The rim let out a painful groan, and the entire Staples Center seemed to tremble with it!
5-4!
After landing, Shaquille O'Neal pounded his chest and flashed his signature grin at the courtside cameras—overbearing, yet faintly childlike.
"That is dominance!" Kevin Harlan shouted excitedly. "That is Shaquille O'Neal! In the Triangle Offense, he isn't just a facilitator. When the opportunity appears, he is still the most unstoppable finishing weapon on this planet! The Knicks' interior is facing an unprecedented test!"
Marv Albert added, "From the opening tip until now, both teams have displayed suffocating levels of offense and defense. For the Knicks, Li Fei can punish opponents with his unstoppable individual scoring while also bringing the entire team to life with masterful passing. Their offense relies more on the influence of Li Fei, their absolute focal point. The Lakers, meanwhile, are like a precision instrument. The Triangle Offense has perfectly unleashed the power of the OK Duo, and every pass and cut has a purpose. This isn't merely a showdown between superstars—it is a collision between two elite basketball philosophies!"
From the very first minute, the pace of the game had reached a fever pitch.
Every possession, every defensive stop, came with fierce physical contact.
Kobe Bryant clung to Li Fei like chewing gum that could not be shaken off, using every ounce of strength to harass him. His little dirty tricks never stopped, nor did his trash talk.
Li Fei, however, appeared completely at ease. Sometimes he used his height to overpower his opponent; other times, he toyed with them through his passing. That amused smile never left his face, as though he were enjoying this intense battle.
By the middle of the first quarter, the tension on the court had grown increasingly explosive.
On one Lakers possession, Fisher