Chương 91: Chapter 91: 30 Straight Wins!

Not long after reposting Anta's announcement on social media, Tang Lei's phone rang. The name "Caroline" appeared on the screen.

"Tang, congratulations! Signing that huge endorsement deal with Anta—I'm truly happy for you," Caroline said, her tone full of excitement. "Your hard work has finally paid off!"

"Thanks, Caroline. I just reposted the announcement. I was planning on telling you first, actually," Tang Lei replied with a smile. Since their last close interaction, their relationship had warmed, and they had begun using more affectionate nicknames. They chatted enthusiastically for almost an hour until Caroline had to head off to her evening study session. With reluctance, they said their goodbyes.

…

The next evening at 8:30, the Warriors tipped off against the Atlanta Hawks. With Durant sitting out for rest, Tang Lei returned to the starting lineup, resuming his familiar forward position.

Surprisingly, the Warriors had a cold start, with Curry, Thompson, and Tang Lei combining to hit just 1 of their first 8 shots. The Hawks capitalized, launching a quick 15–2 run and building a 13-point lead. Despite the deficit, Coach Kerr didn't call a timeout, simply signaling his players to keep pushing. Clearly, he had confidence in his team's resilience.

As the game progressed, Thompson found his rhythm first, hitting three consecutive three-pointers to close the gap. Curry and Tang Lei soon followed, picking up the pace. By the four-minute mark in the first quarter, the Warriors had erased the deficit. As the rotations began, the Warriors subbed in Cook, Iguodala, and others, while the Hawks relied on veteran Vince Carter to lead their young lineup in an all-out effort.

Though his years of peak athleticism were behind him, Carter continued to show grit and determination. The Hawks ended the first quarter with a 6-point lead, giving the home crowd a pleasant surprise. In the second quarter, Carter stayed on the floor, providing valuable screens and setting up Trae Young, helping to orchestrate the Hawks' offensive rhythm. Giving their best effort, the young Hawks closed the half up 52–45.

However, they knew the Warriors were notorious for their explosive third quarters—a phenomenon some media had dubbed "Warrior Third-Quarter Frenzy." True to form, the Warriors launched a fierce comeback at the beginning of the third. The Hawks struggled to keep up as their opponents intensified the pace.

Trae Young, encouraged by the crowd's cheers, kept attempting deep threes to close the gap. But with his shots continuously missing, frustration mounted. With each miss, the once-enthusiastic cheers turned to boos, and Young found himself trapped in a vicious cycle of hurried attempts and mounting misses. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors had surged to a commanding 110–82 lead, up by 28 points. The game was effectively over.

Disappointed Hawks fans turned their frustration on Young, booing him on his home court. Overwhelmed, Young's face showed bitter frustration. Seeing his young teammate's distress, Vince Carter immediately approached, offering comforting words and advice. Gradually, Young's expression softened, and he managed a small, grateful smile.

In the fourth quarter, the Warriors' starters got to rest, clocking out after three quarters. Despite a brief Hawks run, the deficit proved too much to overcome. As the game wound down, Atlanta subbed in its entire bench. The Warriors easily secured the win, extending their streak to an impressive 30 games.

The achievement sent shockwaves through the basketball world. While the media had long acknowledged the Warriors' strength, the reality of a 30-game win streak still stunned fans and pundits alike. Headlines exploded across platforms, with news of the milestone dominating the day's sports coverage.

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