Chapter Summaries

Wang Yi returned to the game and took control of the Kings’ offense after their Run and Gun system fell apart, while his teammates remained unsure about accepting him as their leader. He scored repeatedly and urged the team to get back on defense, leaving the Kings still trailing but gaining momentum.

• With the Kings down seven early in the fourth quarter, Wang Yi asked to enter the game and immediately cut the gap with a Logo three-pointer.
• After the deficit grew to 13, Wang Yi demanded the ball and told his teammates to spread out, prompting Walton to back his decision.
• Wang Yi scored against Jalen Green, then scolded the Kings for reacting slowly as the Rockets answered with a fast-break layup.
• Wang Yi hit another three and urged the Kings to hurry back on defense, helping them prevent another fast break.
• Wang Yi drove past Jalen Green, drew three defenders, and made a mid-range fadeaway for his eighth consecutive point.

With the Kings trailing the Rockets by 13 points and 40 seconds left, Wang Yi refused to concede and convinced Walton to put him back in. He also asked the coach to play Danny, leaving the team stunned as the final seconds approached.

• Wang Yi scored relentlessly as the Kings cut the Rockets' lead to five, but Gordon and John Wall hit key shots to push it back to 13 with 40 seconds remaining.
• Napier declared the game over and criticized the Kings' disorganized play as fans began leaving the arena.
• Walton called a timeout and sent the Kings' starters to the bench while Silas had the Rockets' starters check out.
• Wang Yi told Walton the Kings had not lost yet and insisted he would keep fighting until the final second.
• Walton agreed to put Wang Yi back in, and Wang Yi asked him to play Danny because he trusted Danny's defense.

With 40 seconds left and the Kings down by 13, Wang Yi activated the Tracy McGrady Time Experience Card and led a desperate comeback with quick three-pointers and planned fouls. After cutting the deficit to 11, he broke through the Rockets’ cautious defense and reached the three-point line as the game continued.

• Wang Yi put rookie Danny and four quick-shooting reserves on the court, then activated the Tracy McGrady Time Experience Card.
• Wang Yi hit a three-pointer, and Danny fouled Sengun 0.3 seconds after the Rockets inbounded; Sengun made both free throws.
• During the Kings’ last timeout, Wang Yi explained a Human Wall tactic, and the team used it to free him for another three-pointer.
• The Rockets made two free throws after the Kings took five seconds to foul, restoring their lead to 11.
• Wang Yi took Mitchell’s inbound pass, sprinted past the Rockets’ cautious defense, and reached the three-point line.

Wang Yi completed a four-point play to cut the Rockets’ lead to seven, but with 28 seconds left and the Rockets holding the ball, the Kings’ comeback seemed unlikely. Hield, Barnes, and Bagley joined Wang Yi on the court, setting up one last attempt to turn the game around.

• Wang Yi made a three-pointer while being fouled by Sengun, then sank the free throw to bring the Kings within seven.
• The Rockets called their final timeout, and Jalen Green dismissed the possibility of a Kings comeback while John urged caution.
• Wang Yi left the court after scoring three three-pointers in 12 seconds, and the Kings’ fans and players admired his effort.
• Hield asked Walton to put him in because he could not watch Wang Yi fight alone, and Walton agreed.
• Barnes agreed to play the final seconds with Wang Yi in exchange for a lesson in “Chapter Seven of the Night.”
• Bagley and Hield asked to join Wang Yi on the court, setting aside their earlier grievances.

Wang Yi kept the Kings alive with two more three-pointers after his T-Mac Time Experience Card ran out, cutting the Rockets' lead to three with nine seconds left. The chapter ended with Hield fouling out, leaving Wang Yi to carry the Kings through the final moments.

• John Wall made a free throw, and Wang Yi answered with a fast-break three to cut the Rockets' lead to six.
• Wang Yi's T-Mac Time Experience Card expired, but he resolved to create his own King Time.
• Barnes fooled the Rockets, stole Wall's inbound pass, and helped Hield get the ball to Wang Yi.
• Wang Yi shot a three over Wall, bringing the Kings within three with nine seconds remaining.
• Wang Yi called for a foul, and Hield fouled Jalen Green before fouling out; Hield told Wang Yi to finish the fight.

With the Kings trailing by three, Jalen Green missed both free throws, and Wang Yi’s desperate three-pointer tied the game with 4.1 seconds left. The Rockets’ 13-point lead had disappeared, leaving the game tied in its final seconds.

• Jalen Green went to the free-throw line with the Rockets ahead by three, and Wang Yi warned him that a miss would give the Kings a chance.
• Jalen Green missed both free throws as Wang Yi’s stare and the crowd’s distractions unsettled him.
• Bagley and Holmes secured the rebound and passed to Mitchell, who sprinted upcourt before throwing the ball toward an empty right corner.
• Wang Yi chased down Mitchell’s pass before it went out of bounds, tossed it back in, and recovered it in the corner.
• Wang Yi evaded the Rockets’ center and made a three-pointer, tying the game with 4.1 seconds remaining.
• Silas reacted angrily as the Rockets watched their 13-point lead vanish.

With 0.2 seconds left, Wang Yi set up a last-second alley-oop for the Kings after they tied the game against the Rockets. Bagley tipped in Wang Yi’s inbound pass to win 129–127, leaving the Kings stunned before they erupted in celebration.

• Wang Yi’s sixth consecutive three-pointer tied the game at 127–127 with 4.1 seconds remaining.
• The Kings’ defense forced the Rockets into a frantic scramble, and a replay showed the ball had gone out off Jalen Green’s hair with 0.2 seconds left.
• Wang Yi gathered Hield, Barnes, Bagley, and Holmes and explained a play to create an alley-oop opportunity.
• Hield and Barnes drew Rockets defenders away from the paint as Wang Yi threw the inbound pass toward the rim.
• Holmes held off the Rockets’ center, and Bagley tipped Wang Yi’s pass into the basket to give the Kings a 129–127 victory.

Wang Yi led the Kings to a miraculous comeback over the Rockets with nineteen points in the final forty seconds, then celebrated as fans and players reacted in disbelief. The chapter ended with fans who had left early regretting missing his game-winning performance.

• Wang Yi's late scoring run gave the Kings a 129–127 victory, and Napier called it the craziest scoring performance in NBA history.
• The Kings players and coaches rushed onto the court to celebrate while Jalen Green left for the Player Tunnel in despair.
• John Wall hugged Wang Yi and praised his unbelievable performance, and Wang Yi joked that he agreed.
• James blamed the Lakers' management for letting Wang Yi go, while fans who had left the arena early regretted missing the finish.
• Wang Zhixing showed Li Fei the Kings' victory, prompting Li Fei to apologize to Brother Yi.

After leading the Kings to a comeback with 19 points in 40 seconds, Wang Yi reunited with Nicole, whose feelings he acknowledged without giving her a clear answer. His teammates celebrated him in the locker room, where Barnes offered to help him mend strained relationships without weakening his authority.

• Nicole rushed from a Boston interview to watch Wang Yi’s final minutes, then hugged him and confessed that she liked him.
• Wang Yi told Nicole he knew about her feelings and offered to take her back to her hotel after the press conference, leaving her excited by his response.
• The Kings drenched Wang Yi with champagne and congratulated him on scoring 65 points and making 19 in 40 seconds.
• Wang Yi planned to apologize for telling his teammates to clear out during the game, but Barnes advised him not to apologize too easily and offered to handle the rifts.

Wang Yi’s 19 points in 40 seconds led the Kings to a comeback and sparked widespread attention, while the team went on to build a seven-game winning streak behind its new systems. The chapter ended with Pierce calling the Kings pretenders and Wang Yi a false king ahead of their game against the 76ers.

• After Wang Yi finished his recovery, Barnes told him that the teammates had agreed to treat him as one of their own.
• NBA figures and media outlets praised Wang Yi’s 19 points in 40 seconds, while Smith praised his finish but criticized his earlier play.
• Wang Yi led the Kings to five more wins, extending their streak to seven games and averaging 45.8 points during the run.
• The Kings developed their Run and Gun Tactic and One Star Four Shooters system, with Wang Yi taking over in the fourth quarter when needed.
• Pierce dismissed the Kings’ streak because they had faced weak opponents and called Wang Yi a false king before the Kings’ matchup with the 76ers.

Wang Yi and the Kings prepared to face Embiid and the 76ers in Philadelphia after Wang Yi confidently predicted a win. The chapter left the teams about to play, with Wang Yi dismissing the Simmons-less 76ers as a one-star team.

• Wang Yi told a reporter he was 100 percent confident the Kings would beat the 76ers, and the reporter published a headline claiming Wang Yi boasted that beating Embiid would be easy.
• Philadelphia fans reacted angrily to the report and insulted Wang Yi ahead of the game.
• Wang Yi and the Kings arrived in Philadelphia, where the team discussed using a fast pace to limit Embiid's impact.
• Wang Yi said he and Hield could guard Seth Curry and Danny Green while Holmes and Bagley handled Embiid, and Walton entrusted the matchup to Holmes and Bagley.
• The Kings entered the arena to jeers from 76ers fans, but Wang Yi ignored them and judged the 76ers weak without Simmons.

Wang Yi checked in for a temporary blocking boost but saved it for later, then joined the Kings against the 76ers as Seth Curry challenged him to a three-point contest. The Kings fell behind early as Embiid dominated, and Walton told his team to keep running as they resumed play.

• Wang Yi checked in and received an Intermediate Unsolvable Block Experience Card that increased his vertical leap and block success rate for 20 minutes.
• Seth Curry greeted Wang Yi and challenged him to a three-point contest, which Wang Yi accepted.
• The game began with both teams missing shots until Embiid scored repeatedly and blocked two attempts, giving the 76ers an 8–2 lead.
• Walton called a timeout and urged the Kings to run rather than confront Embiid directly.
• After the timeout, the Kings sprinted toward the frontcourt together as they prepared to inbound the ball.

The Kings used Wang Yi’s scoring and fast breaks to counter Embiid’s dominance in the paint. With Holmes in foul trouble and Thompson absent, the Kings switched to a fast, undersized lineup and ended the chapter with Mitchell making a transition three.

• Wang Yi drove past Seth Curry, scored through contact, and made the free throw after Curry fouled him.
• Embiid scored inside and drew a foul from Holmes, while Wang Yi led a fast break that ended with Bagley making an open three.
• Embiid continued scoring against the Kings’ big men, and Holmes picked up his second foul, forcing the coach to remove him.
• With Thompson absent, the Kings put Bagley at center alongside Wang Yi, Mitchell, Hield, and Barnes, trading rebounding strength for speed and shooting.
• The Kings sent Bagley downcourt before Embiid’s free throw, creating a five-on-four break that Wang Yi finished with a pass to Mitchell for a made three.

The Kings struggled to contain Joel Embiid, who piled up fouls against their big men and helped the 76ers build a ten-point lead. Wang Yi planned to turn the game around with blocks and fast breaks, but Hield missed another three as the Kings' shooting woes continued.

• Bagley and Holmes picked up five fouls between them in the first quarter while trying to defend Embiid, and the Kings ended the quarter trailing 27–31.
• Bagley and Holmes continued to foul Embiid in the second quarter, while Barnes also picked up his third foul and the 76ers extended their lead to ten points.
• Mark Zumoff praised Embiid's dominance and mocked Wang Yi for scoring only 13 points, with 3 rebounds, and 2 assists midway through the second quarter.
• Walton urged the Kings to increase their defensive intensity, and Wang Yi told his teammates to push fast breaks after he blocked shots.
• Wang Yi reassured Hield after Hield missed another three-pointer and encouraged him to keep shooting when open.

Wang Yi blocked Joel Embiid twice, first swatting away his post-up shot and then stopping his powerful dunk head-on. After the second block sent Wang Yi flying backward, the stunned 76ers arena and viewers reacted in disbelief.

• Wang Yi leaped from behind and blocked Embiid's shot, sending the ball and a spectator's popcorn into the stands.
• Embiid threatened Wang Yi, who mocked him for playing soft and provoked his anger.
• Embiid drove toward the basket and charged at Wang Yi, who stood in his path despite the size difference.
• Wang Yi jumped and blocked Embiid's dunk with both hands, taking the impact and falling backward.
• Mark Zumoff, the 76ers players, Wang Jianhua, and Nicole reacted with astonishment and excitement.

Wang Yi blocked Embiid for the third time, stopping his attempted dunk and helping the Kings complete another fast break. After taunting Embiid and the 76ers fans, Wang Yi received a technical foul as Rivers called a timeout.

• After Wang Yi blocked Embiid, Hield launched the ball upcourt and Mitchell scored a layup, cutting the deficit to eight points.
• Embiid challenged Wang Yi to go one-on-one, and Wang Yi accepted to restore his teammates’ confidence.
• Embiid backed Wang Yi into the restricted area and went up for a two-handed dunk, but Wang Yi lunged in and blocked him again.
• The Kings completed a fast break as the shocked arena reacted to Embiid being blocked three times in a row, and Rivers called a timeout.
• Wang Yi wagged one finger at Embiid, received a technical foul, and taunted the silent 76ers fans.

Wang Yi blocked Embiid three times in a row, shifting the momentum and helping the Kings take an eight-point lead by halftime. The chapter ended with commentator Mark Zumoff recounting Wang Yi’s rise from homelessness to a major NBA contract.

• Wang Yi blocked Embiid three times in a row, and Embiid missed the technical free throw after Wang’s taunt.
• Rivers urged Embiid to calm down, while Walton warned Wang Yi that another technical foul would get him ejected.
• The Kings exploited the 76ers’ sluggish play with fast breaks as Embiid struggled to regain his form.
• The Kings led the 76ers 59–51 at the end of the second quarter.
• Mark Zumoff told the audience about Wang Yi’s past struggles and his determination not to give up.

Wang Yi struggled to score against the 76ers but filled the box score with rebounds, assists, and blocks, leaving him close to a quadruple-double at halftime. While reporters made his award candidacy depend on that milestone, the 76ers surged in the third quarter and Wang Yi warned Embiid that he was risking a block.

• Wang Yi scored 16 points on poor shooting in the first half but added eight rebounds, seven assists, and five blocks.
• The NBA posted a giveaway asking fans to predict whether Wang Yi would record a quadruple-double, and most commenters doubted he would.
• Reporters debating the Western Conference Player of the Month award considered Wang Yi's statistics, the Kings' record, and his popularity.
• The reporters agreed to keep Wang Yi in contention only if he got a quadruple-double in the game.
• Embiid blocked Bagley's three-point attempt in the third quarter, energized the 76ers, and drew a warning from Wang Yi.

Wang Yi blocked Embiid for the fourth time, leaving the 76ers star hesitant to shoot and prompting Rivers to take him out of the game. With the Kings also struggling to score, Wang Yi decided to target the rest of the 76ers on defense.

• Wang Yi taunted Embiid, then used his wingspan to block his shot for the fourth time.
• Mitchell finished a fast break with a layup after the Kings recovered the ball.
• Embiid hesitated on multiple chances in the paint, allowing the Kings defense to close in and forcing him to pass.
• Rivers substituted Embiid out, and the fans and Rivers encouraged him from the sidelines.
• Bagley made a dunk but missed his next two shots as the Kings continued to struggle offensively.
• Wang Yi decided to focus on stopping the other 76ers players while Embiid sat on the bench.

Wang Yi dominated the third quarter against the 76ers, blocking 13 shots and helping the Kings build a 13-point lead. The fourth quarter began with both teams' starters back on the court, and Wang Yi prepared to carry more of the Kings' burden amid their foul trouble.

• Wang Yi blocked Seth Curry's jumper and Danny Green's attempted three, then helped Barnes score on a fast break.
• Wang Yi finished the third quarter with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 13 blocks, while his defense rattled Embiid and the other 76ers players.
• The Kings ended the third quarter leading by 13 points, and Luke Walton and the Kings players praised Wang Yi's performance.
• Rivers struggled to lift the demoralized 76ers, while Wang Jianhua joked with the Chinese P.E. teachers watching his son play.
• The Kings' reserves extended the lead to 16 points before Rivers and Luke Walton returned their starters to the game.
• With Barnes, Bagley, and Holmes each carrying four fouls, Wang Yi resolved to shoulder more of the load in the fourth quarter.