The Pacers' first possession of the third quarter.
Miller cut along the baseline off the ball, using double screens from Dale Davis and Smits, before circling out at a 45-degree angle on the right. Mark Jackson's pass arrived precisely on time.
Jones and Harper closed in on him with lightning speed, instantly forming a double-team. But Miller received the ball and didn't hesitate to aim or adjust. He used the momentum of his run to jump directly, leaning his body backwards sharply, and before the defender could close in on him, he pushed the ball out at an extremely fast speed.
"Whoosh."
The basketball sailed past Jones ' fingertips and swished through the net.
The Pacers ' defense suddenly tightened, successfully stopping the Celtics ' attack. On the other end, Miller slipped out on the baseline, caught the ball, and made a mid-range jumper.
In the next possession, Mark Jackson drove to the basket and passed to Dale Davis, who drew a foul and made one of two free throws.
Finally, Miller drew a defensive foul on Jones during the fast break and made both free throws.
In just two minutes, the score was 56-53! The gap was narrowed to just 3 points.
Fans watching the live broadcast on television in Indianapolis erupted in ecstatic cheers, while the New Garden fell into a brief silence.
But the Celtics ' response was cold and efficient.
Garnett called for the ball at the high post, faced Smits, and after a clean jab step, pulled up for a jump shot and made it, stabilizing his position. Then, Pierce backed down Rose on the right wing and turned for a jump shot that swished through the net. Immediately after, Gary Payton precisely stole the ball from Jackson on the defensive end and made a long pass to Jones, who finished with a gliding dunk.
In those short three minutes, the Celtics responded with a 10-2 scoring run, widening the gap back to 11 points.
Miller continued to look for opportunities on offense. But it was clear to the naked eye that each of his shots required twice the amount of core strength he usually did. His jumping height was decreasing sharply, the lateral distance of his step-back was shortening, and the arc of his shots was becoming smoother and more inconsistent.
In the 7th minute of the third quarter, a cruel scene unfolded.
During a drive to the right at a 45-degree angle, Miller attempted a sudden stop and change of direction, but his exhausted legs could no longer provide enough grip and support. He slipped, lost his balance, and crashed heavily onto the hardwood floor.
A low gasp rippled through the crowd.
Miller lay on the ground, hands supporting him on the floor, panting heavily. The team doctor immediately rushed onto the field from the bench, but Miller gritted his teeth and waved his hand, refusing to be helped up.
He braced himself on his knees and struggled to his feet, staggering back to his defensive half. But everyone could see that this formidable old-school striker was completely exhausted.
After three quarters, the Celtics led 78-65, a 13-point advantage. Miller scored 27 points in three quarters, but his face was ashen, and his legs were still shaking uncontrollably as he sat on the bench.
The fourth quarter began, and the curtain fell.
Larry Bird forced Miller to rest on the bench for two minutes to protect him. But in those precious two minutes, the Celtics' energetic second unit displayed terrifying dominance, quickly extending their lead to 18 points.
Larry Bird was forced to bring Miller back in.
When Miller stood up from the bench, his knee joints were noticeably stiff. His steps onto the court were heavy, and he could no longer find the agility that once made him move like the wind across the half-court.
He received the ball on the right wing, facing Jones ' defense, and tried to rely on muscle memory to complete a step-back jump shot. However, his legs were already too weak to jump, his release point was too low, and his speed was too slow, allowing Jones to easily jump up and block the shot.
The Celtics quickly launched a fast break, with Pierce leading the charge and ending the possession with a one-handed dunk.
With 6 minutes remaining in the game, the score was 85-65, a difference of 20 points.
The tide has turned.
Larry Bird called one last timeout. Looking at Miller's expression, which had been pushed to the limit, he said in a low voice, " Reggie, that's enough. That's enough."
Miller shook his head, his voice weak but persistent. " Larry Bird, let me stay on the court."
Larry Bird gave Miller a deep look, and finally nodded in resignation.
In the final six minutes, Miller remained on the court. He had completely exhausted his energy for off-the-ball movement, relying solely on anticipation and experience to position himself defensively, and on offense, he could only stand on the perimeter waiting to receive the ball at set points.
He received the ball in the right corner, faced the defense, and struggled to shoot. The basketball bounced off the front of the rim.
In the next possession, he received the ball again at a 45-degree angle on the left side, took a shot, and missed again.
The Celtics players were already preparing to celebrate, but no one on the court pressed Miller excessively. Jones even deliberately took a half-step back while defending him, giving the veteran who had given his all a final dignified moment.
With 1 minute and 50 seconds left in the game, Larry Bird substituted all the starters. Miller walked unsteadily to the bench, and at that moment, thunderous applause erupted throughout the New Garden —the highest honor Boston fans could bestow upon a worthy opponent.
Miller sat at the very end of the bench, his face covered with a large white towel. His shoulders were trembling slightly; no one knew whether he was trying to calm his racing heart or suppress his emotions.
The final buzzer sounded, and the Celtics won 96-80 at home, eliminating the Indiana Pacers 4-1 in the series and advancing to the NBA Finals.
Reggie Miller averaged 31.2 points per game in the series, while Garnett averaged 27.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game.
The New Garden erupted in thunderous cheers. Players embraced and celebrated excitedly on the court. Garnett jumped onto the scorer's table, tugged at his jersey, and yelled at the crowd. Pierce and Jones bumped chests and laughed heartily. Gary Payton raised his arms high, waving to the fans around him.
Lin Qi stood by the sideline, hands in his trouser pockets, quietly watching the lonely figure on the Pacers' bench. Miller remained seated, motionless.
Lin Qi walked over.
" Reggie." Lin Qi stopped in front of Miller and spoke softly.
Miller slowly raised his head. His once defiant eyes were now filled with exhaustion and resentment.
"You've put on an awe-inspiring series." Lin Qi sincerely extended his hand. "If it weren't for your resilience, this series would have ended in four games. I'll never forget that incredible 42 points in Game 3. You deserve all the applause here."
Miller looked at Lin Qi, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally stood up, supporting himself on his knees. He shook Lin Qi's hand and said, "Congratulations, Lynch. Go and keep that damn championship alive."
The two shook hands briefly.
Post-match press conference.
A reporter covering the Boston team stood up and asked, "President Lin, how would you rate Reggie Miller's performance in this series?"
Speaking into the microphone, Lin Qi said seriously, " Reggie Miller is one of the most tenacious professional players I've ever seen. He used pure mental strength to level the playing field against our huge advantage in terms of talent on paper. He deserves the respect of everyone in the basketball industry."
So, are the Celtics ready for the upcoming NBA Finals?
Lin Qi smiled calmly, "Last year we won our 17th championship, but that's not enough. Whether Los Angeles or Portland emerges from the Western Conference, we're ready to face the challenge."
Late Night, in the Celtics' locker room.
The boisterous celebrations had ended. Lin Qi sat alone in Doc Rivers ' coaching office.
Doc Rivers pushed open the door and handed him a bottle of mineral water. "Still here so late? What are you thinking about?"
Lin Qi took the water, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip. "Thinking about the situation in the Western Conference. The Lakers and the Trail Blazers, are they tied 2-2 now?"
"That's right, we haven't even played Game 5 yet." Doc Rivers sat down opposite him. "Who do you think will win?"
Lin Qi pondered for a moment, "If the Trail Blazers win, our tactical setup will be relatively easier. Baron Davis is very aggressive but lacks NBA Finals experience. PJ Brown and Old Sabonis are solid defenders, but Portland's overall offensive firepower has a ceiling."
"But what if it's the Lakers?"
"The combination of O'Neal and Kobe..." Lin Qi narrowed his eyes slightly, "... that will be a very tough matchup. However..." He paused, "... after this year, our roster depth and tactical execution have both improved to a new level."
Doc Rivers nodded in agreement.
Looking out at the dazzling Boston skyline, Lin Qi said, " Doc, do you know what? Since the playoffs started, we've only lost one game. But that one loss exposed the biggest vulnerability in our system."
What potential risks?
"Over-reliance on the advantages brought by talent," Lin Qi said slowly. "When Reggie Miller crushed us with an unreasonable 42 points, I saw the vulnerability of this young team. If they encounter an opponent who can truly punish us in adversity, will they collapse mentally once their tactics are thwarted?"
Doc Rivers paused for a moment. "So, even if we make it to the NBA Finals, you still don't feel secure enough?"
Lin Qi turned his head, his gaze extremely clear. "It's not that we're being careless, it's that we can't afford to be complacent in the slightest. Our opponents in the NBA Finals, whether it's O'Neal's absolute dominance or the tough interior defense of Portland's veterans, will pose a greater threat than Reggie Miller. We must be prepared for a tough battle."
He stood up and patted Doc Rivers on the shoulder. "Go back and get some rest, Doc. The real test has just begun."
Outside the New Garden in Boston.
The clock had struck midnight, but thousands of enthusiastic fans remained gathered in the plaza outside the arena, unwilling to leave. They sang victory songs and waved their green support flags with abandon.
On the giant screen on the exterior wall, highlights of the evening were playing on a loop... Garnett's gliding reverse layup, Pierce's post-up move, Gary Payton's dunk, Jones's relentless block...
The final shot of the film freezes on Lin Qi standing on the sidelines. He's wearing a sharp suit, his hands in his pockets, watching everything unfold on the court.
A line of text slowly appeared at the bottom of the screen.
Boston Celtics advance to the NBA Finals.
This city, immersed in revelry, has already begun dreaming of its 18th championship.
Lin Qi knew that before the true coronation of the dynasty, they still needed to overcome the last and most arduous hurdle.