章節 93: Chapter 93: A Rough Start, Tang Lei Subbed In

As the roar of the Denver crowd filled the arena, Durant and Jokic went head-to-head in the opening tip-off, but Jokic, with his experience, deftly tapped the ball to teammate Jamal Murray, marking the official start of this much-anticipated showdown.

The Nuggets wasted no time. Murray brought the ball across half-court and quickly passed it to Jokic in the post. Facing Cousins, Jokic used a swift spin move to create space, then effortlessly finished with a soft layup. The Nuggets scored first, igniting the crowd's excitement.

Golden State responded with speed. Green passed the ball to Thompson in the corner. After working his way free using double screens, Thompson received the ball and took a quick, smooth jump shot. The arc was perfect – three points! The Warriors were up 3-2. However, Denver swiftly adjusted their approach, continuing to exploit Jokic's dominance in the paint. Cousins struggled against Jokic's fakes and well-timed floaters, allowing Denver to capitalize repeatedly.

Durant attempted to shift the momentum with a mid-range jumper, but Millsap's close defense forced a miss. Seizing the moment, Jokic found Gary Harris on the perimeter, who drained a three-pointer, putting the Nuggets ahead 7-3.

Coach Steve Kerr observed carefully from the sidelines. Though down by a few points, he held off on calling a timeout, choosing to watch how the team would respond. Unfortunately, Curry, Thompson, and Durant continued to struggle with cold shooting. Their shots consistently missed the mark, while Cousins found himself overwhelmed by Jokic's relentless pressure in the paint, making the Warriors' offense feel completely stalled.

For a brief moment, Green seemed to be the team's only offensive spark, sinking two unexpected three-pointers. But even with Green's contributions, the Nuggets executed a powerful 21-9 run, quickly pushing their lead to double digits.

Realizing the need for a change, Kerr called a timeout. Gathering the team around him, he pointed out their stagnation on offense. After a moment of consideration, he made a bold decision: subbing out the struggling Cousins and sending in Tang Lei. Though Cousins looked unhappy and pursed his lips, he understood he had been outplayed by Jokic. His footwork and reactions were sluggish, forcing him to reluctantly accept the substitution.

After the timeout, the Denver crowd grew louder, sensing blood. With a 21-9 lead, they could feel the Warriors' discomfort and started counting down, eager for the chance to be the ones to end Golden State's historic winning streak. Fans began cheering even louder, excited by the prospect of witnessing a momentous win that they could brag about for years.

Back on the court, Kerr's strategy to substitute Tang Lei in place of Cousins was meant to refresh the lineup and regain some lost momentum. Meanwhile, Denver kept their starting lineup on the floor, continuing their flawless teamwork that had thoroughly dismantled Golden State's usual rhythm.

As the Warriors took possession, Green held the ball at the top of the arc, eyeing Barton's tight defense. Green quickly passed to Tang Lei, who had just come off a screen to catch the ball. Immediately, Jokic stepped up to guard him. Having seen Tang Lei's All-Star breakout, Jokic knew he couldn't underestimate this young player's scoring potential and kept his stance firm, ready to react.

Tang Lei, staying composed, feigned a move to his left, only to explode to the right. Jokic, surprised by the speed of the shift, was left behind. Millsap attempted to rotate over in time, but Tang Lei was already airborne, executing a powerful dunk that slammed through the hoop with authority.

The Warriors had finally broken their scoring drought. This electrifying play didn't just get them back on the board; it lit a fire under the whole team. The bench erupted in cheers, the players instantly energized by Tang Lei's bold move, ready to reclaim control of the game.

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