Chapter Summaries

The Thunder beat the Nuggets 124–118 to take a 3–0 series lead after Chen Xi drew Jokic’s sixth foul late in the game. The chapter then began Game 2 between the Heat and Bucks, where Miami’s aggressive zone defense disrupted Giannis and helped the Heat build momentum by halftime.

• Chen Xi drew Jokic’s sixth foul in the final minute, and the Thunder closed out a 124–118 win over the Nuggets.
• Donovan adjusted the Thunder’s rotation by benching Korver and giving Jerebko and Vanderbilt more playing time.
• Jokic finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds, but the Nuggets fell into a 0–3 series hole.
• Chen Xi consoled Murray after the game, and Donovan urged the Thunder to keep working toward the NBA Championship.
• Spo had the Heat use an aggressive zone defense against Giannis, forcing nine Bucks turnovers by halftime as Miami’s offense found its rhythm.

The Thunder swept the Nuggets to advance to the Finals while the Eastern Conference Finals swung between the Bucks and Heat. Facing elimination, the Heat changed their defense in G6 after Leonard volunteered to guard Giannis, and they returned to a defense-first approach.

• Leonard scored 31 points and led the Heat to a 124–113 win over the Bucks in G2, tying the series 1–1.
• Chen scored 24 points as the Thunder beat the Nuggets 117–96 in G4, completing a 4–0 sweep and advancing to the Finals.
• The Bucks beat the Heat in G3 and G4 as their role players shot well from three and Middleton had another big game, putting Miami on the brink of elimination.
• Leonard scored 34 points as the Heat shot 70 percent from three to win G5 and stay alive.
• Leonard told Spo he would guard Giannis, and Spo changed the Heat's defensive strategy for G6.

Chen Xi watched the Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 between the Heat and the Bucks with his teammates, joking that he could guard Giannis. The Heat dominated the first half, taking an 18-point lead as Giannis struggled to score and Adebayo led Miami's offense.

• After losing Game 6, the Bucks let the Heat tie the series at 3–3 and force a Game 7.
• Chen Xi watched the deciding game with his teammates and predicted the Heat would win, while joking that he could stop Giannis.
• Brook Lopez won the opening tip, but Giannis missed his first mid-range jumper against Kawhi's defense.
• Adebayo scored six straight points early, helping the Heat take a 29–18 lead in the first quarter.
• Giannis and the Bucks' role players continued to struggle, and the Heat led 63–45 at halftime.

The Heat defeated the Bucks in Game 7 to reach the Finals, where they faced the defending champion Thunder. The Finals began with the Thunder opening on offense and the Heat answering with a Herro-led possession.

• The Heat beat the Bucks 113–96 in Game 7, completing a comeback from a 1–3 deficit and advancing to the Finals.
• Chen teased Grant about picking the Bucks, then declined to bet on the Finals after Grant said he backed the Thunder.
• On October 2, the Heat and Thunder met to begin the Finals, with Leonard leading Miami against the defending champions.
• The Thunder won the opening tip, and Chen missed a three-pointer after Duncan Robinson switched onto him.
• Herro drove off Adebayo’s screen and passed to Duncan Robinson, but Chen stayed with him through his shot fake.

Chen Xi and the Thunder traded early baskets with the Heat as both teams pushed the pace and Miami hit several shots. Chen Xi drove past Kawhi Leonard and attacked the paint again, leaving the outcome of his latest move unresolved.

• Chen Xi stole Duncan Robinson’s dribble, and Davis collected the ball before Westbrook finished the Thunder’s fast break with a windmill dunk.
• Kawhi Leonard scored a baseline reverse layup for the Heat, then Grant missed a three and Herro answered with a three-pointer.
• Westbrook’s pass slipped past Davis and became a Heat fast break, but Duncan Robinson missed his layup under Chen Xi’s pressure, and Grant recovered the rebound.
• Chen Xi drove past Leonard and finished a spinning, switch-hand layup through Adebayo’s help defense.
• Herro pushed a four-on-three break and passed to Jae Crowder, who made a three-pointer.
• Chen Xi used a fake and crossover to break past Leonard, activated his Ankle Breaker badge, and drove toward Adebayo’s help defense.

Chen Xi hit a spectacular falling-back shot over Kawhi Leonard, then helped Anthony Davis score with a pass that led to a dunk. The Heat used their extended rotation to build a 36–30 first-quarter lead over the Thunder.

• Chen Xi evaded Leonard's block attempt and made a difficult double-clutch fadeaway before Davis pulled him up and bumped into him.
• Chen Xi used a screen and slipped between Crowder and Adebayo before passing to Davis for a one-handed dunk.
• Leonard beat Grant with crossovers and made a mid-range jumper as the teams traded baskets.
• The Heat extended their rotation while Davis and Little Gasol rested, and Adebayo scored six straight points against the Thunder's second unit.
• Alexander answered with two consecutive mid-range shots, but the Heat finished the first quarter ahead 36–30.

The Heat led the Thunder 70-56 at halftime after exploiting their deep rotation and containing Westbrook with their Zone defense. Chen Xi began the Second Half by scoring against Jae Crowder, and he drove past Crowder again as the story left the game underway.

• The Heat used a 14-5 run early in the Second Quarter to build a double-digit lead, and the half ended with them ahead 70-56.
• The Penguin Sports commentators discussed the Thunder's sluggish defense, Davis's limited minutes, and Chen Xi's quiet first half.
• Jae Crowder missed an open three on the Heat's first possession of the Second Half, and Noel grabbed the rebound and passed to Chen Xi.
• Chen Xi isolated Crowder, crossed past him, and scored a mid-range pull-up jumper.
• Herro drove past Alexander and passed to Derrick Jones, whose attempt at the rim was disrupted by Noel before Jerebko secured the rebound.
• Chen Xi took the ball up court, evaded Crowder's pressure, and accelerated past him.

Chen Xi answered Jae Crowder’s trash talk with a barrage of three-pointers, helping the Thunder cut the Heat’s lead and forcing a timeout. After play resumed, Leonard immediately answered with a three of his own.

• Chen Xi hit two pull-up threes over Crowder and said his luck would keep holding.
• Chen Xi adapted to Crowder’s physical defense by using screens to shoot from the perimeter, and the Thunder cut the deficit to seven with an 8–3 run.
• Chen Xi pressured Herro into a rushed miss, then hit a deep transition three for his 11th straight point of the half, forcing Coach Spo to call timeout.
• Jerebko celebrated Chen Xi’s scoring run, and Westbrook struck Chen Xi on the chest as the Thunder players left the court.
• After the timeout, Leonard returned to the game and made a pull-up three against Jerebko.

Chen Xi scored 17 straight points, repeatedly hitting contested threes over Crowder and shifting the momentum as the Thunder erased the Heat’s lead. After both coaches adjusted their plans during a timeout, the teams returned to the court with the Heat in possession.

• Chen Xi shook off Kawhi, hit a three over Crowder, then called for another screen and taunted Crowder into defending his next pull-up shot.
• Chen Xi made the contested three and celebrated before it went in, electrifying viewers and prompting Spo to call a timeout with the score at 76 to 73.
• Spo told Kawhi to lock down Chen Xi, ordered Derrick to trap him on pick-and-rolls, and replaced Crowder with Little Jones.
• Donovan praised Chen Xi and set up an offense that used Anthony in the pick-and-roll while Chen Xi drew Leonard away on the weak side.
• After Chen Xi’s six-for-six run tied the game, both teams returned from the timeout and Herro passed to Leonard for an isolation against Grant.

The Thunder overcame a deficit to beat the Heat 124-117 in Game 1 of the Finals, powered by Chen Xi’s explosive third quarter and Davis’s steady scoring. After the win, Chen Xi discussed the game in an interview, while Adam Silver reviewed unexpectedly strong playoff ratings and considered the Thunder’s growing popularity.

• Kawhi called for a screen and scored, but the Thunder answered through Davis and Westbrook before Herro helped the Heat maintain a five-point lead.
• Davis converted an and-one and carried the Thunder’s offense as the Heat’s form faded; the Thunder outscored them 41-24 in the third quarter to lead 97-94.
• Donovan extended the starters’ playing time, and the Thunder opened the fourth quarter with a 13-4 run to win 124-117 and take Game 1 of the Finals.
• Chen Xi scored 34 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, including 21 points on perfect shooting in the third quarter, then told a reporter that he had answered Jae Crowder’s trash talk with made shots.
• Adam Silver reviewed the League’s financial reports and learned that playoff broadcast ratings were unexpectedly high, with the Thunder’s growing nationwide fan base among the contributing factors.

Silver reconsidered the Thunder’s value as a ratings draw but decided the team could not keep dominating beyond the current season. The Thunder opened Game 2 of the Finals against the Heat by scoring with a Triangle Offense set.

• Silver reviewed the Thunder’s star power and realized Westbrook, Chen Xi, and Anthony Davis had helped make the team an online sensation and keep Playoffs ratings strong.
• Silver decided to let the Thunder’s run continue this season but warned that it could not dominate again next season, and he told the Finals referees to make fair, impartial calls.
• On October 4, the Thunder won the opening tip against the Heat in Game 2 of the Finals.
• Westbrook, Little Gasol, Davis, and Chen Xi executed a Blind pig set, with Chen Xi cutting to the paint and finishing Little Gasol’s pass with a floater.

The Thunder opened against the Heat with fast breaks and a Triangle Offense, building an early lead through Westbrook, Chen Xi, and Davis. After the Thunder exploited the Heat’s interior defense, Spoelstra adjusted the lineup, leaving the Thunder’s size advantage as the central challenge.

• Adebayo missed a mid-range jumper, and Westbrook scored on a fast break to put the Thunder ahead 4–0.
• Herro and Leonard missed shots, and Chen Xi hit a chasedown three after Westbrook passed him the ball, extending the Thunder’s lead to 7–0.
• Kawhi Leonard scored the Heat’s first basket with a turnaround fadeaway over Chen Xi.
• The Thunder ran a Triangle Offense, and Davis drew help in the post before passing to Chen Xi for an open three.
• Spoelstra called timeout and replaced Crowder with Meyers Leonard, moving Adebayo to power forward to strengthen the Heat’s interior defense.

The Thunder overwhelmed the Heat with dominant scoring and defense, building a massive lead in Game 2 of the Finals. After Miami’s starters were pulled, the Thunder rested their own starters and cruised to victory.

• Leonard scored over Grant, but Davis lost the ball when Adebayo pulled the chair, and Kawhi stole it before Herro missed a transition three.
• Davis powered past Adebayo for a dunk and converted the and-one, while Chen Xi added a fadeaway to put the Thunder ahead 15–4.
• The Thunder finished the first quarter leading 36–17, then Alexander and Jeff Green helped extend the halftime lead to 71–40.
• Haslem rallied the demoralized Heat at halftime, but the Thunder restored their dominance within five minutes of the second half.
• Coach Spo pulled the Heat starters early, and the Thunder rested their starters after three quarters before winning easily.

The Thunder beat the Heat in Game 3 to take a 3–0 Finals lead, then overcame an 11-point halftime deficit in Game 4. Anthony Davis put the Thunder ahead and helped them protect their lead, leaving the Heat on the brink of elimination.

• The Thunder crushed the Heat 121–89 in the Finals opener as Kawhi Leonard scored 32 and Gabe Vincent impressed with 16 points in garbage time.
• The Thunder defeated the Heat 124–108 in Game 3, with Chen Xi scoring 34 points and Leonard scoring 36, to take a 3–0 Finals lead.
• The Heat's Tyler Herro, Adebayo, and Gabe Vincent helped their team build a 68–57 halftime lead in Game 4 while Leonard scored just 12 points in the first half.
• Chen Xi and Alexander led a 17–6 Thunder run in under five minutes to erase the Heat's lead.
• Anthony Davis took control of the pace and used his post game to put the Thunder ahead and preserve their lead.

The Thunder defeated the Miami Heat 119–113 to win the 2019–2020 NBA Championship, completing a dynasty and celebrating with the championship trophy. Chen Xi stood with his teammates as the story left them posing for cameras and fans recording the moment around the world.

• The Thunder beat the Miami Heat 119–113, and Chen Xi gave Westbrook the game ball as they celebrated their third championship together.
• Grant and Davis rushed to congratulate Chen Xi, who then hugged Kawhi and exchanged brief words with the Heat players.
• The Thunder gathered at center court for the trophy presentation, where Chen Xi teased Gasol about their championship hats.
• Adam Silver announced the Oklahoma Thunder as the 2019–2020 NBA champions and handed the trophy to Donovan.
• Donovan passed the trophy to Chen Xi, and the Thunder players posed together as fans around the world recorded the celebration.

Chen Xi won his second straight Finals MVP after leading the Thunder to a championship, then celebrated at home while the league announced that he had also earned his first regular-season MVP. The chapter ended with his historic scoring season and young age placing him among the NBA’s all-time greats.

• Silver announced Chris Chen as the 2019-2020 Finals MVP, and Chen thanked his teammates before celebrating with the Thunder.
• Media outlets hailed Chen and the Thunder for winning their third championship and building a dynasty.
• Chen turned down commercial appearances and spent his short offseason relaxing at home.
• The league announced Chen as regular-season MVP, alongside the other major award winners.
• Chen’s 36.9 points per game ranked among the six highest single-season averages in NBA history, just short of Michael Jordan’s 37.1.

The League announced the 19–20 Best Teams, adding First Team and First Defensive Team honors to Chen Xi’s growing list of achievements. Earvin Johnson delivered Chen Xi his MVP trophy at home, and Chen planned to post a photo of it online.

• The League announced the regular-season Best Teams, naming Chen Xi to the First Team and First Defensive Team.
• Thunder Team fans celebrated Chen Xi’s accolades, while Mavericks fans praised Luka Doncic’s First Team selection and compared him to Chen Xi.
• Earvin Johnson visited Chen Xi on October 15 as the League’s representative and presented him with the MVP trophy.
• Chen Xi posed for a photo with Johnson, then showered and wiped down the trophy after Johnson left.
• Chen Xi called Dasha over to help him take a picture of the trophy for an online post.

After celebrating his MVP trophy, Chen Xi collected rewards for his achievements and spent most of his free attribute points upgrading his skills. He drew several new badges and ended the chapter preparing to draw a random Silver Badge.

• Chen Xi admired his Morris Podoloff Cup while Talan teased him and took photos of him posing with it.
• Chen Xi checked the system and received rewards for winning MVP, three consecutive championships, making the Best Defensive Team first team, and winning the scoring title.
• Chen Xi spent 95 free attribute points upgrading his free throws, ball control, help defense, rebounding, blocks, steals, and three-point shooting.
• Chen Xi drew a random defensive Gold Badge, Master of Interior Defense, and complained that it suited a perimeter player poorly.
• Chen Xi chose four Gold Badges: Defensive Disruptor, Limitless Takeoff, Clutch Shooter, and Quick First Step.
• Chen Xi asked the system to draw his random Silver Badge.

After upgrading his badges, Chen Xi reviewed his greatly improved attributes and prepared to train with his new abilities. He watched the 2020 Draft from Los Angeles, where the Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards first overall.

• Chen Xi upgraded several badges, including Corner Three Specialist and Dribbling Veteran, to silver and gold.
• Chen Xi checked his attribute panel and celebrated his improved stats and collection of badges.
• Chen Xi stayed in Los Angeles with his wife and watched the 2020 Draft on television.
• The broadcast showed the draft order, with the Thunder holding the thirtieth pick and no second-round pick.
• Adam Silver announced Anthony Edwards as the Timberwolves' first overall pick.
• The broadcast announced the final result of the second overall pick.

After the Draft, the Thunder traded John Collins to the Hawks and saw Pau Gasol retire. The team honored Gasol and re-signed Old Carter, while Chen Xi remained confident in the Thunder’s strength.

• After the Draft, Chen Xi noted several promising players and decided he no longer needed to influence the Thunder’s front office.
• The Nets traded Zanan Musa and a second-round pick to the Pistons for Bruce Brown, and the Lakers announced they would not re-sign Carmelo Anthony.
• Presti traded John Collins to the Hawks for Cam Reddish, the tenth pick in the 2019 Draft, and a 2023 second-round pick.
• Pau Gasol announced his retirement, and the Thunder, Lakers, Kobe, Chen Xi, AD, Westbrook, and other teammates posted tributes to him.
• The Thunder signed Old Carter to a one-year, $2.6 million contract after he chose to continue playing at age 43.