In the third quarter, the Lakers launched their final counterattack.
Kobe scored eight straight points in the quarter, sinking one midrange jumper after another over Sprewell's defense. Every shot seemed to tell everyone, I haven't given up yet.
O'Neal also scored repeatedly inside. He dunked over Sabonis, then over Li Fei as he came over to help. Every dunk shook the basket stanchion, and every shake brought the Lakers' bench to its feet, cheering.
But the Knicks' response was even more lethal.
Sabonis orchestrated the offense from the high post, delivering three consecutive assists—one to Li Fei cutting to the basket, one to Houston in the corner, and one to Sprewell at the top of the arc. Three assists, three different teammates, three different passes—a bounce pass, a lob, and a straight pass. His court vision stood in a class of its own among the league's centers. He wasn't one of the best. He was the only one at that level.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 82–68, with the Knicks ahead by fourteen.
In the fourth quarter, the Lakers refused to give up.
Kobe scored another eight points in the quarter, hitting three difficult jumpers against Sprewell's defense. Every shot felt like a race against time. O'Neal scored six points in the quarter, dunking over Sabonis twice. Each dunk silenced Madison Square Garden for another second.
But the Knicks' offense remained steady. Li Fei scored ten points in the quarter. His turnaround fadeaway in the low post left Horry helpless, while his fast-break dunks left Camby in the dust. Sabonis didn't score in the quarter, but he dished out three assists and grabbed four rebounds. Those numbers weren't eye-catching, but his plus-minus was the highest of anyone on the floor.
The final buzzer sounded,