Oracle Arena.

All Warriors fans are shouting hoarsely for Qin Yue.

On the court, looking at Qin Yue, who was clearly in extreme pain but insisted to the team doctor that he didn't feel a thing...

All the Warriors players couldn't help but feel their hearts pounding faster and faster.

Then, with every teammate, exchanging heartfelt high-fives and hugs...

Qin Yue stared directly at Gregg Popovich: "Old dog, don't think your schemes will succeed!

I've prepared four numbing shots for you and your team!"

(①: Playing through an injury certainly involves more than just four numbing shots. Here, Qin Yue is implying that he will sweep the Spurs.)

Four numbing shots...

On the Spurs' bench, watching Qin Yue's increasingly twisted expression, Duncan, knowing the other was enduring a significant amount of pain, felt an unprecedented shock.

"Who allowed you to risk it? Which bastard agreed to the shots?"

In the Warriors camp, upon hearing the word "numbing," the players, who thought Qin Yue was able to return because the injury was minor, all showed faces of shock.

Seeing this, Qin Yue smiled and said, "I was the one who requested the shots."

"Don't you know this could affect your future career?"

"They couldn't stop me because I told them if they disagreed, I would immediately choose to retire."

"You're a damn lunatic!"

In that instant, no more words were needed.

All the Warriors players knew exactly what they needed to do next.

Baron Davis's eyes were like torches, as if eager to devour Tony Parker, his matchup.

Ron Artest gritted his teeth, regretting not strangling that old dog earlier.

Kwame Brown made up his mind, swearing to protect the paint for the injured Qin Yue.

Jason Richardson, who usually wore a smile, looked murderous, having lost all semblance of playfulness.

Temporarily subbed out for rest, Troy Murphy scanned the Warriors' bench and said, "Our king is back, brothers, let's rally!"

Qin Yue's first offensive play upon returning to the court.

After receiving a pass from Baron Davis, he immediately hit a three-pointer from the left at a 45-degree angle.

This was a three-pointer that threw Oracle Arena into utter madness.

As Qin Yue, bearing the pain, walked past the Spurs' bench, Duncan felt yet another shock to his heart.

And such scenes would continue to play out.

Qin Yue, playing through pain, gradually adjusted to it, and as his focus regained little by little, his obsession and desire to win overshadowed much of the piercing pain.

The second quarter, Warriors' last offensive play.

On the right side of the court.

Qin Yue, actively asking for the ball to take on Oberto one-on-one, first used a drag step to deceive his opponent's balance, then explosively planted his foot, cutting into the Spurs' paint in the next moment, and ended the first half with a one-handed dunk, sealing the halftime score at 40 to 61 for the Warriors.

During halftime, at the NBA headquarters.

David Stern had received the latest intel relayed back.

But this time...

His mood instantly plummeted to rock bottom.

"Didn't you say earlier that his injury wasn't serious?" said Stern, looking at Mark, shocked to hear that Qin Yue received numbing shots to play through injury.

Hearing this, Mark said helplessly: "I only just found out about this news myself."

After a pause, Mark said, "David, our allies are very angry about this incident."

Seeing this, Stern uncharacteristically roared, "I'm even more angry than they are!"

"To encourage defense, I've permitted them to use more aggressive defense in games, but why do they still choose to intentionally harm others?

They say fans prefer brutal clashes, but whose commercial value can compare to the flashy style of Messiah?

Where's Bruce Bowen, that bastard? How did Dan punish him?"

Sighing long, Mark said, "Bruce Bowen has been urgently sent to the hospital, judging by his injury... his career may very well end here."

"End? Doesn't that let him off too easily?"

Stern resolved that once the season ended, he would enact a "Bruce Bowen Clause" to prevent such malicious on-court actions.

He wanted all basketball enthusiasts, and future fans, to remember which scumbag prompted the creation of this clause.

The name Bruce Bowen would forever be tainted by this rule.

Until the end of the world.

Meanwhile, at Oracle Arena, to ensure Qin Yue, playing through pain, could rest sooner, the Warriors players killed all suspense in the game in less than two and a half quarters.

Playing through pain, Qin Yue was subbed out having totaled 26 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 block.

He was subbed out amidst the thunderous cheers of the fans.

Only, until Qin Yue was subbed out...

Duncan's constantly wavering heart had still not settled.

Or rather, it could not settle at all.

Final score, 81 to 121.

The Warriors seized a 40-point blowout victory in the first game of the Western Conference Semifinals.

"This is undoubtedly the darkest day in league history; head referee Dan Crawford allowed Warriors players' violence on the court! They aren't playing basketball, they are just a bunch of thugs!" — Post-game, regarding the conflicts in this game, Spurs coach Popovich was quoted.

"Violence? Bruce Bowen can be 'clumsy' once or twice on the court, but could so many intentional injurious acts just be due to his 'clumsiness'? On behalf of the entire Warriors coaching staff, I express our stance if the San Antonio Spurs employ Bruce Bowen to maliciously take down Messiah during games for victory, we will never forgive them! Remember, never!" — At a press conference, Mike Malone responded to Popovich.

"I had no intention of hurting the opposing coach, you all saw I was just protecting him under me." — Artest commented on his "strangulation" of Popovich.

The next day, Qin Yue's MRI results were officially released.

His ankle was severely sprained, with a minimum recovery time of one month for full recovery.

For Warriors supporters and Qin Yue fans, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue.

Even though the Warriors officially confirmed...

Qin Yue would continue to play through the injury using numbing shots in the upcoming playoff journey with the Warriors.

But online, fans rallied and petitioned, "Don't let him take those damn shots! We'd rather not have this championship!"

Kobe, who'd played through numerous numbing shots for wrist injuries for the Lakers, also advised when talking about his longtime rival, "An ankle injury is different from a wrist injury... I know he's an always resilient bastard, but he should think about his future."

However...

After the MRI, during a press conference, Qin Yue insisted, "I'm very grateful for everyone's concern, but I will not be defeated by the Spurs' malicious fouls.

Moreover, I believe we only need three more games to send the Spurs home. By then, I'll have plenty of time to rest!"

...

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