Chapter 591: A 70% Win Rate Is Already Decent

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si probably couldn't laugh at this hellish joke.

He never dreamed that sweeping his own Knicks would become a "destiny gift" in the eyes of the Thunder and the Rockets.

No one knows what they were thinking.

Before the sixth game even started, the gunpowder smell was already at its peak.

Thunder home fans were howling.

Both sides' players were determined to win; they now believed that as long as they eliminated the opponent, they could reach the finals and claim the championship.

The thrill was intense.

So James Harden drove into the paint on the opening possession, leapt into an aerial duel with Parsons, and forced the ball into the hoop.

Passion!

Turning back, Kevin Durant didn't rest either; even without a three‑point shot, Durant repeatedly attacked the paint and faced Howard head‑on.

The two perimeter stars played with more frenzy than a wrestling match.

Fan Xi was moved to tears in front of the TV; this was truly a life‑or‑death effort.

Turns out there really are men who fight for themselves.

Fan Xi turned around, went to the back garden to sun with Si Jia Li. As for the game, he'll have the Knicks' videographer edit it for him.

After becoming pregnant, Si Jia Li's mood improved; she turned down all work and now focuses on giving birth.

She looks forward to the baby every day and says to Fan Xi, "I still can't believe that I originally got close to you to help Selena pursue you. But now, I've become the child's mother before she did."

Um….

It's a ridiculous past event.

However, Si Jia Li still remembers Durant. "I heard Kevin Durant is playing in the Western Finals; he really is a humorous guy. He always does performance art. Do you think he has a chance to face you in the finals?"

Fan Xi shrugged, "I'm not sure, maybe. If you're willing to give him some bath water, the odds might be higher."

Fan Xi teased Durant's classic quote, prompting Si Jia Li to laugh and punch him.

On the court, Durant sneezed—damn cold air.

His touch was icy tonight, but his interior damage kept the Thunder ahead at home.

He rubbed his hands vigorously, took the ball from a teammate, faced Parsons' defense, executed a fake Probe Step, and Parsons, like a puppet on strings, retreated. He then leapt and released a textbook jump shot.

The swish announced that Durant had regained his touch.

Home fans erupted in joy, while the Houston camp inevitably fell into panic.

If Durant posts another 60+ like in the previous game, the Rockets are unstoppable.

The sad thing is the Rockets lack sufficient defensive depth at the 2‑3 spots; they poured most of their resources into the Three Giants… that's been their building philosophy.

Just like when they secured Yao Ming and McGrady back then, yet refused to invest elite assistants around the two.

Harden and Paul both gave 200% effort in this game; they were desperate to reach the finals, desperate to take down Fan Xi.

Both sides fought desperately, yet the score remained deadlocked.

The Thunder, anchored at home, kept a slight lead. The TV commentator said Kevin Durant was breaking through his final bottleneck and was about to become a super star on the same level as Jieke Fan and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si. If he pushes the game to a Game 7 and clinches the win, he and Westbrook will bring great trouble to Fan Xi in the finals.

Durant needs this series to prove his greatness.

He himself is well aware of this.

He is undoubtedly at his peak now, with inside‑out shooting, touching the door to a profoundly mysterious realm. Once he crosses it, he'll enter the realm of Fan Xi and James. He will become the league's third super star to claim the highest throne.

This will make current basketball even more exciting, because throughout NBA history, few super stars have reached this level; now this era boasts three. Such fierce competition makes dominating the era all the more magnificent.

Fan Xi kept watching the game intermittently.

After he was busy in the back garden for a while and returned to his room, the game had entered the fourth quarter. He glanced at the score: Thunder led 101‑96 by five points and held possession.

Only three minutes remained in the fourth quarter.

Reggie Miller on TV said, "Kevin Durant has already tallied 58 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal. If he scores two more, he'll become the first ever player to post 60+ in consecutive playoff games. I feel he's entered another realm; he's already a super star on par with Jie Ke and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si."

Those words made Fan Xi set his foot.

Did Durant evolve again?

Fan Xi stood before the sofa, eyes fixed on Durant on the TV. Durant faced Parsons' defense, appearing neither hurried nor slow, the ball swaying before him; no one knew whether he'd shoot or drive. His scoring threat had long been recognized as the league's top.

Then, at that moment, Durant made a subtle tiny move, seeming to gather the ball… minute, yet extremely realistic.

Fan Xi thought 99% of defenders would fall for it, because Durant's size was perfectly gauged.

Parsons indeed jumped, and Durant cut inside, taking a huge stride that left Parsons behind in a single step.

Fan Xi nodded; Durant's micro‑level control had reached historic top‑tier.

After bursting into the paint, Durant suddenly slowed, using a slow three‑step Euro Step that threw Howard off balance. Then he extended his long arms, leapt, and easily placed the ball into the hoop… his long limbs gave him perfect timing and positioning on the drive.

His command of details, technique, and outstanding touch made Fan Xi sigh that another contender had joined the peak showdown.

But just as Durant's shot seemed inevitable, Paul surged from the side, leapt, and lunged at Durant… he couldn't block the ball, but he stopped the driver, slamming his force into Durant's torso.

After completing the Euro Step and soaring, Durant was exhausted, leaving no strength for a contest, believing all defense had been cleared.

Yet who could have expected Paul to charge out and assault his upper body?

Swoosh!

The ball Durant tossed swished through the net, turning his 58 points into 60, setting a historic record.

At the same time, his body slammed hard onto the floor, his small head hitting first… Bang!

The huge noise even reached Fan Xi in front of the TV.

"This is murder!! This is murder!!!"

Reggie Miller on TV said furiously.

He was extremely angry; every camera clearly showed Paul charging straight at the person.

But at that moment he looked bewildered, raising his hands innocently.

He lowered his head to check on Durant.

But Perkins shoved him away with his hand from afar; he raised his hands high, indicating he meant no harm.

However, the referee this time did not speak with him again, but blew the whistle outright and ejected him from the game.

At that moment, the entire arena boiled over, with shouts and curses rising one after another.

As Paul walked toward the players' tunnel, people on both sides roared at him and hurled drinks and popcorn at his head… like an ancient prison cart passing a market; he could only clutch his head and sprint inside.

Fan Xi examined the video replay closely and felt sorry for Durant. This game should have become Durant's career masterpiece; his performance was outstanding, and he unquestionably entered another level.

But at that moment, he was lying on the floor.

After a long while, the team doctor finally came over, helped him onto a stretcher, and pushed him out.

His cervical spine was immobilized, and his eyes looked somewhat dazed.

Mai Ke Bu Lin said, "Obviously, he triggered the concussion management protocol. Durant's most perfect performance was abruptly cut short; it could have been the greatest solo show in Western history, and in fact it already was. I don't want to name who the executioner was, but from the televised footage, this isn't a normal foul."

His words were very understated.

But the internet has already erupted with curses.

Fan Xi fetched himself a glass of water, took two big gulps, and only then calmed his emotions.

He felt deep regret for Durant and wished him no lingering effects. He looks forward to Durant joining the Peak Club and hopes to face Durant in a peak showdown.

Fan Xi differs from others; he gets more excited the stronger the opponent.

Westbrook took off his jacket and stepped onto the court, his face seething with rage; all the Thunder players were the same, each harboring thoughts of avenging Durant.

This is a very positive emotion.

However, being overly pumped isn't good either.

Westbrook was already playing injured and hadn't warmed up properly; when he took the technical-foul free throws, he missed both attempts.

Moreover, he assisted Ibaka, who drove to the basket only to be disrupted by Howard.

Then Howard passed to the frontcourt. James Harden withstood the pressure and, against his former team, nailed a three‑pointer.

He narrowed the gap.

Fan Xi had already taken a seat on the sofa, becoming very calm. Whatever the final result, he no longer cared.

Thunder and the Rockets engaged in the final showdown.

With 13 seconds left, the Thunder still led by one point and possessed the ball.

But then Harden lunged forward, shoving the injured Westbrook aside, snatching the ball like Jordan did back in the day.

He then sprinted to the frontcourt, slowed the tempo, and finally faked Westbrook, stepped back and released a buzzer‑beating three‑pointer.

He completed a spectacular game‑winner.

He locked the Western Conference Finals in Game Six.

He roared in the Oklahoma arena, venting his feeling of being abandoned. He was determined to prove the Thunder management wrong and to demonstrate his worth. He killed the game and led his new team into the Finals.

He reached for the Western champion trophy earlier than the older brothers.

Yet at that moment, he received boos from the entire arena.

No one thought his victory was well‑deserved, even though his late‑game steal and game‑winner inevitably evoked memories of Jordan's famous clutch shot.

But disgrace is still disgrace.

If Durant hadn't been taken down, the Rockets would have had no chance tonight.

They blew out others' candles only to light their own lamp.

James Harden laughed in the end, defeating the older brothers; he scored 43 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, and was Houston's MVP.

"Finals, we're here!"

Big Beard, in an ESPN post‑game interview, said excitedly, "We secured this hard‑won victory, we proved ourselves. We'll go to a bigger stage and chase greater honors…"

Fan Xi turned off the TV.

He wasn't interested in hearing James Harden's post‑game self‑praise any longer.

He was even less inclined to watch the Rockets' Western champion award ceremony.

His view matched that of most fans: had Durant not been injured, the game would surely have gone to a seventh.

But now, let's respect the result.

…

The internet drenched Paul with scathing insults, and the footage of Durant's injury was replayed over and over.

As Reggie Miller said, everyone called Paul a murderer.

Paul tried to explain, but aside from Rockets supporters and his fans, few were willing to believe him.

Durant's diagnosis came that night: a moderate‑to‑severe concussion.

Fortunately Durant's head is relatively small; had he had a big head, such a high‑impact fall would have at least caused a severe concussion and certainly injured his neck.

Anyway, it's good news.

At noon the next day, the league also responded.

Though the widely‑criticized Chris Paul wasn't handed a lifetime ban and taken to court as extreme fans claimed, the league still added a two‑game suspension and fined him $30,000.

The Rockets filed an appeal, not expecting an additional suspension; they felt the punishment was excessive. Yet public opinion turned against them, with many thinking the penalty was too light.

When Paul was suspended for two games.

Fan Xi was somewhat taken by surprise.

Online public opinion flipped instantly.

"Who could have imagined the Thunder and Rockets clashing like this, trying to eat the Knicks like a tasty cake. In the end both suffered; Paul got a two‑game suspension, and even with two key Knicks rotation players injured, they still have a high chance of snatching at least one away‑game advantage in Houston."

"Who could have guessed the Knicks would end up advantaged. God always favors the good."

"The Knicks' championship odds have surged, and Chris Paul is paying a heavy price for his terrible conduct."

"For Paul, this may be the last time he touches the Finals floor in his career."

"It makes me believe in justice again; justice will always defeat evil! Come on, Jieke Fan!"

"If Jieke Fan's assistants return after two away games, I think they have a chance to complete another 4‑0 sweep."

"………"

"…"

"Fan Xi set out for Houston the next day, and his teammates also flew in from New York."

"They will regroup in Houston, train and adjust for two days, then play the first game of the Finals."

"Larry Brown was interviewed at the Houston airport: "I didn't care what happened in the Western Finals. I was fishing the whole time. I'm not a person who follows outside affairs; I'm already an old man.""

"Larry Brown wasn't lying; he truly didn't care about the Western Finals. His behavior was obviously somewhat incompetent."

""On the plane I discussed this with the coaching staff and the players. Paul's suspension isn't good news for us. We all think the Rockets without Paul might actually be stronger.""

"Larry Brown continued: "At least they solved the backcourt compatibility issue. James Harden is a genius conductor; everyone is dazzled by his scoring, but his assist level isn't lower than Paul's.""

"Larry Brown's remark dealt a huge blow to the Rockets; it was sheer top‑level scheming."

"So, the old man is really bad."

"Standing aside in a crisp suit with a black mask, JR Smith was as fiery as ever. "Our goal this time is not only the championship but also to enact justice. Justice will surely defeat evil, so basketball fans can rest assured. We will tightly unite beside the holy messenger of justice Jieke Fan and carry out the orders of the Judgement Hall.""

"JR Smith was a bit…"

"The Knicks have been training at a high school in Houston, rehearsing a new lineup and new tactics. Fan Xi and Joe Johnson focused on practicing the triangle offense, and Fan Xi also brought Stade Miller into the mix."

"Although the triangle offense is a highly intellectual system, it's hard to execute with the IQ of Joe Johnson and Stade Miller."

"But Fan Xi kept simplifying, linking, linking, and still managed to generate some power."

"To deal with the Rockets, with Kevin Garnett and JR Smith injured, the best current solution is the triangle offense."

"Because the Rockets have little defense, De'Angoni 'cannot spit out ivory', and he himself isn't a defensive‑type coach."

"His defense relies entirely on the assistant coach."

"…"

"CCTV reporters arrived at the Toyota Center on game day; over many years they have built a good relationship with the Rockets, and even with Harden, whose Asian fanbase is huge."

"Fan Xi gave them an interview."

"Fan Xi always speaks confidently in front of domestic media, never wavering his viewpoint."

"He said: "At least for the first two games we won't worry about injuries; we can freely execute our tactics. We need to secure at least one win, and if we take two, the pressure on Houston will be huge.""

""Harden and Howard are old rivals; I know them well, and they know me. And De'Angoni, we've faced each other for years. So I think this Finals could be a repeat of last season's Los Angeles intra‑city battle.""

""However, we must admit. This season's Knicks are not as good as last season's Kuaisuan. The Rockets are not as good as last season's Lakers.""

""The chance of winning is about seventy percent; if our chemistry fully develops, we'll have over ninety percent confidence.""

"Fan Xi continued."

"This gave domestic fans great confidence."

"At the same time, after the internet's export turned to domestic sales, fans in the United States also got excited, especially Knicks fans."

"Seventy percent win probability is already high!!"

"Moreover, if the chemistry kicks in, it's ninety percent."

"By the way, what is this new chemical reaction??"

"…"