During the timeout, Rick Carlisle made a decisive and bold lineup adjustment.
Since the home-court advantage weakened the defense, and Big Ben and Rasheed were both in foul trouble, Rick Carlisle simply made a sweeping decision and substituted all the pure big men.
Kevin Garnett was moved to the center position, teaming up with Chris Paul Pierce, Grant Hill, Stephen Jackson, and Chauncey Billups Billups.
This is a "five-outside" lineup with a very modern rudimentary form. All five players on the court have three-point shooting range and the ability to drive to the basket with the ball. On the defensive end, they can switch on any five players without limit.
The game restarted, Staples Center completely transformed into a high-speed track and field stadium.
Both sides' offensive talents were fully unleashed.
On the Lakers ' side, Jason Kidd put his brain to work at its peak. He was like a perfect conductor, accurately finding Marion cutting to the basket or Richardson lurking on the perimeter with every bounce pass and long pass. Odom's playmaking and shooting from the top of the key completely disrupted Boston's defense.
Boston's response was equally sharp. Garnett displayed historic mobility at the center position, not only defending Odom's three-pointers but also grabbing defensive rebounds and immediately dribbling up the court for fast breaks.
Grant Hill was in his element. In open spaces, he didn't have to face multiple double teams, and his unstoppable first step allowed him to tear apart the Lakers ' defense time and time again. Pierce, on the other hand, kept the score close with his unreasonable pull-up three-pointers.
In the second and third quarters, both teams engaged in a fluid and high-scoring offensive battle. The lead changed hands frequently, with spectacular goals galore, captivating the Los Angeles fans in attendance.
Lin Qi watched the players from both sides sprinting across the field, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
The Lakers used an extremely small lineup to engage in an offensive battle with Boston, avoiding a war of attrition in the paint. Kidd led four young players and managed to withstand Boston's onslaught in the second and third quarters.
Even worse, on the bench, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal, and Charles Barkley got plenty of rest. They only played in the second and third quarters to maintain their shooting touch, and spent the rest of the time sitting on the bench, coldly watching the young players wear down Boston on the court.
The buzzer sounded at the end of the third quarter.
The Lakers entered the fourth quarter with a narrow 3-point lead, 88-85.
"Time is up."
In front of the Lakers ' bench, Phil Jackson glanced at the stats and then turned to look at the veterans behind him.
Jordan stood up and pulled the towel off his knees. O'Neal stretched his thick neck, making a "crackling" sound. Barkley patted his chest.
The fourth section begins.
When the three Lakers veterans stepped back onto the court, Staples Center erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.
In Boston, Rick Carlisle brought back starters like Big Ben and Garnett to the court.
But at that moment, the situation took a subtle turn.
Compared to the heavy, unsteady feeling he had in the fourth quarter of the previous two games, Jordan, after a well-adjusted rotation tonight, had his legs regain their explosive power. His breathing was steady, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
In the first possession of the fourth quarter, Jordan called for the ball in the low post on the right side.
Stephen Jackson was guarding him. The young and tough player tried to use his body to push against Jordan's lower body, but he was horrified to find that Jordan showed no signs of fatigue in the face of physical contact tonight.
Jordan received the ball, backed down against Jackson, and then quickly turned to the right.
Jackson was a fraction of a second slower, and Jordan seized the opportunity to rise and unleash his signature turnaround fadeaway jumper.
Swish! The signature swirl into the net, without the slightest hesitation.
In the very next possession, O'Neal received the ball inside. Big Ben tried to double-team him, but the fouls he had accumulated in the first three quarters made him hesitate. In that instant of hesitation, O'Neal threw down his shoulder and smashed past the defender, slamming a powerful two-handed dunk over the rim!
The Lakers ' "mixed doubles" strategy demonstrated its most terrifying ability to finish off opponents in the fourth quarter.
In the first three quarters, they used fast-paced, space-based offense to wear down Boston. In the fourth quarter, they suddenly slowed down, giving the ball to the energetic Jordan and O'Neal for one-on-one plays in the half-court.
With one minute remaining in the game, Boston was down by 6 points.
Pierce missed a three-point attempt, Barkley his massive hips to block Garnett and grab the rebound.
The ball was passed to Jordan.
Jordan faces Grant Hill's defense at the top of the key. The two generations of wings are once again going head-to-head in the decisive moment.
Hill lowered his center of gravity, focusing intently on Jordan's every move. He knew Jordan was full of energy tonight, and he had to be extremely focused.
Jordan didn't rush to force a breakthrough, but instead dribbled between his legs twice in a row. The basketball made a dull, rhythmic thud between his hands.
Suddenly, Jordan's dribbling rhythm showed a slight pause, a change in rhythm that took advantage of the timing.
Hill immediately attempted a lateral movement to block, but against Jordan's masterful control of rhythm, this half-step interference was still exploited. Jordan then executed a wide crossover, using the change in rhythm to forcefully create a sliver of space from Hill's side.
A single step can determine victory or defeat.
Jordan blew past the defense, stopped abruptly at the free-throw line, jumped, and released the shot.
Her movements remained as elegant and standard as a textbook example.
Swish!
Hollow core into the net.
This shot precisely pierced Boston's defense, completely sealing the game's fate.
After making the shot, Jordan landed, looked at Hill who was waiting in front of him, a smile appeared on his lips, and he gently shook his head.
As the final buzzer sounded, the score was 108-102.
The Los Angeles Lakers completed a beautiful comeback at home, bringing the series score to 1-2.
Throughout the game, Jordan's performance proved his dominance.
This series is rapidly heading towards its most intense and heated point.