With no pick-and-roll mismatch opportunities, Iverson was forced into the Knicks' jungle of muscle.
And this was precisely the moment for Li Fei to take over the game.
Standing 2.24 meters tall with a 2.45-meter wingspan, Li Fei was an impenetrable steel fortress in the paint.
But the most terrifying thing about him was not his size—it was his silky-smooth mid-range shot.
Midway through the second quarter, Li Fei backed down Tyrone Hill near the free-throw line.
His 120-kilogram Titanium Alloy Physique slammed backward, and the sheer force immediately knocked Hill off balance.
Then Li Fei spun lightly off his back, his massive body rising from the floor.
His terrifying wingspan, combined with his extremely high release point, left the Philadelphia 76ers defenders with nothing but helpless admiration.
The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air and swished cleanly through the net.
"Swish!"
The sound of the net snapping was the most beautiful note in Madison Square Garden that night.
Under Li Fei's lead, "Madman" Sprewell and "Mid-Range King" Allan Houston also found their shooting touch completely.
The Knicks unleashed a devastating offensive run in the second quarter, pushing their lead beyond 15 points.
For a full 40 minutes of the game, the Knicks held a lead of more than 10 points.
It was a completely one-sided slaughter.
Iverson struggled tremendously that day.
Against the Knicks' targeted collapsing defense and Li Fei's sky-blocking presence in the paint, his scoring efficiency plummeted.
Again and again, he threw himself into the air, trying to find shooting opportunities through the cracks, only to be answered by repeated clanks.
Those brand-new The Answer sneakers screeched across Madison Square Garden's hardwood, yet they could not lead the team to victory.
When the final red light came on, the score was frozen at 106:88.
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