章節 82: Chapter 82: Cousins’ Return Against the Spurs
After finishing his emails, Tang Lei took a shower and fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, he headed to the training center as usual, preparing for the upcoming game against the San Antonio Spurs.
Under Coach Popovich's leadership, the Spurs have long been a formidable force in the Western Conference. Though they've faced setbacks with Duncan's retirement and Leonard's departure, DeRozan's addition has kept them playoff-competitive, extending their legendary streak of 20 consecutive postseason appearances.
In tomorrow's game, Curry will sit out due to hand soreness, while Cousins will make his long-awaited return. After a long injury recovery, Cousins is ready to step back on the court, bringing with him a mission to "dominate the league" and fueling excitement that the Warriors might be on the verge of a "league finale" scenario.
Today's practice saw Cousins participating fully as the team divided into two squads for a scrimmage, helping him get reacquainted with their strategies. Cousins looked strong, showing promising signs of readiness.
…
At 7:45 p.m. the next evening, Oracle Arena was packed to capacity. During the player introductions, the home crowd erupted for Cousins, cheering as he returned to action. Despite the controversy surrounding his joining the Warriors, the fans were thrilled to have him as a powerful addition to the roster.
At 8 p.m., the Warriors and Spurs tipped off. The Warriors' starting lineup was Cousins, Durant, Thompson, Tang Lei, and Green. The Spurs countered with Aldridge, DeRozan, Gay, Forbes, and Poeltl. In the jump ball, Cousins easily outmaneuvered Poeltl, securing possession for the Warriors. Green brought the ball up the court and quickly passed to Cousins in the post. In NBA tradition, teammates often defer to a returning star, giving them the first touch to ease back into the game.
Cousins wasted no time, using his strength to muscle through the defense. Though his first shot rolled off the rim, he immediately grabbed the rebound and slammed it home, putting the Warriors on the board first with an emphatic two points. The crowd erupted, thrilled by his explosive return.
On the Spurs' end, DeRozan responded with a smooth mid-range jumper, showing why he's known as the "mid-range king." Both teams traded buckets, steadily climbing the scoreboard. In the first half of the opening quarter, the Warriors focused on getting Cousins into rhythm. He capitalized on his physical presence, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds, showcasing a promising return to form.
With his minutes tightly managed in light of his recovery, Cousins was limited to around 20 minutes for the game. So, halfway through the first quarter, he was subbed out. Tang Lei and Durant then took charge offensively, sparking an intense back-and-forth with the Spurs' dual threats, DeRozan and Aldridge.
At the end of the first quarter, the Warriors held a narrow 24-20 lead. Tang Lei and Durant combined for 13 points, providing steady contributions.
In the second quarter, with Tang Lei and Durant on the bench, Green and Thompson led the charge. Thompson caught fire, entering what fans often call "Klay mode." He went 10-of-7 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three, singlehandedly putting up 18 points to match the output of the entire Spurs team.
Cousins' return gave the Warriors a powerful boost, and he proved with his solid play that he was ready to make a difference. This game, against the ever-resilient Spurs, was just the beginning for the Warriors' reloaded roster.
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