章 63: Chapter 63: Three-Point Contest—Tang Lei and Curry Advance to Finals
The three-point contest followed the usual format: five stations with five balls each. Regular balls were worth 1 point, and the money ball was worth 2 points, which players could place at their preferred spot. A well-executed money ball rack could secure a place in the finals, as each successful shot was double the points.
First up was Joe Harris, who had surprised everyone by winning the previous season. Despite being less famous than Curry or Lillard, Harris held one of the top three-point percentages. He set a high standard, scoring an impressive 25 points by hitting all five money balls in the corner, putting pressure on the other competitors.
In this format, only the top three players from the first round would move on to the finals. The final round was also a single-elimination showdown, testing players' focus and resilience under pressure.
Next up was the hometown favorite, Kemba Walker, who struggled to keep pace with Harris's performance. Although he went 4-for-5 at the top of the arc and hit 3 of 5 on his money balls in the corner, his overall performance was shaky, and he finished with just 15 points.
Third was Khris Middleton, who couldn't find his rhythm, managing only 11 points. With three missed money balls, he had virtually no chance of advancing.
Finally, it was Tang Lei's turn. With his three-point attribute maxed out, he faced the first round confidently. At the first rack, he hit 3 out of 5 but missed the money ball, netting him 3 points. Moving to his favorite left-wing 45-degree angle, he hit all five money balls for a perfect 10 points. At the top of the arc, he scored 4 out of 5 with another money ball, adding 5 points. On the right-wing, he mirrored his previous performance, netting another 5 points. At the final corner rack, he hit 3 out of 5 but missed the money ball, scoring 3 points.
With a total score of 26, Tang Lei was safely through to the finals, even surpassing Harris by 1 point.
Seth Curry and Damian Lillard, both anticipated to challenge for the title, surprisingly fell short in the first round with scores of 16 and 17, respectively. Following them, Buddy Hield put on an unexpected performance, tying Tang Lei's score with 26 points.
Danny Green followed with a solid 23 points, which wasn't enough to advance given the strong competition. Dirk Nowitzki, a fan favorite at the twilight of his career, scored 17 points, adding to the nostalgia but not enough to qualify.
Finally, it was Stephen Curry's turn. As he stepped up, the crowd erupted in cheers. Curry, a pioneer of the three-point era, showcased his sharpshooting skill by going perfect on both wings and hitting all five money balls in the corner, finishing with 27 points and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Last to go was Devin Booker, who struggled under the pressure of following Curry's performance. Despite a strong finish by hitting all five money balls in his final rack, he scored 23 points and fell short of the finals.
Thus, the three-point contest finalists were set: Tang Lei (26), Hield (26), and Curry (27). In this alternate timeline, Harris, who originally won, didn't make it past the first round due to Tang Lei's presence, triggering a chain reaction that changed the outcome.
…
On the Tencent Livestream
As Tang Lei scored 26 points and advanced to the finals, the chat lit up with excitement:
"Unbelievable! Thunder King and Curry in the finals together!"
"Go, Thunder King! Take both the dunk and three-point titles—make history!"
"Ugh, I want Curry to win, but I also want Thunder King to win… Should we just let Hield take it（JK）?"
"…"
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WANG_MAX Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
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