Chapter 550: Kobe's Frustration

So far, whenever Wade Dong is on the court, no team has been able to come back from a deficit of more than 20 points.

In other words, the Suns have not been overturned after leading by 20 points in recent years.

With the third quarter not yet over, the Suns' lineup had become: McCollum, Thompson, Yi Nan, Green, and Whiteside.

This signaled that the game had entered garbage time.

With Wade, Curry, and Durant off the court, it was inappropriate to let a veteran like Carter play during garbage time; keeping Thompson and Green on the court was already a sign of respect for the Lakers.

...

"Beep!!!"

With the referee's whistle, the first game of the Western Conference Finals concluded.

117:109!!!

The Suns narrowly defeated the Lakers by 8 points in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

Game Statistics:

- Wade Dong: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks

- Curry: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal

- Durant: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

- Thompson: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists

- Kobe: 33 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists

- LeBron: 37 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists

Kobe and LeBron spent most of the fourth quarter on the court trying to catch up. This was a key reason why the Lakers only lost by eight points. Although both combined for 70 points, they couldn't stop four Suns players from scoring over 20 points each.

...

After the game ended,

Wade found Kobe and LeBron.

"Are you guys heading to the hotel later?"

"Yeah..." 

Kobe nodded. "Taking a day off; we'll battle again the night after tomorrow!"

Wade invited them: "Since you're not going back to Los Angeles, why don't you stay at my place tonight?"

"Is that convenient?"

"What's inconvenient about it?"

Wade smiled. "It's just me and Feng Yuxiu living there."

"By the way..."

LeBron noticed that Li Jiajia wasn't at the game and asked: "Why didn't I see your wife?"

"Ahahaha... she's in China. I'll explain why she didn't come to Phoenix later; after the press conference you two can follow me."

"Sounds good."

...

Although this was the Western Conference Finals and received significant attention,

the post-game press conference lacked highlights.

The outcome was something everyone had anticipated.

Besides the three-point barrage from the Suns in the third quarter, everything else could be described as unremarkable.

The Suns only won by eight points; Wade scored just 27 points with decent stats. The only slightly newsworthy topic was that LeBron and Kobe both scored over 30 points but still couldn't win against the Suns—such numbers were hard to generate buzz around.

...

Both LeBron and Kobe had visited Wade's mansion before but after this game they followed Wade home only to discover he had moved.

Now he lived in a modest two-story villa with seven or eight rooms and a small yard.

"Dong, when did you move here?" 

LeBron looked around skeptically. "This place is too simple."

Wade explained: "It's close to the arena—just for convenience. As long as there's a shower and a clean big bed, that's all I need."

"This is a different level of living!"

"What level are you talking about..." 

Wade waved his hand with a smile; he didn't consider Phoenix his home anyway. Since it was just him and Feng Yuxiu living there, he wasn't against living in a mansion—his real mansions were all back in China.

Riding on three-wheeled bikes to bars is about saving where you can while spending where it counts.

Feng Yuxiu had already prepared charcoal in the yard for a barbecue. Wade said: "Enough about that; tonight's invitation is to try Feng's cooking."

"Thanks!"

"Thanks!"

After expressing their gratitude, Kobe and LeBron sat down at a long table.

They had known for a while that Feng Yuxiu was Wade's bodyguard who rarely left his side in America but didn't expect them to live together—and as a bodyguard that could also barbecue?

"What do you want to drink? White wine? Beer? Or red wine?"

Wade brought over a box filled with various drinks and set it on the long table.

Kobe shook his head. "I won't drink; I just want something light before resting."

"Why not drink?" 

Wade tilted his head at Kobe. "I remember you used to drink."

"Right now it's Western Conference Finals; I have to keep my body in peak condition. After this series ends, I'll drink however much you want."

"Actually no need for that." 

Wade shook his finger. "There are three more games left until it's over."

"Dong if you're going to chat like this we might as well leave." 

Kobe and LeBron pretended to frown as if they were about to storm off.

"Just kidding! You guys are my strongest opponents."

"The skewers are ready." 

Feng Yuxiu brought over some grilled meat skewers and placed them on the long table.

"Mmm... smells good!"

Kobe and LeBron stopped dwelling on Wade's joke as they sniffed excitedly before grabbing skewers. "Let's eat first!"

"This is so delicious! It's way better than my grilled steak!"

Feng Yuxiu grilled beef skewers; after just one bite LeBron was conquered by his cooking skills as he opened a bottle of red wine saying: "Such fragrant skewers must be paired with some red wine."

"Should I have some red wine too?" 

Kobe picked up his glass as well; indeed very few can refuse a good meal.

Wade poured himself a glass of Maotai but started paying attention to health maintenance now that he had no system backing him up. Meanwhile, Feng Yuxiu casually took away another bottle of Maotai without needing a cup—drinking straight from the bottle while grilling skewers at the same time.

Wade laughed: "Barbecue paired with Maotai? That'll hit hard!"

After eating for a while,

LeBron asked again: "Why didn't I see Jiajia this year?"

"Oh right! Jiajia is in confinement."

"In confinement?!"

Wade didn't know how to say "坐月子" (zuò yuè zi) in English so he simply said it in Chinese which left Kobe and LeBron confused.

Wade explained: "My wife just gave birth; she needs to rest for a month."

"Dong, you became a dad?!" 

Kobe and LeBron looked shocked. "How come we didn't hear anything?!"

Wade replied: "Because I wanted it kept private but you two are my brothers—this kind of good news must be shared with you."

"Congratulations Dong!"

"Is it a boy or girl?"

"A boy!"

Wade beamed proudly at Kobe. "I have a son now~"

Kobe responded silently...

"Hahaha..."

LeBron caught on to what Wade was implying and laughed: "This summer you need to work hard too; aim for another big boy next year! It would be such a waste if your basketball talent doesn't get passed down!"