3+1

The brief halftime break ended, and both teams returned to the court.

"Let's go, Los Angeles Lakers!" "Let's go, Los Angeles Lakers!" "Let's go, Los Angeles Lakers!" ... Amid the cheers from the fans, the second half began.

On the first possession, Paul Pierce used a screen to drive inside, then pulled up for a mid-range jumper.

Swish. The ball dropped cleanly through the net.

Just over ten seconds later, Kobe Bryant answered immediately, leaning back for a jumper over Paul Pierce.

Swish. The ball went straight through the net.

Shaquille O'Neal: "..."

My rebound!

Shaquille O'Neal had been ready to grab the rebound, but came away empty-handed. He could only turn around in frustration and jog back to his own end.

The Boston Celtics inbounded again and got the ball to Mike James. He dribbled across half court and immediately looked for Goodwin, but Goodwin still couldn't shake Gary Payton with his off-ball movement.

Seeing that, Mike James tried to pass to Paul Pierce on the other side.

But the next moment, Kobe Bryant stepped into the passing lane.

Mike James quickly pulled back his pass and looked toward Mark Blount in the paint.

The two were on the same wavelength. Mark Blount understood what Mike James wanted in an instant and came out to set a screen for him.

Mike James used the screen to shake off his defender and drive inside. He accelerated into the paint, jumped, and went up for a layup.

"Watch out, Mike!" Vin Baker warned.

But it was too late. A huge figure lunged in from the side, looming over Mike James.

Smack!

The ball, just out of Mike James's hands, flew straight out of bounds.

"Kid, this is a no-fly zone."

Shaquille O'Neal glared at Mike James as he landed.

Mike James's Adam's apple bobbed repeatedly. He then stepped back, putting some distance between himself and Shaquille O'Neal.

Seeing Mike James's reaction, Shaquille O'Neal's lips curled slightly. That was exactly the effect he wanted!

"It's all right, Mike!" Vin Baker called from nearby.

Only after hearing Vin Baker's voice did Mike James snap out of it.

The Boston Celtics inbounded again, and the ball went to Paul Pierce. As soon as he caught it, Pierce planted his left foot and drove his right shoulder into Kobe Bryant, determined to force his way inside.

Kobe Bryant was clever enough not to meet Paul Pierce head-on. Instead, he gave ground as he defended, keeping himself in front of Pierce.

Just as Paul Pierce reached the free-throw line, he gathered the ball.

Now!

Kobe Bryant reacted in a flash. His hand darted in like a scalpel.

Smack!

He knocked the ball right out of Paul Pierce's hands.

Both men reacted at once and lunged for the ball on the floor.

Mine! Kobe Bryant got to it first, but the next moment Paul Pierce joined the scramble.

Pierce grabbed the ball with one hand.

Don't even think about taking it! Kobe Bryant used his other hand to protect the ball, and Paul Pierce reached in with his free hand.

All four hands were on the ball.

They strained against each other, fighting for possession.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... The referee's whistle blew, calling a jump ball.

The two men went to the free-throw line and took their places on opposite sides. The referee tossed the ball into the air.

They reacted almost simultaneously and jumped.

Smack! Kobe Bryant got to the ball first and tipped it behind him.

Shaquille O'Neal caught it securely, and the Los Angeles Lakers won back possession.

Shaquille O'Neal passed to Gary Payton, who didn't push the pace. He dribbled across half court at an unhurried pace.

Once across, Gary Payton passed to Kobe Bryant on the wing.

Kobe Bryant held the ball in both hands without moving, his eyes fixed on Shaquille O'Neal in the low post.

Shaquille O'Neal spread his arms and backed his massive rear into Mark Blount, pinning him behind his back.

Kobe Bryant lobbed the ball inside to Shaquille O'Neal. The instant he caught it, O'Neal drove his weight into Mark Blount.

Thud!

Mark Blount felt like his chest was about to burst. Even gritting his teeth, he couldn't withstand Shaquille O'Neal's force and was pushed half a step backward.

Before Mark Blount could recover, Shaquille O'Neal hit him with a second and then a third surge.

Squeak, squeak, squeak... Mark Blount's shoes screeched against the floor.

In an instant, Shaquille O'Neal reached deep into the paint and spun up for a jump.

Mark Blount could only watch helplessly as Shaquille O'Neal slammed the ball down with both hands.

Boom!

Shaquille O'Neal had brutalized the rim once again.

Doc Rivers shook his head from the sideline.

Shaquille O'Neal was clearly more active in the second half than he'd been in the first, especially on offense. He was firing on all cylinders.

Against Shaquille O'Neal's relentless assault, the Boston Celtics' defense was utterly fragile.

The lead kept growing, nearing twenty points.

Watching this unfold, Doc Rivers felt helpless. Were they really going to lose four in a row?

Just then, veteran Vin Baker stepped up, hitting one mid-range shot after another to stop the Los Angeles Lakers from extending their lead.

"Nice work, Vin Baker!" Paul Pierce praised him. Then Pierce answered in kind, scoring on drives and outside shots.

Kobe Bryant: "..."

Kobe Bryant responded immediately.

The two teams were briefly evenly matched. The seventeen-point gap held steady for more than five minutes, until the final minute of the third quarter, when the Boston Celtics had possession.

Goodwin hit the brakes, doubled back, and reached the left-wing three-point line. He looked up and saw that Gary Payton had somehow failed to keep up.

I finally shook him!

Goodwin's face lit up. He shouted, "Mike, the ball!"

Mike James hesitated, then passed to Goodwin.

"Don't even think about shooting!" Gary Payton used the last of his strength to rush at Goodwin.

Goodwin didn't hesitate. He jumped, hung in the air, and released the shot.

Thud! The instant Goodwin let the ball go, Gary Payton crashed into him and knocked him down.

The referee's whistle blew.

Swish. The ball went straight through the net.

3+1!

Lying on the floor, Goodwin roared, "Aaaaaah..." None of the sweat I've shed was wasted. Mom, I scored again!

What?

Gary Payton looked stunned. He'd been hit with a 3+1. This couldn't be real!

But the sound of Goodwin's roar seemed to remind him that it was.

Suddenly, a few words surfaced in Gary Payton's mind: I really am getting old.

Just seconds earlier, Gary Payton's legs had given out while chasing Goodwin, and Goodwin had shaken him off. That was bad enough, but then he'd given up a 3+1.

"Great shot, Goodwin."

"You're amazing, Goodwin."

"Nice work, Goodwin."

His teammates ran over one after another to praise him.

With his teammates' help, Goodwin got up off the floor.

Then Goodwin went to the free-throw line, took the ball from the referee, lined up the shot, and released it.

Swish. He made the free throw, completing the four-point play.

The lead was cut to thirteen in an instant.