Toppin, who had dropped back early, secured the rebound as it bounced off the rim.
The Knicks immediately launched another counterattack.
Chen Xi took the pass near half court, waited for his teammates to get into position, then initiated another high pick-and-roll.
This time, he did not call for the center, whose screens were more effective.
Instead, he went straight to Strus, using his screen to target Doncic.
Once he had caught Doncic in that "mismatch," Chen Xi quickly went to work.
He opened with a between-the-legs crossover, followed by a crossover-step drive fake that forced Doncic back. Then he abruptly stopped and pulled back, pounding the ball into the floor as he stepped behind the three-point line, before gathering, rising, and firing a three-point shot.
As his moves flowed seamlessly into one another, the three badges—[Volume Shooter], [Combo Master], and [Mismatch Expert]—lit up in succession.
With that enormous boost to his abilities, the ball swished cleanly through the net.
Another three points for Chen Xi.
The offensive duel between the two teams' leading men continued.
Possession returned to the Mavericks.
Doncic brought the ball into the frontcourt and initiated a pick-and-roll at the top of the key.
He drove around the screen into the free-throw-line area, drew Adams up to defend him, then slipped a precise pass through a tight angle to Gobert.
Gobert immediately rose to attack the rim.
After a brief midair collision, he finished over the recovering Adams and even drew a defensive foul, earning a trip to the line.
Gobert's touch around the basket was hardly soft, but Doncic's scoring threat and the quality of his passing created such favorable opportunities that it scarcely mattered.
Catching the ball deep under the basket, Gobert could rely on his height and reach to finish efficiently, however rough