His physical battles in the paint, rebounding position, rim protection, and second-chance points completely overwhelmed the Knicks' interior.
Glen Rice continued his hot shooting, contributing 17 points and repeatedly sinking crucial three-pointers to stop the bleeding from beyond the arc.
Stephen Kerr, Kukoc, and the other bench players each fulfilled their roles, combining for 13 points.
Five players on the team scored in double digits. The offensive and defensive system operated flawlessly, without a single weakness or opening.
He shot 14-of-22 from the field, 10-of-12 from the free-throw line, and erupted for a dominant stat line of 34 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
By contrast, the heavily favored Knicks had only their two stars holding up the front, while the entire team went completely silent.
Li Fei battled for 44 minutes, yet still maintained his historic level of dominance.
He shot 19-of-31 from the field and 16-of-21 on mid-range shots, efficiently cutting down 45 points, 18 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 4 assists.
Relying on his unstoppable mid-range game and fierce battles in the paint, he struggled to keep the team's scoring foundation intact.
But two fists could not withstand four hands. His teammates' poor performances reduced his godlike showing to an empty scoring effort.
Michael Jordan had regained some form, but still failed to reach his peak level.
He shot 7-of-18, scoring 16 points with 4 rebounds and 3 steals, while remaining diligent on defense.
His sluggishness on offense, however, could not make up for the team's overall offensive struggles.
Allan Houston and Sprewell, the Knicks' two major perimeter weapons, were completely silenced.
Together, they shot just 6-of-22, went scoreless from three-point range, and managed only 14 points.
Every role player struggled. Not a single one could step up and share the burden carried by the two stars.
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