At the tip-off in the first overtime, both teams' starting players had already played more than forty minutes.
During a dead ball situation, Pierce braced himself on his knees with both hands. It took O'Neal eight seconds to walk from the baseline to his position in the frontcourt. After forty-eight minutes of intense physical play, the pace of both teams' offensive and defensive transitions slowed down.
Just 30 seconds into overtime, Artest picked up his sixth personal foul while delaying Kidd's fast break, fouling out of the game.
After Artest left the court, the Lakers immediately shifted their offensive focus to Jordan. He was guarded by Pierce had also played the entire regulation time.
Jordan began to drag his feet as he moved. He received the ball on the left side of his waist, and Pierce immediately closed in, shifting his defensive weight to Jordan's lower body.
Jordan skipped the jab step, grabbed the ball with one hand, and leaned back slightly with his back to the basket. Pierce braced himself against the impact. In the instant their bodies separated, Jordan jumped and leaned back, pivoting on his left foot. This time, his jump was less than a third of his usual height, and the entire movement was slow, but at the peak of his hang time, his shooting form remained perfectly formed as he released the ball.
"Swish." It went into the net without hitting the target.
A minute later, Jordan, with O'Neal's screen at the top of the arc, hit another pull-up two-pointer over Ben Wallace who had switched onto him.
With both teams' tactical movements stalled due to fatigue, Jordan singled out the Lakers ' offensive possessions.
In Boston, rookie Dwyane Wade, who only played for a dozen minutes in the first four quarters, earned the main offensive role thanks to his stamina.
Wade received the ball at the top of the key, facing Marion who had played for over forty minutes. He lowered his center of gravity and accelerated from the right side. Marion's slide was a beat too slow, and O'Neal in the paint failed to jump and block in time. Wade drove into the paint and scored with a reverse layup.
The Lakers then changed their defensive strategy. When matched up against Wade, Kidd would take a step back or more, cutting off his driving lanes and leaving the perimeter open. Wade got two open mid-range jumper opportunities at the top of the arc, but missed both shots.
As the game progressed, the Lakers ' frontcourt rotation faced a crisis. Charles Oakley and Barkley had fouled out, Jordan and Marion were both carrying five fouls, making it impossible for the Lakers to commit a tactical foul on Ben Wallace. Rick Carlisle seized the opportunity, demanding that his players foul O'Neal the moment he received the ball in the low post, forcing O'Neal to the free-throw line.
With two minutes remaining, the game went to free throws. O'Neal made one of four free throws after committing consecutive fouls. Jordan's buzzer-beating mid-range jumper missed, and the score was tied at 101.
The game went into a second overtime.
Both teams' field goal percentages dropped further. Garnett stopped accelerating on cuts, and O'Neal started passing the ball outwards after receiving it in the paint. In the full three minutes, both teams scored only two points each from free throws.
With twelve seconds remaining in the second overtime, the scoreboard showed the Lakers leading 106-105. Boston had possession for the final possession.
Rick Carlisle didn't call a timeout. Billups passed the ball to Wade.
The fans in the arena stood up to watch. Wade dribbled at the top of the key, glanced at the timer. There were six seconds left. Garnett up to the high post, using his body to block Kidd's defensive path.
Wade used a screen to accelerate and drive to the right, forcing O'Neal to switch onto him just inside the three-point line. Facing a slowed O'Neal, Wade stopped abruptly on the right side of the free-throw line. Instead of continuing to attack the basket, he gathered the ball, jumped, and launched a mid-range shot over O'Neal's help defense.
The red lights around the backboard lit up, and the final buzzer sounded.
The basketball hit the back rim and bounced out.
106 to 105.
After landing, Wade's shooting form was still suspended in mid-air. He watched the basketball bounce away, slowly lowered his arms to his sides, and lowered his head. Sweat dripped from his chin onto the floor.
Garnett walked out from the paint. His jersey was completely plastered to his back, and he dragged his feet. He walked over to Wade, put his arm around the rookie's shoulder, and patted him hard twice.
"Lift your head, Dwyane," Garnett's voice was hoarse from dehydration. "Don't keep your head down. No matter what, don't keep your head down."
Garnett has experienced this feeling before. A few years ago in Chicago, he also missed a game-winning shot, and that feeling was definitely not pleasant.
"This is your first year, and being able to shoot in the final seconds of Game 7 of the NBA Finals has already done your job. This summer, go to the gym and work on your mid-range shot."
Pierce walked over and stopped beside the two of them. His arm guards were soaked with sweat, and he rested his hands on his knees, taking more than ten seconds to catch his breath.
He looked at the dejected Wade without blaming him. Had Rick Carlisle insisted on letting him take that final shot during the timeout, would the outcome have been different? Pierce knew his physical condition well. After nearly sixty minutes of intense physical play, his legs could barely support his jump; his muscles were even slightly cramping. Even if he had taken the shot over O'Neal's help defense, he would most likely have missed the rim due to insufficient jump height.
They fought to the very end, pushing this team with Jordan and O'Neal to the final second of double overtime, giving it their all without holding back or showing any regret.
"Let's go, rookie." Pierce straightened up and patted Wade on the back.
Ben Wallace walked past the free-throw line, his shoulders and arms covered in scratches. He extended his fist, which was wrapped in duct tape, and bumped into Wade, Garnett, and Pierce in turn.
As is customary in Game 7 series, there is one last thing to do at the end of this fierce battle.
On the other side, Jordan, who had been panting with his hands on the scorer's table, straightened up. He grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face, then dragged his heavy steps toward the center circle. O'Neal, who was lying flat on the floor, was also helped up by Kidd and the substitutes.
The two teams, having exhausted almost their last ounce of strength, slowly converged in the center of the field.
Jordan walked over to Pierce and Garnett first, and the three embraced tightly. The two Boston Celtics stars were so exhausted they barely had the strength to lift their arms. Jordan patted Pierce's soaked back hard, his voice hoarse. "You guys almost ruined my retirement performance. Great game, Chris Paul, Kevin."
O'Neal then found Ben Wallace, bumped fists with him, pointed to the scratches on Wallace's body, shook his head and smiled wryly, everything was understood without words.
Then, Jordan's gaze swept across the crowd and found Wade standing behind Garnett. He walked over, grabbed the still dejected rookie, and gave him a good ruffled pat on the head.
"Listen, rookie. You were just unlucky to run into me." Jordan looked Wade straight in the eye, his tone carrying the confidence of someone with experience. "Your choice on that last shot was decisive. Remember that feeling tonight; it will make you incredibly formidable next year."
After a brief handshake, hugs, and whispered conversations, the Boston players turned and walked toward the player tunnel amidst respectful applause from the Lakers fans.
The Celtics players accepted the defeat calmly, without holding back or showing any regret.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers, remaining in the center of the court, finally had their championship celebration.
At Lin Qi's home in the suburbs of Boston, a television screen is showing confetti raining down on Staples Center.
Lin Qi sat on the sofa, picked up the remote control, and pressed the power button. The screen went out.
He put the coffee cup back on the table.
In two months, his league suspension will officially end.
" Los Angeles, enjoy this summer!"
Lin Qi looked out the window at the Boston night view.
"I'll be back next season."