Chapter Summaries

Chen Xi traded long jumpers with Murray and adjusted after Gordon disrupted his one-on-one attack, while the Nuggets relied on Jokic and their supporting players to keep the game close. The Thunder shifted its offense toward Chen as he showed an early hunger to score.

• Murray made two long twos, and Chen Xi answered with a long jumper of his own using Little Jordan's screen.
• Gordon contested Chen Xi's next shot, so Chen passed to Jerebko, whose layup against Jokic missed without a foul call.
• Jokic scored two free throws after Chen Xi was called for a defensive foul, putting the Nuggets ahead 12–11.
• Chen Xi beat Gordon with a double crossover and hesitation before making another long two and taunting him.
• Little Porter answered with a three, while the Thunder focused its offense on Chen Xi.

Chen Xi and Jokic led a high-scoring first half, with the Thunder taking a 75–69 halftime lead as both stars filled the stat sheet. The third quarter began with the Thunder feeding Chen Xi the ball, and the Nuggets kept their one-on-one perimeter coverage in place.

• Chen Xi scored 22 points in the first quarter as the Thunder took a 37–34 lead, while Murray and Jokic kept the Nuggets close.
• The Thunder's bench lineup attacked the Nuggets' weak interior defense, prompting Malone to bring Gordon back and limiting Harrell near the rim.
• Chen Xi and Jokic returned together, with Jokic leading the Nuggets' offense and Chen Xi creating for his teammates as the Thunder went into halftime ahead 75–69.
• Chen Xi finished the first half with 33 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, while Jokic recorded 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
• Both teams opened the third quarter with their starting lineups, and the Thunder looked for Chen Xi while the Nuggets again used Pope to guard him on the perimeter.

Chen Xi punished the Nuggets with three straight pull-up threes, then answered their double-teams by taking difficult shots when the Thunder's open shooters kept missing. After making three of six deep threes in four minutes, he left the Nuggets facing an even more dangerous scoring threat.

• Chen Xi used Little Jordan's screens to make three consecutive threes and force Malone to call a timeout.
• Porter drew a shooting foul on AD and made both free throws, while Jokic later scored from the low post.
• The Nuggets began double-teaming Chen Xi, and Westbrook and Jerebko missed the open shots he passed to them.
• The Nuggets exploited the Thunder's shooting drought with fast breaks and tightened their defense around the paint.
• Chen Xi began firing contested threes before the double-teams arrived and made three of six from well beyond the arc in four minutes.

After beating the Nuggets, the Thunder began a four-game road trip and won their first two games against the Kings and Hornets. Chen Xi embarrassed rookie Wiseman in the Hornets game, while Alexander benefited from Chen Xi’s playmaking against Sacramento.

• Malone said the Nuggets had failed to contain Chen Xi and would study film to prepare a better defensive strategy.
• The Thunder flew to Sacramento to begin a four-game road trip against the Kings, Hornets, 76ers, and Trail Blazers.
• The Thunder beat the Kings 121–110 as Chen Xi scored 27 points and dished out 11 assists, giving Alexander more chances to handle the ball.
• The Thunder beat the Hornets 119–103, with Chen Xi playing 25 minutes before the game became a blowout.
• After Wiseman taunted the Thunder bench, Chen Xi crossed him over and scored, then AD and Chen Xi blocked his attempts to answer back.

The Thunder lost to the 76ers and Trail Blazers as fatigue and missing players disrupted their road trip. After returning to Oklahoma, Chen Xi flew to Los Angeles and quietly came home to Talan and their sleeping baby.

• The Thunder lost 112–108 to the 76ers despite Chen Xi scoring 35 points and Davis adding 27, ending their winning streak.
• The coaching staff rested AD, SGA, Little Gasol, and Green against the Trail Blazers, but C.J. McCollum and Anfernee Simmons led Portland to a home win over the Thunder.
• Chen Xi and Westbrook put up strong numbers, but the Thunder struggled without four key players.
• After the road trip, the team returned to Oklahoma for three days of rest, while Chen Xi flew to Los Angeles on his own.
• Chen Xi arrived home and found Talan and the baby asleep, so he tucked in Talan and waited quietly in the living room.

Chen Xi reunited with Talan at home, then took her to Anaheim to watch an NCAA tournament game. Their outing drew attention when the broadcast showed Chen and Talan on the arena screen.

• Chen Xi waited for Talan to wake, then caught her when she leaped onto him and warned her to be careful after her hospital stay.
• Chen Xi and Talan cuddled on the couch and discussed taking a trip to Europe during the off-season.
• Chen Xi invited Talan to go with him to Anaheim the next day, where Oklahoma State was set to play Liberty in the NCAA tournament.
• Chen Xi and Talan attended the game, where spectators recognized him and the broadcast displayed a close-up of the couple.

Chen Xi attended Oklahoma State University's March Madness game, then met Chinese fans and encouraged their son William Wu to pursue basketball. He left with Talan to go shopping, and the Thunder Team returned to the court on March 23 to face Phoenix.

• Oklahoma State University defeated its opponent 69–60, with Cunningham recording 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
• Chen Xi signed autographs for fans after the game and met a man visiting from Fujian with his son, William Wu.
• Chen Xi learned that William had chosen the English name William after him and encouraged the boy to work hard toward playing in the NBA.
• Chen Xi said goodbye to William and his father, then went shopping with Talan.
• On the evening of March 23, the Thunder Team returned to the court to face Phoenix.

The Thunder faced the shorthanded Suns, whose strong roster was undermined by a lack of a capable point guard. Chen Xi predicted he would score at least 40 against Abdul Nader, then opened his scoring with a long two as the game began.

• The chapter described Phoenix’s promising roster and its weakness at point guard as the Suns prepared to play the Thunder.
• The Thunder’s lineup remained formidable despite Westbrook, Little Gasol, and Green being listed as injured.
• Chen Xi told Abdul Nader he would score at least 40 if Nader kept guarding him.
• Deandre Ayton tipped the opening jump ball to give the Suns possession, and Devin Booker made a long two after using a screen.
• Shai Alexander drove against the Suns’ defense and passed the ball around until Chen Xi received it at the top of the key.
• Chen Xi used a shoulder fake and a between-the-legs pullback to create space, then made a long two over Nader.

Chen Xi and Devin Booker traded early baskets as the Suns let Nedel defend Chen Xi one-on-one, with Monty Williams betting that the tactic would wear Chen Xi down. Booker’s hot start gave the Suns an early edge, while the Thunder continued playing without several rested starters.

• Nedel cursed after Chen Xi beat him one-on-one, then the Suns pushed the ball upcourt.
• Booker drove past SGA and made a jumper, celebrating his hot shooting start.
• Chen Xi shook Nedel with a jab step and crossover and sank a three-pointer.
• Monty Williams kept the one-on-one defensive plan, hoping Chen Xi would tire and the Thunder’s role players would lose rhythm.
• Booker scored another three after a screen, bringing his total to seven straight points as commentators noted the stars had supplied nearly all the scoring.

The Thunder remained in fifth place despite two straight losses as other Western Conference teams struggled. In the game, Chen Xi scored over Devin Booker, who then deliberately sought out a one-on-one matchup with him.

• Commentators discussed the Lakers' losing streak, the Rockets' push for a higher seed, and rumors that the Thunder wanted Cade Cunningham.
• Alexander passed to Chen Xi, who used a pick-and-roll to switch Devin Booker onto him.
• Chen Xi drove past Booker and made a mid-range shot.
• Booker brought the ball up, called for a screen to get matched with Chen Xi, and kept the ball instead of passing.
• Commentators praised Booker's willingness to challenge Chen Xi, while Booker reflected on his lack of success compared with Chen Xi.

Booker challenged Chen Xi one-on-one, but Chen forced a miss before Chen answered with a dunk over Ayton. The Thunder Team settled into a more organized offense and finished the first quarter leading the Suns 36–28.

• Booker drove at Chen Xi and missed a contested fadeaway jumper.
• Chen Xi drove past the Suns’ help defense and dunked over Ayton to put the Thunder Team ahead 9–7.
• Ayton scored a baseline mid-range jumper after Booker passed him the ball in the post.
• Chen Xi gave Alexander more control of the ball while the Thunder Team ran its offense around off-ball movement and pick-and-rolls.
• The Suns continued taking turns attacking, and the Thunder Team extended its advantage to lead 36–28 at the end of the first quarter.

The Thunder defeated the Suns 123–108 after Chen Xi and Devin Booker traded big scoring quarters, then Chen offered Booker encouragement after the game. The Thunder won their final three March games as the trade deadline passed, and the season entered its final stretch in April.

• The Thunder's and Suns' bench units struggled through three minutes of turnovers and missed shots before Donovan and Monty adjusted their lineups.
• Alexander and Davis helped the Thunder pull away, and the Thunder led 60–48 at halftime.
• Chen Xi scored 16 points in the third quarter while Booker's shooting cooled, and the Thunder won 123–108.
• Chen Xi praised Booker after the game and suggested that he might need a high-level playmaker.
• The Thunder won their final three March games, and the trade deadline passed without major moves.
• April arrived, with the regular season scheduled to continue until May 17.

The Thunder faced the Celtics in Boston, where Westbrook and Davis used the opening possessions to exploit mismatches and take an early lead. The Celtics answered with a Tatum jumper, but the Thunder remained ahead as Westbrook scored again.

• Little Gasol won the opening tip for the Thunder, and Westbrook found Davis for a mid-range jumper.
• Tatum missed a three on Boston's first possession, then Westbrook drew a shooting foul in transition and made one free throw.
• Paul set up Tatum in the low post, where Tatum scored a fadeaway over Green.
• Westbrook used another Davis screen to drive past Robert Williams and score a layup, giving the Thunder a 5–2 lead.

Donovan returned the Thunder to a straightforward offense, easing Chen Xi's workload while letting Westbrook and AD build their pick-and-roll chemistry. Chen Xi stole the ball from Tatum and sparked a Thunder fast break, but the Celtics answered with a Paul-to-Tatum basket.

• Donovan brought back the Thunder's conventional system, using Chen Xi's wing threat and returning more ball-handling duties to Westbrook.
• Brown isolated against Green, drove from the baseline, and made a short pull-up jumper.
• Westbrook missed a mid-range shot, and Tatum grabbed the rebound and pushed the ball into a fast break.
• Chen Xi disrupted Tatum's drive, stole the ball, and started a transition play that ended with AD dunking off Westbrook's pass.
• Paul slowed the Celtics' offense, then threaded a pass to Tatum, who scored a reverse layup against Little Gasol.

The Thunder trailed the Celtics by four after the first quarter, then Pritchard helped Boston extend its lead against Oklahoma City’s transition lineup. After Chen Xi returned, he hit a three and stole a pass to set up Bane’s three, bringing the Thunder back within five as Paul prepared to enter.

• The Thunder ended the first quarter trailing the Celtics 27–31.
• Pritchard scored efficiently against the Thunder’s transition lineup, prompting Donovan to call a timeout.
• Chen Xi returned and made a three-pointer after an aggressive off-ball cut.
• Chen Xi intercepted Tatum’s pass, led a fast break, and assisted Bane on a three that cut the deficit to five.
• Stevens called for Paul to prepare to enter, and the Celtics continued their possession with Tatum and Smart moving the ball.

Chen Xi drew a foul on Green while making a three-pointer, completed a four-point play, and then beat Green off the dribble on the next possession. The chapter left Chen Xi rising for a chasedown three as the Celtics scrambled to defend.

• Pritchard scored a running floater against Alexander before Smart knocked Chen Xi's pass out of bounds.
• Chen Xi used a step-back shot fake to draw Green into contact, made the three-pointer, and sank the ensuing free throw for a four-point play.
• Paul used a series of moves to get past Little Jordan and score a finger roll for the Celtics.
• Chen Xi drove past Green with help from his Clamps and Quick First Step badges, then rose for a three-pointer two steps beyond the arc.

Chen Xi led the Thunder’s surge to a four-point halftime lead over the Celtics, then learned that Luka Doncic had recorded a historic 60-point triple-double. His teammates proposed helping him chase a huge stat line in the second half, but Chen Xi told them to focus on winning.

• Chen Xi scored 10 points in the Thunder’s 13–4 run, and Celtics coach Stevens called timeout to stop their momentum.
• After the starters returned, Chen Xi gave the ball back to Westbrook and played off the ball as the Thunder ran their offense through Westbrook and AD.
• Chen Xi hit a contested three with 4.7 seconds left in the half, putting the Thunder ahead 64–60.
• At halftime, Bane told the team that Doncic had posted 60 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Knicks.
• The Thunder players suggested setting Chen Xi up to pursue a 60-point triple-double, but Chen Xi urged them to concentrate on beating the Celtics.

After halftime, Chris Chen and Russell Westbrook sparked the Thunder with a steal and a fast-break dunk, but Jayson Tatum answered by powering a dunk over Marc Gasol. The game continued with both sides trading emphatic plays.

• In the locker room, Chen joked with Turtle Turtle about having once asked him for more passes during Chen's rookie game.
• Brown tried to score against Westbrook, but Westbrook knocked the ball loose, recovered it, and launched a fast break.
• Chen caught Westbrook's pass and completed a spinning 360-degree one-handed dunk.
• Paul and Robert Williams drew the Thunder's defense away as Tatum cut inside off Fournier's screen and caught Paul's pass.
• Tatum drove at Marc Gasol and dunked over him, prompting the Celtics' commentators to call it an answer to Chen's dunk.

Chen answered Tatum with a spectacular poster dunk, then led the Thunder through a dominant third quarter to defeat the Celtics 133–107. He finished with 58 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists, leaving the Thunder with another road victory.

• Chen spun past Tatum and dunked over Robert Williams, igniting the Thunder and the crowd.
• Chen intercepted Brown’s pass and pushed a fast break that ended with Green dunking Westbrook’s lob.
• After the Celtics called timeout, Chen scored repeatedly with a deep three, free throws, and an alley-oop assist to AD.
• Chen’s 27-point third quarter helped the Thunder build a 22-point lead by the end of the quarter.
• The Thunder beat the Celtics 133–107, with Chen recording 58 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists.

After Chen Xi's record-setting performance against Miami earlier in the season, the Thunder traveled to face the Heat for their final regular-season meeting. The game began with Miami using a smaller lineup, and the Thunder's opening attack ended with Anthony Davis missing a mid-range jumper.

• After the Thunder returned to their locker room following the Celtics game, the team boarded a bus for the airport.
• LeBron James recorded 44 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Lakers defeated Victor Oladipo and the Bulls.
• James Harden scored 50 points and Kawhi Leonard scored 41 in the Rockets' game against the Heat.
• Dwyane Wade visited Chen Xi and Russell Westbrook before the game and invited them to his house afterward.
• Spoelstra started Dragic, Herro, Duncan Robinson, Leonard, and Adebayo in a small lineup against the Thunder.
• Westbrook initiated a central pick-and-roll, passed to Davis after Davis rolled to the basket, and Davis missed a mid-range jumper over Adebayo.