Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Big-Heart ! A Game-Winning Three From...
Snap!
Just as the ball flew towards Irving, Tang Lei streaked through like lightning, intercepting it with precision. Irving immediately retreated, quickly setting up in a defensive stance under the basket, prepared for anything.
The score stood at 184-182, with the East holding a slim two-point lead. Only six seconds remained on the clock. Tang Lei knew his energy was waning; his moves were slower, his efficiency dropping. To avoid another overtime, he'd have to end the game now.
With this resolve, he swiftly dribbled to the left 45-degree mark beyond the arc—a spot he was intimately familiar with. In the Three-Point Contest, he had never missed a shot from this range.
The entire arena gasped, taken aback by his decision. Even the East players and coaches were visibly shocked. Why was Tang Lei opting for a distant three-pointer when he had an easy mismatch against the smaller Irving under the basket? Was this unwavering self-confidence, or did he have a deeper plan?
By the time he retreated to the three-point line, two seconds had ticked away, leaving only four seconds on the clock.
As Embiid lunged at him like a charging beast and Antetokounmpo and Leonard closed in from the sides, Tang Lei remained calm. He focused only on the hoop, blocking out the noise and distractions.
Ball in hand, he jumped, raised his arm, and released—one fluid motion as if he and the ball were in perfect harmony.
The ball carved a graceful arc through the air, and the entire arena held its breath, all eyes locked on its spinning trajectory.
Swish!
The ball fell cleanly through the net with a sweet, crisp sound, a melody of triumph that signaled a game-changing three-pointer.
Score: 184-185! The West had taken the lead!
With only 1.2 seconds left, the home crowd in Charlotte went silent before erupting in thunderous applause and cheers. Yi Xiaozhu and the fans from China were shouting with joy, the excitement in the arena reaching a fever pitch.
The East had no timeouts left, and 1.2 seconds would only allow a desperate heave from the baseline. Irving stood stunned, knowing he had tried his best to contest Tang Lei's shot, but with the distance between them, he could only watch helplessly as the ball went in.
Following the referee's signal, Irving picked up the ball in frustration, preparing for one last inbound play. Despite the West's euphoria—Curry, Durant, and James all buzzing with excitement—they held back their celebration. After all, in the NBA, miracles could still happen. With 1.2 seconds, there was still a slim chance for a last-second shot.
Irving tossed the ball to midcourt, where Harden, one of the few who could pose a long-range threat, was positioned. Harden caught the ball, took a quick sidestep, and launched a desperate shot against tight defense.
The buzzer blared as the ball sailed in a high arc toward the basket, but it was just a bit too strong. It clanked off the rim, bounced, and fell to the floor.
"Ohhh! So close! Just a hair's breadth away!"
"What a battle of titans! Absolutely electrifying!"
The crowd roared in appreciation, applauding this unforgettable All-Star showdown. The entire stadium turned into a celebration.
Curry, Durant, James, and the others rushed towards Tang Lei, sharing in his thrilling victory.
"Man, your three-pointer is ice cold!" Curry's eyes shimmered with tears of joy. In those final seconds, he had all but accepted that their chances were slipping away, especially when they were down by two with the East controlling the ball.
No one expected Tang Lei not only to predict the East's inbound play but to drill the game-winning three with unflinching focus.
It was the defining moment of a clutch player, a play that would be immortalized in the annals of basketball history!
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