章節 130: Chapter 130: Foul Trouble! Durant Ejected Amid History Repeating Itself

The final quarter began with Tang Lei and Durant taking a breather on the bench while Curry and Green led the Warriors. The Clippers wasted no time. Shamet, positioned outside the arc, confidently rose for a three-pointer.

Swish.

The net rippled as the ball dropped cleanly through.

95–111. The Clippers extended their lead to 16 points.

On the Warriors' next possession, Green assisted Livingston for a signature turnaround jumper in the post. The shot drew a foul, and Livingston made the free throw.

98–111.

The Clippers responded immediately. Harrell took control in the paint, executing a smooth floater.

98–113.

The tension mounted as Curry forced a quick three-point attempt, only to see it miss. Luckily, Looney secured the offensive rebound. Looney passed the ball to Thompson, who also misfired. Looney, once again, grabbed the rebound and attempted to pump fake Zubac out of position. But when the first fake didn't work, and time in the paint ran short, Looney tried a strong move toward the rim—only to be absolutely blocked by Zubac.

The Clippers capitalized on the rejection, racing down the court on a fast break to add another two points.

98–115.

"Timeout!" Kerr called, his voice cutting through the electric atmosphere of the Oracle Arena. The Clippers were relentless, their energy and execution unnerving.

In the huddle, Kerr stressed the importance of tightening the defense and focusing on ball movement. Tang Lei and Durant were sent back into the game. Their presence was critical now; allowing the lead to stretch to 20 would be psychologically and practically disastrous.

Coming out of the timeout, Tang Lei quickly set Curry up for a mid-range jumper. Curry's shot hit the mark.

100–115. The Warriors finally broke the 100-point threshold.

On the Clippers' next possession, Lou Williams tried to attack Tang Lei directly, but Tang anticipated the drive and cut him off. Williams, showing his skill, executed a slick behind-the-back dribble and pulled back for a jumper. Tang, with his exceptional athleticism, closed the gap, leaping high to tip the shot just enough to alter its trajectory. The ball clanged off the rim, and Green grabbed the rebound.

In transition, Thompson found Curry open on the wing. Curry hesitated momentarily, set his feet, and released a flawless three-pointer.

103–115.

The Warriors gained momentum. On the following possession, Tang fed Durant, who faked a shot, baited Beverley into a defensive misstep with a jab step, and drove to the basket for a thunderous dunk.

105–115.

The Oracle crowd erupted. The Warriors were surging, clawing back into the game.

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Sensing the shift, Clippers coach Doc Rivers called a timeout. His adjustments paid immediate dividends. Gallinari drilled a three-pointer, then followed it up with a mid-range jumper.

The lead ballooned again: 105–120.

With just five minutes left, Durant picked up his fifth foul during a defensive scramble. It was a difficult moment. Durant's presence was crucial, but one more foul would see him ejected. The Clippers, sensing an opportunity, began targeting him relentlessly. Durant, wary of foul trouble, played conservatively on defense, relying on his teammates for help.

Meanwhile, Tang Lei orchestrated the offense with precision, setting up plays for Curry and Thompson while adding timely scores of his own. Bit by bit, the Warriors chipped away at the lead. With two minutes remaining, the scoreboard read:

113–123. The Warriors were down by 10.

As the tension in the Oracle Arena reached its peak, the Clippers prepared for what could be the defining possession. If they scored, the lead would stretch to 12 points—a daunting gap to overcome in the remaining time. Conversely, a stop by the Warriors would keep their comeback hopes alive.

The ball found its way to Williams, the Clippers' most reliable scorer of the night with 35 points. Tang Lei took on the challenge of guarding him. Williams, with his trademark finesse, executed a series of crossovers, trying to create separation. Finding a sliver of space, he drove toward the basket, but Tang was ready. He shadowed Williams closely, cutting off his angles.

Realizing the defense was too tight, Williams opted for an acrobatic pass to the corner, where Gallinari waited. Catching the ball, Gallinari faked a shot, prompting Durant to leap forward in an attempt to contest. But Gallinari had been waiting for this moment.

Durant, mid-air, collided with Gallinari just as the latter released the ball. The whistle blew.

Foul.

It was Durant's sixth.

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The Oracle crowd groaned in unison. Durant spread his arms in disbelief, pleading his case to the officials. But the call stood. The Warriors' star had fouled out.

As Durant walked to the bench, Beverley celebrated, clapping theatrically and shouting triumphantly. His antics only fueled the crowd's discontent, with boos cascading down from the stands.

Gallinari, unfazed by the hostile environment, sank all three free throws.

113–126. The Clippers had restored a 13-point cushion.

Tang Lei stood at mid-court, hands on his hips, surveying the situation. Despite his valiant efforts, the game felt like history repeating itself. Cousins' injury, Durant's foul trouble—these events mirrored a game from his previous life.

"Can I change the script this time?" Tang Lei muttered under his breath as the clock ticked down. The odds were stacked against him, but he was determined to try.