Capítulo 71: Chapter 71: Two Fouls Drawn! Overtime or Buzzer-Beater?
The timeout ended, and the arena was filled with intense tension as the final two minutes ticked down. Fans on both sides, as well as Tang Lei's supporters—including Yixiaozhu and countless fans in China—held their breath. They knew that if the West could clinch this win, Tang Lei would almost be named the All-Star MVP.
With the game down to the last two minutes, a seven-point gap wasn't insurmountable, especially in the era of three-point shots. But this was the All-Star Game—each player on the court was a top-tier offensive threat. Closing that gap would be tough, and Tang Lei knew it would take more than trading baskets with the East.
The Warriors took possession. Curry advanced the ball, immediately seeking out Tang Lei. Despite playing the five spot, Tang Lei's lethal three-point shot allowed him to stretch the floor, pulling Embiid out to the perimeter. The moment Tang Lei caught the ball, he saw Embiid's face tense up. It was clear he was feeling the pressure—Tang Lei had repeatedly exploited him, and Embiid had yet to find a solution.
Tang Lei saw his opening. He faked right, then burst left, blowing by Embiid and driving toward the rim. He rose and slammed the ball through the hoop with authority.
157-152.
The West inched closer, but the East responded quickly. Antetokounmpo powered his way to the basket, scoring with ease.
159-152. The seven-point gap persisted.
Tang Lei knew this wasn't the time for trading buckets. To really close the gap, they'd need three-pointers to make a dent in both the score and the East's momentum. This was about sending a message.
Curry passed to LeBron, but finding no opening, LeBron kicked it out to Tang Lei. With Embiid guarding him, Tang Lei noticed the big man was on edge, his body language betraying a nervousness that Tang Lei knew he could exploit.
Tang Lei made his move: a quick fake to the right, followed by a crossback left, then a sudden pull-up as he raised the ball to shoot. Embiid took the bait, jumping at the fake—but Tang Lei had already anticipated this, leaning into him and tossing the ball skyward.
"Beep!" The foul was called just as the ball banked off the glass and swished through the hoop.
3+1.
The crowd erupted, fans screaming in disbelief at the sheer audacity of the shot. Fans back in China, including Caroline, were shouting themselves hoarse. Caroline's cheeks flushed as she cheered, her voice nearly giving out from the excitement.
Embiid was visibly frustrated, pleading his case to the referee, arguing he had tried to pull back. But the officials weren't swayed—this was clearly a foul. In the NBA, once the referee makes a call, there's no changing it.
Tang Lei calmly stepped to the line and sank the free throw, bringing the score to 159-156. The West was now within striking distance, down by just one possession with under a minute remaining.
On the East's possession, they drained the clock as much as possible before handing the ball to Antetokounmpo. He faced Durant one-on-one at the top of the arc. With just five seconds left on the shot clock, Giannis exploded toward the basket, sidestepping Durant with a Eurostep.
But Tang Lei was waiting, having anticipated the move. Giannis barreled into him, attempting to finish strong, but the whistle blew just as Tang Lei hit the floor.
Offensive foul.
A roar erupted from the West's bench. Curry, LeBron, and Durant rushed over to help Tang Lei up, praising him for his courage and resilience.
Meanwhile, Caroline, sitting in the stands, covered her mouth with her hands, visibly concerned for Tang Lei's well-being. Only after he stood up and resumed moving normally did she relax.
The West now had the ball with 37.9 seconds left. Every point mattered here; a three-pointer would tie it, but even a simple basket would keep their hopes alive.
Without calling a timeout, the West opted to let their players control the flow. Curry recognized he wasn't in rhythm tonight, so he quickly passed it off to LeBron.
But the East wasn't making it easy—LeBron found himself guarded by Leonard, his longtime defensive nemesis. After trying several times to muscle his way inside, LeBron ultimately had to settle for a long two-point shot under heavy pressure. The shot clanged off the rim, sparking a mad scramble for the rebound.
Embiid and Giannis leaped up alongside Tang Lei and Durant, each vying for the loose ball. Hands and arms flailed as the ball was tipped again and again until finally, it landed in Embiid's hands.
Or so he thought.
In a flash, Tang Lei swiped at the ball from behind, tipping it free. Tang Lei scooped it up, pivoting to the three-point line. With no one in his way, he took the shot, his form crisp and fluid as the ball arced toward the rim.
Silence.
The entire arena seemed to hold its breath as the ball spun through the air.
"Swish."
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
159-159.
The crowd exploded, the tension finally breaking as both East and West fans cheered the unbelievable shot. Even though this wasn't anyone's home court, everyone in the arena knew they'd just witnessed something remarkable. Tang Lei had tied the game with an ice-cold three-pointer in the clutch.
With just 18.8 seconds left, the East had the final possession. The game hung in the balance—would it go to overtime, or would the East pull off a last-second buzzer-beater?
Fans could hardly believe what they were witnessing. It had been years since the All-Star Game had felt this intense, this thrilling. This game was shaping up to be an instant classic.
...
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