Chapter 385: Chapter 297: A Dunk Over James!
The Nuggets continue to break their new season winning streak record, achieving a perfect start with sixteen consecutive victories.
Zeng Xingyang has contributed many brilliant moments during this period.
For example, he slammed the basketball hoop, causing the backboard to shatter. Because of this incident, the league even required the manufacturers to inspect all basketball hoops overnight for quality.
After all, such a shattering greatly affects player safety and the safety of spectators underneath. If an accident were to occur, the NBA would find it hard to bear the consequences.
Apart from this incident, Zeng Xingyang also had the remarkable feat of scoring over 60 points in a single game.
Then, tonight, when the team was in trouble, he scored twelve points consecutively to directly take away the game.
Zeng Xingyang has been continually showcasing his uniqueness to the outside world.
Tonight, Zeng Xingyang also racked up a super triple-double with 57 points, 22 assists, and 11 rebounds, staying focused on the court without losing his composure.
He knows well that victory is only momentary, and to maintain an edge in the highly competitive NBA, one must always stay focused and work hard.
On the second day back in Denver from Houston, Zeng Xingyang led the eager-to-improve rookies in extra practice to prepare for the next game.
Meanwhile, news about Zeng Xingyang and the Nuggets is spreading throughout the league.
The dominance shown by the Nuggets this season has stunned the outside world.
Many of their victories are overwhelming wins, demonstrating a profoundly strong lineup. Whether starter or substitute, they maintain extremely high game intensity.
If some games come down to crucial moments, then Zeng Xingyang and Jokic step up to settle the game. Last night was a typical example.
In ESPN’s latest rankings, the Nuggets have surpassed the Warriors, becoming the media’s top-ranked team.
"The Nuggets’ super winning streak, shaking the league with 50+20 statistics."
"Unstoppable Nuggets, super Zeng Xingyang dominates the game."
"50+20, Zeng Xingyang’s crucial twelve points carry the game."
"Rockets lost the crucial battle, Zeng Xingyang’s four threes determine the outcome."...
Various media outlets are reporting on Zeng Xingyang and the Nuggets’ outstanding performances with eye-catching headlines. These news articles are like a storm sweeping through the sports world, becoming a focus of heated discussions among fans.
While the outside world is still enthusiastically discussing Zeng Xingyang’s 50+20 stats, the Nuggets welcome their 17th game at home, facing the Cavaliers at home.
In this game, the Nuggets face personnel challenges. Butler is officially suspended for one game, Harris and Gordon remain injured, and Pope has an ankle sprain, forcing the Nuggets to play with a depleted roster.
While over at the Cavaliers, James, Owen, and Love the three giants are all present.
Since the start of the new season, the Cavaliers’ performance has been mediocre, having won only 9 out of their first sixteen games.
This is partly due to internal discord within the team, creating a rift between James and Owen.
After the Cavaliers won the NBA championship last season, Owen desires to become the team’s leader rather than always being overshadowed by James.
Owen hopes to build his career like Kobe, possessing more decision-making power and ball handling. However, James is currently the absolute core of the Cavaliers, holding significant ball and decision-making power. Although Owen is also an important player, his role is more as James’ helper.
This difference in roles causes Owen to feel unable to fully utilize his talent, and the two have little communication on or off the court.
Zeng Xingyang actually understands Owen well.
Owen is more like Kobe, with an extreme pursuit of basketball technique itself, very pure and self-driven.
James, on the other hand, is more like a businessman inside and outside the basketball court, seemingly using basketball as a tool for success and fame.
Although James has high emotional intelligence, Zeng Xingyang prefers to be friends with Owen.
When these two are together, conflict is bound to arise.
Once the game started, both teams entered a tense battle situation.
Under the command of Zeng Xingyang and Jokic, the Nuggets did not experience a decline in team strength due to the shortage of core rotation players.
The rotated Siakam and Brogdon performed well, daring to fight and compete on the court.
For the Cavaliers, Owen is the main attacker, while James continuously organizes and assists, making the game a tough fight.
The Cavaliers’ fighting spirit as a guest was not very strong; their handling on the offensive end seemed casual, and other supporting players’ offensive states were poor, frequently missing outside shots.
Fortunately, both Owen and James were in good form, frequently stepping up to score.
The Nuggets often revolved around Zeng Xingyang and Jokic, with overall tactics successfully executing.
The overall rhythm was focused on defense and positional play.
The offensive efficiencies of both teams were not very high, with most scores concentrated on core players.
The fans’ hearts were in their throats, eyes tightly fixed on the unfolding scene, as each player’s offensive and defensive play heightened their emotions.
The Cavaliers are last season’s championship team, so defeating them would be significant for the Nuggets.
The atmosphere at the venue was as heated as burning flames, with fans’ cheers and chants intertwining, seemingly about to overturn the entire arena.
They waved their flags, cheering for the team they supported.
Quickly, the game reached the final 42 seconds.
The score of both teams stood at 100 to 100 tied.
At this moment, the gym’s atmosphere reached peak tension, with everyone holding their breath, eyes fixed on the court, as if time had stopped.
The Nuggets’ offense saw Jokic holding the ball at the top of the arc, scanning across the court to observe the situation.
Zeng Xingyang made a quick cut like a cheetah into the inside.
Without hesitation, Jokic sent out a precise bounce pass, the basketball swiftly rolling along the court and accurately reaching Zeng Xingyang’s hands.
At this moment, James quickly crossed over from the other side, attempting to block Zeng Xingyang’s attack.
James leaped high, extending his arm, aiming to block Zeng Xingyang.
But Zeng Xingyang showed no fear. He forcefully pushed off the ground, stepping up the ascent, swiftly lifting his left arm to block James’ interference, tightly gripping the basketball with his right hand, and slamming it over James.
Even though James jumped high enough, Zeng Xingyang was taller, so he couldn’t stop Zeng Xingyang’s offense.
"Thump!" The basketball slammed heavily into the hoop, making a loud noise.
to 102, the Nuggets temporarily lead.
"Timeout!!" Tyronn Lue decisively called for a pause, his face full of urgency, attempting to use this timeout to arrange tactics to reverse the situation.
Zeng Xingyang completed a dunk over James, causing James to stagger back after being bumped by Zeng Xingyang, ultimately crashing into the basketball frame.
Zeng Xingyang held onto the hoop with one hand, muscles in his arms tense, fiercely pulling down a moment before slowly easing off.
"Ah!!!"
Zeng Xingyang shouted toward the cameras, his gaze filled with confidence and dominance, as if declaring his powerful control to the world.