"We are fortunate to witness history!"
Staples Center!
At the commentary table, Smith and O'Neal spoke in unison.
In their view, today's duel between Kai Chen and James Harden was destined to be etched in the annals of history.
The final battle of the last quarter!
It seemed that to ease the tense atmosphere of the live audience, both teams' substitute lineups engaged in a chicken-pecking contest on the court.
The various plays by players on both sides indeed relieved the audience's strained nerves.
However, this relaxed atmosphere did not last long.
With seven minutes remaining until the end of the game.
D'Antoni and Doc Rivers rose almost simultaneously, making substitution gestures.
"The Los Angeles Clippers have brought out a small lineup, similar to the one they used against the Golden State Warriors!"
At the commentary table, Smith immediately got excited: "Kai Chen will return to the court with his four small ball teammates!"
"The Houston Rockets have also made adjustments!"
O'Neal, beside him, followed up: "James Harden, is back!"
The Los Angeles Clippers brought on the Death Lineup!
Lou Williams + Grayson Allen + Carmelo + Jeff Green and Kai Chen!
The Houston Rockets also sent out their small ball lineup!
Eric Gordon + Austin Rivers+ Danuel House + PJ Tucker and James Harden!
The audience, who had just watched some regular basketball, became fully alert.
Clearly, the next seven minutes would be the moment to decide the outcome of the game!
The final battle, it's here!
118:118, the teams are tied!
Houston Rockets ball possession!
Austin Rivers quickly dribbled the ball across the half-court and then passed it to James Harden.
With the ball in his hands, Harden showed no mercy against Beverley's defense.
After continuous dribbling between his legs, he drove inside the three-point line, and after Beverley lost his defensive position, he stepped back behind the three-point line, stopping abruptly, and shot a three-pointer!
"Swish!"
The basketball arced beautifully through the air before swishing through the net.
"57 points, James Harden has already scored 57 points!"
O'Neal spluttered: "Harden is very likely to break his career single-game scoring record in this game."
Before this, James Harden's career high was 61 points.
And now, his score has reached 57 points, just 4 points away from his career scoring record!
121:118, the Los Angeles Clippers trail by three points.
This is also the largest deficit the Clippers have faced in this game!
Turning around, Beverley quickly dribbled the ball across half-court, then passed it to Carmelo.
Grayson Allen, Jeff Green, Beverley, and Kai all stood outside the three-point line.
But Carmelo's final pass choice was still to Kai.
The moment the basketball landed in his hands, Kai immediately raised his hand, only to find a pair of hands in front of him!
"Unbelievable!"
At the same time, Smith at the commentary table on the sidelines exclaimed in surprise: "Am I seeing this correctly!?"
"The one defending Kai is actually James Harden!?"
"Have we ever seen Harden primarily defending the opponent's core before?"
O'Neal also gasped: "It looks like James Harden is trying to close out the game!"
If you watched the 2020 All-Star Game, then you would have a new understanding of Harden's defense.
It's just that normally, Harden focuses more on offense, slacking off on defense, directing traffic.
However, today, he gave up his traffic directing duties and chose to defend Kai in the final moments of the game!
"Bang!"
Facing Harden's defense, Kai naturally did not hesitate, decisively dribbling and starting, with continuous dribbling between his legs + crossovers, attempting to shake off the defense.
But just as he attempted to break through, a large hand suddenly struck out, trying to steal the basketball from Kai's hands.
"It's PJ Tucker!"
"The Houston Rockets are not playing single defense at all; they are using a double-team strategy!"
The moment he got past Harden, Tucker's double-team also arrived.
Although his steal was sudden, Kai Chen quickly hugged the ball with both hands and raised his elbow to dodge it.
But PJ Tucker's objective had already been achieved.
Kai was already holding the ball with both hands, stuck in a dead-ball situation.
What's more, Harden behind him quickly came over to help defend.
Pass?
Impossible!
Facing a situation with wolves in front and tigers behind.
Kai half-turned back, his pivot foot unmoving, jumping with one foot, relying on his top-tier core strength to lean back and rise!
Harden and Tucker both jumped simultaneously, determined to block this shot!
But his backward-leaning body was almost parallel to the ground.
Even under such an extremely difficult fadeaway, Kai Chen still managed to get the shot off!
"Swish!"
The basketball, like a dagger, delivered a fatal blow!
"Thud!"
As the basketball swished through the net, Kai, who had shot with an extreme fadeaway, also fell to the ground.
"What the hell?!"
At the commentary table, watching Kai's incredibly difficult fadeaway jump shot go in, O'Neal couldn't help but blurt out a curse.
"Only Kai Chen can make a shot like that!"
Smith was completely awestruck: "Many players can use a fadeaway jump shot, but only Kai can do something so insane!"
Not just the two commentators, but even Tucker and Harden, who were defending Kai, looked at him in disbelief.
That f*cking went in!?
Is there any justice left?
Offensive and defensive transition, Rockets ball possession.
Back on offense, James Harden, after also being double-teamed, took a contested three-point shot after continuous dribbling between his legs!
"Bink!"
The basketball hit the front rim and missed.
Grayson Allen secured the rebound.
Clippers transition offense!
Allen immediately passed the ball to Kai.
This time, the moment Kai received the ball, he again encountered a double-team from Harden and Tucker.
However, this time, the defensive intensity he faced was far less than in the previous possession.
But, even with this less-than-extreme defense, Kai still chose to create difficulty for himself.
He turned and stepped back, shooting a fadeaway three-pointer over their long arms!
"Swish!!!"
The basketball arced perfectly through the air before swishing through the net!
The next moment, Kai, who had pushed for too much intensity, also fell to the ground.
"Beep!"
At the same time, the Main Referee on the sideline immediately blew his whistle.
"Kai has made the three-pointer and drew a defensive foul from PJ Tucker!"
"This is a 3+1!"
"Also, this is his 67th point!"
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