Chapter Summaries

Chen Xi received a $35,000 fine for an obscene gesture, then helped the Thunder extend their winning streak to six games. The chapter ended with the Thunder opening their Houston matchup against Harden and Irving’s Rockets.

• Chen Xi complained to Westbrook about his fine while they bowled, but Westbrook beat him and won a year of gas money.
• Chen Xi scored 39 points in the Thunder’s win over the Trail Blazers on November 2.
• Chen Xi scored 32 points as the Thunder beat the Knicks on November 3, improving to six straight wins.
• The Thunder traveled to Houston to face the Rockets, whose Harden-Irving pairing made them a formidable rival despite the lingering fallout from the Morey incident.
• Harden and Capela failed to score on the Rockets’ opening pick-and-roll, and Westbrook raced down the court to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead.

Chen Xi and the Thunder traded high-scoring attacks with Harden, Irving, and the Rockets before the Thunder edged ahead at the end of the first quarter. The Rockets retook the lead in the second, but Chen Xi returned and sparked another Thunder rally.

• Harden and Irving hit early shots for the Rockets, while Chen Xi answered with scoring drives and jumpers for the Thunder.
• Donovan rested Chen Xi and shifted the Thunder’s offense toward Davis, who helped the team finish the first quarter ahead 37–35.
• Harden set up Gordon, Little Rivers, and Tucker for three-pointers as the Rockets took the lead in the second quarter.
• Chen Xi returned five minutes into the second quarter, hit a three and a floater, then stole Gordon’s dribble and finished a fast-break dunk to put the Thunder back in front.

Chen Xi continued his explosive scoring against the Rockets after halftime, while James Harden answered with shots of his own. The Thunder extended their attack through Chen Xi’s threat and Alexander’s drives.

• Chen Xi grabbed Harden’s missed layup, raced upcourt, left House behind with dribble moves, and hit a transition three.
• Harden isolated against Alexander and answered with a three-pointer.
• Chen Xi curled off Jerebko’s screen and made another three over House.
• After Harden missed from outside, Collins rebounded and passed to Alexander, who used Chen Xi’s screen to drive and score a floater.

Kyrie Irving’s scoring burst brought the Rockets close, but Chen Xi regained his focus as the Thunder and Rockets traded baskets in the fourth quarter. Harden’s late attempt to attack Davis ended with a missed step-back three, leaving the Thunder ahead.

• Irving scored repeatedly in the third quarter and early fourth, cutting the Thunder’s lead to two before the Rockets moved ahead by three.
• Chen Xi returned to the game, recovered his scoring touch, and answered the Rockets with a mid-range jumper.
• Harden created open three-point chances for House, who made one and missed the next, while Westbrook scored and drew a foul to keep the Thunder close.
• Chen Xi grabbed the defensive rebound, drove past Irving, and scored with a 360-degree layup.
• After a timeout, Harden tried to attack Davis but missed a double step-back three.

The Thunder beat the Rockets 139–135, with Chen Xi scoring 56 points, then continued their road trip with a comfortable win over the Mavericks. Chen Xi was named Western Conference Player of the Week and took first place in the early-season MVP rankings.

• Chen Xi and the Thunder pulled ahead late against the Rockets, and Harden missed his final two three-point attempts as Oklahoma City won 139–135.
• Chen Xi said he had once dreamed of joining Houston but would now choose Oklahoma City, prompting Rockets fans to lament missing him in the draft.
• The Thunder defeated the Mavericks 120–104 on November 7, with Chen Xi recording 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists.
• Chen Xi earned Western Conference Player of the Week and moved to first in the early-season MVP rankings, ahead of Giannis, Harden, Old Zhang, and Luka Doncic.
• Leonard’s improved attendance helped the Heat rise to third in the Eastern Conference alongside Bam.

The Thunder completed a road trip, suffered their first loss of the season to the Bucks, then beat the Bulls before taking on the Clippers in Los Angeles. Their role players regained their form against the Clippers, and the Thunder opened a large lead by halftime.

• The Nets relied on Durant and Paul George but sought an affordable playmaker to address their offensive weakness.
• The Thunder beat the Grizzlies 117-98, but Vince Carter sprained his ankle and was expected to miss at least four weeks.
• After a three-day break, the Thunder lost 112-120 to the Bucks as Giannis scored 39 points and led Milwaukee to its first win over them that season.
• The Thunder defeated the Bulls 119-103, with Chen Xi recording 36 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.
• The Thunder faced the Clippers on the road, and their role players recovered their form as the team built a large halftime lead.

The Thunder continued their winning road trip as Chen Xi shone against the Clippers and Suns, then opened a nationally televised game against the Heat. Chen Xi and Tyler Herro traded early baskets, and the chapter ended with Bam Adebayo’s mid-range shot hitting the rim.

• Chen Xi scored 27 points and recorded 12 assists as the Thunder defeated the Clippers 125–97, with Westbrook and Davis also earning double-doubles.
• The Thunder beat the Suns 130–102, and Chen Xi and Devin Booker exchanged friendly words after the game as Booker lamented Phoenix’s struggles to win.
• The Thunder traveled to Miami on November 20, where Gasol won the opening tip and Chen Xi scored the game’s first basket against Duncan Robinson.
• Tyler Herro answered with a jumper, then Chen Xi beat him off the dribble and scored again while disrupting Kawhi Leonard’s help defense.
• Herro kept to the Heat’s game plan after Spo warned him to control his emotions, and Bam Adebayo’s mid-range jumper struck the rim.

Chen Xi scored repeatedly against Kawhi Leonard as the Thunder’s offense overwhelmed the Heat’s defensive adjustments. The first quarter ended with the Thunder leading 34–27.

• Chen Xi beat Kawhi’s tight defense with a contested fadeaway jumper, giving him three straight opening baskets from mid-range.
• Kawhi answered with a mid-range jumper, but Chen Xi scored again off an Iverson Cut to make all four of his first shots.
• Coach Spo called a timeout and ordered the Heat to collapse on Chen Xi and change their defensive assignments.
• After Duncan Robinson missed a three, Westbrook drove past the Heat’s defense and scored a layup through Meyers Leonard.
• Chen Xi drew help defense on a pick-and-roll and passed to Davis, who finished with a tomahawk dunk.
• The Thunder’s core trio kept the Heat from containing their offense, and the Thunder ended the first quarter ahead 34–27.

Chen Xi led the Thunder through a dominant stretch in the third quarter, scoring from long mid-range, making a highlight-reel fadeaway, and setting up a fast-break dunk. The Thunder extended their advantage, forcing the Heat to bring Kawhi back early, while Alexander continued the scoring with a layup.

• Kawhi and Herro used pick-and-rolls to attack the Thunder’s weaker defenders, while Chen Xi held his own against Kawhi.
• Chen Xi returned in the second quarter and led a defensive run that pushed the Thunder’s lead into double digits, though the Heat cut it to 67-59 by halftime.
• Chen Xi opened the third quarter by answering Little Jones’s layup with a long mid-range jumper, then hit a spinning fadeaway over Olynyk.
• Chen Xi blocked Little Jones’s shot and launched a cross-court pass to Jerebko, who finished with a two-handed dunk.
• Herro drew a foul on Collins and made both free throws as Kawhi checked back in early.
• Alexander drove past the Heat’s defense for a layup while Chen Xi kept Kawhi occupied in the opposite corner.

The Thunder defeated the Heat 134–120 after Kawhi Leonard briefly steadied Miami's offense but could not lead a comeback. Chen Xi and Westbrook each recorded a triple-double, and the chapter ended with Chen Xi catching up with Kawhi and retired Lao Wei after the game.

• Donovan considered moving Chen Xi to small forward and making Alexander the starting shooting guard, though the roster's spacing and balance remained concerns.
• Kawhi Leonard attacked Alexander for a dunk and helped the Heat steady their offense when he returned to the floor.
• The Thunder rebuilt their lead, finished the third quarter ahead 104–89, and forced Spo to concede with two and a half minutes remaining in the fourth.
• Chen Xi finished with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Westbrook recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in the Thunder's 134–120 win.
• Leonard scored 32 points for the Heat, while Adebayo and rookie point guard Herro struggled to keep pace.
• Chen Xi spoke with Kawhi and caught up with retired Lao Wei in the stands before heading to the locker room.

After the Thunder beat the Heat, Chen Xi claimed his first regular-season triple-double reward and added attribute points. The Thunder then won easily over the Hornets, suffered a shocking home loss to the Magic, and bounced back by routing the Timberwolves.

• After the Heat game, Chen Xi received 20 free attribute points for his first regular-season triple-double and put 15 into strength and 5 into steals.
• On November 22, the Thunder beat the Hornets 122–101, while Kemba Walker’s future with the team remained uncertain amid interest from the Nets and Heat.
• On November 23, the Thunder shot poorly and lost 112–103 at home to the Magic despite Chen Xi scoring 38 points.
• Donovan sent the Thunder home without harsh punishment after the loss, and the team rested the next day.
• After their rest, the Thunder overwhelmed the Timberwolves 136–98, with Chen Xi scoring 18 points in 21 minutes.

The Thunder rested their starters in a blowout win over the Timberwolves, then began a home game against the surging Nets, with Kevin Durant returning to Oklahoma City. Durant scored early, while Chen Xi and Davis helped the Thunder answer, leaving the game underway.

• Alexander scored 35 points and handed out 9 assists in 31 minutes as the Thunder routed the Timberwolves.
• The Thunder welcomed the Nets to Oklahoma City after a three-day break, and Durant faced familiar boos during his return.
• George hit a step-back three over Chen Xi to open the scoring for the Nets.
• Westbrook assisted Davis on a short finish, and Durant answered with an and-one over Grant and Davis.
• Westbrook missed a contested dunk against Allen, then Durant made a pull-up three.
• Chen Xi drew a double-team and passed to Davis for a layup.

Chen Xi helped the Thunder create points through teamwork against the Nets, while Durant and George kept the Nets' offense rolling. When Chen Xi and Durant left the court for the rotation, the Thunder trailed 35-38 at the end of the first quarter.

• Chen Xi stole the ball from George, then set up Westbrook for an alley-oop dunk with help from Davis's screen.
• George passed to Durant, who scored a mid-range jumper to put the Nets ahead 11-6.
• Chen Xi's pick-and-roll created an open three for Grant, and Davis grabbed the rebound before drawing a foul and making both free throws.
• Atkinson matched Durant's rotation to Chen Xi's, and both stars left the court with the Thunder trailing 33-27.
• The Thunder's bench narrowed the deficit, but the Nets ended the first quarter ahead 38-35.

The Thunder regained the lead in the second quarter as Chen Xi scored spectacularly against the Nets, and they carried a five-point advantage into halftime. Durant and George struggled to sustain the Nets’ offense after the break, while Chen Xi led a late Thunder surge that put the game out of reach.

• Alexander and Davis led a 10-4 Thunder run while George and Durant rested, prompting the Nets to bring Durant back and Donovan to put Chen Xi on the floor.
• Durant and Chen Xi traded baskets, and Chen Xi broke through the Nets’ defense for a windmill dunk and another layup before Atkinson called timeout and returned George to the game.
• The Thunder led 71-66 at halftime as Chen Xi scored 27 points and Durant and George combined for 40.
• George went cold in the second half, and Durant’s heavy workload left the Nets struggling to keep pace.
• Chen Xi led an 8-0 Thunder run in the final five minutes, assisting Westbrook and Grant after scoring a three and stealing the ball, extending the lead to 15 points.

The Thunder beat the Nets, Hawks, and Pacers as Chris Chen continued to lead the team through a demanding schedule. The League named Chris the Western Conference Player of the Month for November after he led the Thunder to the NBA’s best record with extraordinary scoring efficiency.

• Chris Chen scored 45 points as the Thunder defeated Durant and George’s Nets 139–127.
• The Thunder beat the Hawks 119–101 on December 1, with Chris scoring 26 points in 28 minutes.
• The Thunder defeated the rebuilding Pacers 120–108 on the second night of a back-to-back.
• The League named Giannis Antetokounmpo the Eastern Conference Player of the Month and Chris Chen the Western Conference Player of the Month for November.
• Fans and online accounts praised Chris’s statistics, shooting efficiency, and impact on the Thunder.

Chen Xi was named Western Conference Player of the Month as fans argued online about his performance and comparisons with LeBron James. He kept up with training despite his reluctance, then helped the Thunder defeat the Clippers 123–102.

• Fans debated Chen Xi's early-season dominance, his MVP prospects, and whether he could surpass James, while arguments about the Lakers derailed the discussion.
• Chen Xi tried to sneak a break during practice, but his trainer made him get up and continue training.
• Chen Xi recalled that skipping training had given him Obesity and Rustiness debuffs, so he still needed to exercise to maintain his condition.
• The Thunder overwhelmed the Clippers from the opening minutes and won their second matchup of the season, 123–102.
• Chen Xi played 28 minutes and scored 27 points with 4 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Thunder and Pelicans traded baskets early in their December 6 game as the Thunder exploited New Orleans’ weak rim protection and Chen Xi answered Jimmy Butler’s challenge with an and-one. Oklahoma City took the lead after Jerami Grant made two free throws.

• The Thunder won the opening tip, but Jerami Grant missed a three before JJ Redick opened the scoring for the Pelicans with a three-pointer.
• Russell Westbrook assisted Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol on consecutive Thunder possessions, while Jimmy Butler answered with a floater.
• Chen Xi used Marc Gasol’s screen to attack the Pelicans’ defense, allowing Gasol to score again at the rim.
• Butler scored against Grant, then Chen Xi beat Butler off the dribble, made a floater through contact, and converted the and-one free throw to tie the game at 7–7.
• Redick missed a three, and Russell Westbrook pushed the ball upcourt before Julius Randle fouled Grant, who made both free throws to put the Thunder ahead.

The Thunder steadily built a lead over the Pelicans through fast breaks, mismatches, and strong bench play. At halftime, the Thunder led 64–53, while Butler and the Pelicans struggled to generate enough offense to keep pace.

• Westbrook scored on a fast break after Holiday missed at the rim, prompting Gentry to call a timeout and remind the Pelicans to get back on defense.
• The Pelicans ran a horns play that ended with Butler cutting to the basket and scoring off Redick’s pass.
• Grant exploited a mismatch against Redick and made a mid-range shot after driving into the paint.
• Alexander continued to develop as an effective scorer and playmaker while playing alongside the Thunder’s stars.
• The Thunder ended the first quarter ahead 35–28 and extended their lead to 64–53 by halftime.
• Davis silenced Randle, while Redick and Butler failed to score enough to keep the Pelicans close.

Chen Xi and the Thunder beat the Pelicans, Hornets, and Cavaliers as the 2019–20 All-Star voting began. After a bench player rebelled during the Cavaliers game, Chen Xi was pulled early with 22 points.

• Chen Xi and the Thunder beat Butler’s Pelicans 129–115, and Butler invited Chen Xi over to discuss the Nets before their reunion grew into a party at Turtle Turtle’s house.
• The Thunder defeated the Hornets 116–97 on December 8, the day NBA All-Star voting opened, and Moon had Chen Xi record videos asking fans to vote for him.
• The Cavaliers struggled with Kevin Love’s role and trade situation while young guards Colin Sexton and Ja Morant showed promise.
• The Thunder beat the Cavaliers 119–96, and Chen Xi played only 21 minutes before someone on the bench rebelled.

Chen Xi prepared for the coming flu outbreak by bringing the old man from Dallas to Oklahoma City and increasing his foundation’s factory production of protective supplies. Meanwhile, the Thunder kept winning, and Chen Xi warned Donovan Mitchell and Odie to stay cautious as the NBA faced a future outbreak.

• Vince Carter returned to play and scored 20 points in 26 minutes at age 42.
• Chen Xi took leave from the Thunder, brought the old man from Dallas to Oklahoma City, and had his foundation’s factory increase production of masks and protective clothing.
• Chen Xi scored 28 points on perfect shooting as the Thunder routed the Spurs 130–96.
• The Thunder beat the Jazz, while Russell Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson’s career triple-double record.
• Chen Xi warned Donovan Mitchell to take precautions and sent Odie an advance warning.