"Your defense must not loosen, especially on Damian Lillard. Double-team him when necessary!"
"Kai, we need your performance on the offensive end. Don't worry about whether it goes in or not. Just attack!"
Coach Rivers gestured at the tactical board during the timeout.
At this point, it was time for the stars on both sides to take over and close out the game.
Doc Rivers could clearly see that as the game progressed, the Clippers' stamina was rapidly declining, and their scoring efficiency had plummeted.
Faced with this situation, he could only place his hopes on Kai Chen.
The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court.
Two minutes remained.
102-104!
The Clippers were down by two points, and this possession was crucial.
Facing Portland's full-court press, Beverley steadily dribbled up the floor. Lillard applied heavy pressure, forcing the pass.
Beverley swung the ball to Kai on the left wing, beyond the arc.
The moment Kai touched the ball, every Portland defender locked onto him.
Although he was a rookie, they fully understood the damage Kai Chen had inflicted in previous games.
Against a player of this caliber, vigilance could not drop for even a second. He could explode at any moment.
"Bang!"
Facing Turner's defense, Kai Chen executed a sharp change of direction and drove left.
But as soon as he stepped inside the free-throw line, Portland's defense collapsed instantly.
Not only a double-team, but aggressive physical contact followed, as if they intended to trap him completely.
"Thump!"
Kai Chen first ran into Nurkić. Before he could adjust, Turner closed in from behind.
A double-team.
Then Lillard abandoned Beverley and lunged toward the ball, aiming for the steal.
Faced with a triple-team, Kai took one dribble left, turned, and released a difficult fadeaway jumper!
"Swish!"
The ball sliced through the air and dropped cleanly.
"You cant stop me!"
After the basket, Kai Chen, in a rare display, shouted toward Lillard.
The uncompromising intensity had ignited his competitive fire.
"Young man, you might not understand what Damian Time is!"
Lillard chased him back on defense, firing back immediately.
"If I were you, I would never provoke me. That will be the most regrettable thing you've ever did!"
"Haha!"
Kai Chen smiled calmly.
"Damian Time? I'll make you pay for that watch-tapping gesture!"
As he spoke, McCollum brought the ball up and passed to Lillard.
The moment Lillard faced Kai Chen, the Moda Center erupted.
"Damian, take him down!"
"Show him what a true clutch player is!"
"He's just a bitch. He can't stop you!"
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Lillard dribbled patiently in front of Kai Chen.
Suddenly, he exploded forward, accelerating hard toward the rim.
Kai Chen did not retreat.
Keeping pace, Kai Chen matched Lillard step for step, applying body pressure.
"The fuck?"
Feeling the resistance, Lillard halted, stepped back, and rose for a mid-range jumper!
"Smack!"
Kai Chen leaped instantly and swatted the shot away with authority.
The ball fell into Beverley's hands.
"Is that all you've got?"
Kai Chen dribbled upcourt, shouting toward Lillard.
"Now I'll show you what Kai Time is!"
"Bang!"
From the arc, Kai attacked again, slicing into the paint almost instantly.
Portland's perimeter defenders collapsed.
"Swish!"
Kai Chen kicked the ball out to Beverley on the left arc, completely open.
"Clang!"
Beverley, struggling all night, missed again.
But Lopez muscled Nurkić aside and secured the offensive rebound.
Without hesitation, Lopez fired a bounce pass to Kai Chen cutting hard.
Kai Chen gathered, attacked the rim, absorbed Anunoby's contest, and finished with a reverse layup!
"Ahhh!!"
Kai Chen roared.
106-104, the Clippers reclaimed the lead!
Back on defense, Lillard tried to receive the ball, but Kai Chen's pressure was suffocating.
Even when Lillard managed a touch, space was nonexistent.
Forced into a high-difficulty jumper, Lillard released under heavy contact and fell hard to the floor.
Lopez grabbed the rebound and immediately pushed the ball.
Kai 9sprinted ahead.
Lillard, still on the ground, could only watch as Kai Chen stormed into the paint and threw down a powerful dunk!
108-104!
One minute remained.
The momentum had completely shifted.
McCollum hesitated bringing the ball up.
In that instant, Kai Chen darted in, stole the ball, and accelerated.
"Boom!"
Another thunderous dunk!
In less than a minute, the Clippers flipped the game from a deficit to full control.
With under a minute left, Portland was desperate.
Lillard rushed into the frontcourt and fired a three over Kai Chen!
"Clang!"
Kai Chen's long arms disrupted the shot again.
Nurkić fought for the rebound and kicked it out.
But Kai anticipated the pass.
Steal.
Beverley and Carmelo sprinted ahead.
Kai Chen flicked the ball forward.
Carmelo finished at the rim.
112-104!
After the basket, Beverley ran past Lillard, tapping his wrist.
Kai Chen mirrored the gesture.
"Damian, what's wrong with your watch? Can it still tell time?"
Lillard could only look away.
Twenty seconds remained.
Eight points was insurmountable.
Portland conceded.
"Beep!"
The final whistle sounded.
Kai Chen's lockdown defense on Damian Lillard sealed the victory.
The Clippers completed the comeback on the road, extending their winning streak to ten games.
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