clock ticked down to seven seconds.
Under Butler's suffocating defense, Tang feigned right, aiming to drive, but Butler stayed with him. Realizing he had little time, Tang spun back, creating a fraction of space before pulling up for a shot.
Butler leaped to the contest, getting too close and making contact as Tang released the ball.
Whistle! The referee signaled a foul at the exact moment Tang's shot banked off the glass and dropped in.
A stunning 3+1 opportunity—a chance for the Warriors to tie the game in its most critical seconds.
...
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