章 128: Leading the Team to Eight Consecutive Wins! A Single Core Player Averaged 30+8!
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Seizing the moment, the Cavaliers took advantage of the Lakers' distraction and went on a 12:2 scoring run. At the end of the first quarter, the score stood at 30:21, with the Lakers trailing by nine points on their home court.
During the break, head coach Phil Jackson appeared unusually serious.
"I'm afraid Kobe won't be returning to the court. The full extent of his injury can only be confirmed after the MRI results come in, but we can't afford to give up on this game. Wang Chao, you will be our only offensive core for the remainder of the game. I need you to do everything you can to win this one."
Wang Chao nodded slightly.
That was exactly what he had in mind.
Even if Kobe was injured, so what? James had been beaten by him since last season, and this game would be no exception.
A nine-point deficit wasn't impossible to overcome, especially with three quarters still left to play. There was plenty of time to turn things around.
The second quarter began, and both teams made adjustments to their lineups.
With Kobe out, Caron Butler, the best-performing player off the Lakers bench, replaced him. The Lakers' lineup now consisted of Atkins, Butler, Wang Chao, Odom, and Mihm.
The Cavaliers' lineup featured Jeff McGinnis, Ira Newble, LeBron James, Drew Gooden, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, commonly known as Big Z.
To be honest, the Cavaliers' lineup was quite weak, and it wasn't entirely James' fault they weren't making the playoffs this season.
Aside from Big Z and Gooden in the frontcourt, the rest of the Cavaliers roster didn't have much firepower.
Despite Kobe's absence, the Lakers' lineup still appeared stronger on paper.
At the start of the second quarter, Wang Chao took the ball and faced LeBron James at the top of the arc.
This was the first time this season the two had directly matched up on the court.
James, though familiar with Wang Chao's dribbling and scoring ability from watching his games this season, had never experienced Wang Chao's moves firsthand. Despite knowing Wang's dribble breaks were sharp, James still didn't take it too seriously.
Seeing James' lax defensive stance, Wang Chao wasted no time.
He executed Iverson's signature "butterfly" crossover, instantly bypassing James and pulling up for a mid-range jumper.
James was caught off guard and left half a step behind. By the time he tried to recover, it was too late to contest the shot.
"Swish!"
The ball swished through the net, signaling the beginning of the Lakers' comeback.
On the other end, James, eager to respond, faced off against Caron Butler. Wang Chao smartly avoided guarding LeBron on defense to conserve his energy for offense. While his defense was decent, expending energy trying to stop James, a physical powerhouse, wasn't wise. He needed to focus on his offensive game.
Even top players like Kevin Durant often shied away from guarding James for full stretches of games, conserving their stamina for offense. Wang Chao, much like Durant, knew better than to overextend himself.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, Butler couldn't stop James, who bulldozed his way into the paint. However, when he faced Chris Mihm at the rim, James' layup attempt came up short.
But then…
Whistle
The referee called a foul on Mihm.
Mihm, shocked, protested his innocence. He believed his defense was clean, with no contact. But referees rarely reverse their decisions.
James went to the free-throw line, making 1 out of 2 shots.
This wasn't unusual for James. His career free-throw percentage hovered around 70%. Had his free throws been on par with players like Kobe or Curry, he likely would have broken Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's scoring record much sooner.
Back on offense, Wang Chao used a pick-and-roll to get separation from James and made another mid-range jumper.
The Cavaliers, unable to mount an effective defense, saw their lead begin to slip.
LeBron and the Cavs were forced to call a timeout.
Sitting on the sidelines, James guzzled Gatorade, his frustration visible. He had already recognized the problem—he couldn't stop Wang Chao from scoring.
Although Wang Chao had no answer for him on defense either, the difference was that Wang Chao was outscoring him. His reliable mid-range and long-range shots were proving too much for the Cavaliers.
"Can I really not beat them without Kobe? No way, that's impossible!" James muttered to himself.
After the timeout, James continued to attack the Lakers' defense, but every basket he made was immediately countered by Wang Chao's efficient mid-range shooting.
Moreover, Wang Chao wasn't the only Laker contributing. Odom and Caron Butler both chipped in with timely baskets of their own.
By halftime, the Lakers had erased the nine-point deficit, trailing by only two points. By the third quarter, they had taken the lead.
Wang Chao, who had been held to just 4 points in the first quarter, exploded for 13 points in the second quarter, shooting 5 for 8. In the third quarter, he added another 10 points, going 4 for 7.
However, by the fourth quarter, fatigue began to take its toll on Wang Chao. He scored only 6 points, making 2 of 4 shots, including a couple of free throws.
Nevertheless, the Lakers held on for a 98-94 victory over the Cavaliers.
Wang Chao finished the game with 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 58% from the field. He was undoubtedly the Lakers' key player in the absence of Kobe.
LeBron James had a solid game, with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists, just shy of a triple-double. However, individual stats mean little when the team loses.
As the final buzzer sounded, James stormed off the court and headed straight for the locker room without looking back.
In last season's matchups, James' fans had excuses. The Lakers had the historically strong F4 lineup, and the Cavaliers' losses could be attributed to their overall lack of talent. But this time, there were no excuses.
Kobe played only five minutes before leaving due to injury. The Lakers, with Wang Chao as their lone star, still managed to win. What could James' fans say now?
Lakers fans weren't entirely happy, though. While the victory was sweet, Kobe's injury status remained a concern.
Fortunately, the team didn't keep fans waiting too long.
A few hours after the game, the Lakers announced that Kobe's injury was a severe ankle sprain, but surgery wouldn't be necessary. He would be out for 3-4 weeks, missing around 10 games.
The news was a relief. Although Kobe would miss significant time, the injury wasn't season-ending.
Now the question was whether Wang Chao could keep the Lakers afloat in Kobe's absence.
Based on recent performances, Lakers fans had no reason to doubt Wang Chao's ability.
End of this chapter
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