June 18, Boston, New Garden.
When a best-of-seven series, after tactical maneuvering, game-winning shots, and injuries, is dragged into a seventh game, all basketball tactical analysis becomes meaningless.
Beal Russell, the " The Lord of the Rings " star, sat on the sidelines, leaning on his cane, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
The 20,000 fans no longer roared wildly like they had in the previous game, but instead fell into a tense atmosphere.
In a tiebreaker, the winner takes everything, and the loser takes nothing.
"Beep!!!"
With a sharp, long whistle from the referee, this ultimate battle, destined to be recorded in NBA history, officially began.
During the jump ball, O'Neal didn't jump with all his might to tip the ball like he did in Game 1, Big Ben won possession for Boston on the first possession.
The tone of this Game 7 was ugly, constipated, and filled with the dull sounds of hammer blows and muscle collisions.
For the first four minutes, both sides were running back and forth frantically on the field, but the score remained tied at 4-4.
Pierce's two corner three-pointers both bounced off the front of the rim. Kidd's floater after a drive on the right was blocked by Garnett on the backboard. Even O'Neal's seemingly inevitable turnaround dunk after receiving the ball in the low post was blocked by a vicious foul from Big Ben, and O'Neal subsequently missed both free throws.
The immense psychological pressure, coupled with the physical exhaustion accumulated over the seven-game series, made both teams' shooting touch stiff, as if they had been soaked in ice water.
This was a complete mud wrestling match.
In a decisive Game 7, when tactical runs are no longer enough to exhaust players, and even superstars lack the stamina to take over the game like they do in the regular season, the outcome is often determined by the most unassuming rebounds, diving saves, and the veterans' almost obsessive desire to win.
Charles Barkley broke the scoring drought on the court.
With six minutes left in the first quarter, the Lakers missed another shot. The ball bounced high, and Big Ben and Garnett were already in the best positions.
But at that moment, Barkley, like a mad boar, crashed into the paint from beyond the three-point line.
He simply used his abnormally wide hips and brutal core strength to carve out a sliver of space between Big Ben and Garnett.
"Smack!"
Barkley managed to tap the basketball with his fingertips with incredible difficulty, flicking it towards the backboard. The ball spun around the rim and slid out.
But Barkley didn't give up. After landing with his massive frame, he didn't even adjust his center of gravity before awkwardly taking another step and jumping again. Before Garnett's fingers could touch the basketball, Barkley fiercely grabbed the ball and, despite being double-teamed, forced a layup and scored!
"Beep!!!"
The referee blew the whistle, a defensive foul, and a three-point play!
Barkley was panting heavily after scoring, sweat pouring down his chubby face like a waterfall.
Lin Qi stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed and his brows slightly furrowed.
This is the depth of a veteran. In a Game 7, a meat grinder that puts everyone on the same starting line, Barkley's primal instinct for rebounds and desperate, all-out effort is an unpredictable variable.
Returning to the offensive end, Kevin Garnett immediately responded.
Billups orchestrated the offense at the top of the key, while Garnett reached for the ball in the low post on the right. He looked at Barkley, who was breathing heavily and whose knees were visibly stiff, and did not seek a screen from the perimeter.
Garnett received the ball. He decisively lowered his center of gravity, used his left shoulder to power, and slammed into Barkley's chest.
"Bang!"
The two men's muscles collided. Garnett wasn't as broad as Barkley, but he had the advantage of youth, and his physical strength and explosiveness were still at their peak. The first impact didn't create any space, Garnett quickly followed up with a second burst of force.
Taking advantage of Barkley's slight shift in center of gravity, Garnett nimbly pivoted on his right foot and completed a quick turn towards the baseline.
Barkley tried desperately to keep up, but his aging legs made him a beat slower.
Garnett turned around, leaped high with the ball in both hands, and slammed the ball into the basket in mid-air, facing O'Neal who was coming to help defend!
"Boom!"
The basket shook violently, and the roar of the New Garden finally erupted.
The young Garnett displayed leadership qualities, fighting for every inch of ground in the do-or-die Game 7.
In the latter half of the first quarter and throughout the second quarter, the game became a suffocating back-and-forth battle. Every point required an extremely heavy price to be paid.
Grant Hill attempted to break through the defense with his first step, but after breaking into the penalty area, he was tackled from mid-air by Marion and Richardson, crashing heavily to the floor.
Jordan was still on the court. The brace on his right side was clearly visible under his white away jersey. Gary Payton was like a real mad dog; for the entire half, his hand never left Jordan's waist.
Jordan moved extremely slowly, and every deep breath pulled at his abdomen. Throughout the first half, he rarely took the initiative to dribble and attack one-on-one, instead staying on the weak side and using his gravity to create space for O'Neal and Kidd.
But with forty seconds left in the second quarter, and the score tied at 39, the Lao Liumang still taught the young Boston players a lesson.
Kidd was entangled by Billups at the top of the key, with only five seconds left on the Lakers ' shot clock.
Jordan, who had been standing motionless in the corner, suddenly started moving. He endured the sharp pain in his ribs, subtly pushed Gary Payton, and using this extremely small space, Jordan took a step to the right at a 45-degree angle and reached out to catch the ball.
Gary Payton lunged forward as if electrocuted, his long arm slamming into Jordan's face.
But that was just a feint by Jordan.
The instant Gary Payton shifted his weight, Jordan expertly slammed the ball to the floor and took a large step to the left. This not only created distance between him and Gary Payton but also timed the play perfectly.
With one second left on the shot clock, Jordan pulled up for a shot.
Gone is the graceful, flowing beauty. It's purely a backward lean, twisted and accompanied by intense pain, aimed at avoiding a blockade.
"Whoosh!"
A crisp scraping sound, the basketball goes in at the buzzer.
The noise at the New Garden was once again forced to be silenced.
After landing, Jordan couldn't even maintain his balance, staggering back two steps and painfully pressing his right ribs with his hand. But his eyes remained as cold as death, staring at Boston's half of the court.
The buzzer sounded to signal the end of the first half.
41 to 39.
The Los Angeles Lakers went into halftime with a narrow 2-point lead.
As the players walked toward the tunnel, no one spoke. Big Ben's jersey was completely ripped open, and Gary Payton had a cut near his eye from a scramble, with the team doctor urgently applying a bandage.
Meanwhile, on the Lakers' side, Jordan, after stepping into the shadows of the player tunnel, could no longer hide his pain. He leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his protective gear already soaked with cold sweat.