Chapter Summaries

The Thunder beat the Pelicans in Game 5 to take a 3–2 series lead and match point. After Chen Xi’s late three-pointer and Horford’s missed attempt, the teams celebrated and Chen Xi teased Jimmy Butler about the car he had lost.

• Butler missed a turnaround jumper against Westbrook, and Davis secured the rebound for the Thunder.
• Chen Xi drove past Holiday and hit a pull-up three-pointer, giving the Thunder a three-point lead with 13 seconds left.
• Horford missed a potentially tying three, and Westbrook grabbed the final rebound as the Thunder won Game 5.
• Chen Xi finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists, while Davis recorded 28 points and 16 rebounds.
• Chen Xi hugged Butler after the game, joked that Butler had copied his moves, and reminded him about the Urus he had lost in Game 2.

The Warriors beat the Nuggets 134–112 at home, with Klay Thompson erupting for 21 points in the third quarter to force a Game 7. With Brooklyn already through, the exhausted Thunder and Pelicans prepared to face off in Game 6.

• After the Thunder eliminated the Pelicans in Game 5, fans argued over the teams, their coaches, and the Thunder’s chances in the Western Conference Finals.
• Stephen Curry scored 21 first-half points to give the Warriors an 11-point lead over the Nuggets.
• Klay Thompson scored 21 points in the third quarter as the Warriors outscored Denver 41–25 and stretched their lead to 27 points.
• The Nuggets stopped pursuing the game, and the Warriors won 134–112 to force Game 7.
• The Thunder and Pelicans met for Game 6 after both teams had been worn down by the series.

The Thunder dominated the opening minutes against the Pelicans, scoring efficiently while their opponents struggled to make shots. After an early timeout, the Pelicans got their first basket, but Jerebko's corner three kept Oklahoma City's offense rolling.

• Westbrook opened the game with a one-handed dunk, then assisted Chen Xi on a fast-break alley-oop that Jeff Green finished with a two-handed slam.
• Davis scored a floater after Chen Xi's screen and pass, putting the Thunder ahead 6–0.
• Chen Xi shook Redick with a step-back three to extend Oklahoma City's lead to 9–0 and force Gentry to call a timeout.
• Holiday scored the Pelicans' first basket after driving into the lane against Little Jordan.
• Chen Xi brought the ball up and passed to Jerebko, who hit a corner three over Redick.

The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 131–112 in Game 6, winning the series and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Chen and his teammates controlled the game despite a brief Pelicans rally, and the chapter ended by examining Butler’s limited impact as the Pelicans’ leading star.

• The Thunder opened with hot three-point shooting while the Pelicans struggled, giving Oklahoma City a 39–21 first-quarter lead.
• Lou Williams scored eight straight points early in the second quarter and helped the Pelicans briefly cut into the deficit, but Donovan brought Davis and Chen back to steady the Thunder.
• The Thunder led 75–54 at halftime, and the Pelicans’ improved play after the break could not erase the gap.
• The Thunder beat the Pelicans 131–112 to win Game 6 and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
• Chen recorded 28 points and 14 assists as the Thunder spread their scoring across the roster; Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans with 28 points, while Butler scored 25 and Lou Williams added 23.

After the Thunder eliminated the Pelicans in Game 6, Chen Xi celebrated their advance to the Western Conference Finals and discussed the series in a postgame interview. He learned that LeBron James had played Game 7 with a groin strain and was considering retirement.

• Chen Xi considered Butler’s strengths and weaknesses as a team leader and thought the Pelicans needed better bench depth and a reliable closer.
• Chen Xi celebrated with Westbrook, Davis, Alexander, and his teammates after the Thunder won the series 4–2.
• Chen Xi said the Pelicans had pressured the Thunder more than the Lakers but credited the Thunder’s consistency and luck for their series win.
• A reporter told Chen Xi that LeBron James envied his age and was considering retirement because of injuries.
• Chen Xi learned that LeBron had played Game 7 with a groin strain and struggled to keep from smiling.

Chen Xi commented on LeBron's possible retirement as fans debated the two stars and the Thunder's success. While the Celtics-Bucks series reached Game 7, the Warriors and Nuggets began their own decisive game, with Stephen Curry leading Golden State's opening attack.

• Chen Xi said LeBron alone should decide whether to keep playing or retire, and he doubted LeBron would quit before completing his 411 goal.
• Fans argued online about LeBron's injury and retirement comments, Chen Xi's achievements, and Durant's legacy with the Thunder and Warriors.
• Giannis scored 41 points to lead the Bucks past the Celtics in Game 6 and force their series to a seventh game.
• The Thunder rested while the Warriors and Nuggets met in Game 7 at Ball Arena on June 17.
• Stephen Curry scored 9 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting early as the Warriors shifted their attack to create chances for Klay Thompson and Wiggins.

The Nuggets rallied behind Nikola Jokic’s dominant second quarter and a third-quarter surge from Jamal Murray and Michael Porter to defeat the Warriors in Game 7. Denver advanced to the Western Conference Finals to face the Thunder.

• Klay Thompson, Wiggins, and the Warriors’ offense helped Golden State take a 30–25 first-quarter lead.
• Jokic repeatedly scored against Klay Thompson, then beat Green’s help defense with mid-range shots and passes that set up Aaron Gordon’s cuts.
• The Nuggets went on a 16–3 run to take an eight-point lead, prompting Kerr to adjust the Warriors’ defensive scheme.
• Murray scored 18 points and Michael Porter made three three-pointers in the third quarter as Denver outscored Golden State 42–28 and built a 19-point lead.
• Curry hit three consecutive fourth-quarter three-pointers, but the Warriors could not catch Denver, which won 131–122 and advanced to face the Thunder.
• Jokic finished with 33 points, 15 rebounds, and 16 assists in 40 minutes.

Chen Xi and the Thunder studied the Nuggets’ Game 7 win over the Warriors and considered how to contain Denver in the Western Conference Finals. The chapter then began the Celtics-Bucks Game 7, where both teams struggled early.

• Jamal Murray scored 41 points as the Nuggets defeated the Warriors in Game 7, while Jokic recorded a triple-double.
• Chen Xi and the Thunder reviewed the game footage and discussed Denver’s team play and the challenge of stopping Jokic and Murray.
• Chen Xi believed the Thunder had better defensive matchups than the Warriors but acknowledged that the series outcome would depend on many factors.
• The Celtics and Bucks tipped off their Game 7 in Boston, and both teams opened with poor shooting.
• Brook Lopez picked up two fouls early, forcing Buden to bench him and move Giannis to center.

The Celtics and Bucks traded momentum after Jayson Tatum caught an elbow from Giannis and left the game with a bleeding nose. Tatum returned masked in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics fought back as the game headed toward a close finish.

• Middleton led the Bucks with 19 first-half points as Milwaukee took a 52–45 halftime lead over Boston.
• Tatum found his rhythm in the third quarter and sparked a Celtics surge before colliding with Giannis while chasing a rebound, leaving with a bleeding nose.
• Giannis received a Flagrant 1, and the Bucks tied the game at 79 by the end of the third quarter before opening an eight-point fourth-quarter lead.
• After medical staff ruled out a concussion and treated his injury, Tatum returned wearing a clear face mask with six minutes remaining.
• Tatum missed all three shots after returning, but Jaylen Brown scored eight straight points against Lillard as Boston cut into the deficit and the game moved toward a close finish.

The Bucks defeated the Celtics in Game 7 after rallying from a 3–1 deficit, and the 2020–21 conference finals field was set. The Western Conference Finals began in Denver, where the Nuggets took the opening tip but Russell Westbrook scored first for the Thunder.

• Giannis made two free throws, dunked on the next possession, and Milwaukee pulled ahead before Damian Lillard hit a crucial three-pointer.
• Jayson Tatum missed Boston's final shot, and the Bucks won Game 7 and the series after coming back from a 3–1 deficit.
• The Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma Thunder, Denver Nuggets, and Milwaukee Bucks were confirmed as the four conference finalists.
• The Thunder traveled to Denver, where the Western Conference Finals began with the Nuggets and Thunder starters taking the court.
• Nikola Jokic won the opening tip, but Aaron Gordon's layup missed and Russell Westbrook grabbed the rebound before scoring the Thunder's first point on a fast break.

Westbrook took charge of the Thunder’s offense early to conserve Chen Xi’s energy, scoring their first six points against the Nuggets. The Thunder held a 6–3 lead as Aaron Gordon began driving at Chen Xi.

• Porter used Jokic’s screen to hit a pull-up three over Davis, giving the Nuggets an early score.
• Westbrook attacked the basket off a Davis screen, drew a foul from Gordon, and made both free throws.
• After Pope missed a three, Westbrook passed to Green and then Chen Xi, who quickly moved the ball along.
• Westbrook ran a pick-and-roll with Little Jordan and made a mid-range jumper to give the Thunder a 6–3 lead.
• Jokic passed to Gordon, who used Pope’s screen and drove at Chen Xi.

Chen Xi helped the Thunder build an early lead over the Nuggets in Game 1, but Denver rallied behind Montrezl Harrell in the second quarter. As the Thunder adjusted their lineup, Mike Malone prepared Jokic and Gordon to counter Chen Xi’s return.

• Chen Xi stole the ball from Aaron Gordon and finished a fast break with a windmill dunk before teasing him about his ball-gathering technique.
• The Thunder ended the first quarter leading the Nuggets 33–25, powered by Russell Westbrook’s 19 points.
• Montrezl Harrell scored 11 points in four and a half minutes, exploiting Marc Gasol’s slow foot speed and cutting into the Thunder’s lead.
• Donovan replaced Gasol with Little Jordan as Alexander continued contributing to the Thunder’s offense.
• Donovan sent Chen Xi back onto the court, and Mike Malone called up Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon to counter him.

Chen Xi returned to the game and posterized Nikola Jokic for a dunk and an and-one, electrifying the arena. After making the free throw, he switched onto Jamal Murray and contained him outside the three-point line.

• Chen Xi caught Alexander's pass and drove past Aaron Gordon toward the basket.
• Chen Xi dunked over Jokic, drawing a shooting foul as the crowd erupted.
• Jokic protested the call, but Malone chose not to challenge it after the replay showed Jokic had not established position.
• Chen Xi celebrated with his teammates, then made the and-one free throw.
• Chen Xi switched onto Murray, slipped around Jokic's screen, and trapped Murray outside the three-point line.

Jamal Murray caught fire against Chen Xi, and the Thunder and Nuggets traded baskets in a fiercely even game that went to overtime. The Thunder then fell behind as the referees’ treatment of Nikola Jokic blunted their attacks in the paint and Jokic fouled out Little Jordan.

• Jamal Murray beat Chen Xi’s defense with a difficult fadeaway, then Shai Alexander answered with a mid-range jumper.
• Murray scored nine straight points as Denver narrowed the gap, and the teams went into halftime tied at 63.
• The Thunder and Nuggets continued trading scores, ending the third quarter tied at 91.
• Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic exchanged clutch baskets before Chen Xi hit a three with seven seconds left.
• Jamal Murray answered with a step-back three at the buzzer to tie the game and send it to overtime.
• The Thunder fell behind in overtime as the referees shielded Jokic from attacks in the paint, and Jokic drew Little Jordan’s sixth foul.

The Nuggets edged out the Thunder 138–134 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals despite Chen Xi’s 40-point performance. Chen dismissed questions about the loss and the team’s roster while the Eastern Conference Finals began with the Nets defeating the Bucks to take a 1–0 lead.

• The Nuggets held off Chen Xi and the Thunder, winning 138–134 as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led Denver to victory.
• Chen Xi told reporters the Thunder had lost but said he was focused on the ongoing series rather than off-season roster moves or playoff predictions.
• Chen Xi joked about posterizing his friend Jokic, explaining that the dunk was meant to score and energize his teammates.
• The Nets opened the Eastern Conference Finals at home against the Bucks and won 128–120 to take a 1–0 series lead.

The League announced several minor awards, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won Sixth Man of the Year after a strong season with the Thunder. The chapter left Alexander celebrating the award and thanking Chen Xi, who had mentored him.

• Kevin Durant scored 37 points and Kemba Walker added 25 as the Thunder received strong support from both in their game against the Bucks.
• The League announced LaMelo Ball as Rookie of the Year, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as Sixth Man of the Year, Brandon Ingram as Most Improved Player, and Jrue Holiday as the Sportsmanship Award winner.
• Alexander won Sixth Man of the Year with 397 votes, ahead of Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles.
• Chen Xi considered Alexander’s potential, comparing him with the 2018 draft class and reflecting on how his mentorship had shaped Alexander’s game.
• Alexander recorded a celebration video with Thunder staff and thanked Chen Xi for teaching him and setting an example over the previous two years.

The Thunder took an early lead against the Nuggets in Game 2, but Jeff Green’s injury and Donovan’s late lineup choices let Denver take control. Chen Xi scored five clutch points, but the Nuggets held on to win as the Thunder’s big men fouled out.

• Alexander joked that he had won an award Chen had never managed to win, and Chen reposted the joke on social media.
• Chen Xi and Alexander led the Thunder to a 35–24 first-quarter lead over the Nuggets.
• Gafford helped the Thunder maintain their advantage in the second quarter, and they entered halftime ahead by seven despite Jokic scoring 10 straight points.
• Jeff Green strained his hamstring in the third quarter, and the Nuggets cut the Thunder’s lead to two by the start of the fourth.
• Donovan’s decision to bring in Little Gasol left the Thunder vulnerable to Jokic and Aaron Gordon, and the Nuggets took a four-point lead.
• Little Jordan fouled out late, and although Chen Xi scored five straight points, the Thunder could not close the gap and lost to the Nuggets.

The Thunder built an early lead against the Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, but Jeff Green’s injury and Donovan’s closing-lineup decisions let Denver take control. Chen Xi scored efficiently down the stretch, but the Thunder could not overcome the deficit and faced a late loss.

• Alexander thanked Chris for helping him improve, then joked that Chris had never won the Sixth Man of the Year award.
• Chen Xi and Alexander helped the Thunder take an 11-point first-quarter lead, and the team went into halftime up seven despite Jokic’s late scoring run.
• Jeff Green injured his hamstring in the third quarter, and the Nuggets cut into the Thunder’s lead as the rotation adjusted.
• Donovan brought in Little Gasol to close the game, but Jokic and Aaron Gordon exploited the matchup and put the Nuggets ahead.
• Little Jordan fouled out, and the Thunder struggled to defend the Jokic-Murray pick-and-roll with AD at center.
• Chen Xi scored five straight points in the final minute, but the Thunder still could not erase the deficit.

The Thunder opened against the Nuggets with an 8–0 run, led by Bane’s threes and Chen Xi’s driving finish, before Denver responded and cut the lead to four. After the Thunder’s timeout, Chen Xi took charge of the next possession and attacked Jokic in a pick-and-roll.

• Chen assessed Jokic as a major two-way force whose defensive impact exceeded what individual honors and statistics showed.
• Murray failed to shake Westbrook, and Little Porter missed a three before Davis secured the rebound for the Thunder.
• Chen Xi drove past Little Porter and passed out to Westbrook, who swung the ball to Bane for a three that gave the Thunder a 6–0 lead.
• Murray missed a midrange fadeaway, and Chen Xi scored through contact on the fast break to cap the Thunder’s 8–0 start and force a Nuggets timeout.
• Jokic helped Denver improve its ball movement, and the Nuggets trimmed the Thunder’s lead to four as Bane missed two shots.
• After the Thunder called timeout, Chen Xi received the ball at the top of the key, used Little Jordan’s screen to draw Jokic outward, and began attacking the mismatch.

Chen Xi repeatedly exploited his matchup with Jokic as the Thunder and Nuggets traded baskets in a high-scoring first half. Davis’s late scoring burst helped the Thunder take a 75–68 lead into halftime, with the hard-fought Game 3 still wide open.

• Chen Xi beat Jokic one-on-one with a stop-and-go crossover before evading Gordon and finishing at the rim.
• Jokic set up Porter for a three-pointer that cut into the Thunder’s momentum.
• Chen Xi drove past the defense and passed to Davis, who finished with a one-handed dunk.
• The teams scored freely in the first quarter, ending it with the score at 39–37.
• Gafford and Batum helped the Thunder’s bench unit limit Harrell and extend the lead to nine points.
• Davis made four consecutive mid-range shots late in the second quarter, and the Thunder entered halftime ahead 75–68.