NBA: Rising Superstar!

The atmosphere in the Pepsi Center in Denver was as tense as a drawn bowstring.

The Warriors' players were still motivating each other, even though the Nuggets' ball movement was as smooth as flowing water, showing no signs of retreat.

Curry received Green's pass and quickly dribbled forward.

Curry knew very well that no matter how brilliant the Nuggets' offensive coordination was, it was still just two points.

At this moment, the Nuggets' defense had not fully settled, and Zeng Xingyang couldn't catch up with Curry's pace in time.

Curry, with the ball on the right side, faced Pope's defense, couldn't get past, but without hesitation, passed the ball accurately to Green, and then moved himself.

After receiving the ball, Green didn't choose to hand it back to Curry but made a fake pass, then charged into the paint like a cheetah.

At this moment, Thompson, on the other side of the court, took advantage of Bogut's solid screen and quickly ran out into an open spot. Green, with sharp eyes, passed the ball to Thompson without a hitch.

Thompson, upon receiving the ball, jumped high and shot a jump shot.

This was a mid-to-long-range shot.

Seeing this, Zeng Xingyang quickly rushed to defend, trying to interfere with Thompson's shot, his arm raised high.

Despite Zeng Xingyang's interference, Thompson's shot remained steady.

"Swish!" The ball went straight through the net.

The score became tied at 66.

Zeng Xingyang raised his hand in frustration, signaling to his teammates that it was his fault.

He hadn't contained Curry's rhythm in the first instance, causing the Nuggets' defense to become extremely passive.

Against a powerful opponent like the Warriors, there's no room for even the slightest relaxation.

The Nuggets' offense unfolded once again.

Zeng Xingyang, with determined eyes, charged to the frontcourt with the ball like an arrow leaving the string.

Jokic stood firm near the midline, providing a solid screen for Zeng Xingyang.

Thompson, who was chasing Zeng Xingyang, was blocked by Jokic's broad body, while Bogut swiftly stepped up to switch defense.

Seeing this, Zeng Xingyang quickly changed direction with a low hand, swiftly shifting his body's center of gravity, and the ball, as if given life, bounced from the right side to the left.

Then, he leaned forward and accelerated, charging toward the paint.

Upon entering the paint, Zeng Xingyang suddenly decelerated and stopped abruptly just before the free-throw line.

Green, who was waiting for him to attack the basket, was caught off guard by Zeng Xingyang's sudden stop-and-jump shot, his interference a half-beat slow.

Zeng Xingyang steadily released the ball, which spun beautifully in the air, tracing a magnificent arc.

"Swish!" Once again, the ball went straight through the net. The score became 66 to 68, with the Nuggets temporarily in the lead.

Zeng Xingyang's offensive skills were all-encompassing; he was like an experienced master of offensive arsenal, always able to precisely choose the most effortless attack mode according to the opponent's defensive position.

At this moment, the Warriors' defense against three-pointers and under the basket was very tight, like two solid walls, yet many opportunities appeared in the mid-range, which Zeng Xingyang keenly captured.

Commentator Barkley excitedly shouted from the sidelines: "Zeng's offensive prowess is so strong! He can go head-to-head with the entire powerful Warriors. Just now, he merely used a simple screen at the midline and then completed a close-range finish—unbelievable!"

His co-commentator Smith agreed: "The Warriors are troubled now. Due to lineup constraints, they don't dare to employ the small-ball tactic, making their defense very passive."

Zeng Xingyang's technical moves were exceedingly simple, devoid of flashy dribbling, but he could easily bypass the defender.

Meanwhile, fans online were also boiling over.

"Well done, Zeng Xingyang, good job!"

"Love to see such intense competition, that's what makes basketball charming!"

However, in the next two possessions, neither side managed to score.

Green appeared somewhat anxious, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

Holding the ball at the top of the arc, Green carefully observed the situation on the court. Then, he repeated the same trick, faking a hand-off pass, and turned on his own to charge into the paint.

But the Nuggets were well-prepared for his offensive approach.

Zeng Xingyang decisively left Barnes on one side and quickly went over to help defend Green.

Green wanted to pass the ball to Barnes, but Zeng Xingyang's long arms, like a net stretched out, covered the passing direction, leaving Green no opportunity to release the ball.

With no other choice, Green could only force a shot against Jokic under the basket and the charging Zeng Xingyang's defensive interference.

This shot was greatly disturbed, the ball veering off the hoop like a kite with a broken string.

Jokic securely controlled the rebound, while Bogut's attempt to snatch it away was unsuccessful.

"Drummond's offense was too simplistic; he shouldn't have tried to finish it himself but should have passed the ball to Stephen," Barkley said, frowning at the microphone.

Green had always been known for his composure, yet in this fiercely competitive game, he acted impulsively. It wasn't a good choice.

After all, the Nuggets weren't afraid of Green's offense, but of Curry and Thompson's accurate three-point shots.

Jokic dribbled to the frontcourt and handed the ball to Zeng Xingyang.

Zeng Xingyang, dribbling with a change of direction, surged toward the paint like a tidal wave.

Every time he broke through, he caused the Warriors' defensive line to shift and be drawn in.

Jokic was left open at the top of the arc, and Zeng Xingyang passed the ball out to Jokic on the move.

After receiving the ball, Jokic didn't hesitate for a moment, shooting a three-pointer without jumping.

His motion was smooth and natural, the ball tracing a perfect parabolic arc in the air.

"Swish!" The ball went straight through the hoop, the score now 66 to 71.

The Nuggets further expanded their lead.

Unlike ordinary big men, Jokic's three-point shooting was especially sharp, as if there was a special rapport between the basketball and his hands.

Even in a fiercely competitive playoff, he demonstrated stability comparable to a professional shooter. As long as he found his rhythm, he could easily make three-point shots.

Compared to the regular season, he had made significant progress in this aspect.

This was also something Zeng Xingyang had emphasized to Jokic multiple times—he could shoot more threes.

During the regular season, Zeng Xingyang and Jokic frequently practiced three-pointers together, aiming for more offensive options during pick-and-rolls. Now their efforts were paying off in this game.

Inside the Pepsi Center in Denver, the fans' cheers were deafening.

The fans loved seeing their team perform so strongly on the court.

The Warriors initiated their offense once again. After continuous ball movement, Curry, using screens from Green and Bogut, like a black lightning bolt, charged into the paint.

Zeng Xingyang quickly went over to help defend but inadvertently committed a blocking foul, giving Curry a chance to get to the free-throw line.

Curry stood on the free-throw line, took a deep breath, and focused his gaze on the basket.

His free-throw motion was smooth and stable, tracing two graceful arcs in the air, and landed solidly in the basket, making both free throws. The score changed to 68 to 71.

As Curry made his free throws, Warriors' coach Cole couldn't help but frown from the sidelines. After a moment of thought, he decided to sub out Bogut for Iguodala.

Cole was still holding on to the hope of the small-ball lineup, a tactic he had relied on all season.

The Nuggets saw this and quickly made adjustments, subbing in Harris.