Chapter Summaries

The Thunder continued their winning streak through December, with Chen Xi leading them past the Bucks and into a New Year’s Eve matchup against the surging Nuggets. The game opened with Chen Xi scoring off a Westbrook pick-and-roll, then Jamal Murray answered with a mid-range jumper.

• The Thunder extended their winning streak to seventeen games and beat the Bucks 126-104 on Christmas, with Chen Xi recording 42 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists.
• Chen Xi briefly moved ahead of James and The Greek Freak to lead All-Star voting as the Thunder reached a 31-2 record.
• The Nuggets rose to third in the West with a 12-3 month and entered the December 31 game hoping to end the Thunder’s eighteen-game winning streak.
• The Thunder won the opening tip, and Westbrook and Chen Xi combined on a pick-and-roll that ended with Chen Xi scoring a floater over Nikola Jokic.
• Jamal Murray used a Jokic screen to drive into the paint and make a mid-range jumper for the Nuggets.

The Thunder and Nuggets traded early baskets as Chen Xi scored efficiently and the Thunder exploited their defensive versatility and fast break. After Chen Xi hit a contested three over two defenders, Malone called a timeout to interrupt his hot streak.

• Little Gasol faked a handoff and fed Davis for a dunk, tying the score at 4–4 after Jokic answered with a post-up fadeaway.
• Chen Xi beat Murray and Gordon for a fadeaway jumper, then sent a long pass to Westbrook for a fast-break dunk.
• Little Porter hit a pull-up three off a handoff with Jokic to put the Nuggets ahead 8–7.
• Chen Xi made a step-back three over Murray and Harris, then celebrated toward the home crowd.
• Malone called a timeout after Chen Xi's contested three.

The Thunder traded baskets with the Nuggets before Chen Xi and Davis led a decisive third-quarter run that blew the game open. The Thunder held a 23-point lead, and the Nuggets had no answer for their pick-and-roll.

• Chen Xi pump-faked Murray, spun past Aaron Gordon in midair, and scored a reverse-hand layup.
• The teams traded baskets, and the Thunder ended the first quarter ahead 33–31.
• Alexander and Davis led the Thunder’s bench lineup on a run that stretched the lead while Jokic rested.
• Chen Xi and Jokic returned, exchanged baskets with their teams, and the Thunder went into halftime leading 65–58.
• Chen Xi, Davis, Grant, and Westbrook helped the Thunder score 20–4 in four minutes early in the third quarter, turning their seven-point lead into a 23-point advantage.
• Malone called timeout as the Nuggets struggled to stop Chen Xi and Davis’s pick-and-roll.

The Thunder defeated the Nuggets 126–112 to extend their winning streak to 18 games, and Chen Xi returned home to celebrate New Year’s Eve with his family. The next morning, he spent time with Talan, who was preparing to return to Russia the following day.

• The Thunder outscored the Nuggets 42–23 in the third quarter and won 126–112, securing their 18th consecutive victory.
• After the game, Chen Xi celebrated with the team, then returned home before midnight and exchanged New Year’s wishes with Chen Ziyun.
• Chen Xi found Talan asleep beside her phone, which showed she had reached one million YouTube followers, and quietly joined her in bed.
• The next morning, Talan told Chen Xi that Chen Ziyun had gone grocery shopping and had left him breakfast.
• Chen Xi ate breakfast and watched a show with Talan, expecting delivery of a Ford Explorer he had bought for Chen Ziyun.
• Chen Xi planned to spend New Year’s Day with Talan before she flew back to Russia the next day to visit her family.

The Thunder extended their winning streak to 24 games, tying the Warriors’ record, and faced the Lakers with a chance to claim sole possession of third place on the all-time list. The chapter ended early in the game, with Chen Xi stealing the ball from James on a fast break.

• The Thunder beat the Nuggets 120–103, swept their mini-series, and Chen Xi scored 34 points with 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
• The Thunder defeated the Hornets, Knicks, Grizzlies, Suns, and Trail Blazers in succession to reach 24 consecutive wins.
• Carter traveled with the team despite another injury, while the Thunder prepared to face the Lakers at home.
• James scored on the Lakers’ opening possession, and Westbrook missed a contested drive at the other end.
• James pushed the Lakers into transition, but Chen Xi activated [Master of Stealing from Ball Handler] and swiped the ball from him.

Chen Xi and the Thunder traded baskets with James and the Lakers as Chen Xi grew increasingly frustrated with the referees’ calls. After James made two more free throws, Chen Xi faced Caruso in isolation, while Caruso saw the matchup as a chance to prove himself.

• A referee called Chen Xi for fouling James, who made both free throws, and Chen Xi answered with a mid-range jumper.
• Rondo and Kuzma secured a second chance for the Lakers, and James assisted Anthony on a made three.
• Chen Xi drove through the Lakers’ defense, and Marc Gasol finished his missed layup attempt to put the Thunder ahead 7–4.
• James scored in transition, and Davis answered with a floater after Westbrook drew the defense and passed to him.
• James drew a foul on Marc Gasol and made both free throws while Chen Xi argued with the referee before Donovan pulled him away.
• Chen Xi brought the ball up and isolated against Caruso, who resolved to use the nationally televised matchup to prove his defensive ability.

Chen Xi vented his frustration by scoring repeatedly against the Lakers, including a dunk over LeBron James that shifted the game's momentum. The Thunder took control as Vogel called a timeout, and Chen Xi sat down at the bench to celebrate with his teammates.

• Chen Xi broke past Caruso, made a midrange shot through James's contact, and converted the free throw for a three-point play.
• After Pope missed a three, Westbrook grabbed the rebound and passed ahead to Chen Xi, who scored a reverse layup to tie the game at 11–11.
• James hit a three-pointer over Grant to put the Lakers back ahead.
• Chen Xi drove past Caruso and dunked over James, sending James tumbling into the stanchion.
• Westbrook celebrated by shoving Chen Xi, who shoved him back and mimed rowing a boat as Vogel called a timeout.

Chen Xi led the Thunder against the Lakers with dominant scoring and playmaking, helping them build a 13-point halftime lead despite the Lakers drawing far more first-quarter free throws. The game seemed to be tilting toward the Thunder, but an unexpected turn began in the third quarter.

• Chen Xi told his teammates that he wanted to win the game, then returned to the court and scored repeatedly against the Lakers.
• Westbrook intercepted the ball and scored a fast-break dunk that put the Thunder ahead, before James set up Cousins to put the Lakers back in front.
• Chen Xi scored over James, prompting the Lakers to double- and triple-team him and giving Davis room to lead the Thunder's offense.
• The Thunder finished the first quarter ahead 37–31, while Chen Xi scored 21 points and the Lakers took 10 free throws.
• Fans protested the referees' calls, and the Thunder extended their lead to 75–62 by halftime behind Chen Xi's 31 points and eight assists.
• An unexpected turn began in the third quarter.

A third-quarter scuffle between the Lakers and Thunder raised the game's intensity, and the Lakers rallied to cut the deficit to one point early in the fourth. The Thunder starters returned, and James passed to Anthony as the Lakers attacked.

• Stephenson grabbed Chen Xi's arm and knocked him to the floor, then shoved Jerebko and sparked a scuffle involving Westbrook and Dudley.
• The referees reviewed the altercation and gave Stephenson a technical foul.
• Pope, Kuzma, and Ingram hit consecutive three-pointers late in the third quarter, and Pope's buzzer-beater cut the Thunder's lead to seven.
• Anthony scored efficiently against Korver and Vanderbilt, leading the Lakers on an 8–2 run that brought the margin down to one.
• Donovan called timeout and returned the Thunder starters to the game.
• James contested Davis's layup, then led the Lakers' fast break and passed to Anthony after drawing Westbrook onto him.

Chen Xi and LeBron traded baskets in a fierce one-on-one duel in the fourth quarter as the Thunder and Lakers stayed tied. James rediscovered his competitive hunger, but Cousins scored inside on the Lakers’ next possession.

• Anthony hit a three-pointer to give the Lakers the lead and celebrated.
• Chen Xi beat James with a fake and reverse layup to tie the score.
• James blocked Grant’s shot, then drove past Chen Xi and scored to put the Lakers back on the board.
• Chen Xi shook James with a series of moves and made a pull-up jumper, prompting James to feel a renewed hunger to win.
• James and Chen Xi continued trading scores, including Chen Xi’s contested three-pointer.
• James passed to Cousins, who pump-faked Little Gasol and laid the ball in.

With the Thunder and Lakers trading clutch baskets late in the fourth quarter, Chen Xi answered the Lakers’ rally with a go-ahead-sealing three-pointer. The Thunder held a decisive lead with little time remaining, putting their 24-game winning streak within reach.

• Westbrook used a screen from Davis to drive for a dunk, extending the Thunder’s lead to seven points.
• James hit a three-pointer over Chen Xi, and Chen Xi answered with a three of his own after the Thunder worked the ball around the perimeter.
• Cousins grabbed an offensive rebound for the Lakers, and Pope made a three-pointer to cut the deficit to four.
• Chen Xi took the final crucial possession, shook James with a series of fakes, and sank a clutch three-pointer to kill the game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Lakers to earn their 25th consecutive win, with Chen Xi finishing with 42 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists. After celebrating the record-setting victory and completing interviews, Chen Xi and the Thunder became the focus of debate among fans.

• Chen Xi helped the Thunder protect their lead as the Lakers scored late, and the final buzzer confirmed Oklahoma City’s 25th straight win.
• Chen Xi celebrated with Grant and Westbrook, urging his teammates to remember the milestone and keep moving forward.
• Chen Xi told a Penguin Sports reporter that competing against LeBron James fueled his competitive spirit and thanked fans for their support.
• Fans debated the officiating, Anthony’s performance, the Thunder’s coaching, and whether the team could surpass the Heat’s and Lakers’ winning streak records.

The Thunder extended their winning streak to 27 games despite injuries to Collins and Carter, with Chen Xi leading wins over the Mavericks and Pistons. They then arrived in San Francisco to face the Warriors, whose starters included Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.

• After beating the Lakers, the Thunder traveled to Dallas, where Chen Xi scored 45 points and recorded a triple-double in an easy win over the Mavericks.
• Collins strained his hip during the game, becoming the second Thunder player injured after Carter.
• The Thunder beat the Pistons 115–97 to tie the Heat's record with 27 straight wins, led by strong performances from Chen Xi, Westbrook, and Davis.
• Chen Xi and Westbrook caught up with their former teammate Adams after the game and discussed his situation in Detroit.
• The Thunder visited the Warriors in San Francisco for their first matchup of the season, and the teams' starting lineups were introduced.

The Thunder opened their season against the Warriors by exploiting the Warriors’ weak interior defense and leaning on Chen Xi’s post playmaking. Both teams’ stars scored efficiently early as the Thunder built a narrow 10–8 lead.

• Little Gasol tipped the opening jump ball to the Thunder, and Chen Xi drew Green’s help before passing to Little Gasol for a layup.
• D'Angelo Russell answered with a pull-up mid-range jumper for the Warriors.
• Anthony Davis grabbed his own rebound and dunked over Chris after Chen Xi’s pass created the attack.
• Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry each hit three-pointers, while Chen Xi scored over Klay with a fadeaway inspired by Tracy McGrady.
• Chen Xi drew a double-team and passed through Davis to Little Gasol for another easy layup.
• After Russell missed a three, Chen Xi sent a long pass to Russell Westbrook, who dunked in transition to put the Thunder ahead 10–8.

The Thunder built a commanding lead over the Warriors behind Anthony Davis’s dominance on both ends. The game took a tense turn when Draymond Green elbowed Davis in the face, and Green avoided Chen Xi for the rest of the game after the foul was called.

• Kerr changed the Warriors’ lineup to improve their rim protection, but Davis’s scoring and mid-range shooting helped the Thunder maintain their lead.
• The Warriors cut the Thunder’s advantage to five by the end of the first quarter, but Davis and Alexander led a 12–1 run in the second quarter.
• The Thunder went into halftime ahead 80–57, with Davis scoring 28 points on 12-for-14 shooting in 19 minutes.
• Green elbowed Davis in the face while coming down with a defensive rebound, sending Davis to the locker room for an examination.
• Chen Xi confronted Green, who apologized, and the referee called Green for a first-degree intentional foul before Chen Xi made both free throws.
• Green avoided Chen Xi on defense for the remainder of the game.

After Anthony Davis was injured by a dirty play in the Thunder’s win over the Warriors, Oklahoma City began a difficult game against Houston without him. Chen Xi kept the Thunder in contention with a huge scoring performance, but the Rockets led by seven at halftime.

• Chen Xi scored 46 points as the Thunder beat the Warriors 123–104 for their 28th straight win, while Anthony Davis suffered a facial injury and entered concussion protocol.
• Donovan said Davis would not return until he was fully recovered, leaving the Thunder without three injured players.
• Donovan started Westbrook, Alexander, Chen Xi, Grant, and Little Gasol against the Rockets, but Houston’s defense and the guards’ poor three-point shooting stalled the Thunder’s offense.
• After Korver replaced Alexander, the Rockets targeted Korver on defense while Chen Xi took advantage of the extra space to score repeatedly.
• Chen Xi had 35 points by halftime, but the Rockets led 73–66 as their role players shot more effectively than the Thunder’s.

The Thunder and Rockets traded baskets in a high-scoring third quarter, with Chen Xi taking over after Houston built a double-digit lead. The Thunder ended the quarter trailing 98-104, while Chen Xi rested his knees on the bench after reaching 47 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.

• Donovan opened the third quarter with a small-ball lineup built around Alexander and Gafford running pick-and-rolls while Chen Xi conserved energy on the wing.
• Irving and Tucker helped the Rockets answer the Thunder’s early baskets, and their 6-0 run pushed Houston’s lead into double digits.
• Donovan signaled for Chen Xi to take over, and Chen Xi scored a floater against Capela’s hedge to steady the Thunder.
• The teams traded baskets for several minutes, and the Thunder finished the third quarter trailing the Rockets 98-104.
• Chen Xi sat on the bench with ice packs on his knees after playing 30 minutes and recording 47 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists.

Chen Xi assured Donovan he could keep playing, and the Thunder rallied before returning to face the Rockets in the fourth quarter. The Thunder cut the deficit to two after Westbrook’s transition dunk, prompting D'Antoni to call timeout.

• Chen Xi told Donovan he was fine, and Westbrook led the Thunder players in a pregame rally.
• Donovan sent Westbrook, Chen Xi, Grant, Green, and Noel onto the court against the Rockets’ four starters.
• Chen Xi helped force Irving into a missed fadeaway, then assisted Westbrook on a layup that drew a foul.
• Harden answered with a three, and Chen Xi scored a pull-up jumper over Gordon.
• Chen Xi stayed in front of Harden, who passed to Tucker, whose missed three was rebounded by Westbrook.
• Westbrook raced downcourt and dunked to bring the Thunder within two, and D'Antoni called timeout.

The Thunder and Rockets traded baskets as the game tightened in the final minutes, with Chen Xi tying the score before James Harden briefly swung momentum Houston’s way. Chen Xi answered with a three-point play after two timeouts, cutting the deficit to two with 1:30 left.

• Little Gasol entered for the Thunder after Donovan called a timeout, while the Rockets kept their lineup unchanged.
• Irving and Westbrook traded scores in a series of one-on-one exchanges, with Irving appearing more consistent as their back-and-forth continued.
• Chen Xi took on more of the Thunder’s offense, and Harden shifted toward setting up Gordon and Tucker as the Rockets tried to keep pace.
• Chen Xi hit a three to tie the game at 125–125 with two and a half minutes remaining, prompting another Rockets timeout.
• Harden scored back-to-back threes after switching onto Gasol, and Chen Xi missed a contested three as the Rockets seized momentum.
• After Donovan called two timeouts to rest him, Chen Xi made a three against Gordon, drew a shooting foul, and converted the free throw to complete a three-point play and cut the lead to two with 1:30 left.

Chen Xi blocked James Harden’s potential go-ahead three and scored a windmill dunk to put the Thunder ahead by two late in the game. The Rockets missed their final three, and Chen Xi went to the free-throw line with a chance to seal the win.

• Westbrook blocked Kyrie Irving’s floater, and Chen Xi tied the game with a layup at the other end.
• Chen Xi stayed with Harden through the Rockets’ screens and blocked his step-back three.
• Westbrook grabbed the ball and sent a long pass to Chen Xi, who finished a spinning windmill dunk to give the Thunder a two-point lead.
• Irving drove against Westbrook, passed out of the defense, and Eric Gordon missed an open corner three.
• Chen Xi grabbed the rebound, and Tucker fouled him, sending him to the free-throw line.