The Championship Is Within Reach!

Jordan and Pippen waved their arms in the air!

As if they wanted to swat that damned basketball out of bounds!

As the ball spun through the air, they landed on the floor and, like the nearly twenty thousand Chicago fans in the arena, stared fixedly at it!

It went in!

When the ball finally dropped through the basket, Jordan clenched his fist in frustration.

That fist pump looked somewhat like the soaring fist pump he made when winning championships. Only then, he had been claiming a title; this time, he was watching Kobe sink a crucial shot.

"Michael, it's not over yet!" Pippen gritted his teeth. He had given that last play everything he had! Yet he had still fallen just a fraction short.

So close, yet so far!

A difference of a single point had completely changed the shape of this game!

But! They could not give up!

At this moment, it was Pippen who turned to urge Jordan on!

Lakers 104:101 Bulls!

There were still 1 minute and 5 seconds left!

Nothing was over yet!

Pippen and Jordan had completed countless comebacks like this! This time, Pippen was still full of confidence!

Seeing the firm, trusting look in his old partner's eyes, Jordan slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then let it out.

His irritability, anxiety, and anger—every negative emotion—vanished in an instant.

When he opened his eyes again, they were brilliant, emotionless eyes, like those of a god!

Kobe retreated to the other half.

And the Bulls' offense surged forward with overwhelming momentum!

Pippen had the ball! Jordan came around for a screen and took the pass.

Kobe's defense clung tightly to Jordan.

Defensive slide! Quick step! Sudden stop! Spin move!

To get around Rodman and Joe Smith's screens, Kobe used every trick