Chương 43: Chapter 43: Clutch Steal and Closing the Gap

Tang Lei's three-pointer, launched on the run and leaning forward, arced beautifully through the arena air before swishing cleanly through the net.

127–132. The gap closed again to five points.

Tang had gone five-for-five, racking up an incredible 15 points on his own. The crowd at Oracle Arena erupted in a frenzy, cheering as if the Warriors had already won the game. On the Sixers' bench, everyone looked stunned—none more so than Embiid, who couldn't help muttering an expletive.

The Sixers inbounded, but the Warriors switched to full-court man-to-man defense, turning up the pressure. Butler fought his way past Iguodala's tight coverage to bring the ball up the court. As the seconds ticked away, Iguodala avoided fouling, sticking close to Butler and keeping up relentless pressure.

With just four seconds left on the shot clock, Butler called for isolation. He made his move, pulling back for a high-arcing fadeaway jumper. Iguodala lunged to contest, but Butler had already released the shot. Everyone held their breath—if this shot went in, it would effectively seal the game.

Clang! The ball bounced off the inner rim, launching high into the air. Beneath the basket, Green and Embiid locked bodies, wrestling for position. Both players jumped as the ball descended, but despite Green's efforts, Embiid's size advantage proved decisive, and he came down with the critical rebound.

On the Warriors' bench, heads dropped. Fans gasped. This rebound meant a fresh 14-second shot clock for the Sixers, potentially undoing all the Warriors' defensive efforts. Embiid, grinning, prepared to pass out to the perimeter when, suddenly, a hand shot in from the side.

Slap! The ball was dislodged from Embiid's grip by Iguodala, known for his uncanny knack for stripping the ball. Snatching the loose ball, Iguodala wasted no time, hurling it downcourt to Thompson, who sprinted to the basket and finished with an easy layup.

129–132. The Warriors had clawed back to within three points in a single possession.

Seeing the Warriors capitalize on the steal, Embiid immediately turned to the referees, insisting he'd been fouled on the previous play. The officials waved him off, signaling for the game to continue.

"Stay focused! No mistakes!" Coach Brown shouted from the sidelines. With no timeouts left, he urged the Sixers to keep their composure.

The Warriors maintained their full-court press. With Butler covered, Harris had no choice but to lob it in to Embiid. Green applied pressure immediately but couldn't secure the ball, forcing the Warriors to commit a strategic foul.

Only 22 seconds remained, leaving the Warriors no choice but to send Embiid to the line. Under the weight of the crowd's jeers, he missed his first free throw. After a quick adjustment, his second shot found the net.

129–133. The Sixers had restored a four-point cushion—a slim but critical lead.

The Warriors opted not to use their final timeout, with Coach Kerr holding it as a last resort. Iguodala inbounded to Green, who pushed the ball upcourt. The Sixers retreated, clearly intent on guarding the perimeter and denying any potential three-point shots, focusing their defense on Tang.

Finding Tang tightly guarded, Green swung the ball to Curry, but with no shot available, Curry returned it to a cutting Green. As Green drove toward the hoop, Embiid barely contested, careful to avoid the risk of a three-point play.

Green finished with an easy layup.

131–133. The Warriors had cut it down to two points but with only 15 seconds remaining.

The Sixers inbounded once again, this time successfully getting the ball to their closer, Butler. With time winding down, the Warriors swarmed him, but when they couldn't strip the ball, they resorted to a tactical foul, sending Butler to the line in a final bid to keep their hopes alive.

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