A Breakout Performance, Breaking Records
At halftime, the score was 52-47, with the Clippers trailing the Pistons by only 5 points.
In the TNT broadcast room.
"Hahaha! This is going to be fun, my idol has found his touch again!" Barkley laughed heartily.
Kenny Smith thought for a moment, then said frankly, "Actually, Chen's timing in regaining his touch was really terrible. It would have been better if he had found his touch earlier, or after the start of the third quarter."
Kenny Smith's statement wasn't without merit, because there's a 15-minute halftime break after the first half. 15 minutes! Can Li Chen maintain this shooting touch after 15 minutes?
Kenny Smith didn't believe Li Chen could maintain his current form.
Barkley, after hearing Kenny Smith's words, realized what he meant and sighed, "Now, we can only hope that Chen's shooting touch isn't as bad as it was in the first two quarters."
As Li Chen took another shot after the start of the third quarter, he was shocked to find that the [Feeling Barometer] energy bar was a terrifyingly red. Now he had only one thought: he was going to be a god today. This excited him immensely.
Lost in thought, Li Chen threw the basketball in his hand.
Swish! The basketball swished through the net.
Li Chen's Pull-up Jumper remains as pleasing to the eye as ever.
"Haha! Kenny, you're overthinking it. Chen's touch is still on fire."
Kenny Smith smiled and offered no comment, because one point doesn't mean anything, but... what followed made Kenny Smith question his life choices.
In the following matches, Li Chen displayed a performance that thrilled the fans.
He's on fire, like a blazing fire, scoring non-stop. He's hitting three-pointers in a row, including logo threes and threes from near the center circle; he's really on fire right now.
The fans were already captivated by Li Chen's performance and went crazy for him. Every time he made a three-pointer, a wave of cheers would erupt from the stands.
Barkley was stunned by Li Chen's performance. "Oh! Oh my god! This touch is incredible! Chen has made 13 three-pointers in a row!"
Yes, after Li Chen made 3 three-pointers at the end of the second quarter, he made 10 more three-pointers at the start of the third quarter.
Li Chen's scoring method at this moment was utterly unbelievable.
Faced with Li Chen's all-out offensive onslaught, the Pistons seemed powerless to turn the tide.
Neither tight defense nor double-teaming could stop Li Chen's scoring pace.
The Pistons' once-proud defense was as flimsy as a shoddy construction project, so easily breached.
The Pistons were completely overwhelmed by the Clippers, led by Li Chen.
Li Chen's sudden outburst ignited his teammates' passion, and they all fought back like tigers descending from the mountain, Pistons to only take shots at the very end of each offensive possession.
Li Chen's scoring was more like a meticulously prepared performance, showcasing his talent on the court.
Every point he scored became a visual feast for the fans, igniting their passion.
The Staples Center was transformed into a sea of revelry tonight.
With 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Li Chen's shooting touch cooled off, resulting in a three-pointer that failed to go in cleanly.
At the same time, the red area of the [Feeling Barometer] has shrunk considerably, indicating a decline in his feel for the game.
That's okay. If his three-point shot isn't accurate, he'll just drive to the basket and attack the rim.
Li Chen then used his skillful dribbling to break through the Pistons' defense.
At this moment, another protagonist of the evening makes his appearance.
In the third quarter, referee Joey Crawford, who had no room to maneuver, began to unleash his power, calling all sorts of fouls with great gusto.
Okay! Bald Joey Crawford is getting hyped up too.
Joey Crawford got carried away with his boasting, but the two Wallace weren't having it. Their eyes widened, looking ready to fight, and they surrounded Joey Crawford.
They believe Joey Crawford cheated by helping the Clippers.
Seeing this, Joey Crawford n't about to let the two of them get away with their bad habits. He thought to himself, "Damn it, they want to fight the referee? This is outrageous!"
You know, Joey Crawford is the kind of guy who would later eject Duncan from the game with two consecutive technical fouls just because Duncan smirking!
Moreover, since it was the two Wallace who started the trouble, he didn't hesitate at all to give Wallace a technical foul.
So, four consecutive technical fouls ejected the two troublemakers from the game.
Although Joey Crawford did little to help the game's outcome, Clippers fans didn't hold back their cheers.
Joey Crawford also enjoyed the treatment of a basketball superstar.
When the third quarter ended, Larry Brown was completely stunned, staring blankly at the score of 92-70.
He still can't accept the result of Li Chen scoring 45 points (including free throws) in the third quarter.
Li Chen's outstanding performance left the Pistons helpless, causing this defensive master to feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
Yes, he was truly powerless. Whether it was double-teaming or fouling, it was just giving Li Chen points.
At this moment, he was a little worried. He was worried about the next game. If this Eastern Kid continued to have such an incredible shooting touch, what would happen to their Pistons?
Thinking of this, he sighed inwardly. They only had one option: to admit defeat.
For the fans, this moment will be an unforgettable memory.
Seeing Li Chen's outstanding performance, they stood up excitedly, raised their hands high, and repeatedly shouted the nickname they had given Li Chen.
Meanwhile, Avril was also caught up in the atmosphere of the stadium, and she enthusiastically shouted "Captain... Captain..." with the fans.
They cheered for Li Chen's score and applauded his performance.
To them, Li Chen was like a hero, the one who could lead their Clippers to victory.
Regardless of the final result, Li Chen's score has become a major highlight of the match.
He won over the hearts of fans with his personal abilities and fighting spirit, and proved his strength to everyone.
His outstanding performance showed people the charm of basketball and filled them with expectations for the future.
Meanwhile, domestic fans went wild, and the text messaging platform in the live broadcast room was overwhelmed.
On the court, the ejection of both Wallace left the Pistons without any fighting spirit. In fact, even if the two Wallace hadn't been ejected, they still wouldn't have been able to turn the score around.
Because the Pistons' offense is really weak, they simply don't have the ability to come back and score like crazy.
It's worth mentioning that Li Chen made all 13 of his shots in the entire third quarter, including 11 of 11 three-pointers, 2 of 2 field goals, and 8 of 8 free throws (including four technical foul free throws).
He also set several records, including a 100% field goal percentage in the third quarter of the NBA Finals and 45 points in a single quarter.
Li Chen did not play in the fourth quarter because the Pistons were already out of options.
In the end, the Clippers crushed the Pistons 120-85.
In the TNT broadcast room.
"First of all, congratulations to the Clippers on winning the first game of the NBA Finals, and then congratulations to Li Chen on breaking several records today."
"Hahaha! Kenny, I really regret not betting against you!" Barkley said with some regret.
"Oh! My old friend Charles, I told you I've quit gambling."
Barkley pursed his lips. He was certain that, given the situation in the first two quarters, if he had offered to bet with Kenny Smith, the guy would have definitely agreed. Now Barkley was somewhat annoyed with himself for missing such a great opportunity, and he also hated himself for not believing in Li Chen, this miraculous Eastern Kid.
At that moment, Barkley felt nothing but endless regret.
Seeing Barkley's dejected look, Kenny Smith smiled slightly, feeling a bit of lingering fear. If Barkley had brought up the bet during the first or second quarter, he probably would have agreed.
He would have been the one to lose face then, but thankfully, Barkley didn't seize the opportunity.
With his thoughts racing, Kenny Smith regained his composure and got back to the point. "The Clippers secured a resounding victory in this game. They also shattered the Clippers 'Pistons once-proud defense, demoralizing the Pistons and laying the foundation for their continued success in the series."
"Yes, Kenny, being defeated in your strongest area is a huge blow to the Pistons."
Kenny Smith nodded and said, "Not only that, their head coach Larry Brown will also lose confidence. This ability to kill a game single-handedly is terrifying."
"Kenny, I still feel like it's not real. That guy made 11 three-pointers in a row! No, no! If you include those three at the end of the second quarter, it should be 14. What's most unbelievable is that there were 15 minutes between them!" Barkley exclaimed.
"Haha! Charles, just like you always say, Avril's here today gives Chen endless motivation."
At this point, the two looked at each other and then burst into laughter.
In this game, Billups scored 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting, with 4 assists, including 2-of-4 from three-point range and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Wallace the Roaring Heavenly Venerate, 14 points.
Hamilton scored 12 points.
Prince 11 points.
Ben Wallace scored 9 points.
On the Clippers' side.
Malone played 44 minutes, shooting 2-for-9, scoring 4 points, dishing out 3 assists, and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Clippers' other key players didn't score many points, only around seven or eight.
Li Chen played 39 minutes, shooting 18-for-30 from the field, scoring 66 points, dishing out 6 assists, and grabbing 3 rebounds. He made 14 of 15 three-pointers and 16 of 23 free throws. These stats are nothing short of miraculous.
Meanwhile, Little Emperor James, who had been watching closely, was shocked by Li Chen's performance. He scored 45 points in a single quarter of the NBA Finals, single-handedly turning the tide of the game and breaking through the Pistons' defense.
At that moment James felt only disbelief, even a bit of admiration, but then his heart broke. He wanted to cry because his $150 million contract seemed to be slipping further and further away.
After the match, the coaches and players from both sides shook hands.
Larry Brown, with a complicated expression, said to Alvin Gentry, "Congratulations, Alvin, your student did a fantastic job."
"Your defense is also excellent, sir," Alvin Gentry said politely.
Larry Brown gave a wry smile and said nothing more; he really didn't know what to say.
Half an hour later, at the Pistons' post-game press conference.
"Mr. Brown, what are your thoughts on Li Chen's performance for the Clippers today?"
"Him? He played really well, on par with superstars like Kobe and Duncan. He truly deserves to be called Jordan's successor."
At this point, Larry Brown changed the subject, "However, I am very dissatisfied with the calls made by league referee Joey Crawford, and our Pistons will file a complaint with the league."
However, his complaint will be fruitless, because there was nothing wrong with Joey Crawford's ruling.
Sure enough, a few days later, the NBA headquarters rejected the Pistons' complaint. But that's another story.
Clippers post-game press conference.
"First of all, congratulations to Mr. Li Chen on setting an amazing record in the professional basketball league tonight," said a blonde woman.
"Thank you," Li Chen said politely with a smile.
"How do you feel about breaking Elgin Mr. Baylor's record of 61 points in the NBA Finals?"
"How do you feel?" Li Chen thought for a moment, then said frankly, "Of course I'm happy to score 66 points tonight, but breaking Mr. Baylor's record isn't a big deal. Of course, I'm not saying I look down on Mr. Baylor. What I mean is that the number of points doesn't matter. Only standing at the top and lifting the O'Brien Cup makes you a true winner. Of course, if I really dared to look down on Mr. Baylor, he would definitely dock my pay. You all know he's the general manager of the Clippers!"
Li Chen's modest words surprised the reporters, but they were mostly impressed. Li Chen composure and humility naturally earned him their goodwill. However, his final witty remark brought a burst of laughter from the audience, who spontaneously burst into applause.
At this moment, another man stopped smiling, adjusted his glasses, and asked, "Excuse me, Chen, what do you think of the Pistons' defense? And Clippers confident of winning the upcoming series?"
Li Chen thought for a moment and said, "The Pistons' defense is really strong, as you all saw. We had a really tough time in the first half, but thankfully, in the end, victory was on our Clippers."
"As for whether we have confidence, of course we do. I hope to bring a championship trophy to the Clippers fans, a championship trophy to Mr. Baylor, and most importantly, a championship trophy to Alvin Gentry."
Hearing this, Alvin Gentry, who was sitting next to him, was somewhat moved. What a good kid.
At the same time, the reporters applauded again, recognizing Li Chen's character as worthy of their applause.
At midnight, two beams of light approached from afar on a Los Angeles highway, speeding past in the blink of an eye.
On the bus.
Avril chattered like a cheerful little swallow.
"Chen, you were amazing tonight! Wow! I can't believe you scored 45 points in just one quarter! Oh! You're incredible, so incredibly talented! I'm so proud of you."
A slight smile played on Li Chen's lips; he was very pleased to receive praise from his woman.
After washing up, the two prepared to rest. Li Chen was ready for another round, but Avril refused, worried that Li Chen would get too tired.
Although Li Chen couldn't possibly be exhausted, he still appreciated the care, and the two fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next day.
Li Chen had just finished his strength training when his phone started ringing incessantly, which made Li Chen extremely embarrassed.
You should know that bringing a phone during training will result in physical punishment.
Li Chen quickly said to Alvin Gentry, "Coach Alvin, I accept the punishment."
Alvin Gentry waved his hand with a smile and said, "No need for punishment."
Hearing this, Elton Brand and the others felt indignant, as if they were being treated like stepchildren.