61–84. The Lakers entered the fourth quarter with a 23-point lead.
In an era when three-pointers had yet to explode, it was difficult to erase such a massive deficit.
But the Wizards did not seem willing to surrender so early. Arenas's shooting touch had gone cold, while Kobe remained highly efficient. Facing the Wizards' perimeter defense, he ferociously attacked the basket.
Of course, Arenas, whose outside shots kept missing, also tried to drive to the rim, but with far less success than Kobe. This was where Kobe's height and Zhou Ze's spacing advantage became apparent.
Kobe stood 198 cm tall, while Arenas was only 191 cm. That seven-centimeter height difference meant that amid the forest of big men under the basket, Arenas faced far more interference than Kobe.
When Kobe attacked the Wizards' interior, he not only had the height advantage, but Zhou Ze had also pulled Jamison outside, leaving only the clumsy Haywood under the basket. The pressure was much lower.
As for Zhou Ze...
With his pathetic stamina, Zhou Ze watched Kobe play like a god of war in the fourth quarter and simply camped out in the corner, barely contributing. Still, when Arenas recklessly drove into the paint on defense, Zhou Ze blocked him once.
Zhou Ze, who had posted 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 assist in the first half, finished the game with a double-double of 25 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 1 block.
He scored only 9 points in the second half.
His stamina was still the main issue.
[Postgame Reward: 188 Peak Points] [Peak Points: 372/8362]
Zhou Ze spent another 200 Peak Points on a draw.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have obtained a new badge—Paint Defense Master (Bronze)]
[Paint Defense Master (Bronze)] Function Description: