Chapter 238: A One-Hit Kill! 3-1 Lead!
Coach Zhang was red-faced with excitement, shouting loudly, "A brilliant three-pointer, back-to-back, that's how you play, with grit." As he shouted, he waved the commentary script in his hand.
Zeng Xingyang spread his arms in celebration.
The Nuggets' bench was boiling with excitement.
On the court, after a simple celebration, Zeng Xingyang quickly joined Pope to press the Warriors' backcourt.
Curry, under defensive pressure, could only pass the ball to Iguodala.
Iguodala also faced tight defense, and when he passed to Green, Grant anticipated it in advance.
Grant dashed out like a cheetah, completing the interception.
After grabbing the ball, Grant quickly led a counterattack, with Zeng Xingyang quickly following on the other side.
Zeng Xingyang distracted the defense, Grant saw the opportunity and stepped to shoot the ball beyond the three-point line, holding the high ball firmly, after powering through Green to the basket, he then jumped high for a gliding layup, deftly banking the ball in.
126 to 132.
Cole saw this and immediately called a timeout.
The Nuggets were unstoppable during this stretch, delivering an 8 to 2 run.
"The Nuggets' defense showed its power," an excited commentator exclaimed.
"Whoa, awesome," a fan screamed excitedly.
"This overtime intensity is just too much," a middle-aged fan remarked.
"The Warriors have no one to respond at critical moments," a Warriors fan said anxiously.
"The Warriors are crumbling," a basketball analyst commented.
Meanwhile, fans on the internet were also screaming wildly, with various comments flooding in like tidal waves.
Timeout is over.
The Warriors resumed showing their strong team nature.
After Curry dribbled into the frontcourt, he executed a simple pick-and-roll with Green.
Soon, Grant switched to defend Curry.
Grant's footwork and agility are better than Bogut's.
But facing Grant, Curry remained unfazed, choosing to dribble with low hand shifts continuously, his moves skillful and smooth, then pushing off to side-step back, creating space before decisively shooting a three-pointer.
Curry seemed to force this shot.
Grant tried hard to pounce forward, almost reaching Curry's face.
However, it had little effect.
"Swish!" Curry's ball cleanly sliced through the net.
129 to 132.
This shot instantly quieted the momentum on the scene.
The Warriors didn't celebrate either, quickly investing in a new wave of defense.
They were still at a disadvantage, knowing well they needed to stop the Nuggets' offense, or they would be in danger.
"Get physical, raise intensity," Iguodala shouted loudly.
The Warriors' defensive intensity did indeed rise, the players strengthening their defense, every movement filled with power.
Jokic held the ball at the top of the arc, wanting to pass to Zeng Xingyang, but Iguodala stayed in a front position, tightly sticking to Zeng Xingyang, making it hard for Jokic to pass.
Jokic, with no choice, backed Bogut in, forcefully stepping in twice, then passed the ball to the inner-cut Grant.
Grant wanted to make a direct layup, but Bogut had chased to the basket.
"Bang!" Bogut jumped high, giving Grant a board-shattering block; Green controlled the basketball.
Green didn't hesitate, sprinting forward quickly.
He made a long pass, one to Curry, then Curry passed to Thompson.
The Warriors' counterattack came too quickly, and at this point, the Nuggets' defense hadn't settled.
Thompson made a fake gun, then shifted rhythmically, quickly releasing a three-pointer.
The basketball drew a beautiful arc in the air.
"Swish!"
132 to 132.
Narrowly tied.
In the next few rounds, both teams fought fiercely defensively.
On the Nuggets' side, Zeng Xingyang hit a two-pointer, while on the Warriors' side, Iguodala sank a three-pointer.
In the final 15 seconds, the Warriors missed their shot, Jokic jumped high, grabbed the rebound.
The score between both sides came to 135 to 134.
Mike Malone proactively called a timeout.
The Nuggets players were panting heavily, faces full of exhaustion, sweat continually dripping from their foreheads.
They couldn't imagine the game being this exhausting.
Mike Malone also saw everyone's fatigue, took a deep breath, and said, "Last possession." His voice firm and powerful, his eyes revealing a thirst for victory.
"Zeng, you take the ball!"
Mike Malone chose not to have Jokic continue with the ball; at this moment, the ball needed to be in Zeng Xingyang's hands.
Mike Malone continued to arrange, "Everyone else continue to distract, try to create space, if there's a chance, cut inside, we only need two points to win the game, doesn't have to shoot a three."
"OK!"
"Alright, no problem."
The Nuggets were all cooperating positively, players nodded, eyes filled with fighting spirit.
This is the crucial shot; if it goes in, there's a great chance for winning the series.
On the sidelines, Zeng Xingyang continually took deep breaths, his eyes revealing both nervousness and excitement.
Such one-shot glory or despair challenge a person's heart.
The timeout quickly ended.
Pope stood at the sideline ready to inbound. Jokic set a screen for Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang ran out successfully to receive the ball. After getting the ball, Zeng Xingyang quickly assessed the situation on the court, with Iguodala defending him. Iguodala's defense was very tight, always sticking close to Zeng Xingyang, not giving him any chance for easy breakthrough.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to shake off, spending some time.
Jokic came timely to set a screen, Zeng Xingyang took a quick stop step, then jumped high to shoot.
The arc of the basketball was good, as everyone thought it would go in, but it bounced off the rim.
Didn't go in.
However, Grant under the basket leapt up, dominated over Green to tip the ball out again.
Jokic swiftly grabbed the ball.
Even though only 5 seconds remained, Jokic stayed very calm, steadily dribbling toward Zeng Xingyang.
Then, he handed the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang, with Iguodala on him, dribbled quickly from the left side beyond the three-point line to the right side low post.
Time running out, Zeng Xingyang quickly made a crossover dribble back, forcibly pulling up for a fadeaway shot against Iguodala's defense.
This shot was well-covered by Iguodala, only he couldn't prevent it.
Zeng Xingyang successfully released the shot.
As the basketball glided through the air, the game-ending buzzer sounded.
"Bounce!" "Bounce!"
"Swish!"
The basketball bounced twice on the rim and finally fell in.
135 to 136.
Buzzer-beater victory. Nuggets lead the series 3 to 1 over Warriors.
The entire arena erupted instantly, Nuggets fans madly celebrated, staff rushed onto the court to celebrate this hard-earned victory with the players.
Curry, Thompson, and others looked desolate, quietly standing on the court, eyes filled with unwillingness and helplessness.