The next day, a new week officially began.
After all members of the Clippers gathered, they boarded a private plane to Phoenix.
Starting today, they would begin their toughest five-game road trip in November.
First, they would face the Phoenix Suns, followed by the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors!
Among these teams, the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks were primarily composed of young players.
The matchup between the third overall pick, Kai Chen, and the first overall pick, Deandre Ayton, was undoubtedly a major highlight.
The direct confrontation between the new king, Kai Chen, and the European king, Luka, was also highly anticipated.
But more fans focused their attention on the final opponent of this road trip.
The Golden State Warriors, with their five superstars, were undoubtedly the strongest team in the league.
Like the Clippers, they had not suffered a single defeat so far this season.
Many fans even believed the Clippers might be a potential playoff opponent for the Warriors.
November 10th
Phoenix, Footprint Center!
"Kai, destroy Deandre Ayton!"
"You're the first overall pick we needed!"
"Welcome home, Kai Chen!"
Before the game, when Kai Chen walked out of the player tunnel, Suns fans on both sides greeted him with deafening cheers.
Facing the overwhelming applause, Kai was stunned for a moment.
He had expected to be booed in Phoenix, but instead he was welcomed with enthusiastic cheers.
This season, the Suns, with their new-era OK combination, had managed only a 1–5 record.
Their terrible performance was unacceptable to Suns fans.
"Oh, it looks like Kai Chen is enjoying cheers at the Suns' home court!"
On a live stream, seeing the viewer count climbing, NBA Insider suppressed the smile creeping onto his face. "Welcome to everyone in the live broadcast room. Today, we'll continue broadcasting the Clippers vs. Suns game for free."
After gaining popularity from talking about Kai Chen, NBA Insider had become widely known.
His excellent commentary, combined with his boundless praise for Kai, earned him a massive wave of fans.
"There's not much to say about facing Deandre Ayton today. The two teams and their core players aren't on the same level."
"Deandre Ayton, the first overall pick, might not even compare to a single hair on Kai Chen's body after these past few games."
"I estimate that after this game, Deandre Ayton might even consider retiring."
So far, Ayton was averaging 14.1 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game.
From the stats alone, he wasn't as terrible as the media and fans claimed.
But the problem was that while his individual numbers looked decent, his plus-minus was the lowest in the league.
In other words, whenever Ayton was on the floor, the Suns lost points, and the score could quickly balloon in the opponent's favor.
That was why Suns fans had been relentlessly criticizing him.
Of course, Ayton had his strengths. No matter how poorly he played, his mouth was always tough.
"I can lose to anyone, but I can't lose to you!"
During pregame warm-ups, Ayton sought out Kai first. "Tonight, I'll show you why I'm the first overall pick and you're only the third!"
"First overall pick? I'm really looking forward to your performance."
Kai shrugged with a smile. "I just hope you're tougher than toilet paper tonight."
After speaking, Kai turned and walked away, leaving Ayton staring at his retreating back.
"Fuck you Kai!"
"You better not step into the restricted area tonight, or I'll show you why I'm the next O'Neal!"
Ayton had no intention of letting him off and hurled a stream of insults at his back.
"Oh my goodness, Deandre Ayton, you're trash-talking Kai Chen now?"
In the live broadcast room, NBA Insider grew excited again. "Don't you even look at yourself? How dare you talk to Kai like that?"
"I have to say, this Deandre Ayton really is something."
On the court, warm-ups quickly ended, and both teams' starters took their positions.
The Suns' starting lineup: Rubio + Devin Booker + Kelly Oubre + Johnson + Deandre Ayton!
The Clippers' starting lineup remained unchanged: Beverley + Carmelo + Jeff Green + Lopez + Kai Chen!
"Beep!"
With the referee's whistle, the game officially began!
Ayton defeated Lopez in the jump ball, tipping it to Rubio.
The Suns controlled the first possession.
Rubio quickly dribbled past half-court, completely ignoring Beverley's defense and attempting to force his way through with speed.
"Slap!"
As if he had anticipated it, Beverley seized the moment and decisively reached in, swatting away Rubio's loose ball.
"Beverley with the steal on Rubio!"
"Carmelo has it—quick, quick, find Kai Chen!"
As NBA Insider urged, Carmelo pushed into the frontcourt. After drawing the Suns' defenders, he flicked his wrist and tossed the ball into the air.
"Boom!"
The next second, Kai, sprinting in from the wing, soared and finished a two-handed alley-oop slam!!
2-0!
The Clippers struck first.
"Nice!!"
"Ahhhhhh!!"
As Kai completed the dunk and landed, the entire Footprint Center erupted in deafening cheers.
It felt as if the Clippers were playing at home tonight!
"What are you doing?!"
Ayton, late getting back on defense, snapped at Rubio.
He could accept missed shots.
He could accept turnovers.
But he absolutely could not accept Kai scoring!
"Give me the ball. I'll lead us to victory!"
Ayton picked up the ball and said to Rubio as he walked toward the baseline.
Suns possession.
Rubio dribbled to the top of the arc, then fed Ayton, who was posting up inside.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Ayton backed down Lopez with force, but after several hard bumps, he didn't move him an inch.
Seeing brute force wasn't working, Ayton gathered the ball, turned, and launched a fadeaway jumper!
"smack!"
Lopez swatted it away with authority, and Beverley secured the loose ball.
"Hahaha, everyone, look—this is this year's first overall pick!"
"Trying to bully Lopez? Completely useless."
On the stream, NBA Insider mocked, "And now a fadeaway? Do you think you're Kobe?"
"Deandre Ayton is absolutely hilarious!"
Clippers offense. Beverley brought the ball up slowly and decisively passed to Kai, who had come to the right wing calling for it.
Booker, guarding Kai, was already locked in.
"Lopez!"
Just as fans expected an isolation, Kai used Lopez's screen to execute a pick-and-roll, switching Ayton onto him.
Kai's deliberate decision to isolate Ayton instantly ignited the entire Footprint Center.
Fans along the sidelines rose to their feet, cheering wildly.
"This is your worst choice!"
Facing Kai, Ayton remained arrogant. "You're not getting past me!"
Kai ignored the barking.
He took a clear step forward, feinting right.
Ayton reacted quickly, sliding laterally to cut him off.
But the shoulder fake was only a feint.
With the lane briefly open, Kai exploded forward, driving inside.
Ayton spun to recover, but Kai executed a quick early change of direction, pulling the ball back to the opposite side before stepping back behind the three-point line.
"Shit!"
Ayton cursed and tried to recover, but his body couldn't keep up. He could only squat helplessly as he watched Kai rise for the three.
"Woohoo~~~"
The crowd gasped at Kai's move.
As he released the shot, fans on the sidelines threw their hands up.
"Swish!"
With the atmosphere like this, how could it miss?
5-0!
Jogging back on defense, Kai tilted his hands like smoking guns toward Ayton and mocked, "Hey Ayton, why you down there, did you drop something?"
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[!] It seems that "NBA Insider" is a prominent part of this novel, would you guys want me to remove him completely or change the name or something else, lmk.