The final buzzer of the third quarter echoed through Madison Square Garden.
The glaring 81-89 score on the big screen plunged the entire basketball cathedral into silence.
Playing at home, the Knicks had fallen behind for the first time in these NBA Finals.
It was adversity enough to shake the mindset of a Dynasty.
Looking back at the three playoff rounds this year, the Knicks had steamrolled their Eastern Conference opponents all the way through.
In the first round, second round, and Eastern Conference Finals, they had never trailed at the end of the third quarter.
Even when faced with stubborn resistance, they had always kept firm control of the game.
But tonight, the Lakers had completely shattered the Knicks' unbeaten rhythm of domination.
Everyone could see how terrifying the Lakers were. This team's strength was far more than just the OK Duo.
O'Neal's dominance inside and Kobe's tough shot-making on the perimeter formed the core of the team's firepower.
Meanwhile, Toni Kukoč and Steve Kerr, coming off the bench, had become the crucial surprise weapons in this decisive battle.
Kukoč possessed elite court vision and a silky touch, excelling at facilitation and mid-range shooting alike.
He seamlessly connected the Lakers' rotation and filled the offensive void during the staggered lineups.
Steve Kerr was one of the league's finest spot-up shooters, his catch-and-shoot threes as steady as a machine.
Over the two quarters of bench minutes, the pair had combined for 19 points, repeatedly keeping the Lakers' offense alive.
The Lakers were no longer a team driven purely by a pair of stars.
They were a championship-caliber powerhouse, fully awakened from top to bottom, balanced on offense and defense, and tactically mature.
The atmosphere on the Knicks' bench was grave. The pride of a Dynasty team had encountered an unprecedented