Aldridge stood on the sidelines, gulping down air.
"I'm done for—this is going to come down to a knife fight!"
After finally catching his breath, Aldridge suddenly blurted that out.
CJ, standing nearby, froze for a moment before realizing just how dire the situation had become.
Earlier in the series, the Spurs and Warriors had traded wins to reach a 2–2 tie. Tonight's pivotal Game 5 at Oracle Arena was the true turning point, the game that would decide the direction of the entire series.
The clock had ticked into the final moments of the fourth quarter, the score deadlocked at 88–88. The Spurs had possession.
From the score alone, it was clear how intense the defense had been. Popovich and Kerr, mentor and protégé, were both pulling out all the stops, each showcasing their own brand of tactical mastery.
Both teams boasted deep benches and powerful starting lineups. The back-and-forth adjustments, move for move and counter for counter, had defined the entire series.
The Spurs rolled out their perimeter double-lock system with Green and Leonard. Green stayed glued to Curry, while Leonard roamed laterally, using the Spurs' near-flawless defensive framework to completely choke off Thompson and George.
It was worth mentioning that George's form had clearly dipped since joining the Warriors. After all, George wasn't Durant.
Within the Warriors' system, he couldn't fully unleash his ball-dominant style. Some of the ball-handling had to be given to Curry, while a portion of the shot attempts naturally went to Thompson. As a result, his off-ball gravity on the perimeter had dropped sharply compared to his days with the Pacers.
"CJ, you're coming out to rest."
Popovich spoke in a low, steady voice from the bench. Beneath his perfectly neat hair, his eyes betrayed undeniable fatigue.
This kind of high-intensity tactical battle was simply too exhausting for an aging coach.
"Tony, you're in. You'll organize the offense. Get Kawhi isolation opportunities."
Although the Spurs' tactical core had always been "make one more pass,"
in a game like this, every possession was priceless. One extra pass meant one extra chance for a turnover. Popovich decided that the final possessions would belong entirely to the new franchise centerpiece—Leonard.
"LaMarcus and Sebastian, stay planted in the corners. Be ready to crash the offensive boards!"
The Spurs' starting center tonight was none other than Christian Wood, an undrafted prospect previously recommended by Chen Yilun.
Out of trust in Chen Yilun's eye for talent, Wood spent a full year developing with the Austin Spurs before clawing his way up from the fringes to become the starting center.
It had to be said—the Spurs' development system truly stood alone in the league. Under Popovich's guidance, Wood had steadily grown into a legitimate, well-known stretch big.
"Tony and Danny, spread the floor. The moment Kawhi shoots, retreat immediately—don't give them a chance to run!"
"Got it!" The Spurs players nodded in unison and returned to the court.
Parker brought the ball across half-court, directing several actions, but nothing clean emerged. He then swung the ball to Leonard.
Leonard held the ball on the perimeter, matched up against Paul George.
He dribbled deliberately, using his body to back George inch by inch into the mid-range area.
Sensing the post-up, George instantly raised his alert level, dropping his center of gravity to avoid getting pushed off his spot.
Against most players, when a defender does that, the best response is to spin for a drive or kick the ball out. Lowering the center of gravity improves strength but also slows movement and reaction time.
Leonard did neither.
After one more powerful bump, he suddenly turned and rose into a fadeaway jumper.
George hadn't expected Leonard to be that bold. All he could do was watch as Leonard extended his long arms and calmly released the shot over his head.
The ball traced a high arc and dropped cleanly through the net.
"You're really damn cruel."
George ground his teeth, staring at Leonard, who showed no expression after scoring and simply turned to jog back on defense.
That shot was brutal. The defense was flawless—yet completely useless.
And Leonard didn't celebrate. No reaction at all, as if it were nothing more than a routine play.
The Warriors took over. Curry crossed half-court and handed the ball to George, immediately starting his off-ball movement.
This was the Warriors' deadliest weapon.
Curry wasn't the league's most terrifying perimeter player—or the man who single-handedly ushered in a new era—just because of his god-tier three-point shooting.
What truly made him frightening was that, in addition to elite handle, shooting, playmaking, and finishing, he also possessed absurdly strong off-ball ability.
At his peak, Curry had essentially maxed out every perimeter skill imaginable.
Well—except dunking.
Facing Leonard's expressionless stare, George took a deep breath and forced down his frustration.
Then he began to orchestrate the offense.
After failing to isolate Leonard, George caught a glimpse of Draymond Green setting up at the 45-degree spot beyond the arc.
He immediately understood and fired the pass out.
Danny, who was chasing Curry, slammed straight into Draymond Green.
Catching the ball in rhythm, Curry didn't hesitate for a second—he rose and fired.
"Swish!"
The shot dropped cleanly.
90–91! The Warriors took the lead once again!
...
The next possession.
Leonard tried to go back to the same move, but a wiser George stayed glued to him, denying space and movement. Rushed, Leonard's shot clanged off the rim.
But even before Leonard released the ball, Aldridge—lying in wait in the corner—had already charged into the paint. Using his height advantage, he tipped the rebound right over Draymond Green's head.
Remembering Green's war stomp from last year, Aldridge didn't risk anything fancy. He simply powered up with his height and finished the putback.
Back and forth they went, offense turning into defense, neither side able to break free.
"Bang!"
Leonard missed again. Draymond Green secured the rebound but didn't outlet immediately.
With just over 30 seconds left on the clock, Green checked the Spurs' positioning before finally handing the ball to Curry.
Curry crossed half-court, called Draymond Green up for an on-ball screen, and exploited a split-second delay in the Spurs' switch to pull up instantly.
Under everyone's gaze, the ball flew toward the rim, bounced off the front iron—
—and rolled in.
"ROOOAR!"
Oracle Arena exploded in a deafening wave of cheers.
The Warriors led 97–95.
Eighteen seconds remained.
The Spurs had been pushed to the very edge of the cliff.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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