The opening whistle of Game 5 blew amidst deafening cheers from the Boston fans.
With a key perimeter defender missing, Rick Carlisle fielded a surprising starting lineup, starting the slender rookie Tayshaun Prince.
The Lakers started by trying to break down the rookie's mental defenses in the simplest and most direct way. Jason Kidd dribbled the ball across half-court and immediately gestured for the whole team to spread out. Michael Jordan positioned himself on the right low post, using his shoulder to block Prince, ready to receive the ball and go one-on-one.
Just as Kidd was about to pass the ball, Kevin Garnett suddenly sprang out from the paint and pulled Prince aside.
" Tayshaun, watch the bottom corner! Don't get in the way!"
Garnett spread his long arms and stomped his feet hard on the floor. He pressed himself against Jordan, veins bulging on his forehead, and immediately unleashed a torrent of scathing trash talk. "Come on, Michael! This isn't the 90s anymore! You're almost forty, and I can hear your kneecaps creaking when you turn around! Do you think any insurance company will take your case?"
This oppressive, almost neurotic, and frantic defense completely disrupted the Lakers ' opening strategy. Jordan attempted to create space with his signature jab step, but Garnett's terrifying long arms and lateral speed enveloped him like a giant net. Jordan tried to turn around twice but failed to gain a comfortable shooting view, ultimately only managing to pass the ball back to the perimeter, directly leading to a 24-second violation for the Lakers. The entire arena immediately erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.
Jordan was forced to abandon his post-up game and return to the perimeter.
Garnett's passion ignited the arena. He not only took on the toughest matchups on defense, but also displayed relentless aggression on offense.
Midway through the first quarter, Garnett backed down Charles Barkley at the left horn. He made two consecutive shoulder strikes, then faked a move and turned for a fadeaway jumper.
The basketball went through the net cleanly.
Garnett didn't even look at the rim after landing. He pounded his chest and yelled at Barkley, " Chuck! You're as fat as a damn bowling ball now! You can't even touch my chin when you jump! You should have been a commentator in the TNT studio instead of making a fool of yourself on the court!"
These few words of trash talk, which hit the nail on the head, made Barkley's face turn quite ugly.
In the next possession, Chauncey Billups Billups drove and dished the ball. Garnett immediately retreated to the three-point line, facing Sean Marion's help defense, and pulled up for a shot. The three-pointer went in again. As he retreated on defense, Garnett roared to the sky, waving his arms upwards, inciting the 20,000 fans in the arena to create an even louder roar.
However, just as Boston's morale was about to reach its peak, a sudden change occurred on the field.
With two minutes left in the first quarter, the Lakers missed a shot, and Big Ben grabbed the rebound. Billups was preparing to launch a fast break when Prince, who was running off the ball, tried to cut inside along the sideline.
Desperate to retreat and fueled by Garnett's provocation, Barkley suddenly took a step to the side, subtly lowering his shoulder and slamming into Prince's chest.
This was an unnecessary retaliatory block. Rookie Prince, who weighs less than 200 pounds, flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the front-row scorer's table and overturning two broadcast monitors in the process.
A sharp whistle blew, but the game did not stop.
Upon seeing this, Garnett immediately swore. He turned around and strode towards Barkley.
"Try touching him again, Charles?!" Garnett yelled, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "If you dare touch our rookie again, I swear Big Ben will tear you apart! He'll absolutely kill you!"
Barkley had already clenched his fists, ready to fight, but when he looked up, he met Ben Wallace's unwavering gaze and exaggerated biceps. Big Ben stood silently in front of Barkley, and this silent intimidation made Garnett's crazy shouts seem even more oppressive.
The players from both sides instantly crowded in front of the scorer's table, and the boos and curses from the New Garden were deafening.
The referee blew his whistle frantically, and the crowd was barely separated only after the assistant coach pulled and shoved them. The referees were equally lenient, issuing technical fouls to both Garnett and Barkley.
Meanwhile, on the court, Prince, who had been thrown into the air, struggled to his feet with the help of the team doctor. The seemingly frail rookie rubbed his chest, stubbornly refusing the suggestion to rest, and insisted on walking to the free-throw line. This scene drew a unified round of applause from the Boston die-hards in the stands. Rick Carlisle nodded approvingly from the sidelines.
This unexpected event acted like a powerful stimulant, completely igniting the Celtics players.
The game continued amidst fierce competition. Entering the second quarter's rotation period, the physical battles between the two teams' substitutes were equally intense.
Rick Carlisle brought in Dwyane Wade to attack the Lakers ' aging backcourt. Wade twice used sharp crossovers to tear apart Derrick Fisher's defense, and even drew a foul in the paint against veteran Patrick Ewing's help defense.
But for the Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal O'Neal's dominance under the basket remained formidable. With Ben Wallace resting, young backup center Tyson Chandler Chandler appeared somewhat helpless against O'Neal's massive size. O'Neal scored three consecutive baskets under the rim, maintaining the Lakers ' slight lead. Every rebound battle involved at least three players tackling each other on the ground.
The intense physical contact made scoring incredibly difficult for both sides, but neither was willing to back down an inch.
In the eighth minute of the second quarter, the emotions of the entire game reached their peak.
Jordan controlled the ball at the top of the key, lowering his center of gravity, trying to find an opening in Garnett's defensive footwork. Just as he was about to force a change of direction to the left, Chris Paul Pierce, who was originally guarding Marion on the weak side, suddenly abandoned his defender and silently cut across.
"Smack!"
Pierce timed his steal perfectly, shoving the ball out of Jordan's hands with a precise swipe.
The basketball rolled forward, Pierce immediately accelerated, leaving everyone behind and heading straight for the empty Lakers' half of the court. The entire arena rose to their feet and cheered, ready to welcome the end of this morale-boosting fast break.
Pierce gathers the ball, jumps, stretches his body, and prepares to send the ball into the basket with a layup.
But behind him, a suffocating sense of oppression swept over him like a tidal wave.
Jordan soared into the air from his side and behind at the exact same second that Pierce jumped.
The two met in mid-air. Jordan jumped extremely high, and just as Pierce was about to flick the basketball away, Jordan's large hands accurately covered the ball.
Grab the hat with both hands!
Jordan forcefully slammed the basketball from Pierce's hands onto the backboard in mid-air, pulling it down. The two landed simultaneously, and Pierce, propelled by the immense momentum, stumbled and fell out of bounds. Jordan caught the ball steadily in his arms, not even glancing at Pierce on the ground, and immediately turned and passed the ball to the sprinting Kidd.
Then, Jordan slowly turned his head and scanned the Boston fans in the front row.
The cacophony of the entire New Garden was abruptly cut off at that moment. Several fans, beer in hand, even forgot to swallow. This raw, primal will to win that erupts from a top superstar in dire circumstances sent a chill down Rick Carlisle's spine from the sidelines.
The buzzer sounded at halftime, the score was 42-45.
Boston walked towards the player tunnel trailing by three points. Pierce had his head down, and Big Ben walked up to him and patted him hard on the back. On the other side of the tunnel, Jordan was wiping sweat from his jersey while whispering something to O'Neal.