Yao Ming and Bynum stood at the center circle for the tip-off.
Bynum's exceptional athleticism secured the first possession for the Lakers.
Fisher dribbled past half-court, guarded by Duhon.
Li Feng and Kobe Bryant were once again locked in a fierce duel, a classic image now in Lakers vs. Knicks games.
Seeing Kobe unable to get the ball, Fisher passed it to Gasol inside.
Gasol, defended by Gallinari, turned and hit a hook shot!
Gasol's contribution was indispensable to the Lakers' championship win last year; his inside offense and playmaking were crucial.
The Knicks attacked.
Duhon crossed half-court and looked to pass to Li Feng, but Kobe's defense was too strong, and Li Feng couldn't get free.
Duhon had no choice but to pass to Yao Ming.
Yao Ming faced Bynum, posting up twice, but couldn't budge him.
It had to be said that after losing weight, Yao Ming's strength had diminished somewhat.
However, his speed had significantly increased.
Against Bynum's tight defense, Li Feng faked, then turned and hit a jump shot!
Swish!
He easily scored 2 points!
When Li Feng was being contained by Kobe, Yao Ming stepped up and continued to score!
This was the difference between having Yao Ming and not having him.
In their previous game, David Lee had been completely suppressed by Bynum, scoring only 7 points.
Today, Yao Ming scored on his first possession, a warning to the Lakers' interior defense.
It was a clear message: don't expect to gain an advantage inside!
The Lakers went on offense, and this time Kobe got the ball.
Guarded by Li Feng, Kobe drove towards the paint.
Although Li Feng was half a step behind Kobe, he stayed tight, denying him a clear shooting opportunity.
Kobe was surprised to find that Li Feng's defensive ability had improved again.
In the previous game, Kobe felt he could get a shot off once he got past Li Feng.
But today, Li Feng was glued to him, making things extremely uncomfortable for Kobe.
With no other option, Kobe faded, drifting to his left, and took a difficult shot.
Kobe was a few centimeters taller than Li Feng, and combined with his contorted body on the shot, Li Feng couldn't defend it.
Swish!
Two points!
Kobe was truly a formidable player, and Li Feng shook his head in resignation.
Despite making the shot, Kobe also broke out in a cold sweat, as Li Feng's hand had come so close to blocking it.
4-2, the Lakers led temporarily.
Li Feng's expression was grave. He knew he had to hold his own against Kobe to boost the Knicks' morale.
They were the absolute cores of their respective teams.
If Li Feng was outplayed by Kobe, no matter how well Yao Ming played, the Knicks would inevitably lose!
So, after crossing half-court, Li Feng immediately used Iverson's crossover to get half a step on Kobe!
Kobe was alarmed, thinking, "This is bad." By the time he recovered and closed in, Li Feng had taken a step back and pulled up for a three-pointer!
Swish!
Li Feng responded with a show of strength.
Although the ball went in, Li Feng, like Kobe, was startled, as Kobe had almost blocked the shot just moments before.
This exchange of offense and defense was evenly matched, a perfect display of skill from both!
Just one minute into the game, Li Feng and Kobe had already provided the spectators with an ultimate treat.
The home crowd applauded non-stop, not just for Li Feng, but also for Kobe.
Kobe's popularity was undeniable; he was often cheered for even on the road...
Phil Jackson stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, his face grim. He hadn't expected the Knicks to change so much after the All-Star break!
The trade between the Knicks and the Rockets had truly bolstered the Knicks' strength, revitalizing them!
He had no choice but to bring in his starting lineup earlier than planned.
With 4 minutes and 48 seconds left in the second quarter, Kobe and the other starters entered the game.
However, the Knicks maintained their reserve lineup, a testament to D'Antoni's trust in them.
Lowry was also excited. He was going to lead the reserves against Kobe, an opportunity for him to prove himself.
Indeed, when the Lakers' starters came on, they seemed unaccustomed to Lowry's aggressive style of play, and the score remained tied.
But against superior talent, sheer effort wasn't always enough.
With Kobe's driving dunk and Odom's three-pointer, the Lakers quickly caught up.
D'Antoni felt Lowry was getting tired, having played too aggressively, and called a timeout. He was also preparing to bring in the starters.
Li Feng and Yao Ming stood on the sidelines, high-fiving the reserve players, offering encouragement.
"Lowry, you played great! Haha, I'm so happy for you!" Li Feng hugged Lowry tightly.
Today was Lowry's happiest day. In just 8 minutes, he had scored 15 points, an incredibly efficient performance.
At this rate, he might not even be guaranteed a spot on the Knicks next season.
During the timeout, D'Antoni praised the reserves and then looked at Yao Ming.
"Yao Ming, how's your stamina? Are you alright?"
Yao Ming had been hit hard by Bynum earlier and had shown signs of pain.
Yao Ming shook his head. "I'm fine. That one collision just hurt a lot."
D'Antoni was relieved and gave a few more instructions before the starters returned to the court!