"Jayson, that was not a basketball move!"
After getting up, Kai Chen glared coldly at Jayson Tatum. Seeing his casual, overly focused defensive posture only fueled Kai's anger. "Don't ever say you graduated from Duke University again!"
"Coach K would be ashamed to see that shit!"
"That was just normal physical contact." Jayson Tatum shook his head, spreading his hands innocently. "I didn't expect you to be that weak in contact."
Hearing Tatum's words, Kai ignored him and refocused, preparing to attack.
With less than a minute remaining, the two teams were tied.
The game had entered the critical moment that would truly decide the outcome.
"Defense!"
"Defense!"
"Defense!"
The atmosphere inside TD Garden exploded. Nearly twenty thousand fans shouted in unison, cheering desperately for their home team.
Beverley passed the ball to Kai near midcourt before even crossing the half-court line.
Kai received it, glanced at the shot clock, and calmly began to dribble, deliberately burning time.
With eight seconds left on the clock, Kai gave Jeff Green a look. Green stepped up to set the screen.
Tatum sensed Kai's intention and instinctively took a step back, preparing to fight through the screen.
But it was that single step back.
Kai, nearly two meters beyond the three-point line, rose up and fired directly over the arc!
The ball shot out like a blade leaving its sheath, delivering a fatal strike.
"Swish!!"
113-110!
Just moments earlier, chants of "Defense" had echoed through the arena.
Now, TD Garden was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"No one expected Kai Chen to choose this kind of shot at such a critical moment!"
The dead silence made Smith exclaim, "That shot completely shut up TD Garden!"
"This is the first away arena Kai Chen has silenced—and it definitely won't be the last!"
"59 points! Kai Chen once again proves why the Clippers were willing to trade Griffin for him!"
O'Neal added beside him, "The game isn't over yet. The Celtics still have a chance to tie it."
"Let's see how they respond!"
As Smith and O'Neal spoke, Irving launched the next attack.
After dribbling into the frontcourt, he used Horford's high screen and exploded forward, slicing into the paint at full speed.
"Double team!"
Lopez and Jeff Green stepped up immediately, sealing off his path. At the same time, Beverley and Carmelo collapsed in, surrounding him.
With no space to shoot, Irving was forced to jump and pass.
The ball flew toward Jaylen Brown on the perimeter.
He was wide open.
But just as Brown reached for it, a massive hand appeared and snatched the ball out of the air.
Kai Chen!
Brown's eyes widened in shock, while Irving sank into despair.
Kai gave them no time to react, pushing the ball upcourt in one motion.
Tatum tried to recover, but it was too late. By the time he reached the three-point line, Kai had already thrown down the dunk.
"Boom!"
115-110!
Less than thirty seconds remained.
"The Celtics are in real danger now!"
"After Kai Chen's steal and dunk, they're down five. If they don't act fast, this one's over!"
At the TNT desk, Smith took over. "That turnover was fatal. Kai Chen's score off the steal dealt a deadly blow."
"But at this point, winning or losing almost doesn't matter anymore."
"Kai Chen just put on a performance worthy of being written into history!"
Both teams called timeout. Coach Stevens, rarely one to curse, was no exception this time.
Even though Irving's turnover cost them their best chance to close the gap, Stevens held it in and quickly adjusted the plan.
On the Clippers' side, no one relaxed.
There were still nearly thirty seconds left—anything could happen.
Even the usually energetic Grayson Allen quietly handed water to the starters, his face tense.
"Watch Kyrie Irving—don't let him get the ball easily."
"And on this possession, focus on the perimeter. Absolutely no open threes."
Doc Rivers pointed at the board, his tone firm.
Up five with thirty seconds left, as long as they defended the three-point line, the Celtics' comeback hopes were nearly nonexistent.
The teams returned to the floor, Celtics ball.
On the sideline inbound, Tatum quickly passed to Brown.
Brown caught it and, following the play, swung it to Gordon Hayward at the top of the arc before cutting away.
After several cross-screens, the Celtics' off-ball movement was smothered by the Clippers, leaving no clean looks.
As the clock kept ticking, Hayward was forced to rise over Jeff Green for a three.
"Clank!"
The shot hit the front rim and bounced out.
Horford leapt high, grabbing the rebound over Lopez, then ignored Irving calling for the ball and kicked it out to Brown.
"Clank!"
Brown rushed the shot—and missed again.
"Timeout!"
Kai charged into the paint, secured the rebound, and immediately signaled timeout to the referee.
"I was open! Why didn't you pass it to me?!"
Irving exploded, throwing his hands up at Horford. "Why the hell didn't you give me the ball?!"
"I didn't see you."
Horford replied flatly and walked toward the bench.
"You should've passed it to me!"
"I seriously don't know what you were thinking!"
Irving continued complaining behind him.
"Enough. Horford made the right choice."
Back at the bench, Coach Stevens cut in. "Everyone, stop talking. Missing the shot is fine."
Irving lowered his head, frustration written all over his face.
Anyone familiar with that Celtics team knows this clearly—
Irving was not well-liked in that locker room.
After the timeout, the Celtics fouled. Carmelo calmly made both free throws.
Tatum's rushed three on the next possession missed, and the game was effectively decided.
The Celtics abandoned the fouling strategy altogether, standing helplessly as the final five seconds ran off the clock.
"Beep!"
The final buzzer echoed through the arena.
The Clippers defeated the Boston Celtics 117-110 at TD Garden, extending their winning streak.
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