The Knicks were initially in a favorable position, but Li Feng's sudden foul interference put them in a precarious situation.
D'Antoni, displeased, lodged a complaint with the referee and was assessed a technical foul.
After Li Feng left the court, the Lakers immediately began their comeback, quickly narrowing the deficit to just three points.
D'Antoni, finding himself in a difficult spot, called for another timeout.
Despite his frustration, Li Feng understood that home-court advantage was part of the game and accepted the situation calmly.
During the timeout, he stood on the sidelines, high-fiving his teammates and offering encouragement.
He hoped his teammates could hold on and maintain a slim lead before halftime.
However, the Lakers had no intention of giving the Knicks that opportunity.
"Strike while the iron is hot!"
Seeing Li Feng off the court, the "Zen Master" immediately put Kobe and other starters back in after the timeout.
The intention was clear: the Lakers not only aimed to tie the score but also to widen the gap, preventing Li Feng from mounting a comeback in the second half.
This presented a significant challenge for the other Knicks players.
Li Feng remained on the sidelines, cheering on his teammates instead of sitting down to rest.
Kobe displayed his prowess as a cold-blooded assassin, scoring consecutively.
With Li Feng off the court, no one could contain Kobe.
They tied the score!
They took the lead!
The momentum on the court shifted dramatically.
55-50, the Lakers led!
With 2 minutes and 41 seconds left in the second quarter, Li Feng suddenly re-entered the game.
This was at Li Feng's request to coach D'Antoni; he couldn't stand by and watch the Knicks get overwhelmed.
He had two fouls at the moment and could still play for a while in the first half, even if it meant accumulating another foul.
Seeing Li Feng return, Kobe's heart sank, knowing that scoring for the Lakers wouldn't be as easy.
As expected, upon entering the game, Li Feng executed a deceptive pass and shot, sinking a three-pointer.
He then stole a pass from Fisher intended for Kobe and passed it to Yao Ming, who delivered a thunderous two-handed dunk, adding two more points.
The Zen Master was stunned. The Knicks had regained momentum, and the teams were tied again. He called another timeout.
Li Feng's immediate impact was evident. The home crowd now looked at Li Feng with a hint of fear.
With 1 minute and 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the teams were back on even footing.
From the sidelines, the Zen Master roared, "Double-team Li Feng, don't let him get the ball, try to get in front of him, understand?"
Although his instructions were clear, Li Feng's off-ball ability was also top-tier.
His cuts and fakes made it difficult for defenders to anticipate his true intentions.
The timeout concluded, and both teams prepared for their final push before halftime.
To prevent Li Feng from making plays, the Lakers resorted to aggressive double-teams.
Their actions were not only rough, but they also applied full-court pressure to prevent Li Feng from receiving the ball.
Li Feng observed this without haste, signaling to his teammates to take their own shots.
Through his decoy effect, he continuously moved, disrupting the Lakers' defense into disarray.
There were many ways to help the team, and even without touching the ball, Li Feng could still assist his teammates in scoring.
Defensively, Li Feng also gave his all. Under his defense, Kobe found it difficult to score.
At the end of the first half, the Knicks had regained the lead.
Li Feng did not attempt any shots in the final minute, but Yao Ming and Gallinari became the Knicks' offensive focal points.
63-53, the Knicks led by ten points again.
...
In the CCTV Sports Channel live broadcast booth, Yu Jia and Coach Zhang provided commentary.
The third game was crucial for both teams. In their pre-game analysis, both favored the Lakers to win this match.
It was evident that the Lakers possessed superior overall strength and were playing at home, making a loss highly unlikely.
"Coach Zhang, the Lakers didn't seem to exhibit their usual dominance in the first half!"
"Indeed, Li Feng's performance today has been even more outstanding, suggesting he was very well-prepared."
Although Coach Zhang was a fan of Kobe, the Knicks, with Li Feng and Yao Ming, were his personal favorites.
"However, Li Feng's offensive aggression seems somewhat subdued today. Has he reached another level?"
"Li Feng is looking at the bigger picture. He prioritizes the team's victory over personal statistics. Perhaps the loss in the previous game made him reflect a great deal..."
"It's similar to Jordan's early career. His personal stats were incredible in the first two seasons, but the team struggled. Later, he realized the importance of sharing the ball with his teammates."
"This is a necessary step for a superstar to become a true megastar. Some grasp this concept quickly, while others never truly understand it."
"This is why Li Feng is truly a genius! It's a blessing for China to have such a basketball superstar!"
"Yes, regardless of the outcome of the finals this year, Li Feng can be considered successful!"
"The hopes are still high. If the Knicks can win the third game and Yao Ming remains healthy, I believe the Knicks have a good chance of winning the championship."
Behind Li Feng stood hundreds of millions of Chinese fans, which was the source of Li Feng's confidence. wap.kanshuwu.net
...
During halftime, a heated discussion took place in the Lakers' locker room.
Cracks had already appeared within the team.
Team chemistry was important, but only victory could maintain team harmony.
With the team trailing, internal conflicts began to surface.
"Odom, your help defense needs to be more active!"
"Fisher, can't you increase your mobility? How can you not even guard Duhon!"
...
Kobe began to reprimand his teammates, urging them to put in more effort.
After winning the championship last year, Kobe's prestige was at its peak, so his teammates typically listened without objection.
However, in today's game, Kobe was being heavily pressured by Li Feng, leading to some resentment among his teammates.
"Kobe, we've already given our best. Aren't you also having a tough time being defended by Li Feng?"
Hearing his teammates dare to talk back, Kobe, in anger, slammed his drink bottle to the ground.
"What did you say? When was I ever shut down by Li Feng? I'll show you who can defend me in the second half!"
Kobe and his teammates were now engaged in a battle of wills.
As the second half began, the game resumed.
Provoked, Kobe launched into an offensive onslaught from the outset!
Li Feng, unaware of what had transpired in the Lakers' locker room, was puzzled by Kobe's sudden surge in aggression.
Kobe was, after all, Kobe. When he focused on scoring, he was unstoppable.
Swish!
Swish!
Bang!
Kobe unleashed his entire offensive arsenal.
Fadeaway jumper!
Cross-step layup in the paint!
Turnaround jumper!
Driving to the basket for a powerful dunk!
...
Kobe was seemingly omnipotent, and Li Feng could only offer occasional resistance.
The fans at Staples Center were ecstatic; this was the Kobe they wanted to see!
The duel between superstars was bound to be intense, and Li Feng understood this well.
Therefore, while defending fiercely, he also focused on enhancing his own offensive capabilities.
Human stamina is finite. To wear down Kobe, he had to be pushed to his absolute limit on both offense and defense.
A thrilling game required a formidable opponent.
Just as the Lakers took the lead, Li Feng stepped up.
Despite the Lakers' continued tight defense on Li Feng, he utilized his speed to execute difficult catches.
Every time Li Feng received the ball, it felt like a game of tag, with him sprinting all over the court.
Catching the ball was even more challenging than shooting.
Li Feng's jersey was even torn several times.
Thinking back to the intensity Jordan faced against the Jazz, today's game was comparable.
Everything was deployed except for physical altercations.
This was the Finals!
After catching the ball, Li Feng quickly shook off his defender and shot in the fleeting window of opportunity.
It was incredibly difficult.
Even so, Li Feng maintained a high shooting percentage.
In the third quarter, Li Feng took 6 shots and made 4.
Kobe, on the other hand, shot 7 for 11 in the third quarter, scoring 19 points.
Based on the performance in this quarter alone, Kobe appeared to be the better player, but he understood that Li Feng hadn't fully unleashed his potential.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 87-79, with the Lakers leading by eight points.
In fact, the other Knicks players also performed well in the third quarter, with multiple players contributing offensively, while the Lakers relied primarily on Kobe's individual brilliance.
Before the start of the fourth quarter, D'Antoni approached Li Feng and quietly asked, "Do you want to rest for a bit in the fourth quarter?"
Li Feng shook his head resolutely, "Coach, this is the Finals. I won't rest. I'll play the entire fourth quarter!"
With Li Feng's promise, D'Antoni felt reassured.
The Knicks' only hope of winning the game rested on Li Feng staying on the court.
Fortunately for Li Feng, he had only three fouls after three quarters.
This offered the Knicks a significant chance to mount a comeback.
As the fourth quarter began, Li Feng once again led the bench unit.
Lowry had shown significant improvement after the baptism of three Finals games.
With Li Feng drawing so much attention, Lowry found himself with more offensive opportunities.
"Lowry, when I drive, wait for me in the corner!" Li Feng whispered into Lowry's ear.
Lowry nodded, understanding.
Li Feng, with the ball at mid-court, accelerated and drove into the paint.
The Lakers' defense quickly collapsed, and Li Feng suddenly found himself facing three defenders.
Li Feng didn't force the issue. He looked to his left but flicked the ball to Lowry in the right corner.
Lowry didn't hesitate, catching and shooting immediately, sinking a three-pointer!
After the score, Lowry excitedly high-fived Li Feng, who then said, "Next time you drive, I'll be in the corner!"
Lowry nodded vigorously.
Li Feng was personally mentoring Lowry, helping him increase his driving threat.
In the following two possessions, Li Feng and Lowry took turns attacking the Lakers' interior, initiating a scoring run.
Defensively, Li Feng and Lowry on the perimeter, along with Jordan Hill in the paint, made it difficult for the Lakers' reserves.
The deficit gradually shrunk, and Kobe, sitting on the bench, became restless.
He relished the atmosphere of competing against Li Feng on the court, and seeing Li Feng still playing made him unwilling to concede.
The Zen Master noticed the fierce glint in Kobe's eyes.
During a break in play when a player was at the free-throw line, the Zen Master substituted Kobe back into the game.
Upon entering, Kobe walked over to Li Feng and shouted, "Come on, I'm going to win this game. It doesn't matter if you play the entire fourth quarter!"
Li Feng grunted, "Enough talk. Victory belongs to the Knicks. You're getting old!"
"What? I'm old?" Kobe was enraged.
Li Feng actually held great respect for Kobe, but on the court, he aimed to provoke him and make him lose his composure.
As expected, Li Feng's words struck a nerve with Kobe, who then exploded into a furious offensive mode.
Li Feng didn't engage in a scoring duel with Kobe; he continued to orchestrate and facilitate the offense, bringing the entire team into play.
Kobe continued to score, but the Lakers' lead didn't widen. On the contrary, the other Knicks players found their rhythm.
With over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the teams were tied once again.
This was the fifth tie between the two teams that day.
D'Antoni, concerned about Li Feng's fatigue, quickly called a timeout to let him rest.
Years later, another coach would make a similar decision, calling two consecutive timeouts to allow his star player to rest.
That coach was Tyronn Lue, who called two consecutive timeouts during the playoffs to allow LeBron James a breather.
It was undeniable that LeBron James possessed legendary stamina!
Li Feng's stamina was indeed greatly depleted; he was practically glued to Kobe defensively.
Fortunately, he had the system's "Curry Stamina Recovery Technique," which allowed for rapid stamina recovery in a short period, slowing his heart rate.
After the timeout, the game resumed, with both teams fielding their full starting lineups.
Yao Ming's playing time in this Finals series was limited.
However, this did not diminish Yao Ming's importance.
In the critical moments of the fourth quarter, Yao Ming was almost always on the court.
This ensured that the Lakers' interior players wouldn't easily score.
Furthermore, Yao Ming's expanded offensive range forced Bynum into constant movement, making him difficult to defend.
He even managed to draw Bynum out to the three-point line.
The timeout concluded, and the game continued. Li Feng brought the ball past half-court and immediately lobbed it to Yao Ming.
Facing Bynum, Yao Ming feigned driving to the basket twice before turning and shooting!
A well-rested Big Yao was truly unstoppable.
Swish!
His soft touch made scoring look effortless, leaving Bynum watching helplessly.
Unwilling to be outdone, Kobe immediately responded with a pull-up jumper, scoring two points of his own.
This was Kobe, taking complete control of the game.
Li Feng remained patient. After crossing half-court, he passed the ball to Yao Ming again.
Bynum, expecting Yao Ming to attack the basket again, quickly called for Gasol to double-team Yao Ming.
However, as the two defenders converged, Yao Ming passed the ball through the gap between them.
Bill Walker made a cutting drive to the middle, received Yao Ming's pass, and slammed home a dunk for two points!
This was the Knicks' brand of basketball: no single dominant ball-handler, everyone shared the ball.
Kobe observed this, shaking his head in frustration.
If the game continued like this, Kobe would be exhausted, and the Knicks' balanced attack made them too difficult to defend.
Kobe took possession of the ball again, and Li Feng continued to defend him one-on-one.
Swish!
Kobe hit a contested three-pointer from beyond the arc, scoring three more points!
Kobe was indeed in good form today, fighting against the entire Knicks team single-handedly.
D'Antoni, watching Kobe from the sidelines, wore a worried expression.
Every coach feared Kobe.
In the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs were essentially shot out of the series by Kobe.
Yet, Li Feng appeared unhurried.
In return, Li Feng delivered another assist, passing the ball to Duhon at the 45-degree angle.
Duhon took the three-pointer and made it!
The Knicks desperately clung to the score.