Warriors Take the Lead

"His ball-handling fundamentals are solid, though his court vision and passing could use some work. Still, as long as he stays healthy, you could say he has a bright future."

Chen didn't boast. He casually gave Murray his own assessment, too.

"If everyone went by your standards, you'd be setting the bar far too high for guards across the entire league."

Davis rolled his eyes at Chen, though he was also relieved to be this guy's teammate.

"I'm not using my own standards. If I were, Jamal would need to play even better defense and have a much more explosive first step!"

Chen didn't show the slightest modesty. His words were brimming with confidence.

"All right, you're not wrong."

"Right? If it were me, why would I need Nikola's screen? I'd go straight to Pope and call out Stephen."

"...If it were you, Golden State would switch aggressively without hesitation, then relentlessly double-team you to force the ball out of your hands. Andre, Klay, and Dream—tsk, tsk~~"

"Tch, damn Golden State Warriors! I'll remember this grudge!!"

The Denver Nuggets' starting lineup was exceptionally strong. They might have seemed to play at a leisurely pace, but when everyone focused on their role, they worked like a high-speed machine. With their star leading the way, they could play at an even higher level.

That was exactly how tonight's game unfolded. Even after arriving at Golden State's home court, the Nuggets showed no sign of struggling to adjust to the unfamiliar basket.

Although Murray's shot wasn't falling early in the game, Little Porter found his touch.

The guy seemed to get a buff whenever he played a popular team. His high-release jumper looked just like Durant's—absolutely ridiculous.

By halftime, he had gone 6-for-7 from the field and 3-for-4 from beyond the arc,