Chapter Summaries

The Nets and Thunder traded baskets in a close fourth quarter, with Kemba Walker and Chen Xi stepping up as Durant and George drew double teams. Chen Xi’s fast-break layup restored the Nets’ four-point lead with the game still underway.

• Atkinson brought Korver in, and Korver’s three-pointer revived the Nets’ offense while Alexander attacked him on defense.
• Alexander scored 14 points in the third quarter as the Thunder cut the deficit to five, and Westbrook neared a triple-double.
• Both teams opened the fourth quarter with their strongest lineups, and Alexander helped the Thunder keep pace as the Nets leaned on Durant’s isolation scoring.
• With four minutes left and the Nets leading 130–126, Walker hit a pick-and-roll jumper through contact, then missed the and-one free throw.
• Chen Xi grabbed the rebound, raced up court, got past Prince and George, and scored a reverse layup to restore the Nets’ four-point lead.

The Thunder narrowed the Nets’ lead as Chris delivered a putback dunk over Jarrett Allen. With two and a half minutes left, Atkinson urged Kevin Durant to take over and Paul George to stop Chris.

• Walker set up a mismatch and passed to Paul George, whose three-point shot missed.
• Westbrook led a fast break, and Green scored a layup to cut the Thunder’s deficit to two.
• Durant answered with a turnaround fadeaway over Chen Xi.
• Little Gasol missed a three, and Chen Xi grabbed the rebound in midair and dunked it over Allen.
• Atkinson called a timeout and told Durant to lead the Nets’ offense and George to defend Chris.

Chen Xi answered Kevin Durant’s clutch basket with a contested three, then stripped Durant and launched a fast-break dunk for Russell Westbrook. The Nets called timeout as the Thunder took control, and Westbrook celebrated by relentlessly rubbing Chen Xi’s head.

• Durant scored a contested post fadeaway to keep the Nets ahead.
• Chen Xi hit a three over Durant to answer, then complained to the referee about contact without drawing a technical.
• Chen Xi stole the ball from Durant and sent a long pass ahead to Westbrook, who dunked to put the Thunder in front.
• The Nets called timeout, and Westbrook celebrated with Chen Xi on the Thunder bench by rubbing his head.

Chen Xi put the Thunder ahead with a difficult late fadeaway, but Paul George hit a buzzer-beating three to give the Nets the win. Chen Xi congratulated George while vowing to get him back in their next game.

• Durant scored over Alexander and Little Gasol to put the Nets ahead by one with the game nearing its end.
• Chen Xi caught Westbrook’s handoff and made a drifting fadeaway over Durant and Prince to put the Thunder back in front.
• Donovan sent Little Jordan and Vanderbilt onto the court as the Thunder prepared to defend the Nets’ final possession.
• Durant drove into the paint and passed out, and George caught Aldridge’s swing pass before hitting a contested three over Vanderbilt at the buzzer.
• Chen Xi punched George playfully in the chest, hugged him, and said he would get him back next game.

After Anthony Davis was ruled out indefinitely, the Thunder traveled to Philadelphia for a back-to-back against Joel Embiid and the 76ers. Tobias Harris’s boast about scoring 50 on Chen Xi fueled the matchup, and the chapter ends as Simmons passes to Embiid after drawing help.

• The Thunder lost to the Nets on Paul George’s buzzer-beater, and Anthony Davis was later ruled out indefinitely with an ankle injury.
• Tobias Harris declared he would score 50 on Chen Xi and give the Thunder their second straight loss.
• The 76ers took an early 5–0 lead as Embiid scored over Marc Gasol and Seth Curry hit a corner three.
• Chen Xi answered with a three-pointer over Tobias Harris and prepared to take on the 76ers.
• Simmons drove against Alexander, drew Marc Gasol’s help, and passed to Embiid.

Chen Xi sparked an 8–0 Thunder run with a block, a steal, and a three-pointer, while Westbrook and Alexander helped extend the lead. After Doc Rivers called timeout, the 76ers steadied themselves with baskets from Danny Green and Embiid.

• Chen Xi blocked Embiid at the rim, and Westbrook grabbed the rebound and scored on a fast break to erase the five-point deficit.
• Chen Xi intercepted Harris’s pass, shook Toha with a crossover, and hit a chasedown three-pointer, prompting Doc Rivers to call timeout after the Thunder’s 8–0 run.
• Danny Green made a three-pointer after the timeout to settle the 76ers.
• Alexander drove past Danny Green, fooled the help defenders, and finished with a hook shot.
• Embiid beat Marc Gasol with a step-back mid-range jumper.

The Thunder turned a heated exchange between Jerebko and Embiid into a surge of intensity, with Marc Gasol leading a dominant stretch against the 76ers. Oklahoma City ended the first quarter up 41–25, and Westbrook kept the pressure on as the second quarter began.

• Marc Gasol scored with a hook shot, then helped spark a fast break that led to Jeff Green's two-handed dunk.
• Jerebko taunted Embiid after the dunk, and the two confronted each other before referees separated them and gave each a technical foul.
• The Thunder raised their intensity and went on a 17–6 run, with Marc Gasol scoring, facilitating, and shutting down Embiid in the post.
• The first quarter ended with the Thunder leading 41–25; Embiid had scored 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting.
• Westbrook set the pace for the Thunder's offense as they continued pressing their advantage in the second quarter.

Chen Xi returned to the court to stop Tyrese Maxey’s surge, helping the Thunder crush the 76ers 142–99 and erase the sting of their previous loss. After the game, Chen Xi deflected questions about Joel Embiid’s pregame taunts while leaving the door open for a fiercer rematch.

• Westbrook and the Thunder built a 24-point halftime lead, and Old Li conceded by replacing the 76ers’ starters with reserves.
• Tyrese Maxey scored 13 straight points against the Thunder’s bench, prompting Donovan to send Chen Xi back onto the court.
• Chen Xi scored 17 points in the third quarter, including five threes, and the Thunder took a 112–82 lead.
• The Thunder’s bench kept dominating in the fourth quarter as they beat the 76ers 142–99, with Chen Xi scoring 33 points and Westbrook and Little Gasol recording triple-doubles.
• Chen Xi told reporters that Embiid’s comments had inspired the Thunder, then said he preferred to let his game speak and invited Embiid to bring more intensity next time.

Chen Xi silenced a reporter by citing his championship record, then led the Thunder past the Pistons and caught up with injured former teammate Adams. The chapter ended with the Thunder heading to Washington, where John Wall’s decline and massive contract threatened the Wizards’ future.

• Chen Xi answered a reporter’s challenge by pointing to the NBA Championships he had won over the previous three years.
• The Thunder beat the Pistons 115–99 as Chen recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists while LaMelo Ball struggled.
• Chen visited Adams after the game and offered to help him plan a trip to China, while Westbrook said he might join them.
• The Thunder traveled to Washington to face the Wizards, whose returning John Wall had declined and still had more than $130 million left on his contract.

The Thunder rallied late to beat the Wizards 113–111, then traveled to Los Angeles to face the Lakers. Before the game, LeBron invited Chen Xi to a party, but Chen declined to spend the evening with his pregnant wife.

• Chen Xi scored 39 points as the Thunder overcame the Wizards in the fourth quarter to win 113–111.
• The Thunder completed three wins in four games on their six-game road trip and flew to Los Angeles for a matchup with the Lakers.
• At Staples Center, LeBron greeted Chen Xi during warmups and invited him to a party at his mansion after the game.
• Chen Xi told LeBron he had to go home to his pregnant wife and declined the invitation.

The Lakers and Thunder opened their game with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook driving the offense. Chen Xi scored a three over Alex Caruso, while Westbrook answered with a fast-break basket; after Dwight Howard missed a roll finish, Blake Griffin secured the Lakers' offensive rebound.

• Dwight Howard won the opening tip, and LeBron James scored the Lakers' first basket by driving through the paint.
• Chen Xi shook off Alex Caruso with a step-back and made a three-pointer.
• Westbrook blocked Dennis Schroder's layup attempt and roared to energize the Thunder.
• Blake Griffin drew a defensive foul on Marc Gasol, then made one of his two free throws.
• Westbrook grabbed the rebound, raced downcourt, and scored through contact with James, though the referee did not award him a foul.
• Howard missed a layup after Schroder's pick-and-roll, and Griffin grabbed the offensive rebound over Jerebko.

Chen Xi erupted for 35 points in the first quarter, powering the Thunder to a commanding lead over the Lakers. He sat to start the second quarter, and the Lakers began to chip away at the deficit.

• Chen Xi took control of the Thunder's offense and scored repeatedly against the Lakers, including through double- and triple-teams.
• Chen Xi scored 35 points on 12-for-15 shooting in the first quarter as the Thunder won the quarter 47–29.
• The Lakers' players returned to the bench stunned, while Vogel struggled to restore their confidence and James and Rondo helped rally the team.
• Chen Xi sat at the start of the second quarter as Westbrook and Alexander led the Thunder.
• Griffin led a Lakers counterattack, and four minutes into the second quarter the score stood at 10–4.

Chen Xi led the Thunder to a 131–112 win over the Lakers with 53 points, 8 rebounds, and 13 assists. After the game, he spoke with his former teammate Noel and began an interview about his scoring performance and the Lakers’ defense.

• The Lakers cut into the Thunder’s lead while Chen Xi sat, but Donovan put him back in after a fast-break counterattack.
• Chen Xi drew the Lakers’ defense and set up Batum for a layup, then helped the Thunder build a 9–2 run and finish the first half ahead 78–57.
• James scored 14 points in the third quarter, but Chen Xi, Alexander, Green, Batum, and the Thunder held their lead.
• Vogel pulled the Lakers’ starters with four minutes left as the Thunder led by more than 20, and the Thunder won 131–112 for their seventh win.
• Chen Xi greeted Lakers players and chatted with Noel before Meng Chao interviewed him about his 53-point game and his approach against the Lakers’ defense.

After the Thunder beat the Clippers, Chen Xi took a short break in Los Angeles before returning to Oklahoma City to face the Grizzlies. The Thunder led comfortably, but Dillon Brooks provoked Chen Xi in the third quarter, and the referee stopped their confrontation before it escalated.

• The Thunder beat the Clippers 112–97, but Vince Carter strained his hamstring and had no timetable for returning.
• Chen Xi stayed in Los Angeles with his family during the Thunder’s three-day break, then returned to Oklahoma City for practice.
• The Thunder built a 15-point lead over the Grizzlies, and Chen Xi returned to the court intending to coast.
• Dillon Brooks collided with Chen Xi as he collected a rebound, but the referee called the ball out of bounds without ruling a foul.
• Dillon taunted Chen Xi, and the two traded insults until the referee separated them.

After Dillon’s dirty play and taunts, Chen Xi answered with a string of spectacular plays that put the Grizzlies on their heels. The chapter left Chen Xi flaunting his dominance after sinking a logo three.

• Chen Xi used a series of crossovers to knock Dillon down, then casually made a three-pointer over him.
• Chen Xi blocked Clarke’s layup, grabbed the rebound, and started a fast break with Batum.
• Batum drew Dillon toward him and tossed an alley-oop to Chen Xi, who dunked over Dillon and taunted the Grizzlies.
• The Grizzlies missed on their next possession, and Uncle passed the defensive rebound to Chen Xi.
• Chen Xi strolled to the logo and sank a long three-pointer, then shrugged and posed as he walked back on defense.

After Dillon provoked Chen Xi and was benched, the Thunder beat the Grizzlies 120–103. Chen Xi returned home alone, checked in with Talan, and considered visiting Antarctica during the next offseason.

• Bickerstaff pulled Dillon from the game after scolding him for provoking Chen Xi, while Dillon privately hoped the incident would build his reputation as a villain.
• The Thunder pulled away in the third quarter and defeated the Grizzlies 120–103 as Chen Xi led the attack.
• Chen Xi drove home, made goji tea, and messaged Talan to let her know he had arrived safely.
• Chen Xi watched videos on TikTok and, after seeing an Antarctic travel vlog, thought about visiting during the next offseason.

The Thunder beat the Trail Blazers while Damian Lillard sat out after requesting a trade, then began a road game against the Rockets. The chapter leaves the Thunder and Rockets trading early baskets as Kyrie Irving drives into the paint.

• The Thunder cruised past the Trail Blazers without Damian Lillard and extended their winning streak to eight games.
• Lillard submitted a trade request on January 10, prompting interest from numerous teams as Portland weighed its options.
• The Rockets faced ongoing problems after Daryl Morey's dismissal, with Rafael Stone struggling to improve the roster.
• Clint Capela scored on the Rockets' opening possession against the Thunder.
• Chen Xi answered with a basket off a pass from Westbrook.
• Kyrie Irving beat Westbrook with a series of dribble moves and drove left into the paint.

The Thunder and Rockets traded attacks early before Chen Xi scored with a post-up fadeaway and a fast-break dunk. Chen Xi’s versatile scoring left the game in the first quarter with Houston ahead by three.

• Kyrie Irving beat Westbrook and scored a floater, then Little Gasol answered with a layup after Alexander passed to him.
• The Rockets took a 15–12 lead five and a half minutes into the first quarter, and D'Antoni brought Eric Gordon in for Irving.
• Donovan told Westbrook to shift the Thunder's offensive focus to Chris.
• Chen Xi sealed off House, used a Dream Shake to create space, and made a turnaround fadeaway jumper.
• Harden missed a step-back three, Green secured the rebound, and Chen Xi finished the fast break with a gliding dunk.

The Thunder and Rockets stayed close until Kyrie Irving’s scoring burst gave Houston a fifteen-point lead. Chen Xi was injured after PJ Tucker tripped him and left the game for further examination, leaving the Thunder struggling without him.

• Chen Xi made a fast-break dunk, then helped set up a three-pointer for Reddish as the Thunder and Rockets traded scores.
• Cousins scored against Chen Xi after a switch, and the Rockets finished the first quarter with a five-point lead.
• Irving scored eighteen points in a short stretch, extending the Rockets’ lead to fifteen while Chen Xi remained on the bench.
• Donovan returned Chen Xi to the floor, but Tucker tripped him during a drive, and Chen Xi hurt his right wrist.
• The team doctor sent Chen Xi to the locker room for tests, and the Thunder’s offense and defense faltered as the Rockets attacked without him.

Chen Xi injured his wrist as the Thunder lost to the Rockets, and Anthony Davis remained sidelined as well. Without their two stars, the Thunder lost to the Hawks, fell to third in the West, and faced a surging Pelicans team next.

• Chen Xi learned that his right wrist had suffered soft tissue damage and was expected to keep him out for at least two weeks.
• The Thunder lost to the Rockets, 119–110, as Westbrook recorded 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.
• The Thunder announced Chen Xi's absence, while Anthony Davis's return remained uncertain after the team chose to keep him out.
• The Hawks exploited the Thunder's poor spacing and defeated them 116–102, handing them their second straight loss.
• The Thunder dropped to third in the Western Conference behind the Nuggets, with the Pelicans set to be their next opponent.