Capítulo 133: Chapter 133: A Distant Diss to Bev

"Pass me the Godamn ball!" Tang Lei shouted while shaking off Beverley's relentless defense.

Iguodala didn't hesitate. Seeing Tang Lei break free, he immediately passed the ball to him. Tang had proven himself in clutch situations before, and tonight, the stakes were no different. Without Tang's crucial offensive rebound and the subsequent and-one play earlier, the Warriors wouldn't have a glimmer of hope.

Sensing a chance for redemption, Beverley sprinted back to the half-court, intent on stopping Tang Lei at all costs. He couldn't afford to let Tang be the hero again.

Tang Lei, meanwhile, wasted no time. He sprinted toward the frontcourt with the game clock ticking down to its final 6.6 seconds. The Clippers, fully aware of the danger, stationed every defender outside the three-point line. Their strategy was clear: deny the three-pointer at all costs. However, no one dared to commit a shooting foul—it would mean gifting the Warriors three easy points.

Tang Lei slowed down as he approached the arc, scanning the defense. Beverley charged at him, trying to disrupt his rhythm and force a turnover. Even if it cost a foul, Beverley was determined to prevent a clean shot.

Then, in a split second, Tang made his move. With a quick dribble to the left, he faked Beverley out. As Beverley tried to recover, Tang stumbled forward, flinging the ball toward the basket as he fell.

The referee's whistle sounded just as Tang hit the ground.

For a moment, Oracle Arena fell silent, the crowd holding its breath. Then, pandemonium erupted. Against all odds, Tang's off-balance shot had banked in. A miraculous *and-one* opportunity!

Beverley immediately jumped to his feet, protesting to the officials that the foul occurred before the shot. Clippers coach Doc Rivers stormed onto the court, his voice echoing as he demanded an explanation.

The referees signaled for a video review. Both teams retreated to their benches, waiting nervously.

If the foul was deemed to have occurred before the shot, the basket wouldn't count, and Tang would only get two free throws. But if it was ruled a shooting foul, the three-pointer would stand, and Tang would have the chance to complete a game-changing four-point play.

The arena's massive screens replayed the moment over and over. In slow motion, it was clear that Beverley's extended leg had tripped Tang. The question was whether Tang's movement was part of a continuous shooting motion.

After nearly ten minutes of deliberation, the officials finally made their call: the shot was valid. Tang would also get one free throw. Oracle Arena exploded with cheers.

"Great job, Tang! Don't worry about the free throw. Even if it's overtime, we've got this," Curry encouraged as he high-fived Tang.

The Warriors celebrated while the Clippers sank into melancholy. Beverley and Rivers tried to plead their case further, but the referees stood firm.

Tang Lei stepped to the line with the game tied at 130-130 and only 1.1 seconds left on the clock. The entire arena fell silent, the fans holding their collective breath.

Tang bounced the ball twice, took a deep breath, and released his shot. The ball soared through the air and swished through the net.

131-130.

The Warriors had taken the lead.

The Clippers quickly inbounded the ball, desperate for a final shot. Harrell heaved it downcourt, but the pass sailed too high for Lou Williams. The ball bounced out of bounds, and the final buzzer sounded.

The Warriors had done it. They had pulled off a miraculous 20-point comeback to defeat the Clippers and take a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Back in the locker room, Tang was swarmed by his teammates. Curry, Thompson, and Green celebrated alongside him, their earlier frustrations washed away by the thrill of victory. The usually reserved Durant even smiled, playfully shoving Tang in approval.

"This kid's got ice in his veins," Curry remarked, grinning as he fist-bumped Tang.

The postgame press conference brought another surprise for Tang: an interview with Coral, a reporter from his home country.

"Hello, Tang Lei. It's great to see you again," Coral said warmly.

"Good to see you too, Coral," Tang replied with a smile.

"Tonight's performance was incredible. How does this compare to your game-winning shot against the Bucks earlier this season?"

"This one means more because it's the playoffs. Every game counts. But it's bittersweet since we lost Cousins to injury. I hope he recovers soon," Tang said sincerely.

"Fans have been in awe of your confidence. What goes through your mind when your team is down by 20 points?"

"I always believe in myself. From the moment I entered the NBA, I promised to give everything I had. My goal is to show my best every time I step on the court," Tang declared.

"And what's your ultimate goal this postseason?"

"Three words: win the championship."

Back at Oracle Arena, the fans were still buzzing, and social media was ablaze.

"Reverse God Rivers strikes again!"

"Tang Lei is unreal. Best player in crunch time, hands down!"

"The Clippers' effort was impressive, but Tang Lei is a force of nature."

Even as the night wound down, the implications of Tang's heroics reverberated through the basketball world. For Tang Lei, it was just another step toward his ultimate goal.