Tang Lei had just passed the ball when Curry broke free, sprinting toward the corner. This was their second play option, catching the Rockets off guard.
The ball was right where Curry needed it. Without a second's hesitation, he rose for the shot. Paul rushed into the contest, but it was too late.
The ball arced gracefully through the air, and, under the intense gaze of the entire arena, swished through the net.
107-107. Tie game.
"A three-point shot to tie it! Stephen Curry!!" the DJ's voice boomed, capturing the crowd's excitement.
Oracle Arena erupted in thunderous cheers, the noise crashing in waves. The Rockets' players looked deflated, while the Warriors celebrated, fists clenched in renewed energy. Though it wasn't a game-winner, it was enough to revive the team's morale.
Throughout most of the game, the Rockets had the lead, controlling the pace after the Warriors' initial 5-0 start. That clutch three-pointer, however, had finally shifted the momentum.
Curry, ecstatic after making the shot, looked up and let out a triumphant yell, punctuated by his signature shoulder shimmy.
The Rockets quickly called their last timeout. Only 3.4 seconds remained, just enough for a carefully executed play.
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"Oh my god! That three-pointer tied it up—what a shot! This reminds me of Ray Allen's miracle three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals to save the Heat. Curry stayed cool under pressure and nailed it!" Commentator Huang Meng's voice brimmed with disbelief.
"Absolutely," agreed Yang Qun, laughing. "But let's not overlook Tang Lei's critical assist. He's been perfect tonight—three deep logo shots, fadeaways, poster dunk, and now a clutch assist. What a performance!"
"With that assist, he's locked in a triple-double and just became the youngest in NBA history to do so," Huang said. "But there's still one play left. Who do you think will take it?"
Huang avoided further praise, knowing too well how pressure could crush young players. He had seen enough careers weighed down by expectations.
Yang continued, "The camera's focusing on Harden and Paul. One of them will likely take the shot, but with a double-team, they might pass to an open man. There's still enough time to run a play."
The timeout ended, and all eyes returned to the court.
Both teams sent out their starters for the final play. Oracle Arena held its breath, tensely watching the last moments unfold. Although Curry's three-pointer had lifted their spirits, victory still hung in the balance. The Rockets had one last chance to steal the game.
With Capela set to inbound, Green extended his arms to obstruct the pass as the Rockets' players took their positions.
The whistle blew, and Capela took the ball.
On cue, Harden and Paul started their runs. Harden feinted toward the basket, sending Iguodala in pursuit, while Paul maneuvered Curry away from the action. Suddenly, Harden reversed direction, darting toward the three-point line, with Tucker setting a screen to block Iguodala.
Seeing Iguodala stuck, Tang Lei stepped in to help.
Capela's pass found Harden, who instantly went into his signature step-back motion. Tang Lei closed in, hands raised to contest, confident his jump would make a difference.
But just as Harden seemed about to shoot, he changed the motion in mid-air, flicking the ball toward the rim.
A figure soared toward the basket—Capela. Catching the pass, he hammered the ball into the hoop with a powerful slam.
Thud!
The sound resonated through the arena, hitting everyone like a shockwave.
Stunned silence followed. The Rockets had crafted the perfect play. Using Harden as a decoy, they drew all eyes to him, only to deliver a game-ending alley-oop to Capela.
"Argh!" Capela let out a triumphant roar, releasing his pent-up frustration from Tang Lei's earlier poster dunk.
The Warriors had no timeouts left. Only 0.9 seconds remained.
....