The final night of the regular season, at New Garden Arena.
In Boston in April, the night air still carried a lingering chill, but a long line had already formed outside the arena.
This is the fiftieth game of the shortened season, and the Celtics' final hurdle in securing the top seed in the league.
Meanwhile, news came from San Antonio...
The Spurs have won their final game of the season.
38 wins and 12 losses.
This record included one more victory Lin Qi could remember, which subtly stirred a sense of unease within him.
Tonight's situation is clear: if the Celtics win, they'll have a 39-11 record, firmly holding onto first place in the league.
Celtics lose, the Spurs will tie their record.
If the game becomes complicated by comparing head-to-head records, division win percentages, and other complex rules, the league's top regular season spot will most likely be handed over to San Antonio.
Standing at the entrance to the players' tunnel, Lin Qi's eyes fell on the " Atlanta Hawks " logo on the away team's warm-up jerseys.
On the final night of the regular season, in a do-or-die game to decide the league's top seed, the opponent happened to be Dominique Wilkins ' former team.
In the locker room, the Celtics players had already changed their clothes.
Gary Payton sat in front of the cabinet, roughly wrapping his ankle while muttering curses. Mutombo leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, knees covered with thick ice packs. Garnett wore headphones, swaying gently to the rhythm, but his eyes remained fixed on the floor.
Deep inside the locker room, Dominique Wilkins was slowly tying his shoelaces. His movements were slow. At thirty-nine years old, every time he bent over and tightened his shoelaces, his body protested. Every joint in his body reminded him that the body he had overdrawn with his talent in his youth had now reached the point where it was time to pay the price.
Pierce stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his jersey. In the reflection, he noticed something unusual about Dominique Wilkins at the back of the locker room.
This season, Dominique Wilkins has given Pierce a lot of extra coaching, helping him refine many technical details. Pierce's ability to play more concisely and efficiently on the court now is definitely thanks in part to this veteran.
Pierce glanced at him and couldn't help but ask, " Dominique, are you really going to sleep with me tonight?"
Dominique Wilkins looked up at the young rookie. "Rookie."
"Um?"
"Watch my performance tonight."
Pierce paused for a moment.
Dominique Wilkins fastened his shoelaces, stood up, and patted his knees hard.
"Once I really retire, there will be no one to teach you."
The locker room fell silent instantly.
Gary Payton smirked, intending to say something sarcastic, but when he met Dominique Wilkins's gaze, he swallowed his words.
This veteran is probably going to be serious tonight.
Head coach Doc Rivers walked in, holding a clipboard. "Starters unchanged." He paused, glanced at Dominique Wilkins, and added, " Dominique, you're in for the second quarter."
Dominique Wilkins nodded without saying a word.
At his age, he no longer cares about starting positions; for him, tonight's task is simple.
He came on during transition periods to help the team stabilize their offense.
Outside the players' tunnel, the DJ drew out the starting lineups for both teams.
The New Garden Arena erupted as the Celtics players entered the field.
"Point Guard, Gary Payton!"
"Shooting guard, Eddie Jones!"
"Small forward, Chris Paul Pierce!"
"Power Forward, Kevin Garnett!"
"Center forward, Dikembe Mutombo!"
The cheers grew louder and louder.
When the camera on the big screen panned to the bench and focused on number twelve, who was wearing a training uniform, the entire arena suddenly erupted in even louder applause.
Dominique Wilkins looked up. The big screen was playing highlights of his younger days: Atlanta dunks, spinning dunks, mid-air hand switches, and fast break dunks that even the camera could barely keep up with.
The lights of the New Garden Arena shone on his face, and at that moment, he looked like an old poster that hadn't yet faded.
The game started, Celtics played very steadily.
Gary Payton maintained firm control of the rhythm.
In the first possession, Gary Payton lobbed the ball to Garnett at the high post. Garnett didn't rush to attack, but turned to observe. Pierce cut out from the weak side to receive the ball, and gave a solid probing step against the Hawks ' forwards. He lowered his left shoulder, locked in position with his right foot, stepped back, and pulled up for a mid-range jumper, which went in.
In the next possession, Eddie Jones went around the screen and cut off the Hawks ' passing lane. Gary Payton picked up the ball and quickly advanced, immediately passing it to Garnett, Garnett then passed it to the right side. Pierce, who was cutting off the road, received the ball and calmly made a layup.
The Celtics started with a 10-3 run.
Lin Qi looked away and glanced at Dominique Wilkins on the bench.
Dominique Wilkins was wearing a towel, his hands on his knees, watching the game with a blank expression.
Everyone knows this is the last regular season game for this 39-year-old veteran.
At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics led 24-18.
Entering the second quarter, the Hawks launched a full-scale counterattack. Their backcourt repeatedly accelerated and pressured, forcing Chauncey Billups to commit two consecutive turnovers. Although this Hawks cannot be considered a top-tier team, there are never any weak teams on the NBA court.
Especially when you're sitting at the top of the league, every opponent who meets you wants to take a bite out of you.
With a little over three minutes left in the second quarter, the Celtics ' offense began to stagnate. Chauncey Billups was intercepted, P.J. Brown's mid-range shot missed, and Ben Wallace grabbed the offensive rebound and drove to the basket, only to be double-teamed and have the ball stolen.
The Hawks seized the opportunity and went on a 9-0 run to take the lead.
Doc Rivers stood on the sidelines, frowning, and turned to look at the bench. " Dominique."
Dominique Wilkins ripped the towel off and stood up.
The New Garden Arena was silent for a moment, then erupted in applause.
Dominique Wilkins slowly walked toward the scorer's table.
Even the Hawks' bench players all turned to look. For this team, the name Dominique Wilkins was once their totem.
On his first attack after coming on, Gary Payton was very considerate, lobbing the ball directly to the left low post.
Dominique Wilkins received the ball with his back to the basket, then bumped into the young small forward who was guarding him. He faked a shoulder movement, then turned and shot, but unfortunately, he lacked power, and the ball bounced off the front of the rim.
Standing at the top of the key Gary Payton immediately spread his hands. "Dude, I was waiting to see your performance. You missed the first shot?"
As Dominique Wilkins retreated on defense, he said calmly, "Just getting a feel for the game."