Chapter 6: Super Three-Point Experience Card

"Super Three-Point Experience Card?"

Tang Lei had nearly forgotten about it. He quickly issued the command: "Activate!"

This Super Three-Point Experience Card was a reward he had drawn from the ten-spin lottery not too long ago.

[Congratulations, host! The Super Three-Point Experience Card has been successfully activated. Your three-point shooting percentage will exceed 90%, valid for this game only!]

Hearing this, Tang Lei was thrilled. The timing couldn't have been better!

The Warriors had possession. Green was advancing the ball while Tang Lei worked hard to get open off-ball. Even though his previous three-pointer missed, Green still trusted Tang Lei and passed him the ball as soon as he found an opening.

On the Lakers' side, Rondo once again took on the task of defending Tang Lei. Though Rondo was only 185 cm tall, his wingspan stretched to an impressive 206 cm, giving him a significant advantage on defense and earning him the nickname "Point Center."

However, with the Super Three-Point Experience Card boosting his confidence, Tang Lei felt much more secure this time. He dribbled twice, suddenly stopped, jumped, raised his arms, and released the ball!

The motion was fluid, smooth as silk.

Swish~

Under the arena's bright lights, the ball arced beautifully through the air before dropping cleanly into the hoop.

35-33! The Warriors took a 2-point lead.

The shot felt incredible to Tang Lei, and he knew from the moment it left his hand that it would go in. There was no need to watch.

"Is this what it feels like to be a sharpshooter?" Tang Lei thought, glancing at Curry, who was clapping in approval.

With the successful shot, the flood of criticism in the Tencent live stream began to subside.

The Lakers inbounded the ball, and Rondo pushed it up the court. The Warriors' game plan was to leave Rondo open and focus on defending other players. As expected, Rondo's shot missed.

Iguodala grabbed the rebound and quickly passed it to Tang Lei, who was already sprinting downcourt.

Seeing Rondo retreating near the free-throw line, Tang Lei didn't hesitate. From a meter behind the three-point line, he took the shot.

Iguodala was shocked, "I just passed it to you, and you're already shooting?"

But then…

Swish! Another three-pointer!

38-33.

On the next possession, the Lakers' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope responded with a three-pointer of his own.

Warriors' possession.

Two Warriors players made a passing error, nearly losing the ball, but it bounced in Tang Lei's direction. Without hesitation, he caught it at the corner and launched another shot.

Boom! The ball rocketed into the basket—another beautiful three-pointer.

41-36.

Tang Lei had now made 3 out of 4 three-point attempts, displaying incredible efficiency.

The Lakers quickly transitioned, passing the ball to Kyle Kuzma in the corner. Desperate to respond, Kuzma ignored Tang Lei's defense and took the shot. Timing it perfectly, Tang Lei leaped and barely got a hand on the ball, altering its path.

Clank! The shot bounced off the rim, and Iguodala grabbed another rebound. He immediately passed long to Cook, who sprinted downcourt.

Caruso quickly retreated on defense, preventing the fast break. Cook passed the ball back to Green, who slowed the pace and scanned the floor.

By now, Tang Lei had hit three straight three-pointers, so the Lakers were defending him tightly, not allowing him to even touch the ball.

As the shot clock wound down, Cook barely freed himself from Caruso's defense, thanks to a screen from Iguodala. Green passed him the ball, but Caruso's pressure affected Cook's shot, and it clanked off the rim.

In the scramble for the rebound, Iguodala tipped the ball out. It landed right in Tang Lei's hands near the mid-court logo.

Tang Lei motioned for his teammates to stay calm.

But in the next moment, without any hesitation, he pulled up for an ultra-deep three-pointer from beyond the arc. The ball soared high over Staples Center, following a gorgeous trajectory, before sinking perfectly through the net.

Swish!

44-36. The lead stretched to 8 points!

The Warriors bench erupted in cheers after the shot. That bucket forced the Lakers to call a timeout. Head coach Luke Walton had intended to use his second unit to build a lead, but not only had they failed, the gap had widened.

On Tencent's live stream, commentator Wang Meng exclaimed, "That shot just stopped the Lakers! That was a Curry-range three! My goodness, four threes in three minutes, 5-of-4 shooting, and 12 points! Tang Lei's performance is off the charts! Su, if you were coaching the Lakers, what would you prioritize right now?"

Su Yi picked up the conversation. "Without a doubt, it's defense. While we want to see Tang Lei continue to play well, after making four threes, the Lakers will definitely tighten up their defense on him."

"Right, so let's see if the Lakers will bring their starters back in early," added Huang Meng.

Meanwhile, the live chat was flooded with comments:

"Lei Emperor is killing it! You're unstoppable!"

"That last shot was so bold, but I love it! I feel like I'm watching a young Paul George!"

"Another double-digit game from the Lei Emperor! His spot in the rotation is solidified!"

"The Warriors need to give him a guaranteed contract already!"

During the timeout, Coach Walton emphasized defending Tang Lei and subbed all of the Lakers' starters back in.

On the Warriors' side, Durant and Thompson returned to the game, while Curry continued to rest. After all, with Tang Lei playing at Curry's level, there was no need to bring Curry back for the remaining two minutes of the quarter.

After the timeout, the game resumed.

With LeBron back on the floor, the Lakers seemed revitalized. LeBron used a screen to drive into the paint. The Warriors quickly collapsed on defense, but LeBron, with quick vision, passed the ball to Brandon Ingram, who had been shooting well from the corner.

Swish! Ingram nailed a three-pointer, cutting the lead to five.

Back on the other end, with Tang Lei spreading the floor, the Lakers didn't dare double-team Durant. This gave Durant a one-on-one opportunity against Ingram.

Even though Ingram was modeled after Durant, Durant's experience and skill still put him ahead. Durant hit him with a hesitation move before driving right, then stopping and nailing a fadeaway jumper from mid-range.

Both teams continued to trade baskets, but with Lonzo Ball locking down Tang Lei, he couldn't get his hands on the ball again.

Though Ball's shooting had always been criticized, his defense was elite, especially among his draft class. Despite several attempts, Tang Lei couldn't shake him off.

With no chance to get the ball, Tang Lei switched strategies, opting to crash the offensive boards and create opportunities for himself!

Clank!

Green, left open, tried a three-pointer, but it rattled out.

Tang Lei, watching the ball's trajectory, sprinted forward, but Lonzo was in front of him, boxing him out, refusing to let him pass.

As the ball came down, Lonzo was in perfect position. It seemed like a sure rebound.

But just as Lonzo was about to grab the ball, Tang Lei jumped straight up from behind, extending his left hand to snatch the ball over Lonzo's head.

It was a clean rebound, with no contact, so there was no question of a foul.

Since the paint was crowded and Tang Lei lacked the height advantage, he immediately pulled the ball back out to the three-point line.

After all, he was far more comfortable shooting threes than battling under the rim.

Lonzo quickly closed the distance.

With his back to the basket, Tang Lei dribbled and surveyed the court, as if planning to pass.

But just when Lonzo thought Tang Lei was about to make a pass, Tang Lei suddenly jumped.

In mid-air, Tang Lei turned, maintaining perfect balance, raised his right arm, and released the ball, all in one smooth motion!

This shot wasn't arcing high, nor was it graceful.

It was fast and flat, like a bullet aimed straight at the basket.

Boom!

The ball smashed through the net with a low, heavy thud.

52-42.

The lead was back to double digits.

Lonzo stood there, stunned. He had expected Tang Lei to pass, or at least turn around before shooting. But Tang Lei had shot while still facing away from the basket, spinning mid-air.

And more impressively, the shot went in.

…