Boom!
As Tang Lei's incredible three-pointer banked in, Oracle Arena erupted, its roof nearly shaking off with the explosive roar of the crowd.
"OMG! OMG!OMG!"
"Tang, that was incredible!" Curry sprinted over, jumping to chest-bump Tang in celebration. Iguodala, Thompson, and the entire bench followed, ruffling his hair and giving high-fives.
On the other side, the Sixers stood in stunned silence. Their 15-point lead had vanished in just three minutes, and now Tang Lei had a chance to take the lead with a free throw.
Embiid's expression was vacant, unable to process what had just happened, while Butler's face was clouded with regret.
Amid the mix of emotions, Tang stepped to the free-throw line. Though rarely there, with his shooting skills boosted by the "Radiant Burst", there was little doubt about this shot's outcome.
And as expected, the free throw sank effortlessly.
135–134.
The Warriors took the lead!
Only 1.8 seconds remained for the Sixers.
With no timeouts left, Harris attempted a long pass up the court, only for Iguodala to intercept it. The final buzzer sounded as he secured the ball.
Game over!
The Warriors had claimed victory in this Christmas showdown and extended their winning streak to nine games, ascending to the top of the Western Conference.
Streamers fell from above as the home crowd celebrated wildly. Curry, Iguodala, Thompson, and the rest of the bench rushed Tang, surrounding him in jubilation. Curry even broke out in a brief dance, and the fans went into a frenzy.
Caroline couldn't hold back her joy, looking at Tang Lei with newfound admiration, her gaze shifting from mere respect to genuine affection for his skill and charisma.
Back in China, the Tencent livestream chat exploded as Tang Lei's clutch 3+1 sealed the game. The energy stayed high for several minutes, fans reveling in every aspect of the comeback.
"A miracle! Down 15 with three minutes left—only Tang Lei could pull off a buzzer-beating 3+1!"
"Did you see Embiid's face? He looked devastated—absolutely priceless!"
"Now he knows who Tang Lei is! Think he'll ever underestimate a Chinese player again?"
"Tang Lei just dropped 55 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists! Is this another record for the youngest player in history?"
The Warriors' post-game celebration lasted several minutes before finally settling down. Embiid, visibly fuming, had already stormed off to the locker room, while Butler, Simmons, and Harris stayed to shake hands.
Butler embraced Tang Lei, leaning in to say, "That last shot of yours was clutch. Tonight belongs to you."
Tang Lei smiled, replying, "Thank you."
Just then, a familiar face approached with a microphone—it was Coral, the reporter from his last interview, also known as "Grill Queen" by her fans.
"Hi, Tang Lei! It's great to see you again," she greeted him warmly.
"Likewise," Tang Lei replied, smiling.
"Your performance tonight was phenomenal. Nineteen points in the final three minutes with a near game-winner! What are your thoughts?"
Tang Lei chuckled, "After two buzzer-beaters already this season, I'd say I feel surprisingly calm. My teammates, coaches, and I never gave up, and our persistence paid off. I love how this game turned out."
Coral nodded, clearly impressed. "Many fans back home were worried about your fall after that foul from Scott. Thankfully, you seem fine. Any words for him?"
"Not much to say," Tang Lei replied coolly. "But next time we meet, I'll make sure to score on him every chance I get—and maybe even dunk on him."
Coral laughed, nodding, before asking her final question, "And Embiid said before the game that he didn't know who you were. Any response to that?"
Tang Lei shrugged, "55 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. That's my response."
After the interview, Tang Lei turned around to see security holding back two familiar faces—Caroline and her friend. He waved them over, and the guard, recognizing the connection, let them through.
"Are you really okay?" Caroline asked, clearly worried.
Tang Lei's smile was reassuring. "I'm fine, thanks for asking."
"Hey, Caroline totally loves you," teased her friend, Tina. "Let me take a picture of you two together."
Caroline looked at Tang Lei, slightly shy but hopeful. He grinned, "Of course."
Click, click! Tina snapped several photos before finally stopping, visibly pleased.
"Thank you for the tickets, Tang Lei. I really enjoyed the game," Caroline said confidently. "Hope you get some rest tonight."
"You two take care getting home," Tang Lei replied as they parted ways.
Returning to the locker room, Tang Lei was greeted by Curry—not with a cold-water shower this time, but with a signed game ball, handed over personally by his teammate.
With smiles and handshakes all around, Tang Lei accepted the ball, cherishing the moment with his team.
Hey, what's your thought on Tang Lei's performance?
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