The next morning, sports media across the United States were all reporting on the same thing.
On ESPN's homepage, a massive photo filled the entire screen—Barkley pounding his chest and roaring at Staples Center, his fist striking his chest, his mouth wide open as if he were howling.
In the background were blurred Lakers fans, their expressions shifting from shock to disappointment, from disappointment to silence. The headline read:
"The Houston Rockets Steal a Win in Los Angeles. Lakers' 3-1 Lead Cut to 3-2, Series Suspense Returns."
TNT's homepage was more emotional.
Their photo showed Olajuwon blocking O'Neal on defense—The Dream's palm met The Shark right at his release point, sending the basketball flying toward the Houston Rockets bench.
The photo had been tinted in cool tones, carrying the feeling of "old soldiers never die." The headline read: "37-Year-Old Knees, 37-Year-Old Lungs, 37-Year-Old Heart. Hakeem Olajuwon Tells the World He Isn't Finished Yet."
The Los Angeles Times headline carried deep disappointment and self-reproach: "Lakers Lose Match Point at Home, Series Forced to Game 6. It's Not That the Houston Rockets Played So Well; It's That We Played So Poorly. O'Neal Scored Just 6 Points in the Second Half, Kobe Had Only 2 in the Second Quarter, and No One Came Through Off the Bench. A Performance Like That Doesn't Deserve to Win."
The Houston Chronicle's headline was nearly crazed with excitement: "3-2! Houston Rockets Defeat Lakers in Los Angeles, Bring Series Back to Houston! Barkley: 26 Points, 14 Rebounds. Olajuwon: 20 Points, 9 Rebounds. Pippen: 15 Points, 7 Rebounds, 5 Assists—The Big Three Erupt Together as the Houston Rockets Refuse to Go Home!"
NBC's headline was the simplest, and the most powerful: "Not Over Yet."
Online, the whole world had exploded.
On Twitter's trending list, "Houston Rockets Win"