Chapter 100: Every Shot Is a Game-Winner

Curry still held the ball, orchestrating the offense at midcourt. At this moment, Lin Fei could almost hear the pounding of his own heart. On the court, aside from the initial nerves when first entering the NBA, he had never felt such an intense heartbeat since his rise.

What weighs heaviest on the court is not the poor statistics, nor the outcome of the game, but the crushing pressure in the face of a game-winning shot.

Curry made a breakthrough at midcourt, and Lin Fei immediately shifted to create a mismatch with him. Curry passed the ball to Lin Fei, who swiftly dodged and shook off his defender to receive it. On any other day, Lin Fei would have taken the shot immediately upon catching the ball. But today, he did not. Why? Because there was a new weight upon him—a burden of victory. Perhaps having experienced countless clutch moments before, as the league’s most reliable regular-season and game-winning performer, even he found this moment nearly unbearable.

Lin Fei took a step back after catching the pass, abandoning the gains from Curry’s drive, choosing instead to proceed in his own way.

On the court, only two figures radiated a palpable chill: Lin Fei and Westbrook. Westbrook’s gaze was fixed intensely on Lin Fei, unprecedented in its focus.

With 10 seconds left on the shot clock, the clock ticked down to eight.

No one knew what Lin Fei was thinking—not even Coach Nielsen.

Tick. Tick. Four seconds remained.

Every possession was a potential game-winner.

Everyone expected Lin Fei to take the shot in this clutch moment, so confident was he in his ability.

Yet, Lin Fei had missed several shots earlier. As the team leader, he understood the need to adjust when struggling, to minimize the impact of his slump on the team’s offense.

Two seconds. Two defenders had now closed in directly on Lin Fei, including the defender who had been trailing him closely.

One second. The situation was clear: even if Lin Fei passed now, there wouldn’t be enough time for a teammate to shoot.

Lin Fei faked and leapt into the air. Three defenders converged on him—a scene both astonishing and grand. Around that cluster, the rest of the court felt eerily quiet, as if two different worlds existed on this single floor.

Lin Fei jumped to near his maximum height, and almost simultaneously, his primary defender, Harden, also leapt. Due to his height advantage, Harden’s reach towered over Lin Fei’s. Their jump heights were nearly equal. Harden’s hand swiped close to the ball. Normally, Lin Fei could have released the shot at that moment, but he anticipated that the ball would likely be blocked mid-air.

Though Lin Fei had already set his shooting form, he saw Harden’s hand inching closer. In midair, Lin Fei deftly twisted his wrist, avoiding the defender’s outstretched hand. Now descending, he released the ball with remarkable speed.

Immediately after the shot, Lin Fei felt a pang of regret—why hadn’t he drawn a foul? Perhaps because in descent, players rarely complete a full motion, but Lin Fei had done just that, releasing the ball cleanly and steadily.

Swish.

The ball sailed like a precision missile, hitting nothing but net.

Applause erupted throughout the arena. The Thunder began to marvel, then panic. Lin Fei was shooting threes now! This was no ordinary sign—the rare and difficult airborne dodge three-pointer was almost unheard of in the NBA.

“This really feels like a game-winning shot!” the commentator said, a hint of regret in his voice. “Lin Fei is searching for his rhythm, using a series of high-difficulty moves to find his shooting touch. He treats every shot like a potential game-winner. Clearly, his clutch shots are more precise than his regular attempts. He possesses an almost god-like ability when it comes to critical moments.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant of the Thunder clenched his teeth, the tension palpable. This moment belonged to Lin Fei and the Warriors, but perhaps it was also Durant’s moment.

Suddenly, Durant unleashed a stunning play—dribbling alone, shaking off Ex’s defense, and pulling up at the three-point line for a clean jump shot that rattled the net.

The crowd gradually sobered to reality. On this stage, the only established star was Durant. Even the newly crowned scoring king Lin Fei and Westbrook, though both top-tier talents, could not yet claim to be among the NBA’s top five superstars. Durant alone held that honor.

Durant’s shot served as a wake-up call to the Warriors: even if Lin Fei had returned, victory was not assured. The Thunder still had their superstar Durant. Though Westbrook’s presence reduced some pressure on Durant, when the team needed a transcendent player, Durant was the one stepping forward.

Seeing this, Lin Fei’s competitive fire blazed even brighter.

He dribbled furiously, exchanging passes with Curry as they advanced side by side. After crossing midcourt, Lin Fei accelerated, shaking off Westbrook. Yet, lacking full confidence to drive to the basket, he passed back to Curry, who caught the ball and nailed a three-pointer.

“At the point guard position, I believe the Warriors boast the fiercest duo in the league,” said the commentator. “The stats speak for themselves. Lin Fei, though more of a shooting guard in style, often operates as a point guard, averaging almost 30 points. Curry, also a point guard, contributes nearly 15 points and 8 assists per game. This combination is undoubtedly the strongest guard tandem in the league.”

The Thunder responded with a mid-range jumper from their backcourt, while the Warriors’ guards and wing players executed coordinated cuts and drives for points.

Though only the final quarter remained, the tension was suffocating. The game was a relentless battle, every shot a potential dagger, every basket possibly a game-winner.

Steady! Steady! The Thunder whispered to themselves.

Speed! Shoot! The Warriors urged themselves on.

Lin Fei’s eyes hardened, gleaming fiercely—reminiscent of a wolf stalking its prey.