Check out my new fanfic. A cote x hikigaya crossover.

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On June 14, 2000, New York fans at Madison Square Garden witnessed Kobe Bryant’s excellent performance in the third quarter.

After Shaquille O’Neal frequently set up pick-and-rolls from the free throw line extended, Kobe, successfully taking possession, entered a scoring spree.

Especially in the latter half of the quarter, as Ewing’s stamina further declined, Kobe intensified his drives, helping the Lakers continuously score.

Although, like the previous few games, Kobe still couldn’t find his touch from beyond the arc, his ‘inefficient’ mid-range shots successfully helped the team extend their lead.

With 43 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, watching Kobe drive straight down the middle of the paint with the ball in his right hand for a successful layup, Madison Square Garden erupted in a huge boo again:

“Boo!”

Perhaps that one crossover enlightened him, and Kobe no longer pursued flashy dunks, instead settling for high-arcing scoop layups.

From the commentary booth, Doug Collins did not stint on his praise, exclaiming:

“The Lakers seem to have found the key to victory. Shaq only needs to set a simple screen, and Kobe can score.”

“The duo performed too well tonight. This is the Lakers we’ve been waiting to see!”

After the pick-and-roll, O’Neal would roll down, and Ewing would have to sag back.

Coupled with Horry’s excellent performance in the first half, the offensive spacing was superb.

Once the screen wasn’t squeezed through, Kobe would get opportunities whether driving or shooting.

“Let’s go Knicks!”

Cheers and shouts once again echoed through the Madison Square Garden, but the inability to tie the score made the New York Knicks fans anxious.

Kobe, who had been continuously scoring, was completely energized.

His good offensive state also boosted his defensive intensity, and after completing the layup, he continued to lead the Defense against Clay Lee.

Completely calm, Kobe no longer attempted to strip the ball, instead just staying by Lee’s side, constantly shuffling his feet nimbly.

Phil Jackson also shouted instructions from the sidelines.

This game was too important.

The Champion Coach had been standing on the sidelines shouting since the game began, completely losing his composure.

Arriving at the top of the arc, it was still a “V”-shaped offense, with Allan Houston and the substitute Ron Artest stretching the floor in the left and right corners.

Ewing and Oakley stood in the left and right elbow areas, ready to screen for Lee.

O’Neal was not camping in the paint in tonight’s game.

Seeing Ewing shuffle his feet, he immediately followed him up.

With not much offensive exertion, O’Neal put more energy into the Defense.

On the left wing, Ewing came up for a quick screen, then tried to move quickly, rolling down.

Noticing Kobe easily squeezing through the screen, O’Neal didn’t choose a hard hedge or double-team, but instead immediately followed Ewing, cutting off the passing lane.

As Kobe squeezed past the screen, Clay Lee, holding the ball in his left hand, immediately lunged forward and accelerated.

Taking advantage of the opponent shuffling back in front of him, Lee immediately pulled back with a crossover step.

Despite the sudden stop, Kobe still didn’t lose his defensive position, choosing once again to close in and defend, while simultaneously reaching down to interfere and disrupt Lee’s offensive rhythm.

After three games, Kobe had clearly adapted to Lee, appearing more composed on Defense.

Allan Houston in the left corner, seeing the situation was not right, immediately quickly slipped along the baseline.

Ron Artest followed by moving towards the top, and Ewing also began to shift, everyone clearing one side.

Switching to his right hand, Lee quickly dribbled behind his back.

While protecting the ball with his body, he slowly shuffled towards the left wing.

Kobe, with his forearm raised, kept his center of gravity extremely low, constantly engaging in physical contact, fully concentrating on sensing Lee’s movements.

As Ewing moved to the right near the baseline, Lee on the left wing first swayed his shoulder backward, then suddenly twisted forward quickly, simply and brutally lunging forward to accelerate.

The action of his trailing hand did not affect Lee’s driving speed.

For a moment, Kobe could only desperately shuffle backward and to the right.

At the restricted area, Lee stopped abruptly again, protecting the ball at his side while quickly twisting backward, and simultaneously faking a scoop with his right hand.

The realistic fake finally fooled Kobe, who subconsciously shuffled to the left.

However, Clay Lee quickly twisted again, scooping the ball with his left hand while quickly leading it forward, directly bypassing Kobe Bryant with a swift move.

The moment he lost his defensive position, Kobe cursed under his breath and dove towards the basket.

Just as he caught up on Defense, Lee, driving in motion, successfully stole a step.

Before Kobe could jump to block, he smoothly tossed the ball off the backboard with his left hand!

Kobe, quickly recovering on Defense, could only watch as the ball hit high off the backboard and dropped cleanly through the net again after he jumped.

83:77, the lead was back to 6 points.

Unable to make the defensive stop, Kobe frustratingly punched the air.

With 23 seconds left in the third quarter, the Lakers still had one more offensive possession.

Bob Costas clearly sensed the unease of the fans in the arena.

Watching Kobe dribble past half-court to run down the clock, he commented:

“The Knicks still have a chance. A 6-point deficit isn’t large, and they still have one quarter of play time.”

As the time wound down to the last second, Shaquille O’Neal on the court also took a breather.

Playing almost the entire 3rd quarter had taken a toll on him.

In the final moments, Kobe’s fading jump shot from the right elbow, a buzzer-beater, clanked off the rim.

The 3rd quarter officially ended, with the Lakers taking a 6-point lead into the 4th quarter.

6-for-11 in the quarter, Kobe Bryant scored 14 points in the third quarter with efficient pick-and-rolls!

Seemingly very satisfied with his performance, Kobe kept high-fiving himself as he walked towards the bench, trying to motivate himself.

To secure the series point, Ewing had almost played the same minutes as O’Neal tonight.

Back on the bench, Jeff Van Gundy noticed that Ewing seemed to be struggling and quickly called out to Kurt Thomas:

“Rebounding! Box out early, watch your foul timing, and remember, don’t get into the bonus too early!”

The noisy arena forced Jeff Van Gundy to shout out his instructions.

Ewing didn’t want to lose either, but after being put through the wringer for three quarters, he truly couldn’t defend anymore.

Sitting in his seat, the Gorilla could only hang his head and gasp for air.

At this moment, he felt the same as O’Neal.

Defending pick-and-rolls was truly painful.

Lee was also taking big gulps of water.

If he guessed correctly, O’Neal, who had rested for one minute in the 3rd quarter, would definitely play the entire fourth quarter.

Phil Jackson, taking advantage of Ewing’s inability to play for too long, employed a staggered lineup.

Against smaller interior players, the Shark would definitely demand the ball repeatedly.

As the final quarter began, Kobe, who had played the entire 3rd quarter, was substituted out, and O’Neal continued to lead the team.

The Lakers brought in Brian Shaw and Rick Fox, with Glen Rice and Horry at the forward positions.

For the New York Knicks, Clay Lee and Allan Houston continued to play, while the backcourt consisted of Kukoc, Kurt Thomas, and Ben Wallace.

The Lakers, attacking first, quickly reverted to their usual offensive mode, with Shaquille O’Neal repeatedly posting up in both low blocks.

Ben Wallace followed the Shark back and forth, but the opponent still successfully received the ball in the left low post.

Glen Rice’s pass was not of high quality, forcing O’Neal to adjust after receiving the ball.

As soon as he put the ball down with his right hand and backed down towards the basket, Kurt Thomas immediately rotated over and directly stripped the ball.

Under the double-team, O’Neal immediately raised the ball, then quickly swung it to the right restricted area.

Horry, who was left open, caught the ball and scored with a mid-range jump shot!

85:77.

After the basket, Horry excitedly pumped his fist, drawing a chorus of boos from the New York fans.

Phil Jackson on the sidelines loudly reminded his players to quickly retreat on Defense, but Clay Lee still dribbled past half-court, chasing their backs.

Without Ewing, Lee decisively increased his speed.

The two big men quickly moving to the top for a double screen would immediately roll down.

With the ball in his right hand, he arrived at the right wing.

Shaquille O’Neal directly switched onto Clay Lee.

Taking advantage of the opponent closing in to defend, Lee immediately lunged forward and accelerated.

O’Neal shuffled his feet immediately, but facing Lee’s sudden behind-the-back dribble, he couldn’t keep up with the rhythm.

The moment he switched to his left hand, Lee quickly performed an In and Out, his body swaying to the right again.

O’Neal subconsciously shuffled backward to the left, and Lee took this opportunity to complete a step-back.

O’Neal, having been faked into the three point line, was helpless.

He stood rooted to the spot, watching Lee quickly shoot from beyond the arc!

“Swish!” The three-pointer swished through the net.

85:80, the lead was once again cut.

Seeing the hope of tying the score, cheers erupted again, and many fans in the back rows had already stood up.

Phil Jackson gestured downwards, indicating to slow down the pace.

The slowed-down Lakers’ offense didn’t achieve the high shooting percentage they had imagined.

Under the New York Knicks’ constant perimeter pressure, Shaquille O’Neal needed to adjust every time he received the ball in the low post.

After receiving the ball in the left low post, facing a double-team, he quickly turned towards the baseline.

O’Neal evaded the Defense and scored with a left-handed hook shot.

Kukoc received the ball in the right elbow area of the free throw line.

With a simple hand-off, Lee shook off Brian Shaw’s pursuit and drove strongly to the basket for a score!

In the right low post, O’Neal received the ball and drove hard to the basket.

Facing a double-team, he powered through the Defense and scored with a front-facing hook shot, also drawing a foul on Ben Wallace.

After a rare successful three-point play, the Lakers’ bench had just started cheering excitedly.

Turning back, a simple pick-and-roll on the left wing, Kukoc popped out to receive a pass from Clay Lee, and responded with a three-pointer from the wing!

As time continued to tick away, the New York Knicks still couldn’t tie the score, and the New York fans in the arena began to jeer loudly.

Seeing O’Neal’s free throws also return to one-for-two, Jeff Van Gundy couldn’t hold back anymore.

With 6 minutes and 6 seconds left in the game, the New York Knicks called their first timeout.

93:89, the Lakers still led by 4 points.

Although Kobe didn’t aggressively attack with the ball after entering the game, several passes to O’Neal left a deep impression on the two commentators:

“After three years of refinement, Kobe has clearly become the most suitable backcourt partner for Shaquille O’Neal!”

“Both of them performed exceptionally well in this game!”

Doug Collins felt that the Lakers had a high probability of winning this game and began to praise the Lakers’ duo again.

Bob Costas, noticing Lee’s improving form, quickly added:

“Clay Lee was 4 for 7 in the third quarter, and after hitting a three-pointer, he seemed to have completely found his shooting touch!”

“This is good news for the New York Knicks. They still have time to turn the game around!”

After the timeout, it was the New York Knicks’ offensive possession.

Ewing, who was on the court, set a screen on the right wing.

Lee first faked a drive from the right side, and as Kobe slid, he suddenly executed a quick behind-the-back dribble.

Briefly shaking off the Defense, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, only dribbled once before immediately stepping back horizontally, taking a pull-up jump shot from the right wing!

Kobe’s closeout was only half a beat slow, so he could only watch the basketball swish through the net.

“Wow!”

The score difference was instantly narrowed, and the New York fans in the arena shouted excitedly, celebrating wildly.

93:92.

Seeing the score difference shrink to one point, Phil Jackson was a bit nervous, constantly shouting, trying to remind his players to pay attention to Defense.

On the defensive possession, Ewing, in cooperation with Oakley, once again demonstrated excellent defensive flexibility.

Facing the Los Angeles Lakers’ in-and-out plays, the two constantly shifted their positions.

Allan Houston also followed up to strip the ball, interfering with Kobe and preventing him from easily passing the ball into the paint.

After circling twice, O’Neal still hadn’t received the ball.

With only 6 seconds left on the shot clock, after a continuous ball movement at the top, Kobe received the ball again on the left wing.

Allan Houston immediately stuck to him.

Kobe put the ball down, dribbled once with his left hand, suddenly stopped short, and then took a forced jump shot from beyond the three-point line!

“Swish!” The basketball swished through the net!

This was his first three-pointer made in the Finals.

Hitting such a shot at such a crucial moment, Kobe tugged at his jersey and roared loudly.

96:92. The score difference was back to 4 points.

The Los Angeles Lakers played slower and slower.

As the game time elapsed and they entered the bonus situation, Shaquille O’Neal frequently went to the free throw line.

Kobe stuck tightly to Lee’s side, determined not to give up a three-pointer.

After another forced miss, in order to speed up the offensive pace, Lee also began to aggressively drive to the basket.

Even though both sides called a timeout, the game time was still consumed very quickly.

When the game entered the latter half of the quarter, almost all the New York fans in the Madison Square Garden subconsciously stood up.

With 17 seconds left in the game, O’Neal, who received the ball in the left low post, was once again double-teamed.

Oakley was a bit slow on his feet.

Ewing initially wanted to foul immediately but saw O’Neal directly pass the ball to Horry in the right elbow area.

The latter received the ball and did not choose an open jump shot but immediately put the ball down and drove straight to the basket!

Oakley subconsciously went over to help on Defense.

The two collided in the paint.

Horry casually tossed the ball against the backboard, simultaneously letting out a cry of pain:

“Ah!”

The referee immediately blew his whistle.

Oakley, panting, wanted to argue with the other player, but when he saw the referee signal that he had committed his 6th foul, the old guy’s eyes widened.

“Boo!”

Horry’s exaggerated performance once again made boos reverberate throughout the stadium.

Ben Wallace re-entered the game.

Behind the basket, New York Knicks fans wildly waved their orange handkerchiefs while continuously shouting, trying to interfere with Horry’s free throws.

Beyond the three-point line, Clay Lee glanced at the timer, then at the score, and watched expressionlessly as Horry made both free throws.

105:101.

The score difference was still 4 points.

As Jeff Van Gundy called a timeout, on the Los Angeles Lakers’ bench, the atmosphere group immediately rushed onto the court to chest bump and celebrate with Horry.

Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal also smiled and high-fived, beginning to celebrate this difficult victory.

The noise in Madison Square Garden grew louder and louder.

Ewing was still explaining to the referee that he had fouled Shaquille O’Neal early.

At the commentators’ table, Doug Collins, feeling comfortable, commented with satisfaction:

“Perhaps the New York Knicks need a quick three-point play, and then send Shaquille O’Neal to the free throw line immediately.”

Bob Costas shook his head inwardly.

To enhance the viewing experience of the game, the referee deliberately ignored the fouls on Shaquille O’Neal off the ball:

“It’s time to test the New York Knicks’ execution. If there are no surprises, they will definitely give the ball to Clay Lee.”

“In this quarter, Clay Lee is 2 for 3 from beyond the three-point line. The Los Angeles Lakers need to be careful!”

Both teams returned to the court.

Spike Lee on the sideline crossed his chest and kept muttering.

Madison Square Garden suddenly became quiet.

Everyone stood up without making much noise.

Only the DJ shouted hoarsely:

“Let’s go Knicks!”

Hoarse cheers and rhythmic music once again echoed in the stadium and the venue gradually became noisy.

Kobe, who re-entered the game, was also a bit nervous.

He subtly pulled Lee near the baseline on the right side, almost leaning his entire body on him.

Harper loudly directed his teammates to complete defensive matchups.

Upon hearing the referee’s whistle, he immediately jumped up and down in front of the sideline, interfering with Allan Houston’s inbound pass.

Near the baseline on the right side, Clay Lee and Kobe continuously pulled and tugged, then quickly slipped along the baseline from right to left, using Ewing’s screen near the left baseline, and quickly popped out to the left wing.

Kobe agilely twisted his body, almost unaffected, and continued to chase Lee from behind.

On the left wing beyond the three-point line, Lee noticed the movement behind him, ran one more step outward, and then steadily received the inbound pass from Allan Houston.

After completing the inbound pass, Allan Houston immediately rushed onto the court, quickly running towards the top of the arc.

Harper hesitated for a moment but still chose to chase him.

Not double-teamed, Lee, who received the ball, quickly turned, faced the basket, and firmly protected the ball on the right side of his body.

Facing Kobe’s Defense, Lee swayed his body to the right, then suddenly swept the ball quickly, then put the ball down with his left hand, stepped out with his right foot in a big stride to the left front, and drove with a crossover step.

Because the receiving position was still a big step away from the three-point line, Kobe subconsciously slid to the right-rear, but he didn’t expect Lee to only dribble once, and then suddenly stop short a short distance from the three-point line.

Watching Lee gather the ball and rise into the air, Kobe’s eyes widened.

He used all his strength and immediately lunged towards Lee beyond the three-point line.

Madison Square Garden suddenly became very quiet at this moment.

Seeing Kobe hit Lee’s right forearm and the basketball flying into the air, everyone subconsciously looked towards the basket.

“Squeak! Swish!”

The whistle blew, and the ball went in.

At the commentators’ table, Bob Costas finally fully reacted, then shouted frantically:

“Unbelievable! My God! Clay Lee made the three-pointer, and he has a chance to tie the game for the New York Knicks!”

“Wow!”

The moment the basketball went into the hoop, the fans in the front row had already jumped up excitedly, and their excited shouts had already rushed out of the Madison Square Garden!

After landing, Lee still expressionlessly patted his chest.

His teammates on the court suppressed their excitement, signaling the crowd to quiet down, allowing Lee to complete the free throw.

On the New York Knicks’ bench, Ron Artest subconsciously wrapped a towel around his head, while Lewis covered his mouth and stared intently at Lee walking to the free throw line.

Jeff Van Gundy subconsciously turned his back, muttering prayers to God.

Kobe was already stunned at this point.

O’Neal opened his mouth, and in the end, could only stand by the paint, firmly boxing out Ewing next to him.

The referee passed the ball to Lee at the free throw line.

The Madison Square Garden became quiet again.

After taking a deep breath, without much adjustment, Clay Lee quickly shot the ball towards the basket.

The bonus free throw went in steadily.

Phil Jackson, holding his forehead, immediately called a timeout.

Ewing excitedly hugged Lee, and Larry Johnson also began to pump his fists and roar.

105:105.

With only 15.7 seconds left in the game, the New York Knicks tied the score.

Madison Square Garden completely erupted at this moment.

Many people were still jumping up and down, cheering continuously, and many fans began to unconsciously shout, venting their excitement.

Seeing Allan Houston hugging Lee and celebrating with fist pumps, Doug Collins took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and then said:

“Incredible, but this is the ability of a superstar! Lee stepped up in the final moments!”

“Now, the Los Angeles Lakers need a high-quality inbound play. They still have a chance to win the game!”

Jeff Van Gundy’s mind briefly went blank after hearing the cheers of the fans.

Seeing everyone return to the bench, the Bald Young Coach hadn’t even had time to draw up a play when Clay Lee began to instruct Ben Wallace:

“Ben, pay attention to your help Defense position. Stay in front of Horry, cut off their passing lanes. The referee won’t call off-ball fouls, and the opponent will likely still give the ball to Shaq!”

Looking around at everyone again, Lee first fist-bumped each person, then handed the whiteboard to Jeff Van Gundy, who had leaned over, and said with a solemn expression and deep voice:

“Hold this possession, drag the game into overtime, and then I will end the game. We will get the match point!”

Everyone followed suit, cheering.

This was simply an opportunity given by God, and no one wanted to waste Lee’s miraculous 3+1.

In the final 15.7 seconds, the Los Angeles Lakers players seemed to be completely numb.

Suddenly encountering an inbound pass problem, Phil Jackson quickly called another timeout.

On the bench, Phil Jackson looked at the few people who were gradually recovering and loudly delivered a pep talk:

“Patience, we have enough time to complete the last possession. We can still kill the game!”

The team’s primary offensive option was still Shaquille O’Neal.

Kobe didn’t complain, seriously watching the Head Coach draw on the whiteboard.

Both teams’ players returned to the court again.

This time, the Los Angeles Lakers steadily inbounded the ball.

Game time began to tick away rapidly, and the New York fans continuously shouted:

“Defense!”

After Harper inbounded the ball, Kobe immediately came out to receive it.

Then, all the Los Angeles Lakers players spread out, and Lee followed Harper to the right corner.

Horry stood on the right wing.

When Kobe came to the left wing, O’Neal moved from the lower right of the basket to the left.

Ewing firmly stayed behind O’Neal.

Ewing patted O’Neal twice, but the referee didn’t react at all.

Ewing immediately understood that no fouls would be called in the final moments, so he simply focused on pulling and tugging.

The two of them stirred up a commotion under the basket.

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t get a chance to receive the ball immediately.

Seeing that half the time had passed, Kobe Bryant waved his hand, and Shaquille O’Neal simply came to the elbow area to set a screen.

Allan Houston squeezed through with effort, but Kobe Bryant didn’t choose to attack.

Instead, he made a bounce pass to Shaquille O’Neal, who was cutting.

The pass quality wasn’t high.

O’Neal bent down to catch the ball and was almost stolen by Ewing.

Amidst the exclamations of the entire stadium, Shaquille O’Neal, who successfully retrieved the ball, turned skillfully and instantly arrived at the bottom right of the basket.

Ewing’s steps were heavy, and he couldn’t block in time, watching O’Neal toss the ball towards the basket with his right hand.

O’Neal felt it was good after releasing the shot, but before he could celebrate, he heard screams from the Madison Square Garden.

Watching Clay Lee suddenly appear under the basket and explode, Bob Costas on the commentary stand roared loudly:

“OH! Blocked by Clay Lee!”

Shaquille O’Neal’s vision went dark, followed by a loud slap.

He leaned back and only then noticed Clay Lee leaping high to complete the block.

When the basketball bounced on the floor, there was still over a second left, but before the Lakers could react, Ben Wallace controlled the ball.

Before Horry could press to steal, time had already run out.

Watching the New York Knicks players all rush to Lee to cheer and celebrate, O’Neal still seemed unable to believe such a result:

“Are we going into overtime?”

Phil Jackson was equally disbelieving, instinctively taking off his glasses, rubbing his eyes, putting his glasses back on to re-check the scoreboard, and letting out a helpless sigh.

Kobe Bryant started rehydrating heavily after returning to the bench.

He somewhat regretted his choice at the last moment:

“I shouldn’t have passed!”

Everyone surrounded Clay Lee as he returned to the bench, and Jeff Van Gundy excitedly patted Lee’s shoulder again.

“They’re done! We’re going to win this game!”

Lee encouraged loudly again.

Ewing, who was completely exhausted, also nodded, not asking to be substituted, but immediately drinking an energy drink, trying to recover some physical strength.

Oakley also joined in creating atmosphere at this time, constantly encouraging everyone.

With 5 minutes left, no one wanted to lose!

After a short break, both teams returned to the center of the court.

Madison Square Garden was completely boiling.

The huge roar made it difficult for the players on the court to hear the whistle clearly.

Seeing Shaquille O’Neal tip the ball to half court, the New York fans shouted loudly again:

“Defense!”

The Lakers attacked first, still starting with Shaquille O’Neal in the low post.

After being double-teamed in the right low post, he immediately passed the ball to Horry in the left block area, who made an open jump shot!

The New York Knicks attacked.

Allan Houston used Ewing’s down screen and started from near the baseline on the right side, shaking off Harper’s chase defense.

In the right elbow area, Allan Houston received a cross-court pass from Clay Lee and scored with a mid-range jump shot!

Subsequently, O’Neal, who was double-teamed in the left low post, assisted Horry, who cut to the basket, for another 2 points. On the return, Lee’s bounce pass allowed Allan Houston, who was sneaking along the baseline from left to right, to score easily.

The overtime period had just begun, and both teams were shooting with extremely high accuracy.

Everyone could see that the defensive intensity of both teams was decreasing.

O’Neal again received the ball in the right low post and attacked strongly.

His turn-around layup was interfered with by Ewing, hitting the rim and missing.

He grabbed the offensive rebound, and his put-back layup still couldn’t put the ball into the basket.

O’Neal, who again crashed the boards for the rebound, still wanted to put the ball back, but was finally interfered with by the help defense of Ben Wallace.

Ewing managed to secure the rebound with difficulty.

109:109, the score was tied.

The shouts from the stadium grew louder and louder.

After missing consecutive layups, O’Neal slapped his thigh in frustration.

He was already having trouble jumping.

In a semi-transition offense, Lee dribbled and accelerated forward.

On the right wing, he stopped abruptly and then accelerated again, driving against Kobe’s Defense, performing a quick spin in the block area.

The moment he shook off the Defense inside the paint, Lee immediately completed a floater with his left hand!

“Swish!” The two-point shot went straight through the net!

O’Neal and Horry’s steps were heavy. At this moment, it was already difficult to make an effective Defense.

Receiving the ball on the baseline, Kobe Bryant crossed half-court. Facing Allan Houston’s Defense, he immediately called for O’Neal to set a screen.

At the top of the arc, he drove with the ball in his left hand, accelerating past the three-point line by a step, and scored with a long two-point pull-up jump shot!

“Boo!”

After scoring, Kobe gritted his teeth and clenched his fist, venting his frustration.

Then he pulled up his shorts and once again took the lead in defending Clay Lee.

Physical stamina became especially important in overtime.

Everyone on the court noticed that only Lee and Kobe seemed tireless, still charging hard.

On the left wing, Lee quickly dribbled past half-court.

He suddenly stopped at the three-point line, performed two extremely fast behind-the-back dribbles, switched to his left hand, and then leaned in and accelerated again.

Kobe constantly slid backward and to the right, providing body contact. In the block area, Lee stopped abruptly again, then smoothly performed a between-the-legs pull-back, paused slightly after switching to his right hand, twisted his body, and then accelerated his breakthrough again.

Kobe reacted defensively in time, adjusting his center of gravity and constantly sliding to the left.

Inside the paint, Lee took a hop step to shrug off his opponent and scored with a one-handed floater with his right hand!

“Wow!”

Watching Lee score consecutively, the New York fans couldn’t hold back anymore and screamed desperately!

The Lakers’ offense went through a whole cycle, and O’Neal again failed to receive the ball successfully in the low post.

With the 24-second shot clock winding down, he initiated another screen in the left elbow area.

Without any hesitation, Kobe Bryant, relying on his more abundant stamina and quicker first step, cleanly shook off Allan Houston’s Defense.

After breaking through to the basket, Kobe performed a hang-time layup, avoiding Ben Wallace’s help defense block, and scored off the backboard!

Kobe Bryant assisted Shaquille O’Neal for a layup under the basket, and Clay Lee, who was suddenly double-teamed, fed Ewing for an easy score.

The Lakers moved the ball quickly in and out, and Glen Rice missed an open jump shot from the right elbow area.

The New York Knicks seized a semi-transition offensive opportunity.

Larry Johnson posted up Glen Rice in the right low post, but his drive to the basket was blocked by O’Neal.

After catching their breath, Clay Lee and Kobe Bryant both, by unspoken agreement, once again activated their scoring modes.

On the commentary stand, Bob Costas was completely engrossed.

Seeing Kobe on the right wing suddenly steal Allan Houston’s cross-court pass, he shouted loudly again:

“A brilliant steal by Kobe Bryant! This is a golden opportunity for the Lakers!”

Dribbling the ball with his right hand, Kobe arrived at the right wing.

He noticed that Lee had already accelerated back on Defense, but he still didn’t slow down, driving straight to the basket at a 45-degree angle!

Charging up with three big steps near the basket, Kobe leaped high, gripping the ball with both hands, about to complete a powerful dunk.

Lee adjusted his steps early, and the moment Kobe jumped, he also leaped into the air.

Kobe’s eyes suddenly widened in mid-air, as if he couldn’t believe Lee’s left hand had once again pressed down on the basketball.

The two vied in the air, but Kobe, who was using both hands, was still pushed down by Lee.

“God! A fatal block! Lee has once again completed an excellent Defense!”

On the commentary stand, Bob Costas’s voice was already hoarse, but he still shouted loudly.

Seeing Clay Lee control the ball, Madison Square Garden erupted again.

Victory was in sight, and everyone shouted excitedly:

“Let’s go Knicks!”

117:117, with 34 seconds left in overtime, Jeff Van Gundy on the sidelines seemed stunned, completely in a daze.

Phil Jackson was also in a daze.

The players were in great form, scoring consecutively, so no one would suddenly call a timeout.

On both teams’ benches, everyone was staring at the two players who were once again entangled on the right wing.

Kobe, after falling to the ground, gasped for air, then chased back to Lee’s side.

After continuous sprints, Lee was also almost at his limit.

At this point, he could only shield the ball with his body, allowing himself a chance to breathe.

Everyone on the court was at their physical limit.

Allan Houston felt he was cramping up.

Seeing Clay Lee stop on the right wing, he quickly gestured for everyone to spread out.

With 20 seconds left in the entire game, Clay Lee, holding the ball with his right hand and shielding it with his body, began to slowly move.

Kobe Bryant, still gasping for air, gritted his teeth, his right forearm pressed tightly against Clay Lee’s side.

As their bodies collided, Lee, stepping on the three-point line, suddenly raised his center of gravity, then dribbled between his legs, and the moment he switched to his left hand, he immediately lowered his shoulder and accelerated.

Kobe quickly adjusted his center of gravity, constantly sliding backward and to the right.

With his stamina declining, he was almost directly knocked away by Lee at his side.

Successfully gaining half a step, as he broke through the free-throw line into the paint, he noticed O’Neal starting to move.

Clay Lee immediately took a hop step, shrugged off Kobe at his side, and steadily tossed the ball towards the basket with his left hand!

O’Neal watched the basketball fly into the air, gathered all his strength, leaped high, and finally his fingertips grazed the bottom of the basketball, changing its direction by a tiny bit.

Having completed the block, Shaquille O’Neal, completely losing his balance, lunged forward, also causing Clay Lee to stumble.

“Oh!”

Seemingly realizing the ball’s trajectory had changed, the New York fans all gasped.

The basketball ultimately hit the left rim, bouncing towards Ewing, who was near the baseline on the left side.

The happiness came too suddenly.

Ewing, who grabbed the rebound, instinctively stepped forward, wanting to complete a layup, but Horry reacted incredibly fast, directly pouncing on Ewing.

In a flash, before the referee could examine closely, the basketball again bounced off the rim.

Ben Wallace on the other side hadn’t had time to crash the boards, but Kobe Bryant, reacting even faster, grabbed the defensive rebound and immediately called a timeout.

117:117, with 7.6 seconds left in the entire game, the Lakers had possession.

Watching Phil Jackson go forward and embrace Kobe Bryant, Madison Square Garden erupted in a huge boo again.

The victory that was within reach was gone, and everyone was about to lose it.

Doug Collins couldn’t help but shout,

“God! The Lakers escaped! O’Neal and Horry completed the most crucial Defense of the series!”

Bob Costas’s voice was already hoarse.

After checking the time, he spoke loudly again:

“This is a golden opportunity for the Lakers. Kobe’s performance has been outstanding. He responded in time to Lee’s powerful offensive display!”

On the New York Knicks bench, Allan Houston was already cramping, so Jeff Van Gundy could only call over Ron Artest, who had a towel wrapped around his head.

Clay Lee sat in his seat, panting heavily.

Even though the Defense intensity had dropped, continuous offense and chase-downs had pushed his stamina to its limit.

“Ron, you guard Kobe. Defend his right hand. If he catches the ball on the sideline, I’ll immediately double-team him after I interfere!”

“Don’t be afraid to foul! We will complete this Defense, and victory still belongs to us!”

The overly noisy Madison Square Garden meant Ron Artest could only lean close to Clay Lee, nodding constantly after hearing the instructions.

Jeff Van Gundy still wanted to offer some encouragement, but seeing Ewing’s eyes glazed over, slumped in his seat, seemingly recalling his past poor performances.

On the other side, on the Los Angeles Lakers bench, Kobe finally got the opportunity he wanted.

He grabbed the rebound, and the last shot was his.

Listening intently to Phil Jackson’s instructions, Kobe, who was trying to calm his breathing, confidently stated:

“I’ll make the shot! We’ll win the game!”

Amidst the cheers from the atmosphere group, Harper prepared to inbound the ball from the sideline.

At this moment, the noise in Madison Square Garden was almost drowning out the referee’s whistle.

Many fans in the front rows were shouting loudly, trying to interfere with the inbound pass, and some agitated fans were even cursing, yelling “fuck.”

With 7.6 seconds left in the game, Kobe quickly slipped along the baseline from the left side near the baseline, and with O’Neal’s screen, he popped out directly to the right wing.

Clay Lee bounced around, interfering with Harper’s sideline inbound pass, while Ron Artest, having heard Lee’s instructions, kept his eyes on Kobe’s right hand.

On the right wing, far from the three-point line and close to the right sideline, Kobe successfully caught the ball.

Harper, having completed the inbound pass, quickly ran to the left wing.

Lee first feigned a follow-up Defense, shifting towards the top of the arc, then noticed Kobe putting the ball down with his right hand, suddenly accelerated, and pounced directly.

At this moment, Ron Artest fully blocked the baseline, constantly reaching in to interfere.

Kobe subconsciously twisted his body to protect the ball, and as he turned his head, he saw Clay Lee already pouncing.

In the blink of an eye, Clay Lee and Ron Artest had already surrounded Kobe.

Seeing the three entangled, the New York fans on site once again cheered excitedly:

“Oh!!”

Forced to stop dribbling, Kobe was somewhat at a loss at this moment, subconsciously wanting to call a timeout, but there were hands all over the ball, and the referee couldn’t make a call immediately.

Seeing the three still entangled, a jumping Phil Jackson loudly signaled for a timeout.

Just as the referee was about to blow his whistle, Clay Lee forcibly snatched the ball from Kobe’s grasp.

The situation on the court unfolded too quickly, and Bob Costas unconsciously shouted along:

“God! Lee completed the steal, he controlled the possession, Kobe chased after him!”

The moment he lost the ball, Kobe’s expression turned ferocious, and he pounced again to Lee’s side.

The gasps of the on-site fans and the shouts of the atmosphere groups from both teams caused the sound wave to reach its peak at this moment.

The Los Angeles Lakers players desperately ran back to their half-court, while Clay Lee, holding the ball in his right hand, continuously accelerated against Kobe’s Defense.

By the time the two rushed from the top of the arc to the right elbow of the free-throw line, time was running out, and the New York fans on site were also jumping up and down, many covering their mouths, waiting for the final moment.

The retreating Los Angeles Lakers players were all running around haphazardly at this point.

At the right elbow, Lee suddenly stopped short, and taking advantage of Kobe’s reaching interference, he quickly performed an in-and-out with his right hand.

The moment he shook off the Defense, Lee immediately moved sideways one step, and against Kobe’s block, he shot a fadeaway jumper to the right in mid-air!

Realizing he had been shaken off, Kobe’s expression completely twisted.

He leaped as high as he could, trying to block the shot!

At the commentary table, Bob Costas looked at the two still entangled and couldn’t help but count down:

“Three seconds!”

“Two seconds”

As the basketball passed Kobe’s fingertips and flew into the air, the final buzzer sounded, and Bob Costas subconsciously shouted:

“Clay Lee——! For the win!”

“GOD! Unbelievable! New York won the game!”

The ball went in, the lights came on, Madison Square Garden suddenly fell silent, then everyone raised their hands and jumped directly!

On the bench, the New York Knicks players rushed like madmen to the center of the court.

After landing, Clay Lee saw the basketball go into the hoop and immediately roared, tugging at his jersey.

Seeing everyone rushing towards him, fueled by adrenaline, Lee directly charged onto the scorer’s table.

Standing on the table, he pointed both hands at the floor and roared at the fans who were still jumping and screaming loudly:

“This is my home!”

The moment of showing off was quickly interrupted.

A grinning Ewing suddenly regained his stamina, rushed over, and pulled Lee down.

The New York Knicks players swarmed over, holding Clay Lee and shouting excitedly.

Shaquille O’Neal, who had retreated to the basket, was dumbfounded.

He stood under the basket, his eyes glazed over, watching the New York Knicks fans rush to the center of the court, and suddenly began to doubt his life:

“I lost?”

Kobe, who had fallen to the floor, sat up.

For a moment, he felt a surge of grievance and almost cried, lowering his head to hide his emotions.

Jeff Van Gundy raised his hands high, constantly pumping his fists in celebration, shouting:

“YES! YES! YES!”

Phil Jackson, who was still complaining to the referees, was completely broken at this point, cursing foul language, and was finally pulled back to the player tunnel by his assistant coach and the atmosphere group.

117:119, after an overtime period, the New York Knicks finally defeated the Los Angeles Lakers!

As Lee walked smilingly towards the player tunnel, waving to the fans on both sides, an extremely excited James Dolan suddenly rushed over and hugged Lee directly, repeatedly shouting:

“Show time! This is the most exciting Finals I’ve ever seen!”

“Fuck! We are the Champion!”

“…”

At the NBC commentary table, Bob Costas sat back in his chair, tugged at his tie, and after calming his emotions, still spoke with great excitement:

“Unbelievable! The New York Knicks successfully secured the match point in the end! Lee scored 51 points in the Finals, Incredible!”

“5-of-6 shooting in overtime, a steal and game-winner in the final moments, Clay Lee’s performance reminds me of Tim Grover’s ‘white-hot space’ theory!”

“In the second half of the game, Lee seemed to elevate his state to another level!”

50 minutes played, 19 of 34 from the field, 4 of 10 from three-point range, 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, 51 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 4 turnovers.

Seeing the box score, Doug Collins was also stunned for a moment, and subconsciously exclaimed in admiration:

“Indeed, it was a wonderful game!”

“The MVP once again showcased his brilliance, and I’m very happy to witness Lee’s new record live!”

After calming down, the two did not forget to praise the Los Angeles Lakers’ performance:

“Although the New York Knicks have secured the match point, the series is not over yet.”

“As long as they perform like this and drag the game back to their home court, I believe they still have a chance to win the series!”

Bob Costas spoke diplomatically, while Doug Collins secretly shook his head, but outwardly also flattered:

“The Los Angeles Lakers’ duo also showed their dominance, and Los Angeles fans will be happy with their performance!”

The noise in Madison Square Garden did not subside, as New York fans celebrated the New York Knicks securing the match point.

The two commentators at the table exchanged glances, and the same thought arose in their minds:

“Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night.”

50 minutes played, 13 of 27 from the field, 10 of 16 from the free-throw line, 36 points, 15 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 3 blocks.

Shaquille O’Neal was 1 of 4 in overtime, scoring only 2 points, his stamina seemingly reaching its limit.

46 minutes played, 14 of 27 from the field, 1 of 3 from three-point range, 4 of 6 from the free-throw line, scoring 33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 4 turnovers.

Kobe was 4 of 5 in overtime, scoring a furious 8 points, becoming the Los Angeles Lakers’ primary scorer.

Although both performed exceptionally, only Phil Jackson attended the post-game press conference.

The Champion Coach’s face was dark, but the New York Media, in a joyful mood from the win, had no intention of making things difficult for the runner-up Los Angeles Lakers.

The Champion Coach ended the interview early.

When Clay Lee appeared on the stage wearing his training gear, cheers erupted.

Before the New York Media could enter their phase of mindless praise, an ESPN reporter was the first to ask:

“Lee, congratulations on becoming the sixth player in NBA history to score 50 points in the Finals!”

“By winning this game, the New York Knicks have also secured the match point. On such a record-breaking night, everyone wants to hear your thoughts!”

Lee had recovered from the post-game adrenaline rush, smilingly stroking his chin, and after adjusting the microphone, he simply said:

“I’m just glad I scored 51 points and didn’t lose. Victory is the most important thing!”

“Thanks to Head Coach Van Gundy and the coaching staff, and thanks to my teammates who have always supported me. This is a team victory!”

“…”

….

By the way, don’t forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me 🙂

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep