Pippen: Impossible! Without Me, Jordan Is Nothing!

In stark contrast to the confidence on display at the Chicago Bulls' press conference, media opinion had undergone a staggering reversal.

After Game 1, sports media around the world had reported on the game with headlines like "The Dynasty Ends," "Jordan Is Past His Prime," and "Li Fei Reigns Supreme."

The Chicago Bulls had been portrayed as an aging team on its last legs, incapable of putting up a fight.

Just forty-eight hours later, the wind had completely shifted.

The headline on TNT's official website blared in bold red letters: "The King Returns! Jordan Explodes for 42 as Bulls Slay the Dragon on the Road, Tie Series 1–1!" The report hailed Jordan's performance as "God playing through him" and pointed out that the 2–3–2 format meant the Chicago Bulls had effectively reclaimed home-court advantage.

An NBC Sports columnist went even further: "The Knicks are in serious trouble! They lost the one game they could least afford to lose. Next, they'll face the most terrifying home court in the league—the United Center. Li Fei might be invincible, but can his teammates keep their composure amid the boos in Chicago? I seriously doubt it."

Even the sports section of The Times, far away in the United Kingdom, devoted an unusually extensive report to the game: "With an epic individual performance, Michael Jordan announced to the world that the throne still belonged to him. This was more than a victory on the scoreboard; it was a triumph of will. The Chicago Bulls, those former kings, have rediscovered their soul."

New York's local media, meanwhile, were awash in despair.

The New York Post's sports headline dripped with frustration: "Nightmare Night! Knicks Lose at Home, 58-Point Miracle Not Enough!" The article was filled with criticism of the other Knicks players, accusing them of wasting Li