179: Chapter 179 The Battle of Tianwang Mountain! The Collapse of Trust!

The day after the game ended, the entire North American sports media went completely insane.

On television, in newspapers, and on the internet, news about the Oklahoma City Thunder's internal strife was everywhere.

The video of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook nearly coming to blows on the sidelines was played countless times, repeated in slow motion from every possible angle.

"Aces Fall Out! How Far is the Thunder from Disbanding?"

"Whose Fault? Russell Westbrook's Lone Wolf Playstyle is Destroying Kevin Durant's Championship Dream!"

"The Stupidest Way to Lose in History! The thunder duo Personally Ruins a Great Situation!"

Sharp, biting, and filled with mockery, the headlines were like daggers stabbing deep into the heart of this young team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, once hailed as the "future of the league," became the biggest laughingstock in America overnight.

In stark contrast were the Los Angeles Lakers.

They had transformed from tragic losers on the verge of being swept out to miracle challengers about to make history.

"From 0-3 to 2-3! The Lakers are only two wins away from completing an unprecedented, epic comeback in NBA playoff history!"

"Lin Feng! This young man from the East is redefining the sport of basketball in a way we cannot comprehend!"

All the praise and all the glory were focused on the Lakers.

The mountain-like pressure was thus moved intact from Los Angeles to Oklahoma.

Game 6, back to Los Angeles.

This game had been hyped by all media as the true "Pivotal Game 5" that would decide the life or death of this series!

...A few hours before the start of Game 6.

The Thunder held an emergency team meeting in the visitors' locker room at the Staples Center, the atmosphere eerie.

head coach Brooks stood before the tactical board, his throat dry as he tried to repair the team's shattered trust.

"Listen, guys."

"Game 5 is in the past; that was just an accident."

"We are still the better team! We just need to find our way of playing again!"

He looked at Durant, then at Westbrook.

"Kevin, Russell, you two are our leaders."

"We need you to unite once more."

Under the gaze of the coach and all his teammates.

Durant, who had remained silent, finally stood up.

He walked up to Westbrook and extended his hand.

"Russell, Game 5 was my fault."

"I shouldn't have lost my temper with you on the court."

Westbrook was stunned for a moment. Looking at Durant's face, which was etched with exhaustion, he also stood up and shook his hand.

"No, Kevin, I was too impulsive."

"I played too selfishly. I promise, tonight, I will pass the ball to you."

The two of them shared a hug.

It seemed they had reconciled.

But everyone in the locker room could see it was only on the surface.

The rift that had already formed could not be healed so easily... "Beep—!"

The whistle to start the game echoed throughout the Staples Center!

The Purple and gold ocean boiled once again!

Thunder, first possession!

Westbrook advanced with the ball, seemingly intent on fulfilling his promise.

He didn't try to do it all himself right from the start like in Game 5.

Instead, he patiently directed his teammates' movements and then delivered the ball into Durant's hands.

Durant caught the ball, facing Artest's defense.

He made a shot fake, shaking off his opponent.

However, he didn't choose to shoot it himself!

He hesitated for a moment and then passed the ball back to Westbrook, who had relocated to the perimeter!

This pass was a bit rushed!

Westbrook stumbled as he caught the ball, nearly committing a turnover!

He had to reset, but by this time, the Lakers' defense was fully set!

The shot clock was running out!

At the last second, Westbrook had no choice but to hurriedly hoist up a deep three-pointer!

Clang!

The basketball hit the rim hard!

The Thunder's first possession ended in a bizarre twenty-four-second violation!

On the court.

Durant and Westbrook glanced at each other.

Their eyes held a trace of unmistakable awkwardness and unnaturalness.

The telepathic chemistry they once shared had vanished.

In its place was a cautious sluggishness, born from the fear of making another mistake!

On the Lakers' bench.

Kobe watched this scene, a cold smirk curling his lips.

He turned his head to look at Lin Feng beside him.

"Kid, your scheme worked."

Lin Feng just smiled calmly and said nothing.

His gaze was like that of a cold-blooded hunter, firmly locked onto the two prey on the court who were doubting each other.

Lakers' possession!

Lin Feng held the ball, unhurriedly controlling the pace of the game.

He activated his regular Eye of the Heavenly Emperor, and the situation on the entire court turned into a crystal-clear 3D map in his mind.

The Thunder's defensive line looked seamless.

But in his eyes, it was full of fatal holes created by a lack of trust!

With a simple burst of speed, he charged toward the seam between Westbrook and Durant!

Ibaka instinctively moved up to help defend!

But!

He glanced at Gasol behind him and hesitated!

He wasn't sure if Westbrook would rotate in time to fill his defensive void if he left his position!

It was that 0.1-second hesitation!

Lin Feng captured it with precision!

He didn't choose to go for the layup himself.

Instead, after drawing all the defensive attention, he flicked his wrist!

An extremely subtle behind-the-back bounce pass!

The basketball seemed to have a life of its own as it zipped past Ibaka's hesitant feet!

It was delivered precisely into the hands of Howard, who was already waiting under the basket!

"Roar!"

Howard caught the ball and leaped from a standstill!

A powerful two-handed slam dunk!

He smashed the basketball into the hoop!

2-0!

The Lakers easily took the first points of the game!

Throughout the entire first half.

The flow of the game seemed to be cut from the same cloth.

The Thunder were struggling immensely!

The deliberate passing between Durant and Westbrook actually caused them to lose their best asset: that unstoppable offensive rhythm!

Meanwhile, for the Lakers.

Lin Feng had completely transformed into the absolute master of the court!

He barely took any shots to score himself.

But every pass he made, every adjustment he orchestrated, was like a precise scalpel!

Time and again, he sliced through the Thunder's fragile chain of trust!

He constantly created isolation opportunities for Nick Young against Durant!

He constantly let Gasol take advantage of the indecisive Ibaka!

Like a master psychologist, he used the most heart-piercing methods to provoke the already sensitive and fragile nerves between the Thunder players!

Half-time ended.

60-55!

The Lakers entered the second half with a slim 5-point lead.

The game was exceptionally tense!

The atmosphere in the Staples Center was also strained to the limit!

Fourth quarter, the moment of decision!

The game reached a fever pitch!

The scores of both sides were locked tight!

The Thunder trailed by 5 points!

Only three minutes remained!

The ball was in Westbrook's hands!

head coach Brooks was on the sidelines, frantically making tactical gestures, telling him to settle down and run a successful play!

But!

Faced with immense pressure!

Driven by that heroic impulse etched into his bones!

Westbrook lost control once again!

He ignored Durant's movement!

He ignored the coach's tactical instructions!

Like a thoroughly enraged bull, he charged alone into the Lakers' paint!

Facing the combined strangulation of Howard and Gasol!

He forced a shot with an extremely contorted posture!

Clang!

The ball bounced off the rim!

The next possession!

Westbrook still didn't pass!

Outside the three-point line, facing Lin Feng's defense, he pulled up and shot directly!

Clang!

The ball bounced off the rim yet again!

Two consecutive fatal, irrational offensive choices!

They completely threw away the Thunder's last hope of catching up!

On the court.

Kevin Durant, who had been running hard to get open, stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the back of the number 0 jersey, frustrated by the consecutive misses.

He didn't get angry or argue with him like in Game 5.

He just shook his head in extreme disappointment.

The fire of resentment that had burned in his eyes all game.

At this moment, for the first time, it began to waver.

The Lakers called a timeout to set up their final offensive play!

The game clock had only 24 seconds left!

The Lakers still led by 5 points!

As long as they made this shot, the outcome would be completely decided!

Everyone's eyes were focused on Lin Feng!

There was no doubt that he would be the one to execute this play!

However!

Lin Feng received the baseline pass but didn't choose to attack himself!

He looked at the Thunder's defense, which had completely collapsed.

Eye of the Heavenly Emperor - ZONE!

He saw it!

He saw the 0.5-second defensive lapse from Durant caused by disappointment!

He saw the fatal defensive positioning error from Westbrook caused by frustration!

An opportunity!

He suddenly accelerated!

Drawing the defensive attention of everyone on the Thunder!

Then!

At the very instant everyone thought he was going to finish the game with a layup!

He flicked his wrist!

The basketball was like a precision-guided missile!

It flew out through the gaps in the defense!

It flew toward the corner that everyone had forgotten!

It flew into the hands of the man wearing the purple and gold number 24 jersey!

Kobe Bryant!

Catch!

Jump!

Shoot!

The entire world seemed to be put in slow motion at this moment!

The basketball traced a perfect arc in the air that drove all Lakers fans wild!

Swish!