Chapter 436: Chapter 348: Keep Going Crazy!
"Zeng Xingyang’s passing is really sick," Coach Zhang’s voice exploded like a barrage: "All kinds of passes, the Denver Magician! Who could have imagined a playoff game would turn into such an exaggerated performance? This isn’t basketball, it’s dancing on a chessboard!"
The Nuggets fans on the scene went wild.
A middle-aged white man in the front row wearing an orange hoodie roared, crushing the beer can in his hand.
"Look at that bounce pass! Went right between Crawford and Little Jordan—Zubac’s slam dunk bent the rim!"
"Zeng Xingyang’s vision is like heaven-sent! This passing route is more precise than a math formula!"
"That’s the way to play!"
"The Clippers today have clearly intensified their individual defense against Zeng Xingyang, look at their defensive strategy—dual guard pressure, the inside ready to withdraw at any time. But what did Zeng Xingyang do? He dismantled their defensive system with his passing alone! This is MVP-level game reading ability—being able to adjust to opponents and switch strategies, using the most reasonable way to win the game!"
"The playoff assist record is going to be rewritten by this guy, again. It’s already 25 assists, at this pace, breaking 30 in the fourth quarter will be a breeze."
"Zeng is truly an incredible player, who would’ve thought he could play team basketball with such flair? This guy looks like he’s racking up assists."
Barkley and Smith were chatting enthusiastically.
The camera just panned over the Nuggets’ bench—Gordon was making heart gestures at Zeng Xingyang, Aaron Gordon had already completed five top-five dunks through alley-oops tonight, making the Pepsi Center in Denver feel like the night of a dunk contest.
The spirit at the Clippers’ bench during the break was so tense it was almost frozen.
Paul leaned on the chilly seat in a daze, his eyes empty and weary.
In his career, he’s seen countless top point guards: Kidd’s court vision, Nash’s passing artistry, Westbrook’s explosive impact, but never someone like Zeng Xingyang, who turns passing into art even when trapped.
Just now, in the final attack of the third quarter, when Zeng Xingyang was holding the ball outside the three-point line, he actually used a behind-the-back dribble with his left hand to deceive Pierce’s dogged defense and then completed an assist to Jokic with an elaborate no-look pass. At that moment, Paul felt he couldn’t make that kind of pass.
Zeng Xingyang’s passing decisions are always 0.5 seconds faster than the opponents’ defensive predictions, precise as if he’d watched the game tape beforehand.
Griffin wiped sweat from his mouthguard, glancing over at the Nuggets’ bench.
He saw Coach Mike Malone patting Zeng Xingyang’s shoulder, the latter smiling and making an "OK" gesture, clearly, Mike Malone was extremely satisfied with Zeng Xingyang’s performance.
Indeed, on the bench, Mike Malone praised Zeng Xingyang, encouraging him to keep it up.
If it weren’t for Zeng Xingyang driving the team’s offense, they might have been crushed by the Clippers’ shooting.
The Clippers were incredibly accurate tonight, almost everyone was firing on all cylinders.
The pressure from such offense was enormous.
As the final quarter began, the lights at Pepsi Center continued to flash.
As Zeng Xingyang dribbled to advance, the whole arena resonated with rhythmic chants of "MVP," waves of sound surged as the home fans cheered for the Nuggets.
Defending him was Crawford. The Sixth Man of the Year had a fierce look in his eyes, his continuously moving shoes creating a "squeak" sound as they rubbed against the floor.
Zeng Xingyang hadn’t attacked much tonight, yet the Clippers hoped he would attack more.
The more the opponents tried to limit his passing, the more threatening his passing seemed.
Zeng Xingyang called for Zubac to set a screen.
The moment Zubac’s huge frame blocked Crawford, Zeng Xingyang shifted his dribble, suddenly noticing Little Jordan pouncing out from inside—this was the Clippers’ set tactic, using a big man to delay the ball handler, denying Zeng Xingyang any space.
But with a flick of his wrist, the ball slipped like it had eyes through Crawford and Little Jordan’s armpits, precisely rolling toward the cutting Zubac.
When Zubac caught the ball, he didn’t even need to adjust his steps, raising both hands high, he slammed the ball toward the hoop.
"Bang!" The basket emitted a loud groan, trembling under the impact.
"105 to 112! Zeng Xingyang delivered another assist, widening the lead!" Zhang Weiping’s voice cracked with excitement, "Denver’s passing storm is still raging, and the Clippers’ defensive structure is riddled with holes!"
The Clippers’ offense was equally fierce.
Crawford dribbled to the frontcourt, completing a pick-and-roll with Griffin.
The moment Griffin’s solid shoulder blocked Zeng Xingyang, Crawford changed direction with the ball, penetrating the paint.
Zubac swiftly came over to help, but Crawford showcased incredible flexibility, accelerating again and changing direction, patting the ball from right to left, then stepping past Zubac toward the basket.
Grant rushed in to interfere, but Crawford twisted his body in mid-air, executing an elegant switch-hand layup.
The ball bounced off the backboard and into the hoop, eliciting a gasp from the crowd.
"Boom! Swish!" Coach Zhang mimicked the sound of the ball going through the net, "Crawford’s play was incredible, showing his excellent offensive form! 107 to 112, the gap narrows again!"
The Nuggets’ offense resumed.
Zeng Xingyang dribbled to the frontcourt, passing to Zubac in the low post.
Zubac glanced at Little Jordan in front of him, feeling a bit uncertain, as Little Jordan’s defensive threat was undeniable.
He decisively passed the ball out to Siakam.
Siakam played smart, feigning a handoff to Zeng Xingyang before suddenly spinning and leaving the trailing Wesley Johnson behind, charging into the paint.
Zeng Xingyang then cut and followed to the free-throw line area.
Siakam delivered the ball to Zeng Xingyang.
At this moment, Zeng Xingyang caught the ball between the free-throw line and the paint with no defenders around him, as the Clippers’ defensive focus was entirely on his passing, leaving him unguarded.
Zeng Xingyang didn’t hesitate, with a flick of the wrist, he executed a one-handed floater.
The ball traced a beautiful arc, swishing cleanly through the net.
"Swish!"
to 114, Zeng Xingyang stabilized the game for his team in the simplest way.
It’s the Clippers’ turn for offense, Crawford stepped up again.
On the right side outside the three-point line, he used double screens by Little Jordan and Griffin to forcefully jump from a step beyond the three-point line on the right side.
Zeng Xingyang maneuvered around the screens to chase him down, his fingers almost touching Crawford’s elbow, yet Crawford ignored the defense, applying wrist force, sending the ball into a high arc, straight into the net.
"Swish!" The net trembled violently, bringing the score to 110 to 114.
"This guy’s going berserk."
"What a red-hot form."
Crawford taunted the fans with a celebration at the scorer’s table.
The Nuggets fans in the stands booed, with some excited fans shouting towards the court, "Zeng! Answer him!"
Nuggets fans had seen Crawford’s arrogance, felt the pressure of the game, and placed their hopes on Zeng Xingyang.