"Beep!"
Amid the crowd's anticipation, the main referee blew the whistle, signaling the start of the game.
Michigan State University's starting lineup:
Brooks, Jordan Poole, Duncan Robinson, Big Wagner, and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Duke University, on the other hand, sent out:
Grayson Allen, Wendell Carter, Marvin Bagley, Steve, and Kai Chen!
"Kai, you should be glad you didn't meet me in the last game."
"Soon you'll understand just how big the gap is between you and us!"
Jordan Poole looked at Kai Chen beside him, flexing his muscles as he spoke.
Facing Jordan Poole's provocation, Kai Chen smiled.
He hadn't expected to encounter a villain's taunt in real life.
"If Jaren Jackson Jr. had said that to me, maybe it would've been a little interesting." Kai Chen shrugged and spread his hands.
"But you? You're clearly not qualified."
As soon as his words fell, the referee tossed the basketball high into the air.
Jaren Jackson Jr. beat Bagley on the jump, and Michigan State University gained possession for the first offensive play.
Brooks took the ball from the backcourt and immediately accelerated past half-court. After a series of crossovers against Steve's defense, he spotted an opening, shook off his defender with one step, and drove into the paint.
After drawing Duke's help defense, he delivered a behind-the-back pass to Jaren Jackson Jr., who was trailing the play.
"Boom!"
Jaren Jackson Jr. caught the ball and, facing Bagley, delivered a powerful tomahawk dunk!
"A violent poster dunk from Michigan State's Jackson!"
"Bagley's defensive footwork was a bit slow—or rather, Jackson's move was simply too quick!"
Less than eight seconds into the game, Jackson threw down such a ferocious dunk that Barkley on the sidelines praised him endlessly.
2:0!
Jaren Jackson Jr.'s poster dunk gave Michigan State the first points of the game.
"Go Michigan go!"
"Go Michigan go!"
"Go Michigan go!"
Michigan State fans in the arena erupted with deafening cheers.
Duke University's possession!
Steve dribbled the ball into the frontcourt and decisively passed it to Kai Chen.
The basketball landed in his hands. Facing Jordan Poole's defense, Kai Chen dribbled continuously between his legs, adjusting his rhythm.
"You're not getting past me!"
"You can even do a crossover?"
Just as Poo was trash-talking enthusiastically, Kai Chen suddenly exploded, snapping left and right and completely disrupting Poole's defensive footwork.
"Bang!"
Jordan Poole was like a leaf in the wind. Kai Chen immediately followed with a step-back, retreating beyond the three-point line.
The next moment, Poole stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Woohoo~"
The fans couldn't help but burst into exclamations.
"Swish!!!"
"Kai Chen's wide-open three after shaking off Jordan Poole is good!"
"Every move was pure deception—Poole nearly gave away his bank card password!"
3:2!
Duke University took the lead.
As he retreated on defense, Kai Chen made a "pistol head tilt" celebration toward Jordan Poole lying on the floor.
"Whoa—what kind of celebration is that!?"
At the commentary table, O'Neal was stunned. "That might be the most arrogant celebration I've ever seen."
"At this moment, with Poole on the floor, Kai Chen's taunt level is completely maxed out!"
The game continued. Michigan State's possession.
Poole dribbled into the frontcourt, using Big Wagner's screen to force a mismatch against Wendell Carter. He tried to blow past Carter with speed but failed, then quickly passed the ball to Jackson in the paint.
Jackson backed down Bagley in the low post.
"Clang!"
After heavy contact, his floater missed.
Bagley secured the rebound, ending Michigan State's possession.
Grayson Allen brought the ball up from the backcourt and, after crossing half-court, passed it to Kai Chen at the right high post.
Kai Chen held the ball, and the defender in front of him was still Jordan Poole.
"Keep the pressure on him!"
"Let them see Duke University's strength!"
"Go, Kai Chen!"
The moment Kai Chen touched the ball, Duke fans erupted in thunderous cheers.
Facing Poole's defense, Kai Chen bent slightly, holding the ball in his left hand. He stepped left, took another step, suddenly stopped, then crossed over to his right hand.
"Screech!"
Poole's sneakers shrieked against the floor as he forcefully shifted his weight, sliding left to cut off the drive.
But Kai Chen, reading the defense, saw Poole's weight shift and immediately stepped back, creating space before pulling up to shoot.
"The fuck!?"
Poole stared in shock at the sudden gap between them.
"Swish!"
The ball sliced through the air like a drawn blade and dropped cleanly through the net.
"Woohoo~"
"Oh God!"
The Duke bench exploded, players clutching their heads, some even grabbing towels and wildly wiping the floor.
Once again, Kai Chen had shaken Poole with his rhythm.
5:2!
Back on offense.
Poole used a double screen from Big Wagner and Jackson to shake off Kai Chen and drove straight to the basket. After drawing help defense, he kicked the ball to Duncan Robinson in the corner.
The chance was there—but Bagley's footwork was quick, and he still managed to contest the shot.
"Clang!"
The ball bounced off the rim.
Wendell Carter grabbed the rebound and immediately fired an outlet to Kai Chen at the top of the arc.
Duke University fast break!
Kai Chen led the charge, storming into the frontcourt. Facing the double-team of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Poole, he showed no fear and attacked the basket head-on.
"Bang!"
A ghostly change of direction shook off Poole's steal attempt. Kai Chen gathered the ball with both hands and rose into the air.
On the wing, Jaren Jackson Jr. leapt to contest the shot.
But—
In that split second, Kai Chen whipped a behind-the-back pass in mid-air to the trailing Bagley.
Bagley caught it and, with no one in front of him, exploded upward for a thunderous dunk!
7:2!
Duke University continued to extend their lead.