Li Fei and Jordan Each Scored 20 in a Single Quarter! The referee held his palm upward and forcefully tossed the basketball high into the air with his fingertips.
Inside the center circle, Li Fei and Barkley pushed off the floor and leaped at the same time.
Both men jumped with everything they had, holding nothing back.
Barkley unleashed all his explosive power, hoping to seize the advantage on the opening tip.
But with Li Fei standing 2.24 meters tall and possessing a terrifying 2.45-meter wingspan, the gap was obvious to the naked eye.
Li Fei easily controlled the basketball in midair and tipped it directly toward a teammate in the Knicks' backcourt.
The Knicks secured the first possession of the game.
A wave of regretful sighs rose from the crowd at American Airlines Arena.
After just one tip-off, everyone in the arena had seen the brutal gap in ability.
Barkley, nearing the end of his prime, could no longer keep up with the physical gifts of the league's top big man.
The TNT broadcast camera stayed tightly focused on the matchup in the paint.
Bill Walton was the first to offer his assessment.
"You can see the difference right from the opening tip. Their talent and physical tools aren't even on the same level."
"Barkley's competitive fire is burning at full force, but his body can no longer keep up with his desire to win."
Marv Albert nodded in agreement.
"It's nearly impossible for Barkley to win this game. The only thing he can do is give Li Fei a respectable physical battle."
The half-court sets quickly took shape.
The Knicks did not bother testing the waters and immediately ran their first play.
All the perimeter players spread out, clearing one side of the court and leaving the paint