Chapter 409: Chapter 321: Suppress them in the 3rd quarter, where the Warriors excel!
After Zeng Xingyang completed the slam dunk, he was emotionally excited and shouted loudly into the camera, "No defense at all!"
The voice full of dominance seemed to penetrate the entire stadium.
On the sidelines, Coach Cole’s face was terrifyingly gloomy.
He knew that Durant’s strong attack against Zeng Xingyang was ineffective. Although Durant remains powerful, his offensive rhythm was completely disrupted due to repeated interference from Zeng Xingyang and other Nuggets players.
Just as the team fell into a predicament, Curry stepped forward.
He dribbled to the right side beyond the three-point line and executed a pick-and-roll with Green.
At the moment of defensive switch between Butler and Gordon, Curry seized the fleeting gap. He didn’t hesitate and quickly shot, sending the basketball swiftly from his hand.
Gordon responded swiftly, doing his utmost to pounce over in an attempt to interfere with Curry’s shot.
However, Curry’s quick release three-pointer was too fast, and Gordon’s interference came too late.
The basketball outlined a beautiful arc in the air and swished through the net!
"Swish!" A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted on-site, and the Warriors fans seemed to see the dawn of hope.
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Zhang Weiping excitedly said, "Curry’s three-pointer is too critical! If the Warriors don’t score again, they’re really going to crumble against the Nuggets."
Yu Jia also chimed in beside him, "That’s right, the Warriors must open up their perimeter in the third quarter, or catching up with the score will be as difficult as climbing the sky."
Butler and Gordon quickly adjusted their defensive strategy, mutually reminding each other, "Switch defense faster!"
"Okay!" Their brief exchange showed absolute cooperation.
Every player on the Nuggets understands the power of the Warriors’ three-point shot, and they dare not slack off in the slightest, giving their all in each possession as if guarding their final territory.
It’s the Nuggets’ turn for offense, Zeng Xingyang dribbles to the frontcourt and passes to Jokic near the free-throw line.
At this moment, Butler instinctively stepped forward to screen for Zeng Xingyang.
Iguodala was blocked out of defensive position, and Curry had to switch to defending Zeng Xingyang.
Jokic quickly passed the ball back to Zeng Xingyang.
Faced with Curry’s defense, Zeng Xingyang had a clear mismatch advantage.
"Bang Bang!"
He quickly backed into a post-up play, using his strong body to continuously press against Curry.
Though Curry was small in stature, he defended hard, gritting his teeth and using all his strength to hold back Zeng Xingyang, trying to block his attack.
However, Zeng Xingyang’s power was too great; under his thrust, Curry gradually retreated.
Zeng Xingyang backed Curry up to near the free-throw line, then suddenly spun to jump, making a fake shooting move.
Seeing this, Green rushed over quickly to help defend.
At the moment of Green’s jump, Zeng Xingyang cleverly tossed the ball to Gordon under the hoop.
Gordon was in an excellent position with no defense, he easily caught the ball and steadied it into the basket.
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The cheers on site dimmed slightly, and the Warriors fans showed worried expressions on their faces.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets fans excitedly waved their flags, cheering enthusiastically for their team’s spectacular performance.
The Warriors launched another attack, Curry holding the ball at the top of the arc, with determined eyes.
He signaled his teammates to screen for Durant on the right side, Green and Iguodala took turns creating a catching opportunity for Durant.
Zeng Xingyang was tightly entangled by the duo and could not keep up with Durant’s pace in time.
Durant caught the ball, facing Jokic’s switch defense, showing his super strong personal ability.
A big crossover, like a whirlwind, directly shaking Jokic off.
Then, he jumped high outside the three-point line and took a shot.
The entire movement was seamless, flowing spectacularly.
"Bang! Swish!" The basketball swished into the net, and the scene erupted with a tsunami-like cheer.
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Durant proved his value with his actions, he’s the superstar capable of turning the tide in crucial moments. Warriors fans screamed excitedly; they have waited a long time for this moment.
The Nuggets quickly adjusted tactics, Jokic dribbled to the frontcourt and passed to Zeng Xingyang stepping on the LOGO position.
At this moment, defending Zeng Xingyang is Durant.
Zeng Xingyang slightly raised his left hand, signaling his teammates not to hurry.
Durant concentrated fully, staring closely at the basketball in Zeng Xingyang’s hands, not daring to relax his vigilance.
However, just as he thought Zeng Xingyang would play the tactic, Zeng Xingyang suddenly exerted force, directly shooting a three-pointer stepping on the LOGO.
This move surprised everyone, and Durant hurriedly rushed over, but it was already too late.
The basketball drew a long arc in the air.
The fans on the scene held their breath, their eyes tightly fixed on the basketball.
"Swish!"
The basketball swished into the net, and the entire stadium instantly plunged into silence.
"OMG, logo three-pointer!"
"F*ck, he really shot it!"
"Daring to shoot that, it’s too crazy!"
The fans exclaimed in amazement, thoroughly conquered by Zeng Xingyang’s shot.
Online, Nuggets fans were also frantically posting comments.
"That’s just awesome!"
"Haha, ultra-long-range three-pointer, so straightforward!"
"This is like giving Durant a lesson, haha!"
Zeng Xingyang raised his finger high, constantly shaking it, his unique way of celebration.
Zhang Weiping excitedly shouted, "That shot was so unreasonable, but that’s skill, that’s Zeng Xingyang’s style!"
Yu Jia also praised, "Beautiful shot! Zeng Xingyang continues helping the Nuggets extend their lead."
Jokic and Butler quickly ran over to high-five with Zeng Xingyang.
At this moment, Zeng Xingyang was the absolute core of the Nuggets, leading the team with his outstanding performance to hold an advantage in the contest against the Warriors.
Zeng Xingyang looked at Durant, shouted loudly again, "Where’s your defense? Why can’t I feel it?"
Durant was grinding his teeth in anger, yet facing Zeng Xingyang’s strong offense, had no better response for the moment.
Coach Cole worriedly yelled from the sidelines, "Defend his threes, don’t give him space to shoot!"
He already regarded Zeng Xingyang as a super scorer like Curry, requiring focused defense.
The Warriors launched another attack, the on-site atmosphere grew even tenser.
Warriors fans chanted in unison.
"Attack! Knock them down!!"
Their voices were full of power, as if injecting limitless energy into the team.
Curry advanced with the ball, Durant again used an off-ball screen, trying to find an attacking opportunity.
Zeng Xingyang was blocked jointly by Green and Iguodala, unable to keep up with Durant’s pace promptly.
Durant slipped through the screen, received the bounce pass from Curry.
Facing Butler’s defense, he exhibited his super personal ability, a lateral move and crossover, swiftly creating space from Butler, then stopping sharply to shoot.
The basketball traced a beautiful arc in the air and swished through the net!
Another beautiful goal.
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Durant once again used his scoring ability to narrow the Warriors’ score gap.
The on-site cheers rose and fell, Warriors fans witnessed the team’s hope to counterattack.
Nuggets continued to attack, Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the front court, passed the ball to Jokic.
Upon receiving the ball, Jokic attempted to pass it to his teammate, however, Green was sharp-eyed and swiftly reached out to poke the basketball.
The basketball lost control and fell to the ground. Iguodala responded quickly, darting over like lightning to snatch the ball.
At this moment, Curry was already fast-forwarding in the front court, Iguodala wanted to pass the ball to Curry.
However, his pass was preemptively anticipated by Zeng Xingyang.
Zeng Xingyang jumped high, intercepting the ball in mid-air.
The Warriors’ defensive formation was instantly disrupted, players hadn’t had time to defend.
Zeng Xingyang seized the opportunity to drive, drawing Durant and Thompson’s double-team defense.
At the moment of double-teaming, Zeng Xingyang swiftly handed the ball low to the trailing Butler.
Butler received the ball, jumped high, and slammed it into the basket with both hands.
"Boom!" The dunk ignited the Nuggets’ team atmosphere, and the bench of the Nuggets cheered happily.
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The third quarter rapidly ended in intense confrontation, with the score fixed at 90 to 78.
The Nuggets led by 12 points away.
The Warriors, renowned for the third quarter, did not achieve the desired outcome, whereas the Nuggets, with outstanding performances from Zeng Xingyang and others, firmly controlled the game’s initiative.