With the game entering its final minute, Wang Yi missed a three. Danny grabbed the rebound and immediately launched a fast break. He reached the frontcourt and sank a chasing three-pointer.
117–117!
The game was tied!
At courtside, Shaquille O'Neal flipped through his notes and exclaimed excitedly,
"They're tied again! That's the 15th tie of the game. It shows just how intense this matchup has been!"
Barkley said, "This next minute will test more than just the teams' tactics and the players' skills. It'll test their mental toughness, too."
"You and I have both played in the Playoffs and experienced those do-or-die moments. We know the mental pressure players feel in moments like this is far greater than the physical toll."
"Often, the ones who can withstand that immense pressure and score a clutch basket are the ones who become Stars."
"Let's see which of these two teams has a true Star."
Shaquille O'Neal nodded, then said, "A true Star withstands the pressure in a situation like this and just does what he needs to do. Good things will follow."
Coach Dako called a Timeout.
The Timeout wasn't to draw up a play, but to give Wang Yi a chance to catch his breath.
The Finals were more physically intense than the three rounds before them.
Especially over the last few minutes, the physical play had reached a terrifying level.
The reason neither team had scored in two whole minutes was that the intensity had drained their players, causing their shooting percentages to plummet.
Wang Yi had played every second since the opening tip.
And throughout the game, he'd been constantly tussling with Danny.
On offense, he took on the opponent's best defender. On defense, he guarded their best offensive player.
It was easy to imagine how much energy that