On June 7, 2000, outside the Staples Center, before entering, some fans wearing Los Angeles Lakers jerseys were spontaneously shouting and promoting:
"Showtime!"
"The first Finals in 9 years!"
Tickets were sold out early, but these shouts could still attract some onlookers.
Even those who didn't follow the NBA might ask a question at this time.
Some people were there to sell high-priced second-hand tickets, but more were die-hard Lakers fans expressing their pride.
For the minor celebrities in Los Angeles, the Lakers making it to the Finals also provided an additional exposure channel.
Buying a high-priced ticket and getting some screen time was worth it.
In short, Game 1 of the Finals on the evening of the 7th had already become a grand party in Los Angeles.
Unlike the New York Knicks, who took decades to win a championship again, it hadn't been many years since Magic Johnson officially retired, and the team's resurgence was already very fast.
The "NBA Finals Game" logo appeared for the first time at Staples Center, which was also a milestone moment for the relocated Lakers.
Although the playoffs were a bit bumpy, as long as they made it to the Finals, the process no longer mattered.
The entire Lakers team was enjoying this moment.
As the broadcaster for the Finals, NBC also aired pre-game interviews with the Lakers before the game began.
A young Kobe appeared particularly excited in front of the camera, partly because it was his first time in the Finals, and partly to chase after the stars from his draft class:
"This year's playoff journey truly brought us together, and the feeling of making it to the Finals is amazing!"
"Seeing these Finals logos, I can't wait for the game to start!"
"..."
With only a little over two days of rest, it was a bit tight for the Lakers players.
Fortunately, they were playing at home, so they didn't have to worry about travel fatigue.
The game tipped off at 7:30 PM, and NBC staff entered the Staples Center earlier than usual.
Bob Costas and Doug Collins, both in black suits, sat on high stools courtside, loudly discussing in front of the camera to warm up for tonight's game:
"Head Coach Phil Jackson and Ron Harper's Finals experience is very important. They know how to win!"
"All five of the Lakers' starters, except for Kobe Bryant, have rich game experience."
"Although many players on the team are playing in the Finals for the first time, the veterans can stabilize the locker room. They possess all the conditions for a championship."
Doug Collins praised the Lakers heavily in front of the camera.
Bob Costas didn't expect his old partner to become a turncoat once the Finals started:
"The New York Knicks had over a week of rest. They flew to Los Angeles on the afternoon of the 5th, and from the training sessions these past few days, everyone seems very relaxed."
"Having made it to the Finals for three consecutive years, the New York Knicks also have rich Finals experience. They have a chance to achieve a three-peat."
"From the interviews, we can see that Clay Lee's physical condition is excellent. He is clearly ready, and tonight is also a duel between MVPs!"
While the two boasted on-site, in the NBC studio backstage, host Hannah Storm and guests Isiah Thomas and Bill Walton began to predict the game's outcome.
After the white female host and two distinguished former players, one black and one white, briefly introduced the playoff records of the two Finals teams, Bill Walton loudly declared in an exaggerated tone:
"No one can stop Shaquille O'Neal. This season, Shaq has shown unparalleled dominance!"
"Even against the Trail Blazers' Four-Protect-One defense, he can still put the ball in the basket. Without a doubt, the Lakers, playing at home, will win this game."
Isiah Thomas chuckled, waiting for the other party to finish speaking, then said in a light tone:
"In Game 7, I didn't see Shaquille O'Neal's dominance. This is a basketball game. To score, you have to put the ball in the basket."
"Outside players and inside big men are no different. Tonight will also be a huge test for Shaquille O'Neal. The Western Conference doesn't have an MVP-level guard like Clay Lee!"
"Just a reminder again, throughout the entire Eastern Conference playoffs, Clay's field goal percentage was 51.5%, and his true shooting percentage was as high as 64.9%!"
"The data cannot fully reflect his influence on the offensive end. Kobe cannot limit him, and the New York Knicks will kill the game with pick-and-rolls!"
The sudden Excel data left Bill Walton speechless.
Most inside players can't achieve such a high true shooting percentage.
To avoid an awkward silence, host Hannah immediately smiled and took over the conversation again:
"A showdown between MVPs, tonight is sure to be a spectacular game!"
"..."
Before the game started, in the player tunnel, the New York Knicks gathered in a circle.
When playing on the road, they had to motivate themselves.
Although Lee boasted to the media, he had a clear understanding of the team's strength in his heart:
"Rebounds, three-pointers, one road victory!"
"Let's show those sissies on the other side what we're made of!"
Lee raised his right fist, and everyone stacked their arms together.
Todd, the big man of the atmosphere group, shouted loudly at this moment:
"One, Two, Three!"
As the New York Knicks all shouted "Win!" together, they then quickly ran out of the player tunnel, immediately met by a chorus of boos.
After the arena DJ called out his name, the director's camera remained focused on Clay Lee.
Although they were playing on the road first, Clay Lee showed no signs of nervousness in front of the camera.
Rookie Ron Artest and Lewis looked serious, clapping their hands excitedly.
The coaching staff had informed them that they would have more playing time in the Finals.
Jeff Van Gundy and a few members of the coaching staff sat directly on the bench without moving.
Everyone was chewing gum.
They didn't even need a pep talk before the game.
Ewing was the happiest.
Regardless of whether he could defend his opponent, increased playing time meant he was contributing to the championship.
Compared to last year's 'lying down' championship, this year's situation was much better.
Gorilla entered with a serious expression, first high-fiving everyone, then diligently warming up, appearing particularly focused.
Returning to the Finals after a 9-year absence, the cheers of the over eighteen thousand fans in attendance echoed throughout the Staples Center once the home team players took the court.
Many fans were still immersed in the Game 7 battle from two days prior, so their emotions were naturally high.
When the lights came back on, at the NBC commentary desk, Bob Costas quickly introduced the New York Knicks' starting lineup:
"Head Coach Van Gundy continued with the previous lineup. It seems the coaching staff has great confidence in their starting five!"
"Clay Lee, Allan Houston, and Larry Johnson all had excellent performances in the playoffs. The Lakers' perimeter Defense faces a huge test."
"Head Coach Phil Jackson also made no adjustments to his starting lineup."
"The backcourt is still Ron Harper and Kobe, while the three frontcourt players are Glen Rice, A.C. Green, and Shaquille O'Neal."
"After their Game 7 comeback against the Trail Blazers, the Lakers are currently in top form!"
The turncoat Doug Collins saw Lee smiling and greeting veterans Harper and Phil Jackson, and suddenly changed his tune again:
"If the Lakers don't change their Defense strategy, it will be very difficult for them to limit Lee's performance!"
"..."
Phil Jackson truly disliked this New York Knicks team.
The failure of '98 was still fresh in his memory.
As the final warm-up phase was about to end, Phil Jackson, holding his clipboard, once again called out to his players:
"Energy! We have to unleash our energy from the start! We must protect our home court. Listen to the fans' voices. We cannot disappoint them!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and Shaquille O'Neal also put away his smile.
When Shaquille O'Neal and Ewing stood at center court, the cheers from the crowd grew louder and louder:
"Wow!"
Shaquille O'Neal successfully tipped the ball to his own half, winning the tip-off.
Harper looked at Lee, who was guarding him, and directly passed the ball to Kobe.
Harper no longer handled the ball-handling duties across half-court.
As the two ran to half-court, Lee couldn't help but tease:
"Buddy, are you still guarding me this year? I like playing against you."
"..."
Leaving Lee with his back, Harper turned and accelerated, running directly to the right corner.
Allan Houston was responsible for guarding Kobe.
In the New York Knicks' Defense system, everyone had to lighten Lee's load.
Essentially, it was a "Four-Protect-One" system.
In the first defensive possession, the New York Knicks players compressed their Defense tightly.
Although zone Defense was not allowed, everyone stood inside the three-point line.
Oakley even sagged off A.C. Green, constantly pacing and eyeing O'Neal, who was posting up on the left side.
To avoid O'Neal being double-teamed too much, when Kobe had the ball on the left wing, the Lakers players spread out sequentially.
Glen Rice ran across half-court and stopped on the right wing. A.C. Green stood near the right block, and Harper squatted in the right corner.
Houston and Ewing simultaneously pressured Kobe.
The former prevented Kobe from making an easy pass, while the latter tried their best to push O'Neal out.
Unable to find a good passing opportunity, Kobe didn't rush but instead passed the ball horizontally to Glen Rice, who was left open by a step.
Larry Johnson only symbolically raised his right hand, moved up a small step, leaving space for the opponent to shoot.
Glen Rice faked a shot after receiving the ball, noticed Larry Johnson didn't move at all, hesitated for a moment, and then directly jumped and shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the back of the rim and bounced high.
The New York Knicks players immediately boxed out and retreated.
Ultimately, Clay Lee easily secured the defensive rebound from the bottom right of the basket.
The Los Angeles Lakers fans, who had stood up to watch the ball, sighed in regret that the first possession didn't result in a made shot, and then continued to shout loudly:
"Defense!"
After Lee secured the rebound, all the New York Knicks players quickly ran to the opponent's half-court.
Facing Kobe's on-ball Defense, Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, directly accelerated, driving with the Defense, using his non-dribbling hand to swat away the opponent's arm, and bulldozed his way across half-court.
He stopped abruptly at the top of the arc, Lee quickly dribbled behind his back.
At this moment, all the New York Knicks players also spread out, initiating a "V"-shaped offense on their first possession.
At the left elbow area, Ewing didn't even need Lee to call for him.
Noticing that his teammate was already positioned in the corner, Gorilla immediately moved to the top of the arc for a high pick-and-roll.
Kobe was also prepared, adjusting his body's center of gravity, and actively sticking to the Defense again, ready to squeeze through the screen at any time.
Clay Lee, who had switched to his right hand, first executed a very quick In and Out, rapidly shaking his body before suddenly changing direction between his legs.
As Ewing set his feet, Lee, now with the ball in his left hand, drove through with a shoulder drop.
His center of gravity was extremely low, Lee almost burrowed into Kobe's arms as he shuffled to defend.
After their bodies collided, Kobe was immediately knocked off balance.
Just as he was about to reach out and pull, Kobe found himself colliding with Ewing.
Gorilla's high-quality screen, combined with Lee's "seamless" ball-handling, instantly allowed him to shake off Kobe's chase-down Defense.
Kobe, unable to squeeze through the screen, could clearly hear the sound of the basketball hitting the floor, knowing that Lee had increased his dribbling force, and he inwardly cursed, thinking, "This is bad."
Adjusting his footwork the moment he broke free from the Defense, Lee, holding the ball with his left hand, stopped abruptly at the top of the arc.
With no one in front of him, he quickly jumped and shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly!
"Boo!"
The Los Angeles Lakers fans in the arena couldn't stand this situation.
The scoring was too easy, and they instinctively booed Clay Lee loudly.
From breaking free of the Defense to completing the jump shot, Clay Lee's speed was extremely fast.
Shaquille O'Neal was still tucked in the paint, not moving.
Perhaps he wanted to see Lee's shooting touch.
In the first possession after the opening, Shaq seemed to be slacking off.
As an perimeter defensive specialist, Kobe naturally wouldn't complain to Shaq.
In the Los Angeles Lakers' system, everyone was helping to lighten Shaquille O'Neal's load.
When it was the Los Angeles Lakers' offensive possession, they ran the same play.
This time, Shaquille O'Neal and A.C. Green executed a cross-screen in the paint.
Taking advantage of the New York Knicks' re-adjustment of defensive matchups, O'Neal successfully received a pass from Kobe on the wing in the left low post.
The moment he received the ball, Ewing defended him from the front, and Oakley left A.C. Green to double-team Shaquille O'Neal from the top.
Putting the ball down with his right hand, Shaquille O'Neal quickly backed down, bumped towards the basket, then suddenly turned towards the baseline.
With that fake, he instantly shook off both defenders.
Although Ewing attempted a block, O'Neal's left-handed floater still sailed over his fingertips, accurately falling into the basket.
O'Neal, having made the shot, also smiled triumphantly.
Although he looked heavy, his movement speed was significantly faster than Gorilla's.
Being double-teamed frequently, he was already used to such Defense.
Seeing Shaq still unstoppable, the Los Angeles Lakers fans in the arena also cheered excitedly.
Shaquille O'Neal, retreating with a smile, quickly lost his triumphant look.
The New York Knicks ran the same play, only this time Clay Lee changed direction.
At the right elbow area, Ewing quickly shuffled, moving to the right wing, and set another pick-and-roll.
Kobe, defending full-court, agilely squeezed through the screen this time, continuing to chase Lee to his left, desperately giving him body contact.
Lee, holding the ball with his right hand, used his non-dribbling hand to swat away the interfering arm, then leaned in to accelerate before suddenly executing a large cross-step pull-back.
The moment he switched to his left hand, Lee moved horizontally.
Ewing, who had just set the screen and faked a roll, now set a secondary screen, solidly blocking Kobe directly.
On Defense, O'Neal was a bit hesitant.
Compared to the previous possession, he had already shuffled up.
With no one rushing to defend, Lee, who had returned to the three-point line, immediately took a lateral step back, quickly gathered the ball, and swiftly jumped and shot from the right wing!
"Swish!" Another three-pointer went in.
"This is a top-tier ball-handler! To limit Clay Lee, the entire Los Angeles Lakers team needs to play Defense."
"Shaquille O'Neal must step up and hedge! He needs to defend like the big men in the Eastern Conference. Facing such open opportunities, Lee will be extremely efficient!"
Doug Collins suddenly praised Lee's performance excitedly.
"That's not what you said before the game," Bob Costas muttered to himself, and then quickly added:
"The Los Angeles Lakers should adjust their defensive strategy very quickly. Coach Phil Jackson has already signaled a play."
Looking at Clay Lee, who was retreating with a smile, raising his right arm and holding up three fingers, Phil Jackson, after giving the signal, didn't forget to loudly remind:
"Shaq! Step up and hedge!"
The Los Angeles Lakers actively sped up their offensive rhythm.
Kobe, driving with the ball in his right hand, came to the right wing.
He chose not to pass, but instead drove past the Defense to the right baseline area.
The Los Angeles Lakers players quickly spread out.
Kobe, facing Allan Houston's Defense, continuously backed down with the ball in his right hand, then immediately turned towards the baseline.
Allan Houston had already anticipated this offensive choice and jumped to block with him.
Although he couldn't completely shake off the Defense, Kobe twisted his body into a super fadeaway, while also raising the arc, forcing a jump shot!
"Swish!" The two-pointer went in cleanly.
It was a difficult shot, and the movement was very graceful, causing the fans in the front row to cheer.
Kobe didn't retreat on Defense but chose to stay on half-court to continue leading the Defense.
Allan Houston, unable to complete the Defense, still smiled.
Compared to Michael Jordan's hang time waiting for him to land, Kobe's offense was affected by him, which was a positive feedback.
After inbounding the ball, Lee also suddenly sped up the offensive rhythm, charging hard against Kobe's on-ball Defense.
Without waiting for his teammates to fully get into position, far from the three-point line, Ewing noticed Lee had already crossed half-court and simply set his feet, raising the screen position.
Kobe's attention was entirely on Lee.
The two had just tangled as they crossed half-court.
Facing Lee's quick behind-the-back dribble, Kobe immediately blocked his right hand.
Lee, reacting extremely quickly, instantly completed a front-of-the-body crossover.
The moment he shook off the Defense, he switched to his left hand and immediately accelerated.
Kobe, not completely out of position, quickly twisted his body to chase, but as soon as he turned his head, he ran into Ewing's arms.
O'Neal had retreated to the free throw line.
In the blink of an eye, he saw Lee stop abruptly at the top of the arc again.
Hurrying to move his feet, Shaq truly wanted to hedge this possession, but it was already too late.
Facing such a good opportunity, a semi-transition three-pointer, Lee gathered the ball and quickly jumped and shot!
"My God! Lee has hit another three-pointer! The New York Knicks are scoring too easily!"
Bob Costas exclaimed, while Doug Collins looked stunned, truly just throwing it up whenever there was an opportunity.
9:4. The number of possessions wasn't many, and the New York Knicks were already leading by 5 points.
On the New York Knicks' bench, the atmosphere group cheered along.
Everyone was convinced that with this defensive intensity, Lee would soon teach the opponent a lesson.
After consecutively giving up three-pointers, the Los Angeles Lakers' game rhythm suddenly became a bit chaotic.
Kobe continued to accelerate his drive.
At the right elbow area, Shaquille O'Neal came up to screen.
Ewing guarded the basket, and Allan Houston squeezed through the screen to chase Kobe.
Before a double-team could form, Kobe passed the ball back to Shaquille O'Neal.
There was an issue with the timing of the pick-and-roll.
Receiving the ball in the right elbow area, O'Neal's offensive threat was greatly reduced in that position.
Ewing suddenly stepped up to steal, and Allan Houston also stuck close to defend.
Facing the quick double-team, O'Neal chose not to pass, but instead put the ball down with his left hand and quickly executed a spin move, forcing his way through the two defenders.
Finally, grabbing the ball with his right hand, O'Neal completed a floater from a distance away from the basket!
"Bang!"
The basketball hit the front of the rim.
O'Neal still wanted to crash the offensive glass, but the rebound was timely secured by Larry Johnson, who had collapsed to the basket.
Harper hadn't even reacted when Lee, beside him, had already accelerated towards half-court.
Seeing Larry Johnson pass the ball, Harper cursed inwardly, then desperately chased after him.
Just after crossing the mid-court line, Lee scooped the ball with his right hand.
Facing Harper's chase-down Defense, he continued to accelerate with the ball in his right hand.
On the other side, Kobe, taking advantage of Clay Lee's slight deceleration, charged forward, frantically retreating on Defense.
Seeing Lee driving against Harper's Defense, taking three large steps and going up for a layup, Kobe, who had quickly retreated to half-court, also jumped in the paint, leaping high to attempt a block.
Lee, in the air, naturally noticed Kobe's help Defense.
Holding the ball with his right hand, his raised right arm suddenly swung downwards, and under the two defenders' blocks, he faked a shot and made a pass, tossing the ball behind his back in mid-air.
"Oh!"
The beautiful pass caused many Los Angeles Lakers fans to exclaim.
Cutting into the basket from the left wing, Allan Houston, quickly following up undefended, easily made a left-handed layup after receiving the ball!
"Boo!"
11:4.
Amidst the boos from the entire arena, Phil Jackson looked serious and immediately called a timeout.
Glen Rice, who had just retreated to the top of the arc, could only walk dejectedly towards the bench.
Being a role player wasn't easy, and he had been completely invisible for these few minutes.
Allan Houston, however, smiled and high-fived Clay Lee in celebration.
The more easy scoring opportunities like this, the better.
"Head Coach Phil Jackson's timeout was very timely. The game rhythm cannot be chaotic. Leaving aside defensive issues, O'Neal needs to post up in a deeper position on offense."
"The Lakers need his offense!"
Doug Collins hadn't expected the Lakers to be stunned by the shooting right from the start.
Lee was hitting shots cleanly when given the chance, a completely different style from the Western Conference guards.
Bob Costas didn't comment much on the game, only reminding:
"These two home games are very important for the Lakers. Once they lose a home victory, they will lose the initiative."
They couldn't afford to lose at home.
On the bench, Phil Jackson shouted encouragement,
"Energy! Just like I said before the game, match their energy."
"Attack the basket, get the ball inside, and show our desire to win!"
Shaq replenished his water supply with a frustrated expression.
If they had to execute a deep hedge on defense, it would also be a test of his stamina.
After the timeout, the game rhythm quickly slowed down again.
The Lakers wanted to get the ball to O'Neal, but it took effort every possession.
Additionally, after receiving the ball, O'Neal would always be double-teamed by Oakley.
Although he managed to score twice by forcing his way to the basket against two defenders, there were also several times when they almost committed a 24-second violation.
With Shaquille O'Neal's deep hedge, the Knicks' pick-and-roll positions changed.
When Lee accelerated and drove with the ball in his left hand, he drew Kobe's chase-down defense and O'Neal's help defense.
Upon reaching the left block, he quickly passed the ball back to Ewing at the left elbow.
The Gorilla, receiving Lee's bounce pass, aimed for a moment from the free-throw line before confidently rising for a jump shot!
"Clang!"
A regrettable miss.
Ewing slammed his fist in frustration.
After several possessions, his open jump shots were clanking off the rim, just like A.C. Green's on the other side.
The Lakers' offense became increasingly slow.
Shaquille O'Neal struggled repeatedly along the baseline before finally receiving a pass from Harper in the right low post.
Ewing didn't foul, but instead dead-ended him from behind while sealing the baseline.
Oakley immediately came over to double-team, sealing the top.
Under the double-team, O'Neal, posting up with the ball in his left hand, originally intended to turn towards the baseline and complete a floater.
However, Oakley decisively chose to commit a shooting foul.
As he stepped to the free-throw line again, the atmosphere in Staples Center suddenly cooled down.
At this point, there were 4 minutes and 51 seconds left in the 1st quarter.
Oakley, who committed the shooting foul, seemed unconcerned about Shaquille O'Neal's free throws and instead confidently taunted him,
"I have plenty of fouls to give. Trust me, you won't make it!"
Jeff Van Gundy, who had been quiet, suddenly stood up at this moment and, along with Lee, complained to the referee about O'Neal taking too long on his free throws.
A focused Shaquille O'Neal was not in the mood to deal with Oakley.
He stepped to the free-throw line, constantly practicing his shooting form.
After making the first free throw, the second one still clanked off the rim.
The rebound was secured by Ewing.
Several consecutive possessions of physical confrontation left the Gorilla gasping for air.
Kobe hadn't gotten many offensive opportunities, so he could only exert himself on defense, chasing down plays with even more effort.
However, in these few minutes, the Knicks changed their offensive approach.
After the high pick-and-roll bothered O'Neal, Clay Lee would usually pass the ball to Allan Houston or Larry Johnson in the low post.
Both were in good form and more aggressive offensively.
Again, with Ewing setting a pick on the left wing, Kobe squeezed through the screen to chase Lee.
Kobe constantly initiated physical contact on his side.
Lee, facing O'Neal's deep hedge, pushed the ball early and changed direction, quickly shuffling horizontally towards the free-throw line.
Attracting the defensive attention of both, Lee, upon reaching the free-throw line and switching the ball to his right hand, suddenly paused.
Kobe immediately stuck to him again, and Lee leaned into his defender before suddenly accelerating to drive.
O'Neal had been sliding his feet.
Seeing Lee drive towards the basket, he put all his might into a big stride to recover on defense!
The three players in the paint were squeezed together.
At the same time, the Lakers' defense began to collapse.
Lee seized this opportunity to send another behind-the-back bounce pass.
Ewing, who was slowly cutting, now found himself undefended in front of the basket in the paint.
He finished with a floater off the glass!
Having scored a field goal, the Gorilla beamed.
Shaquille O'Neal, on the other hand, stood under the basket with a long face.
He noticed that everyone on the Lakers found it difficult to predict Clay Lee's offensive choices.
23:14. The Lakers fans in the arena realized that their team seemed to have lost its offensive rhythm.
With 1 minute and 29 seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, Clay Lee was substituted out, and the Knicks made their rotations as planned.
When Shaquille O'Neal faced the inside combination of Kurt Thomas and Ben Wallace, he powered his way to the basket for a forceful two-handed dunk on one possession, and on another, he was directly fouled by Kurt Thomas.
Jeff Van Gundy walked to the sideline, shouting encouragement.
Shaquille O'Neal again made one of two free throws, drawing another cheer from the Knicks' bench.
Chris Childs and Kukoc continued to score after a pick-and-roll.
A.C. Green hit a jump shot, and Harper also stepped to the free-throw line.
It wasn't until Kobe hit a tough three-pointer in the final moments of the 1st quarter that the deficit didn't become double digits.
29:20. At Staples Center, the Lakers fans' enthusiasm had largely faded.
O'Neal, who played the entire first quarter, was sweating profusely, having scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 2-of-4 from the free-throw line.
He walked to the bench expressionless.
Kobe, who had 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting, also pursed his lips and looked seriously at the scoreboard.
Phil Jackson didn't blame A.C. Green, Glen Rice, or Harper for their missed jump shots.
The team had taken 19 shots, and the rhythm was fine.
The cheers in Staples Center gradually turned into a chaotic din.
At the NBC commentary desk, Doug Collins noticed Clay Lee standing up again, seemingly intending to play directly in the 2nd quarter.
He could only sigh,
"Head Coach Van Gundy was fully prepared for tonight's game. Lee's performance has been perfect."
Clay Lee, with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-of-6 shooting and 3-of-4 from three-point range, led the Knicks to 20 shots in the first quarter, a perfect rhythm.
Bob Costas noticed that the Lakers seemed to have only made like-for-like substitutions for Harper and A.C. Green. He could only add,
"Head Coach Phil Jackson is being very cautious with this game."
The first quarter was somewhat dull.
In the latter half of the 1st quarter, the Knicks had many isolation plays, while Shaquille O'Neal had difficulty receiving the ball on the Lakers' side.
"Defense!"
Led by the arena DJ, the defensive chants once again echoed through the Staples Center as the 2nd quarter began.
Ron Artest inbounded the ball, and after Lee received it, Derek Fisher immediately came up to guard him.
At this point, the Knicks' frontcourt consisted of Kukoc, Kurt Thomas, and Ben Wallace.
The opposing Lakers also made extensive rotations, with Brian Shaw, Rick Fox, and Robert Horry entering the game. Shaquille O'Neal led the team first.
After Clay Lee brought the ball past half-court, he noticed the cleared left wing for the Knicks, and Derek Fisher began to get nervous.
He instinctively tugged at his shorts, pressing his right forearm against Lee, and lowered his center of gravity, attempting to play effective defense.
Clay Lee, who had been dribbling with his left hand and protecting the ball with his body sideways, suddenly exploded the ball in place, then sharply lunged forward and accelerated.
The two players collided at the three-point line.
Lee first stopped abruptly, twisted his body slightly backward to feint, and then lunged forward and accelerated again.
With his sudden stops and starts, Derek Fisher was cleanly and directly squeezed past by Clay Lee.
Shaquille O'Neal, under the basket, cursed under his breath, quickly shuffled his feet, raised his right hand, and immediately came over to help on defense.
Shaq was holding back, trying to use his body to directly push Lee out of bounds.
However, when their bodies collided, Lee only leaned back slightly to the side.
Any other guard would likely have been forced out of bounds.
O'Neal, surprised, almost stopped moving.
Lee seized the opportunity, put force into his ball-handling hand, and slipped out of O'Neal's embrace again, quickly cutting along the baseline to the basket.
Hurriedly striding, O'Neal chased him with his right hand raised to the right near-baseline position, but he didn't expect Lee, dribbling with his left hand, to suddenly turn deftly off him, and again slip along the baseline to drive.
"Oh!"
O'Neal completely lost his defensive position, and the Lakers fans gasped in unison.
At this moment, Clay Lee, who had switched to his right hand and was driving along the baseline, quickly arrived at the basket's lower left, shook off his defender, and scored with a reverse layup!
Bob Costas watched all the Lakers players who had collapsed into the paint stand dumbfounded, and instinctively shouted excitedly,
"Fantastic shot! Clay Lee faked out the entire Lakers defense, completing a turn in tight space, unbelievable ball-handling skills!"
Seeing Lee discreetly wag his finger at him as he retreated on defense, O'Neal's eyes widened in anger.
He immediately turned to glare at Derek Fisher, who had just been part of the atmosphere.
31:20. The lead was back to double digits.
When the Lakers got the ball back, an enraged Shaquille O'Neal first demanded the ball in the left low post.
Ben Wallace's tugging and fronting defense had no effect whatsoever.
Although Derek Fisher couldn't deliver the pass immediately, when Shaquille O'Neal deftly turned to the left low post, Brian Shaw, who received the cross-court pass, immediately lobbed the ball inside.
Ben Wallace hadn't even gotten into his defensive position when Shaq released the ball and exploded upwards, throwing down a two-handed dunk right over Ben!
"Ah!"
Hearing the referee's whistle, O'Neal, who had been roaring in anger, thoroughly vented his frustration from the first quarter, then clapped himself twice before stepping to the free-throw line.
The brutal poster dunk instantly ignited the atmosphere at Staples Center, with Lakers fans excitedly shouting,
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Amidst the shouts, O'Neal missed the free throw, cursed under his breath, and quickly retreated on Defense.
Ben Wallace was particularly frustrated.
He couldn't defend him at all, unable to push or hold him.
He immediately signaled the tactical hand gesture they had agreed upon before the game.
When Derek Fisher was leading the Defense, he also signaled his teammates to double-team with him.
However, as soon as Lee crossed half court, he immediately passed the ball to Kukoc in the left elbow area.
Lee moved horizontally, feinted to the right, then suddenly accelerated with a counter-run, heading towards the left corner.
Kukoc immediately passed the ball.
Derek Fisher desperately chased him on Defense.
Clay Lee received the ball in the left corner, faked, then quickly took a large exploratory step forward with his left foot.
The chasing Derek Fisher made an excellent defensive read and didn't jump wildly.
However, after his exploratory step, Lee suddenly dropped the ball, squeezed past the Defense again, and accelerated his breakthrough along the baseline.
O'Neal under the basket moved to help on Defense again.
However, when Lee reached the left near-baseline position, he suddenly pulled the ball back between his legs.
With a large fake, Derek Fisher, who was beside him, completely lost his defensive position.
Ignoring the opponent's jump and lunge for the block, Lee gathered the ball and quickly jumped for a shot!
"Swish!" The mid-range shot went in steadily.
"Boo!"
The beautiful the move, the more boos it would elicit from the fans.
Watching Derek Fisher act as part of the defensive atmosphere group again, Phil Jackson hesitated but still didn't make a substitution.
The trust paid off.
But when Shaquille O'Neal received the ball again in the right low post, all the New York Knicks players collapsed, everyone ready to swarm the Shaq.
Quickly passing the ball to Derek Fisher on the right wing, O'Neal's pass quality wasn't high, but the Fisher shot decisively.
Contesting Lee's retreating block, his three-pointer arched high and swished into the net!
33:25, the deficit was narrowed again.
After Kukoc's pick-and-roll and a missed three-pointer from the right wing, Shaquille O'Neal, in a half-court offense, attracted a double-team in the left low post and again passed the ball to Rick Fox at the top of the arc.
The latter received the ball, faked, then shook off Ron Artest's Defense, successfully sinking a long two-pointer from the top of the arc!
O'Neal smiled for the first time in the game and high-fived Rick Fox to celebrate.
33:27, the Lakers' bench also erupted, and Kobe Bryant even pumped his fist excitedly, looking particularly thrilled.
On Defense, the Lakers players communicated, starting to double-team Clay Lee, who had the ball, early.
After Lee immediately passed the ball to Kukoc on the right wing, Rick Fox dropped Ron Artest and rotated to cover him.
As a result, Ron Artest, who received the ball in the right corner, also made his open three-pointer!
Both sides quickly entered a stalemate.
The New York Knicks began to take turns committing fouls, and also aggressively swarmed Shaquille O'Neal.
The Lakers, meanwhile, brought back their starting lineup early, with Kobe Bryant continuing to lead the Defense.
With 4 minutes and 34 seconds left in the half, the score was 45:40.
Kurt Thomas received his third personal foul, and Jeff Van Gundy immediately called a timeout.
"This is Shaquille O'Neal's dominance in the paint. If the New York Knicks can't make a response shot, the Lakers can turn the game around!"
Bob Costas heard the fence-sitter next to him praising Shaquille O'Neal, who was continuously scoring, and simply commented,
"The New York Knicks have already weathered the tough period, and the bench has played very well."
"Defense!"
After the timeout, the New York Knicks inbounded the ball, and Kobe Bryant continued to clap his hands, again leading the Defense to Lee's side.
After resting for most of the quarter, Ewing's stamina had recovered significantly.
He quickly came to the top of the arc and stood firm.
Quickly advancing past half-court, Clay Lee noticed that Shaquille O'Neal was no longer squatting in the paint.
With the ball in his left hand, he quickly did an In and Out, bumping into Kobe Bryant while lowering his center of gravity, and squeezing past Ewing's left side.
Taking advantage of O'Neal's movement, Lee, having shaken off the chase, moved horizontally with the ball in his left hand at the three-point line.
First, he raised his body's center of gravity, and Lee quickly pulled the Defense, with O'Neal immediately coming up for a hard hedge.
Feigning a lean-in acceleration, Lee then suddenly stopped short, quickly pushing off with his right foot in front of him, smoothly completing a step-back.
O'Neal, faked into sliding backward to the left, had no time to adjust his defensive center of gravity, watching Clay Lee shoot a jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in again!
After a series of misses, Clay Lee hit another three-pointer.
Shaquille O'Neal's face darkened, feeling like he had been shown up again.
48:40, the lead instantly widened.
To be safe, Phil Jackson also immediately called a timeout.
He had to interrupt Lee's three-point barrage.
Before walking to the bench, O'Neal, who had been shot numb, glared at Lee in front of him and yelled,
"Be a man, come have a real showdown! Put away your damn pick-and-rolls!"
"Without a pick-and-roll, I can't find a player who shrinks in the paint like a turtle, Shark? Turtle?"
After saying this, Clay Lee even smiled and poked his head out, which immediately infuriated Shaquille O'Neal.
The Shark was about to get closer to Lee when Ewing pushed him, and several New York Knicks players on the court all rushed over.
If O'Neal could be ejected, the game would be without suspense.
Oakley and Larry Johnson, though short, actively moved towards Shaquille O'Neal.
The primal greetings combined with pushing and shoving almost made the Shark lose his temper.
In the end, Horry and Glen Rice noticed something was wrong and quickly rushed into the crowd to hold O'Neal back.
Phil Jackson immediately rushed to the center of the court, pulled Shaquille O'Neal away, and turned to complain loudly to the referee,
"This is the Finals, look what they're trying to do!"
The Lakers fans, who loved to watch a good show, were stimulated and started yelling back.
Kobe Bryant was pushed several times in the crowd and finally could only curse under his breath as he was pulled away by an assistant Head Coach.
Jeff Van Gundy showed a look of regret.
He had been standing courtside watching the situation.
Even if two players were ejected and Shaquille O'Neal was taken out, it would be worth it to secure a road victory.
O'Neal, having calmed down, sat on the bench, head down, silent.
He vented all his anger on the "oral solution," crushing the sports drink bottle and gulping down water.
Kobe Bryant wanted to complain about Ewing and Lee's pick-and-rolls being fouls, but seeing Phil Jackson fuming, he didn't dare to complain for a while.
"Calm down! OK!? We've gained the initiative. Pay attention to the opponent's foul count, and don't keep floating outside for jump shots!"
Phil Jackson's face was stern as he loudly reminded his players that the New York Knicks were already in the bonus.
After the timeout, the Lakers, back on the court, stabilized their offensive rhythm.
Ewing constantly circled and wrestled with O'Neal in the paint.
Once near the low post, Oakley would ignore Horry and immediately rush to the basket.
Unlike the Trail Blazers' big men, with Oakley's help, Ewing managed his foul count extremely well.
This was the game rhythm they were most familiar with.
Under the pulling and tugging, there wasn't a good passing opportunity, so Kobe Bryant immediately went to the right block and demanded the ball with his back to the basket.
After Harper passed the ball, he directly took Clay Lee and ran towards the left corner.
Shaquille O'Neal hadn't had time to create offensive space for Kobe Bryant.
After receiving the ball, Kobe Bryant turned smoothly and, with the ball in his left hand, began to move towards the top of the key.
Using Horry's screen at the right elbow of the free-throw line, Kobe Bryant successfully shook off Allan Houston's entanglement.
Arriving at the free-throw line, Kobe Bryant quickly did an In and Out while moving, faking Oakley into staying put in the paint.
Then, with the ball in his left hand, he took three big steps and charged straight to the basket.
After jumping in the paint, Kobe, in mid-air, was sticking out his tongue and hadn't even had time to elegantly lay the ball in when he heard the fans' gasps.
Bob Costas noticed Lee collapsing towards the basket and then suddenly exploding upwards, pressing the ball down with his left hand, and immediately shouted excitedly:
"A block from Clay! My God! His reaction is too fast!"
Losing his balance after the mid-air collision, Kobe landed horizontally on the floor, immediately falling flat.
Harper in the left corner didn't even have time to warn his teammates.
Lee, after landing, quickly scooped up the ball and charged forward.
Horry was attracted by Allan Houston's movement and retreated to half-court, only to find that Harper hadn't kept up with Lee in time.
He quickly changed his defensive direction.
Horry on the left wing accelerated his movement, but he ran out of time.
After adjusting his steps, Clay Lee stopped short at the three-point line, and from the top of the arc, he quickly shot a transition three-pointer!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net!
51:40, Clay Lee, having made the shot, raised both hands, walked past Horry, and then smiled and fist-bumped Allan Houston.
On the New York Knicks bench, the coaching staff couldn't help but pump their fists.
The boos in the arena didn't affect their good mood at all.
Doug Collins was stunned again.
The lead had shrunk to 6 points at its smallest, but if he wasn't careful for a few possessions, it would quickly return to double digits:
"No matter how many times I watch it, this is truly incredible shooting ability. With so much physical contact, Lee can still maintain efficient offense. Unbelievable!"
In the final 3 minutes of the half, the actions became increasingly aggressive on both sides, with both teams frequently stepping to the free-throw line.
Phil Jackson could no longer maintain his composure, constantly reminding his players to drive inside.
At 57:46, the Lakers trailed by 11 points at halftime.
Looking at the Lakers players walking quickly with their heads down towards the player tunnel, Staples Center became even noisier.
Shaquille O'Neal scored 12 points in the quarter, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-5 from the free-throw line, bringing his total to 22 points by halftime!
Doug Collins looked at the box score, feeling an inexplicable emotion.
The New York Knicks had actually withstood O'Neal's efficient scoring.
Bob Costas didn't have as many feelings as his partner, and at this moment, he continued to praise loudly:
"This is Lee, he always delivers incredible performances in crucial games!"
He only rested for a little over a minute in the first half.
With 8-of-14 from the field, 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, Clay Lee had quietly amassed 25 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block, surpassing Shaquille O'Neal in scoring.
In the Lakers' locker room, Phil Jackson didn't talk tactics, only encouraged loudly:
"Maintain this defensive intensity! We need to speed up our offense!"
"Run! They are already tired! No one can maintain high efficiency throughout such a game!"
Kobe Bryant heard the Head Coach's words with some doubt.
He knew Lee was slacking on Defense.
O'Neal directly drank this bowl of chicken soup, saying in a fierce whisper:
"Give me the ball! I don't feel tired! We can turn this game around!"
The experience in the Western Conference Finals greatly boosted the Lakers' confidence, and upon hearing their leader's declaration, everyone responded immediately.
After the second half began, the Lakers suddenly picked up the pace.
While the New York Knicks' three perimeter players repeatedly missed shots, they launched a 6-0 run in less than 3 minutes.
57:52, the deficit was narrowed to 5 points.
"Wow!"
Seeing O'Neal receive the ball, push Ewing away, and then quickly get a floater, Staples Center erupted again.
Jeff Van Gundy noticed that the officiating had suddenly become stricter and immediately called a timeout.
Larry Johnson swung his fist in frustration.
His wide-open three-pointer, left unguarded by Glen Rice, still clanked off the rim.
"Rashad, be careful with fouls when you get on the court. Don't let them get into the bonus too early!"
After a quick word, Jeff Van Gundy also began to draw on his tactical board, loudly reminding everyone to drive and dish.
After just a few possessions on the court, Ewing began to pant heavily again.
Gorilla's reaction speed dropped once more, and he was too tired to speak.
When the timeout ended, Lee stood up, smiled, patted Jeff Van Gundy's shoulder, pressed him down onto the bench, and then walked onto the court.
In the first possession after the timeout, the New York Knicks had no complex tactics.
From the top of the arc, Clay Lee once again used Ewing's screen, threading through the double-team into the paint.
O'Neal continuously slid towards the basket, and A.C. Green, positioned near the baseline on the right, also collapsed.
In motion, Lee immediately passed the ball to the unguarded Lewis in the right corner, but the latter missed the shot.
The long rebound was secured by Glen Rice, who then immediately threw a powerful pass to the frontcourt.
Kobe sprinted across half-court, grabbed the ball, shook off Allan Houston behind him, and soared for a powerful dunk!
"Oh!!"
After completing the dunk, Kobe Bryant tugged at his jersey, excitedly yelling at the camera under the basket.
57:54, the difference was only three points. Phil Jackson clapped his hands repeatedly on the sideline, and all the Lakers fans in the arena shouted along:
"Defense!"
Receiving the inbound pass, Clay Lee remained calm, once again signaling for the same tactical play.
Guarded by Kobe Bryant, he quickly pushed the ball upcourt past half-court.
Changing direction, Rashad Lewis was a bit nervous.
He had realized that the opponent was leaving his shot open.
After slipping to the left corner, he stood still, intently watching the situation up-top.
A high screen far from the three-point line.
Lee, dribbling with his left hand, quickly pushed the ball for a change of direction, squeezed past Ewing's right side, and then, facing O'Neal's defensive slide, he scooped the ball with his right hand and dribbled forward again.
Lee, flying low to the ground, kept his center of gravity extremely low.
Leaning on O'Neal, who was sliding backward to his right, he scooped the ball with his left hand and accelerated his drive.
A.C. Green once again collapsed into the paint to help defend.
As the opponent moved his feet, Lee smoothly threw the ball to the unguarded Lewis on the right.
The latter received the ball without any hesitation, ignoring the boos, and shot the ball immediately!
"Swish!" The three-pointer went in cleanly!
Seeing the basketball fall through the net, Lewis excitedly pumped his fists repeatedly, while the Lakers fans in the arena sighed loudly.
60:54, the New York Knicks were now up by 6 points.
During the comeback attempt, Shaquille O'Neal once again received the ball with his back to the basket in the left low post.
Ewing was already struggling to hold him off.
He managed to defend Shaq's turn-around layup, but the opponent grabbed the offensive rebound, leaving him no choice but to foul.
With his third personal foul, Ewing stood next to the paint, panting heavily and leaning on his knees.
Lee patted Gorilla, who was working hard on Defense.
Seeing O'Neal still practicing his shooting motion, he walked towards the three-point line and taunted:
"You won't make it. Remember to go practice free throws after you lose."
O'Neal, completely focused on his free throws, was in no mood to deal with such trash talk.
After receiving the ball, he aimed for a long time, but it clanked off the rim.
When his second free throw also missed, O'Neal still tried to crash the offensive boards, but his movement was too aggressive, resulting in another foul.
Ewing, holding the basketball, also pounded his chest, cheering himself on again.
Gorilla was almost out of gas, so Lee began to slow down the offensive pace.
They patiently passed the ball around the perimeter, while Ewing stood near the left baseline, catching his breath.
Allan Houston and Larry Johnson frequently received hand-offs, while Kobe Bryant constantly squeezed through screens, chasing Clay Lee, who was continuously receiving the ball.
On the left wing, Lewis, who had started from the left corner, came up for a fake screen, briefly hung on, and then immediately shifted out to the three-point line.
A.C. Green instinctively cooperated with Kobe to delay Lee.
Before the double-team could fully form, Lee, in motion, flicked his left wrist, throwing a bounce pass to Lewis, who had popped out.
Almost as the 24-second shot clock expired, Lewis shot another jump shot from beyond the three-point line!
"Swish!"
The ball went in as the light came on, a clean three-pointer, and loud boos once again echoed through the stadium.
63:54, the lead stretched to 9 points, and the Lakers players on the court were momentarily stunned.
Lewis excitedly chest-bumped Lee in celebration.
He had scored 6 consecutive points, helping the New York Knicks through a critical moment.
A.C. Green made a jump shot from the right elbow area of the free-throw line.
On the next possession, they ran the pick-and-roll again, and Lee drove hard to the basket, drawing another foul on O'Neal.
Lee shook his left arm, which had been hit, then shrugged his shoulders before calmly sinking both free throws.
He smiled, shook his head, and retreated on Defense, while loudly reminding his teammates:
"The opportunity is here! His third personal foul!"
Phil Jackson on the sideline was also loudly reminding O'Neal not to pick up his fourth foul too early.
Soon, the game completely devolved into a physical battle.
Allan Houston aggressively drove to the basket against Harper's Defense, and Larry Johnson received the ball in the low post, pushing towards the basket against Glen Rice.
Lee and Ewing caught their breath for a few moments, then continued to run pick-and-rolls and drive hard to the basket, with Lewis also crashing the offensive glass.
Jeff Van Gundy was infuriated that O'Neal wasn't getting his fourth foul, constantly complaining loudly to the sideline referee for several possessions:
"Damn it! He didn't even touch the ball! He knocked my player down!"
The referee, of course, paid no heed.
The game was intense, and the Lakers fans in the arena continuously cheered for their home team.
Under constant physical contact, Shaquille O'Neal's strong drives to the basket remained unaffected, but Glen Rice couldn't hold up, and he, along with the other perimeter players, kept missing shots.
The New York Knicks started losing offensive rebounds, and soon Ben Wallace replaced the struggling Lewis.
Kobe Bryant, from near the right baseline, once again hit an incredibly difficult fadeaway jump shot.
Clay Lee suddenly accelerated, stopping and starting abruptly at the top of the arc.
After a crossover, he scooped the ball with his left hand, then suddenly wrapped it behind his back, eluding Kobe Bryant's Defense and driving straight to the basket again.
He suddenly stopped short in the paint.
Kobe Bryant couldn't control his center of gravity and committed a trailing foul.
Lee took advantage of the situation and shot the ball towards the basket, and the referee immediately blew his whistle.
"Squeak! Swish!"
The whistle blew, and the ball went in.
Clay Lee once again stepped to the free throw line.
Kobe Bryant, leaning on his knees beyond the three-point line, also began to pant heavily.
Being a utility player was tough.
Seeing Lee make the free throw, both commentators on the broadcast exhaled a long breath:
"The Lakers still have a chance. In these 3 minutes that Ewing is off the court, they should continue to give the ball to O'Neal."
"But they need to be careful with fouls. Clay Lee has already shot 5 free throws this quarter, and Kobe Bryant has picked up his fourth personal foul."
No sooner had Doug Collins finished speaking than Bob Costas shouted loudly again:
"Beautiful steal! Lee anticipated Kobe Bryant's cross-court pass!"
The sudden perimeter pass had been attempted too many times.
Kobe's somewhat casual pass was intercepted by Lee, who exploded forward after switching onto him.
The moment he lost the ball, Kobe tried to pull and snatch it back, but Lee subtly exerted force with his left hand, pushing his opponent into a stumble and completely losing his defensive position.
After scooping up the ball, it was a 1-on-0 fast break.
The Lakers players were too tired to run, so they simply stopped at half-court, watching Clay Lee grab the ball with his left hand and soar for a powerful dunk!
The third quarter saw frequent missed shots, but in the final few minutes, Lee scored consecutively again.
The Lakers fans completely lost their composure, booing loudly:
"Boo!"
79:68, with 1 minute and 02 seconds left in the third quarter, Clay Lee scored 5 straight points, and the lead returned to 11 points.
The comeback failed, and in the last minute, both sides missed shots, and Staples Center quieted down again.
Fans who bought tickets to watch the game tonight felt their emotions constantly pulled.
Whenever they were about to tie the score, someone from the New York Knicks always stepped up to score.
5-of-8 shooting, 10 points, 6 rebounds, accounting for nearly half of the team's points, Shaquille O'Neal returned to the bench, gasping for air and drinking his "oral solution."
The bench was especially quiet, only Phil Jackson was still encouraging his players:
"Our Defense is working, hold on, there's still time in the game!"
In the third quarter, Clay Lee shot 3-of-8, 0-of-3 from three-point range, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, scoring 10 points.
The Lakers coaching staff, seeing this situation, naturally wouldn't give up the game.
O'Neal hadn't rested for a minute since the game began.
His first strong drive in the fourth quarter was disrupted by Ewing, and his second put-back also failed to go in.
Seeing this, Phil Jackson on the sidelines finally realized that Shaq was truly tired.
A.C. Green had helped O'Neal by drawing 2 fouls in the 3rd quarter and was now sitting on the bench with 5 fouls, only able to watch as the Lakers also started losing rebounds.
Larry Johnson's turnaround fadeaway jumper in the paint missed, and Ben Wallace, overpowering Horry, grabbed the offensive rebound.
Upon landing, Ben Wallace quickly passed the ball to Lee beyond the three-point line.
Ewing was too tired to even set a screen at this point, leaning against O'Neal near the baseline on the left side, motionless.
The two were still pushing each other, while Allan Houston signaled for "Gorilla" to set a screen.
Rick Fox followed Larry Johnson to the right wing, watching "Gorilla" set a pick, then quickly popped out to the top of the arc.
Hesitating slightly on Defense, Rick Fox saw Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, suddenly accelerate, cutting directly from the wing.
Kobe, squeezing through the screen, almost collided with his teammate.
Their Defense lacked coordination, and Clay Lee, after breaking through to the right restricted area, immediately spun like a top.
Pulling away from the two, Lee protected the ball and squeezed into the paint.
O'Neal was planted under the basket, and Horry jumped high to help defend, only to find the ball gone in mid-air.
Below the right side of the rim, Ben Wallace received the ball and immediately slammed it down with both hands!
"Ah!!"
3 minutes and 12 seconds into the 4th quarter, the New York Knicks broke the deadlock first. Ben Wallace, after landing, shouted excitedly.
81:68, Clay Lee, retreating on Defense, let out a long breath.
The game was essentially secure.
Ewing was completely exhausted, and several Lakers players were also struggling.
Under Lee's deliberate slow pace, both teams scored sporadically, and the score slowly increased.
With 4 minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the game, Ewing was substituted out, and soon after, Oakley also fouled out with 6 fouls.
O'Neal, who had rested for a minute, performed bravely, making several consecutive strong drives to the basket after receiving the ball.
93:85, the deficit was narrowed again, and the re-energized Lakers fans in Staples Center continued to chant:
"Defense!"
After continuous passing on the perimeter, Clay Lee, who had caught his breath, received the ball on the right wing with only 6 seconds left on the shot clock.
Kobe stared intently at Lee's movements.
Standing on the three-point line, Lee protected the ball on his left side, taking continuous probing steps with his right foot, but still couldn't shake off the Defense.
Taking advantage of Kobe's hand-checking, Lee seized the opportunity, quickly dropped the ball with his left hand, then immediately stepped back after a Blast the ball on the spot , and shot strongly from the right wing, despite the contest!
As Kobe lunged to defend, both players fell to the ground.
As the referee's whistle blew, Lakers fans gasped in unison, and the basketball swished through the net.
Staples Center fell completely silent, and the New York Knicks bench jumped up and cheered again.
After being pulled up by his teammates, Lee immediately placed his right hand to his ear, making a listening gesture before slowly walking to the free-throw line.
Kobe leaned on his knees in frustration, breathing heavily while staring at the scoreboard.
After regulating his breathing, Lee made the free throw.
There were no more boos.
Lakers fans felt the game was over.
97:85, the lead instantly stretched to 12 points.
Phil Jackson on the sidelines couldn't help but cover his forehead, painful memories flooding his mind.
In the last 2 minutes, both teams again missed shots, with no field goals from either side.
In the final moments, Kobe made both of his free throws, and the game clock expired.
99:90.
After the game, Jeff Van Gundy couldn't help but pump his fist in celebration before quickly walking to the scorer's table to shake hands with Phil Jackson:
"Great game! We were the better team tonight!"
"..."
As a Head Coach with 5 championships, Phil Jackson had always been indifferent to Jeff Van Gundy.
Without a word, he turned and walked directly to the players' tunnel.
Tonight at Staples Center, there were also a small number of New York Knicks fans.
Happy with the win, they kept shouting after the game:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The shouts were, of course, for Clay Lee, but Shaquille O'Neal found them incredibly grating.
Shaq stormed back to the players' tunnel, kicking over a railing and scaring away the surrounding staff.
Watching Lee and his teammates fist-bump, the two commentators at the NBC broadcast desk once again exclaimed:
"The defending champions showed their dominance, and Clay's performance once again proved to everyone why he is the youngest MVP in history!"
"43 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers. An unparalleled performance!"
Playing 46 minutes, shooting 14-of-28, 6-of-14 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
After seeing the box score, Doug Collins became a turncoat again.
Bob Costas didn't mind his partner's change and added cheerfully:
"Getting a road win, the New York Knicks have regained the initiative. This is definitely bad news for the Lakers!"
As fans, they naturally hoped the game would be as intense as possible.
The two, enjoying the spectacle, even had the presence of mind to help the Lakers analyze how to defend the pick-and-roll.
Playing almost the entire game, 18-of-30 shooting, 5-of-12 from the free-throw line, 41 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block, 2 turnovers.
Shaquille O'Neal appeared at the post-game press conference with a long face.
Fortunately, the Los Angeles media environment was friendly enough, and with such an impeccable stat line, no one dared to provoke Shaq.
With his teammates taking a large number of shots, Kobe shot 6-of-13 for only 14 points.
Sitting next to O'Neal, he felt a bit dejected, as no one seemed to care about his performance.
The Lakers' press conference was subdued.
When Clay Lee appeared on stage in a light gray suit, the New York Media cheered and applauded.
After sitting down, Lee smiled and waved his hand, which made a few Los Angeles reporters secretly curl their lips.
"Lee, how do you think the Lakers will defend the New York Knicks' pick-and-roll in the upcoming games?"
The question came from a New York Post reporter, who winked after asking.
Lee first pretended to ponder, then said seriously:
"They can't defend it! Prepare to go home! Maybe finding an excuse beforehand wouldn't be bad either!"
"Like, I'm too fat, I really can't run anymore, I can only shrink under the basket."
The New York reporters below burst into laughter.
This answer sounded very familiar.
Shaquille O'Neal had said similar things in previous playoffs.
Another boomerang hit.
Soon, some Los Angeles reporters left the room, as the stage became a back-and-forth of mockery towards the losing Lakers.
As for losing the next games?
That was a matter for the day after tomorrow.
At this moment, everyone was happy with the win, freely expressing themselves.
On the bus back to the hotel, the New York Knicks players inside were laughing and joking, while outside, Los Angeles fans surrounded the bus, shouting insults.
Jeff Van Gundy was in a great mood.
Noticing the tired look on Ewing's face, he continued to offer encouragement:
"Pat, just three more wins, and we can achieve the three-peat!"
"Hold on, the team needs you, you are our defensive cornerstone!"
"..."
3-of-7 shooting, 3-of-6 from the free-throw line, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 2 turnovers.
Ewing, who played 39 minutes, was already on the verge of exhaustion.
However, hearing Head Coach's words, Gorilla still perked up and patted his chest in assurance, secretly thinking:
"Once we get the championship, I should be able to go on tour, right?"
"."
....
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