Chapter Summaries

The Pelicans upset the Nuggets 112-108 in Game 1 after Butler fouled out Jokic late, while Jokic and Gordon powered Denver's offense. The Thunder then crushed the Jazz 118-96, leaving Donovan Mitchell stifled and Utah with little offensive answer.

• Butler and Holiday shut down Denver's perimeter players, while Jokic and Gordon repeatedly scored against the Pelicans' interior defense.
• The Pelicans leaned on their starters, and Butler drew Jokic's sixth foul in the final three minutes to secure a 112-108 win; Butler recorded 28 points and 13 assists, while Jokic finished with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
• The Thunder defended Donovan Mitchell aggressively, with Brow and Chen Xi limiting his drives and outside shots.
• The Thunder used their rim protection and Hack-a-Shaq strategy against Gobert to defeat the Jazz 118-96, led by Chen Xi's 29 points and Westbrook's triple-double.

The chapter recapped the opening games of the NBA playoffs, with the Thunder, Rockets, Bucks, and Nuggets taking control of their series. By April 19, the Nets had edged ahead of the Bulls again, while the Nuggets led the Pelicans 2–1 and Portland and New Orleans faced mounting trouble.

• The Thunder beat the Jazz in Game 1 as Gobert defended the rim but Mitchell and his teammates failed to overcome Oklahoma City's attack.
• The Rockets defeated the Trail Blazers 123–115, with Harden scoring 47 and Paul recording 14 assists to give Houston the series lead.
• The Celtics beat the 76ers, the Bucks routed the Wizards, and the Warriors crushed the Lakers in their next games.
• The Bulls tied their series with the Nets behind Oladipo's 35 points and 13 assists, but the Nets later regained the lead when Scola hit a late step-back shot and Odie missed the winning attempt.
• The Thunder beat the Jazz again, 117–101, as Chen Xi scored 34 and Alexander added 19 despite Gobert limiting Westbrook and Davis.
• The Nuggets beat the Pelicans twice, taking a 2–1 series lead as Jokic scored 39 in one win and Butler struggled in the other.

The Thunder faced the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals after the second-round matchups began. Houston seized an early lead with fast breaks and three-pointers, and Donovan called a timeout to settle the Thunder and adjust their defense.

• The Thunder and Rockets starters took the court at Toyota Center for Game 1, with McGee and Capela jumping for the opening ball.
• Paul set up Gordon for a three-pointer, and Westbrook answered with a contested layup at the rim.
• Harden scored a floater, then stole the ball from Chen Xi and sent Gordon ahead for another three-pointer.
• Grant dunked off a cut, but Tucker hit a corner three as the Rockets continued to score in transition.
• Donovan called a timeout and told the Thunder to play patiently, get back on defense, and have Westbrook guard Paul.

The Thunder fought back from an eleven-point first-quarter deficit against the Rockets, but James Harden and Houston’s three-point attack kept them behind. In the fourth quarter, Chen Xi helped cut the gap to four before picking up his fourth foul, forcing Donovan to change his defensive assignment.

• The Rockets hit eleven of fifteen threes in the first quarter and took a 41–30 lead over the Thunder.
• Harden scored seventeen points in the second quarter as Chen Xi’s fifteen points kept the Thunder from falling further behind.
• Westbrook and Alexander fed Davis inside in the third quarter, helping the Thunder trim Houston’s lead to six.
• Harden opened the fourth quarter with a three, and Chen Xi answered with a three before scoring again to bring the deficit down to four.
• Harden drew Chen Xi’s fourth foul on a drive and made both free throws, so Donovan instructed Grant to take over guarding Harden.

Chen Xi led the Thunder's late-game offense against the Rockets, cutting into their lead and answering James Harden's clutch three with a four-point play. After his free throw, the Rockets held a two-point lead and called a timeout.

• Chen Xi scored from the post and later hit a difficult fadeaway to bring the Thunder within one.
• Harden drew a foul on Grant and made both free throws to restore the Rockets' three-point lead.
• Grant missed an open three, and Harden answered with a step-back three that put the Rockets up six.
• Chen Xi made a three while drawing Gordon's foul, then converted the free throw to cut the Rockets' lead to two.
• D'Antoni drew up a play during the Rockets' timeout.

Chen Xi and James Harden traded clutch baskets in the closing minutes, with Chen Xi giving the Thunder the lead before Harden hit a three-pointer that put the Rockets ahead with 3.6 seconds left. Westbrook launched a full-court inbound pass toward Chen Xi for the Thunder's last chance.

• Harden drew a foul on Westbrook and made both free throws, restoring the Rockets' four-point lead.
• Chen Xi drew a foul on Tucker, made the basket, and sank the bonus free throw to cut the lead to one.
• Chen Xi and Davis forced Harden to pass to Tucker, whose corner three missed, and Westbrook grabbed the rebound.
• Chen Xi hit a pull-up three-pointer to give the Thunder the lead, and the Rockets called their last timeout.
• Harden hit a contested three-pointer to put the Rockets ahead with 3.6 seconds remaining.
• Westbrook inbounded with no timeouts left and threw a long pass toward Chen Xi near midcourt.

Chen Xi answered James Harden’s buzzer-beater with an ultra-long three to give the Thunder a 135-133 road win over the Rockets and a 1-0 series lead. The chapter ended with the Bucks defeating the Nets 121-110 behind The Greek Freak’s dominant performance.

• Chen Xi hit an ultra-long three-point buzzer-beater over Harden and Gordon, sealing the Thunder’s 135-133 victory.
• The Thunder celebrated as Chen Xi performed his “Ice in my veins” gesture and exchanged jokes with Harden.
• Chen Xi scored 47 points with 5 rebounds and 11 assists, while Harden scored 48 points with 8 rebounds and 14 assists.
• Rockets fans blamed Tucker and D'Antoni for the late loss, while fans praised Chen Xi’s clutch scoring.
• The Thunder took a 1-0 lead in the series, and The Greek Freak led the Bucks past the Nets 121-110 with 39 points and 16 rebounds.

The Nuggets opened their series against the Warriors with a road win behind Jokic, while the Raptors edged the Celtics and the Rockets beat the Thunder in Game 2 to keep their season alive. Harden’s huge performance leveled the series, but the Rockets remained dependent on his exhausted efforts.

• Joe Harris went 0-for-9 as the Nets struggled against the Bucks, despite Russell scoring 29 points and dishing out 13 assists.
• Jokic dominated the Warriors’ depleted interior and led the Nuggets to a Game 1 win in Golden State.
• DeRozan hit two clutch mid-range shots to help the Raptors defeat the Celtics in Game 1.
• D’Antoni adjusted Houston’s defense to wear down Chen Xi and limit his time on the ball in Game 2.
• Harden scored 49 points and led the Rockets to a win over the Thunder, while Chen Xi recorded 13 assists and Westbrook and Davis took on more shots.

The chapter recapped the Thunder’s loss to the Rockets and several other playoff results before the Thunder hosted Game 3 in Oklahoma. Chen Xi and the Thunder opened with two successful possessions, while the Rockets missed their first two shots.

• Alexander shot poorly as the Thunder lost to the Rockets, while the Bucks beat the Nets behind Giannis’s 33 points.
• The Warriors defeated the Nuggets after Kerr adjusted the defense to wear down Jokic, and the Raptors beat the Celtics to take another win.
• The Thunder returned to Oklahoma for Game 3, where McGee won the opening tip.
• Westbrook assisted Davis for a mid-range basket, then set up Chen Xi for a successful mid-range shot.
• Tucker and Harden both missed early three-pointers as the Rockets began their first possession in Oklahoma.

The Thunder beat the Rockets in Games 3 and 4 to take a 3–1 series lead, while the Bucks advanced and the Warriors and Raptors moved closer to their conference finals. The chapter ends with the Celtics’ locker-room conflict surfacing after the Raptors took a 3–1 lead, leaving Boston to consider its offseason choices.

• The Thunder beat the Rockets 35–26 in the first quarter and led by 12 at halftime as Davis and Westbrook helped keep control of the game.
• Harden scored 21 points in the third quarter, but Westbrook’s hot shooting swung momentum back to the Thunder, who won Game 3 and took a 2–1 series lead.
• The Bucks defeated the Nets to take a 3–0 lead, while the Warriors beat the Nuggets and the Raptors beat the Celtics on May 4.
• Chen Xi scored 42 points as the Thunder beat the Rockets 131–126 in Game 4, taking a 3–1 series lead despite Harden’s 46 points.
• The Bucks eliminated the Nets, and the Warriors and Raptors each won Game 4 to take 3–1 leads in their series.
• A Celtics beat reporter revealed that the players argued in the locker room after their loss, leaving the front office to weigh its summer options between Irving and the young duo.

The Rockets beat the Thunder in Game 5 to cut the series deficit to 3–2, while the Warriors and Raptors advanced after closing out their series. In Game 6, Anthony Davis drew early fouls on Houston’s big men, and the Rockets’ replacement lineup struggled to score as he roamed on defense.

• Chen Xi shoved Little Rivers during a third-quarter altercation, and the referees handed out technicals before the game settled down.
• The Rockets’ shooters found their rhythm in the fourth quarter and held on to beat the Thunder 129–121, making the series 3–2.
• The Warriors and Raptors both won their series 4–1, as Kevin Durant scored 36 points to help eliminate the Nuggets.
• The Thunder took control early in Game 6 as Anthony Davis attacked the paint and drew two quick fouls on Clint Capela.
• D'Antoni replaced Capela and Tucker with Nene and Faried, but Faried’s lack of a perimeter shot let Davis roam and make Harden’s drives difficult.

The Thunder beat the Rockets 117-104 to win their Western Conference Semifinals series 4-2, then opened the Western Conference Finals against the Warriors. Westbrook scored on the Thunder’s first possession, leaving the opening matchup underway.

• Chen Xi led the Thunder’s scoring surge as they built a lead over the Rockets, and Paul injured his leg during Houston’s third-quarter comeback.
• The Thunder overwhelmed Harden with double-teams and defeated the Rockets 117-104, advancing to face the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
• Chen Xi shook hands and embraced Harden after the game, while considering the Rockets’ roster and team-building limitations.
• On May 14, the Thunder and Warriors began Game 1 at Oracle Arena with their starting lineups, including McGee facing his former team.
• McGee won the opening tip, and Westbrook drove past Curry to score the Thunder’s first basket with a mid-range shot.

The Thunder used Anthony Davis’s playmaking and interior threat to take a narrow lead over the Warriors, while Chen Xi and the team traded baskets with Kevin Durant’s side. In the second quarter, Chen Xi assisted John Collins on a poster dunk over Andrew Bogut, and Durant answered with a basket against Collins.

• Curry and Green set up a Looney dunk, while Chen Xi answered with a three-pointer and the teams traded early scores.
• After a timeout, Donovan urged the Thunder to feature Davis, who scored and created a dunk for Grant as Oklahoma City built a 32–29 first-quarter lead.
• Chen Xi returned to open the second quarter and was called for a shooting foul on Durant, who made both free throws.
• Chen Xi passed to Collins on a pick-and-roll, and Collins posterized Bogut before celebrating with Chen Xi.
• Durant drove against Collins on the next possession, scored through contact, and gave Collins a provocative look.

The Thunder and Warriors traded momentum through three quarters, with the Thunder holding a three-point lead entering the fourth. Chen Xi scored twice against Klay as the Warriors’ small-ball lineup tried to close the gap.

• Chen Xi answered Durant’s defense with a step-through floater, and the Thunder led 67–60 at halftime after relying on Davis in the paint.
• Curry’s third-quarter three-pointers helped the Warriors cut the deficit, but Alexander and Jeff Green steadied the Thunder with high pick-and-rolls, leaving the Thunder ahead 99–96.
• The Thunder opened the fourth quarter without Davis while the Warriors used Green at center, and Chen Xi beat Klay with a move that created an open mid-range jumper.
• Chen Xi scored again with a fadeaway over Klay after catching the ball at the left elbow.
• Curry finished a passing sequence with a corner three, bringing the Warriors closer to the Thunder.

The Thunder adjusted their lineup as Davis returned, then Westbrook and Durant traded scores in a tense duel late in the Western Conference Finals. With two minutes left, the Thunder still led by two points, and Durant felt sadness over how his former partnership with Westbrook had become a rivalry.

• The narrator considered how the Thunder's perimeter defense had weakened and how Donovan might build a new scheme around Chen Xi, but Donovan chose not to experiment in the playoffs.
• With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, Donovan brought Davis in for McGee and returned the Thunder to a lineup with one big and three forwards.
• Westbrook drove and passed to Davis for a dunk, then the Thunder ran back and Chen Xi set up Grant for an alley-oop dunk.
• Durant scored a pull-up jumper over Grant, and Westbrook answered with a one-handed dunk over Green.
• Durant and Westbrook traded scores, and the Thunder held a two-point lead with two minutes remaining as Durant reflected sadly on their former friendship.

The Thunder held off a late Warriors rally as Westbrook blocked Durant and Chen Xi delivered key baskets and free throws. With 1.4 seconds left and the Thunder up two, Davis missed his first free throw, leaving the Warriors a chance.

• Durant dwelled on his regret over leaving the Thunder, the criticism he faced, and his uncertain future with the Warriors.
• Westbrook assisted Davis for a basket, then blocked Durant’s shot and sparked a fast break that Chen Xi finished with a dunk to put the Thunder ahead by eight.
• Curry hit a three, but Chen Xi made free throws to keep the Thunder in front as the Warriors traded baskets and cut the lead to two.
• With 1.4 seconds left, Chen Xi passed to Davis, who was fouled and missed his first free throw.

The Thunder exploited the Warriors’ slow transition defense and moved the ball efficiently to take control of the Western Conference Finals game. They led 39–27 after the first quarter and went into halftime ahead 74–57.

• Westbrook grabbed Looney’s missed shot and pushed the break, setting up Chen Xi for a transition three that helped the Thunder surge ahead.
• Durant scored for the Warriors, but Westbrook and Grant answered with another basket to give the Thunder a 9–2 start.
• Curry drew a shooting foul and made all three free throws, while Westbrook later drove past the Warriors’ defense and dunked over Looney.
• After Kerr called timeout, Chen Xi passed to Anthony Davis for a one-handed dunk, extending the Thunder’s momentum.
• The Thunder finished the first quarter leading 39–27, then Old Carter made three of five three-pointers as they built a 74–57 halftime lead.

The Thunder defeated the Warriors 130–123 in Game 3, taking a 2–1 series lead after Durant suffered a right calf strain. Chen Xi learned of Durant’s injury, then welcomed Talan back to Oklahoma after months apart and reunited with her at home.

• Durant scored 21 points in the third quarter, but injured his right calf early in the fourth and left the game with staff supporting him.
• The Thunder beat the Warriors 130–123 to take a 2–1 lead, and the Warriors announced Durant’s return date was unknown.
• Chen Xi saw the injury report the next morning and worried the Warriors’ playoff run might be over.
• Chen Xi took the day off to pick up Talan, who arrived in Oklahoma after settling her affairs in Korea.
• Chen Xi and Talan drove home together, reunited after months apart, and quickly rekindled their passion.

Chen Xi watched the Raptors beat the Bucks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, then attended Thunder practice before watching the Thunder and Warriors begin Game 4. The Thunder led the series 2–1, and the Warriors started Iguodala in place of the injured Durant.

• Chen Xi prepared dinner for Talan, carried her to the table, and invited her to watch a future game after welcoming her back from her trip.
• Chen Xi and Talan watched the Raptors defeat the Bucks 114–107, cutting Milwaukee’s series lead to 2–1 as Nurse looked to exploit Toronto’s stronger bench.
• Chen Xi returned to Thunder practice on May 20 and reflected on his hobbies of collecting instruments, figurines, and sneakers.
• The Thunder hosted the Warriors in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals with a 2–1 lead.
• Kerr started Iguodala after Durant’s injury, keeping him in the Warriors’ starting lineup while weakening their bench rotation.

The Thunder defeated the injury-ravaged Warriors 130–123, taking a 3–1 series lead as Curry’s huge first half faded and Chen Xi led the Thunder’s decisive fourth-quarter run. The series returned to the familiar 3–1 score, leaving the Warriors’ comeback hopes uncertain.

• Westbrook and Chen Xi attacked the Warriors’ defensive matchups while Curry scored 18 points in the first quarter, but the Thunder trailed 35–29.
• Curry reached 35 points by halftime, yet the Warriors held only a 71–68 lead.
• Curry cooled off in the third quarter as the Thunder rallied to take a 99–97 lead.
• Chen Xi scored eight straight points after returning in the fourth quarter, forcing a Warriors timeout and extending the Thunder’s momentum.
• Curry missed two late three-point attempts, and the Thunder beat the Warriors 130–123 to take a 3–1 series lead.