Chapter 5:The Spotlight Match, TangLei entering the rotation

At 10 a.m. sharp, Coach Kerr entered the gym with a group of assistant coaches.

After resting for over 20 minutes, Tang Lei's stamina had significantly recovered. Looking at his three-point shooting attribute, which had finally reached 90, he felt satisfied. While not exceptional, it was definitely above average in the league.

With Kerr's direction, team practice began, focusing mainly on running plays and teamwork drills. As a player on an unguaranteed contract, Tang Lei didn't get many opportunities to participate. Even though his performance in the previous game was impressive, gaining recognition and trust after just one game was still difficult.

However, after practice, Steph Curry quietly spoke with Kerr. Following that, Kerr approached Tang Lei and whispered, "Tang, I've seen your talent and hard work. Tomorrow, against the Lakers, I'll give you more playing time. Be ready."

"I will, Coach!" Tang Lei's heart leaped with joy. He couldn't help but glance at Curry, who was quietly walking away…

In the afternoon, after practice ended, everyone boarded the team bus and headed to the airport. With a game against the Lakers tomorrow, they would spend the night at the hotel designated for visiting teams.

The next day, 7:30 p.m.

Los Angeles, Staples Center.

The arena was packed and roaring with excitement. As one of the hottest teams in the NBA, the Warriors' match against the Lakers drew a lot of attention.

LeBron James joining the Lakers only added more anticipation to the matchup. The clash between Curry and LeBron, two of the league's biggest stars, made this game even more of a spectacle.

Under the spotlight, the game tipped off.

JaVale McGee easily won the jump ball against Draymond Green, tipping it to Lonzo Ball. But the jump ball wasn't that important—just a matter of who started with possession.

Lonzo advanced the ball past half-court and passed to LeBron. LeBron, standing a meter behind the three-point line, immediately pulled up for a shot.

Swish! Nothing but net.

The Lakers took an early three-point lead, and the Staples Center crowd erupted in cheers.

But the Warriors weren't about to back down. When it came to three-pointers, they feared no one.

Curry ran off the ball, sprinting along the baseline before accelerating around a screen set by Klay Thompson, finding an open spot. Green, with great court vision, passed to Curry, who caught the ball and shot in one fluid motion.

Swish! Another three-pointer, answering right back!

3-3.

Both teams quickly got into rhythm, and the score stayed close. In the modern era of small-ball and fast-paced play, defense had taken a back seat, and high-scoring games, with totals easily surpassing 100 or 120 points, were the norm.

The Lakers focused on attacking through LeBron and Brandon Ingram, while the Warriors relied on their deadly three-point shooting to spread the floor and score from multiple spots.

"Haha, another pull-up from Lonzo! Gotta admit, his form looks pretty cool!"

"Man, Ingram is holding his own against his idol, Durant. The future looks bright for this kid!"

"This is one of the rare games where the Warriors are being evenly matched!"

"Uh… I'm new here. When is Tang Lei going to play?"

"+1, same question!"

"I've watched that insane reverse layup a thousand times now, and it's giving me major Kobe vibes. Love it!"

On Tencent's live stream, the chat was filled with excited comments. As a spotlight game, the viewership was massive, almost at playoff levels.

The two commentators, Su Yi and Huang Meng, were joined by a popular female host, Nami, who was a die-hard LeBron fan and usually hosted the Lakers' games.

"Su, do you think Tang Lei will get into the rotation tonight?" Huang Meng asked, raising a question that many viewers were eager to hear answered.

Su Yi smiled and replied, "Tang Lei was fantastic in the last game, even replicating one of Kobe's moves and earning the top spot on the Top 10 Plays. But with the game being so tight, it's usually harder for a player to break into the rotation. However, we all know Kerr's coaching style—he's bold and likes to experiment with different lineups. So, I think there's a good chance Tang Lei will get some playing time."

"Alright then, let's wait and see," Huang Meng responded with a smile. "Back to the game, LeBron just blew by Durant and threw down a monster dunk! Wow, this guy's still got it, even in his thirties!"

"Beep beep!"

Midway through the first quarter, with the score at 32-29, Kerr called a timeout.

After addressing some issues, Kerr made a few substitutions. Steph, Klay, and Durant came off, replaced by Quinn Cook, Andre Iguodala, and… Tang Lei.

Tang Lei was surprised to be subbed in this early. Although Kerr had told him the previous day that his minutes would increase, he hadn't expected to play in the first quarter.

Feeling a surge of excitement, Tang Lei knew this was his chance. If he didn't make the most of it, there might not be another one. Performance on the court mattered, and poor play would only lead to teammates questioning why he was there. Coaches were always careful to avoid creating conflicts within the team.

On the Lakers' side, LeBron, Ingram, and Lonzo came off, replaced by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Alex Caruso, and Rajon Rondo.

"Damn! Finally, Tang Lei is in! He made the rotation!"

"About time! That explosion last game earned him this shot! Go, Tang Lei!"

"Let's go, Tang Lei!"

The Tencent live stream exploded with excitement when Tang Lei checked in. After all, he was a homegrown player. Even though many had criticized him when he didn't play well, that criticism often came from a place of love. If people weren't even bothered to criticize or make fun of him, it would mean they had given up hope on him, which would be truly sad.

Warriors' ball. Green held the ball at the top of the key, orchestrating the play.

Quinn Cook ran off an Iguodala screen, receiving the ball in a good spot to shoot. Unfortunately, the three-pointer rattled out.

Caruso grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball quickly up the court.

The Warriors' rotation unit focused on defense, so they hustled back and set up inside the paint. Caruso, not finding an opening, passed to Rondo, who slowed the pace before lobbing the ball to McGee near the restricted area.

McGee tried to back down Green, but Green stood firm, not giving an inch. McGee ended up going for a hook shot, but it clanged off the rim.

Green attempted to grab the rebound, but McGee, with his long arms, tipped the ball out to Caruso, who was waiting on the wing.

Tang Lei immediately stepped up to contest, but Caruso's pump fake got him to bite, allowing Caruso to drive past him and finish with a thunderous dunk!

32-31!

"Woohoo!!"

The Staples Center erupted in cheers for the "Bald Mamba" Caruso.

The Warriors inbounded the ball, and Green brought it up the court, spotting Tang Lei open. Tang Lei took the pass and launched a three, but Rondo's closeout affected his shot, and it bounced off the rim.

The Lakers grabbed the rebound and quickly turned it into another fast break, scoring another two points.

32-33! The Lakers took the lead.

"Ugh, the magic is gone. That offense and defense were weak."

"See? It was just a one-time fluke. When the intensity picks up, he can't handle it."

"Yeah, I was hoping we had another Yao Ming in the making, but I guess I was wrong. Let's all just go to bed."

As Tang Lei's performance faltered, the live chat filled with criticism and disappointment.

Tang Lei, still sprinting up and down the court, had no idea what was being said online. But on the court, he could feel the pressure mounting. The regular rotation players were much stronger than the backups he faced during garbage time. Their defense wasn't nearly as lenient, making it difficult for him to find opportunities to score or create plays.

Tang Lei frowned slightly. This was his first real opportunity in the rotation, and the pressure was intense. He knew that if he continued to struggle, Kerr would sub him out, and he'd likely spend the rest of the game glued to the bench.

As Tang Lei searched for a solution, the system's voice suddenly rang in his mind:

[Ding! The system has detected that you still have an unused 'Super Three-Point Experience Card.' Would you like to activate it now?]

…

I've rechecked the grammar and made corrections to ensure clarity and proper sentence structure.