81 to 78!

Zhou Peng's three-pointer gave the Chinese team a crucial three-point lead!

Li Chunjiang also pumped his fist excitedly. This former disciple of his had become a veteran in the blink of an eye, but he was still trustworthy at critical moments!

Gregg Popovich shook his head unconsciously.

The Chinese team was playing at home, and everyone was as energetic as if they'd been injected with chicken blood.

If it were any other time, he wouldn't believe the Chinese team could make such a crucial shot.

But there were no "ifs," and this was the advantage of being the host.

James Harden isolated Ding Yanyuhang in the frontcourt, drawing a defensive foul on the latter.

In a one-on-one situation, the difference in strength between the two was vast, and the Chinese team didn't dare to double-team.

Harden made both free throws, and the American team narrowed the score difference to 1 point again.

Many fans at the scene gasped for air; the game was too tense and exciting.

The lead had changed hands countless times, and the score difference had never exceeded double digits.

Before the game, many fans from other countries thought the game would be uninteresting because it would be one-sided, but the facts proved that their worries were completely unnecessary.

Such a game was worthy of the World Cup final, and could even be said to be the most exciting one.

Ding Yanyuhang was double-teamed again in the frontcourt. This time, the American team sped up their help defense rotation, and there was no open opportunity for Zhou Peng.

Yi Jianlian held the ball, wanting to pass it back to Ding Yanyuhang, but Kawhi Leonard blocked him.

With little time left on the shot clock, Yi Jianlian glanced at Paul George, who had switched to defend him, and chose to drive to the basket.

George gave him plenty of contact and tried to steal the ball.

Yi Jianlian was forced to stop, and with no time for further action, he was forced to turn around and shoot a fadeaway jumper.

This shot was extremely difficult.

George's leaping block almost forced him to release the ball as he was falling.

And the instant he released the ball, the red light on the sideline lit up.

It was a buzzer-beater.

"Swish!"

But the ball went in!

The cheers at the scene exploded instantly.

Tang Tian couldn't help but stand up and cheer for Yi Jianlian.

This shot was really difficult, and really crucial.

This scene reminded fans of the game against Nigeria in the group stage.

In that game, Yi Jianlian almost single-handedly helped the team win, bringing many Chinese fans to tears.

Facts proved that it wasn't his swan song. Like Zhou Peng, he had brought his veteran role into full play in the most crucial game!

Harden's step-back three-pointer in the frontcourt missed, and the ball bounced directly out of bounds, bringing the game to a dead ball.

At that moment, Li Chunjiang substituted Tang Tian and Abudushalamu for Yi Jianlian and Ding Yanyuhang.

On the American side, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant also returned to the court.

This meant that the Chinese team had survived the two-minute stretch of the bench unit at the start!

When Tang Tian came on the court, he exchanged high-fives and head pats with Yi Jianlian and Ding Yanyuhang, giving them the best affirmation of their performance.

Tang Tian had rested for two minutes off the court, and his physical strength had recovered a lot. Now, after coming on the court, he took over the Chinese team's offense.

However, the Chinese team still didn't have much of a solution on the defensive end against the American team, and the score remained deadlocked.

And Curry regained his touch when he was needed most, hitting two long-range three-pointers in a row.

With five minutes left in the quarter, the American team took the lead over the Chinese team, 89 to 85.

Li Chunjiang reached out and called a timeout.

The fans at the scene gasped for air; Curry regaining his touch was definitely not good news for them.

But when Tang Tian came off the court, he looked up at the scoreboard, his eyes full of confidence.

Death Assist, he hadn't used this golden skill many times in the World Cup. He had used it once against Cameroon, and once against the Greek team.

Only twice in total, but from those two times, his experience was that unless the opponent could widen the score difference in three and a half quarters...

Otherwise, these last five minutes would be his time to show off his skills.

Or in other words, even if the opponent was the American team, the Chinese team's victory and championship were already within reach!

Down by 4 points with five minutes left, and the opponent was the American team. The Chinese players were visibly nervous.

Having reached this point, they were also worried about failing at the last minute like they had against the Spanish team.

But looking at the confident expression on Tang Tian's face, their nervousness eased a lot.

With Tang Tian there, they had a chance.

After Li Chunjiang finished arranging the tactics, Tang Tian directly took over.

"Just like in the previous games, take the shots with confidence and boldness when you have the opportunity. This is our home court, and luck will be on our side."

Tang Tian's words made the players' emotions even more relaxed.

Because they knew that Tang Tian's words were not just empty talk.

When the timeout ended, the two sides entered the final five-minute showdown.

Many fans at the scene reached out and patted their chests. The World Cup, held once every four years, a 4-point difference, the world championship at stake.

These five minutes could really give someone a heart attack.

When the timeout ended, Popovich once again showed his courage and put on his strongest defensive lineup.

Klay Thompson, George, Durant, Leonard, Andre Drummond.

He knew very well that at this time, defense was the key to determining the outcome.

Especially when holding a lead.

And on the other hand, this lineup's offense wasn't bad either!

The Chinese team had possession. Tang Tian drove to the basket in the frontcourt, and the American team double-teamed him decisively and quickly.

In the double-team, Tang Tian passed the ball to Abudushalamu on the outside.

However, the American team's defense was very strong. After help defense rotation, Durant had already switched to defend Abudushalamu, his long arms casting a shadow.

Abudushalamu passed the ball to Yi Jianlian. Yi Jianlian faked a shot on the outside, broke through to the free-throw line, and his sudden stop jump shot missed.

Drummond grabbed the defensive rebound, and the Chinese team's first offensive possession after the timeout failed to score.

The American team's defense was really strong.

However, the Chinese team played a full-court press, and let Drummond go like they had at the end of the first half.

When Popovich saw that Li Chunjiang was going to use the same trick again, he reached out and called a timeout.

"The ball I pass, shoot it, don't pass, believe that you can make the shot."

When he was walking off the court during the timeout, Tang Tian grabbed Abudushalamu and said.

He was just short of saying that he had a system, and that if he shot it, it would definitely go in.

And his voice was very loud, so not only Abudushalamu, but everyone else heard it as well.

Abudushalamu nodded.

When the timeout ended, Popovich replaced Drummond with Myles Turner.

Leonard spun around and made a layup in the frontcourt.

91 to 85, the American team had widened the score difference to 6 points.

The fans at the scene felt like they were having some difficulty breathing.

This game was really killing them.

They were really afraid that the Chinese team would collapse at the end like they had against the Spanish team.

They even all looked at Tang Tian on the court at the same time. At this time, Tang Tian had to stand up again.

Tang Tian broke through in the frontcourt, and still chose to pass the ball after being double-teamed.

Many fans at the scene felt a twinge in their hearts. Why did Tang Tian suddenly become LeBron James!

This time, the one who received the ball was Yi Jianlian, and he shot a three-pointer directly over Durant.

The fans at the scene held their breath.

A battle between China's Durant and America's Yi Jianlian.

A crucial shot.

Durant's long arms gave him plenty of interference, and Yi Jianlian was forced to raise the arc when he shot.

This ball was difficult.

When Durant saw the ball pass over his fingertips, he knew that his defense had been mostly successful.

"Swish!"

But after he turned around, his eyes were full of disbelief.

The ball went in!

Yi Jianlian, face-shot him!