However, back on the court, the Bullets found their ball movement on the perimeter extremely difficult. The green giants' defensive line, consisting of P.J. Brown, Garnett, and Mutombo, had almost no blind spots. Chris Webber had an exceptionally tough time in the second half. He couldn't get past Brown in the low post, couldn't avoid Mutombo's rim protection in the paint, and had to be wary of Garnett's long arms when he moved to the high post.
At the end of the third quarter, the point difference had been chipped away to just 4 points.
Entering the final quarter, the game completely devolved into a high-intensity physical battle. Sam Cassell used his signature mid-range jumper to keep the score close in the chaos, while Garnett also delivered another block on the defensive end. With 48 seconds left in the game, Michael Finley drove to the baseline and made a layup, bringing the Celtics within one point at 87-89.
However, the 15-point hole that Murray dug himself into in the first half due to his outburst and foul trouble was ultimately too deep.
In an effort to close the gap in the second half, the Celtics ' frontcourt expended too much energy on defense, which directly led to a decline in their offensive execution in the final two crucial possessions.
In the decisive moment, Rod Strickland displayed the composure of a seasoned veteran. He dribbled the ball for the full twenty seconds, and just before the 24-second violation buzzer, facing Mark Price's almost face-blocking defense, he forced a buzzer-beating two-pointer that went off-balance.
On the other hand, Sam Cassell's three-pointer from the top of the arc tied the game, bounced high off the back of the rim. Mutombo managed to grab the offensive rebound amidst the chaos, but the final buzzer had already sounded.
92 to 89.
The Washington Bullets narrowly won their first game of the series on the road.
As the final whistle blew, a huge sigh of regret erupted in the FleetCenter Arena.
Sam Cassell looked extremely frustrated, while Garnett, hands on his knees, was panting heavily, staring at the glaring 3-point deficit on the big screen.
On the large screen, the core data on both sides slowly froze.
Chris Webber recorded 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists tonight. His stats still show he's an all-around player, but after scoring 10 points against Garnett in the first quarter, he struggled in the second half after falling into Boston's defensive trap, shooting a dismal 2-for-11 and committing a whopping 6 turnovers.
Kevin Garnett's stats finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. In the second half, he dominated with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, dragging the former number one draft pick into a slump in the final two quarters.
The Washington, despite their victory, showed absolutely no sign of the ease that comes with winning their first game.
Webber, struggling to straighten his back, didn't even bother to celebrate with his teammates. He instinctively glanced back at the sweaty, cold-eyed high school rookie, then grabbed a towel to cover his face and hurried straight to the visiting team's locker room. He had been wrestling with Brown in the low post for two whole quarters in the second half, and his energy was completely depleted.
In the VIP box stands, Lin Qi calmly stood up and straightened his suit collar. He watched the two teams of players slowly leaving the field, his face showing no sign of frustration, but rather a leisurely smile.
The lessons they learned in the first and first half of the second quarter certainly cost them a good start to the night. But the playoffs are never a one-off game. Washington had played all their cards tonight, while the Celtics, in this narrow defeat, had completely grasped the ultimate solution to overturn this series.
The lights were blinding in the home team's post-match press conference room.
The side door to the press conference was pushed open, and Kevin Garnett walked in with his head hanging low. His suit was a bit too big, his eyes were still bloodshot, and his hands were clenched tightly, clearly still recovering from the defeat in the first event.
However, just as Garnett was about to walk to the podium, Lin Qi pulled out the chair in the center first, sat down very naturally, and pulled the microphone in front of him directly in front of himself.
The sound of camera shutters clicking filled the air instantly.
"Mr. Lin, the Celtics suffered a disappointing home defeat tonight." A reporter from the Boston Globe was the first to stand up, his words extremely sharp, directly targeting Garnett. "Young Kevin struggled terribly against Chris Webber in the first quarter, not only being repeatedly contained defensively but also receiving a technical foul for losing his temper. As the team's leader, do you think that placing such a young high school player as the core on the playoff stage will become a potential problem for Boston due to his lack of mental maturity?"
Garnett, sitting below the podium, suddenly caught his breath, his knuckles turning white from gripping the air so tightly.
Lin Qi raised his eyelids, facing the dozens of media cameras below the stage, and forced a cold smile onto his face.
"Hidden danger? Chris Webber entered the league as the number one draft pick in 1993 and has faced off against the NBA's top centers for four years. This year, he's in the prime of his career as a power forward. And Kevin? He's only 20 years old, just a high school player who's finished two seasons, a sophomore. Comparing a 20-year-old sophomore to a former number one draft pick in his prime in terms of experience and playoff experience—is this the logic of you as professional sports media?"
The press conference hall fell silent. Lin Qi leaned back in his chair, glanced around at the reporters below, and spoke in a calm yet authoritative tone.
"We definitely made some stupid mistakes in the first quarter, but what happened in the second half? Were you all collectively blind? When we got back on track, Kevin single-handedly held a prime Webber to just 2-for-11 shooting in the last two quarters, forcing him into 6 turnovers. Tonight, Boston didn't lose to Chris Webber; we just lost to the 15-point hole we dug ourselves in the first half. The series has only just begun. Tell the Washington media to celebrate tonight. Because starting with Game 2 the day after tomorrow, they won't have any chance of winning anymore."
After finishing his speech, Lin Qi didn't give any reporters in the audience a chance to ask questions. He turned off his microphone, stood up, and walked towards the side door of the press conference with Garnett without looking back.
Stepping out the door, the blinding flashes and deafening noise of the press conference hall were instantly shut out.
In the shadows of the corridor, Garnett bit his lip. He looked at Lin Qi walking ahead and said in a hoarse voice, "Lin, I'm in the first period tonight..."
"The match is over, and I've taken care of the media for you."
Lin Qi stopped, turned around to look at the young man who was a full head taller than him, loosened his tie, and chuckled as he scolded him.
"But just now inside, I practically bet my face on you in front of those reporters. The day after tomorrow, you'd better keep the promise I made. If we don't win, I'll be the one who loses face, understand?"
Garnett paused for a moment, grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and nodded emphatically.
Lin Qi smiled and punched him in the chest, "Go back to the locker room, take a shower, and get ready for the next match."