Wang Yi cut the deficit to just two points, and the arena erupted.
That put the Eastern All-Stars in a tough spot, and they had no choice but to call a timeout.
But the timeout seemed to do them no good at all.
Once play resumed, Wang Yi sank two more three-pointers in quick succession, giving his team the lead.
Under normal circumstances, with only four minutes left in the third quarter of an All-Star Game, Phil Jackson should have rested his starters and sent in the bench players to put up some points and earn a little bonus money.
But Phil Jackson made no substitutions. He kept all five starters on the floor.
After all, if they won the game, every player would get an extra $200,000.
If they lost, nobody would get that $200,000.
The starters didn't come off the floor until there were two minutes left in the third.
During those minutes, Wang Yi kept draining three-pointers, helping the Western All-Stars not only erase the deficit but take a five-point lead.
Then both teams sent out their reserves.
The benches played each other to a draw.
Just two minutes into the fourth quarter, the Eastern All-Stars put their starters back in.
Clearly, with $200,000 on the line, the Eastern All-Stars were taking this seriously now.
They were determined to win.
Right away, their center, "the Artificial Giant" Antoine, threw down two dunks in a row and blocked a sure basket by the Western All-Stars, cutting the deficit to just two points.
On the Western side, Zen Master Phil Jackson simply waved his flag and made five substitutions, bringing all the starters back in.
And so the fourth quarter became a real battle.
As soon as he came back in, King Arthur hit a three-pointer.
His shot from