For the Knicks, Li Fei had 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. His consecutive scoring burst midway through the first quarter helped the Knicks keep the score close, but his slow start had put the team on the back foot.
Sprewell had 4 points, shooting 2-for-6 against Kobe's defense.
Sabonis had 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. Under O'Neal's defense, he failed to find the rhythm he had in the first game.
At the commentary desk, Harlan's voice echoed through the broadcast booth.
"At the end of the first quarter, the Lakers lead by eight. Kobe has 14, O'Neal has 6, and Rice has 4. The Big Three have combined for 24 points, two more than the entire Knicks team. It's not that the Knicks played badly—the Lakers played too well. Kobe was perfect in the first quarter. He scored eight straight over Sprewell, hit a three over Houston, and drove for layups against switches. He isn't playing basketball—he's telling the entire world: We didn't lose the first game because of me. We lost because we forgot about Sabonis."
Walton picked it up. "And for the Knicks, Li Fei scored six straight midway through the first quarter, but he started too slowly. He wanted Sabonis to carry over his form from the last game, but Sabonis was shut down by O'Neal. He wanted Sprewell and Houston to find their touch, but they were shut down by Kobe and Fisher. By the time he realized he needed to score himself, the team was already down eight. This isn't Li Fei's fault—the Knicks' tactical system had problems in the first quarter."
Albert added, "In the second quarter, the Knicks need to adjust. Li Fei needs to enter scoring mode earlier; he can't wait until they're down ten before he starts