Li Feng pretended not to see Kobe's gaze, but his expression was stern and his focus was intense.
He would fight with all his might in the fourth quarter. As for the outcome, win or lose, he would leave it to fate!
Before Kobe took the court, Li Feng had just hit a corner three-pointer.
So Kobe stayed glued to Li Feng, making it difficult for Li Feng to even receive a pass.
Li Feng kept cutting, accelerating, and decelerating, changing his rhythm, but it was still hard to shake off Kobe.
In fact, Kobe felt the same way. Li Feng's defense on him was like sticky candy, shadowing him everywhere.
...
In the TNT broadcast booth, Barkley, Smith, and Reggie Miller continued to commentate on the game.
Upon seeing Kobe and Li Feng battling, the old guys simultaneously recalled their peak matchups.
It reminded them of Jordan and Miller's mutual pursuit on the court, which was incredibly exciting.
Barkley chuckled, "Miller, you and Jordan chasing each other on the court, doesn't it feel similar to today's scene?"
Miller nodded continuously, "Yes, very similar! But that was in the playoffs, so the intensity was normal. They're playing like this in a regular season game; it's truly a battle!"
Smith agreed, "They are both incredibly competitive people, and they definitely won't give each other an inch. Moreover, Li Feng just scored 78 points, and the media and fans are naturally comparing the two."
Barkley, with his intimate understanding of Kobe's personality, said, "You're right, Kobe's character wouldn't let him ignore Li Feng's scoring record. He'll definitely respond with the strongest possible effort!"
"Looking at this game, Li Feng has done very well. To score over 30 points under Kobe's tight defense shows he has incredible scoring ability!"
"Indeed, it's been many years since we've seen a rookie with such talent. The fans are in for a real treat, and the league is becoming more exciting!"
...
In the fourth quarter, the game was neck and neck. Li Feng's strong performance was even making Kobe seem slightly outshone.
With 4 minutes and 13 seconds left in the game, the score was 93-92, with the Lakers leading by just one point.
Li Feng had just scored two consecutive baskets against Kobe, netting 5 points and narrowing the gap.
Phil Jackson shook his head in frustration and quickly called a timeout, feeling that Kobe's defense was starting to struggle.
In reality, Li Feng had also given his all to score those 5 points, and his stamina was greatly depleted.
Fortunately, "Zen Master" called a timeout for him, allowing him to rest.
At this point, Li Feng had already scored 35 points, while Kobe had 32. Their scores were still very close.
Seeing Li Feng's ferocity, D'Antoni's desire for victory reignited.
He patted Li Feng's shoulder and then roared at the other players, urging them to concentrate and strive to win this game!
Li Feng was panting, his eyes a little unfocused. In his recent offensive drives, he hadn't passed the ball; he had gone all out himself, fighting too fiercely!
The fans at Staples Center were thoroughly entertained. They chanted Kobe's name in unison, hoping he would lead the team to victory.
The defending champions needed such momentum. They could afford to lose regular season games, but they couldn't afford to lose to the hottest team in the league.
It was like the Bulls back in the day, whose 72-win regular season record was unmatched in the league.
The few games they lost in the regular season were not against strong teams, because playing strong teams would invigorate Jordan and the Bulls players, making them more focused!
The Lakers were the same today. All players were playing at their season's best because the Knicks had been on a hot streak.
You're the league's number one?
You're on a nine-game winning streak?
Fine, we'll play you!
However, Li Feng was also a tough opponent to handle.
With the game nearing its end, it was hard to say who would emerge victorious.
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
Because Li Feng had scored two consecutive baskets against Kobe earlier, Kobe immediately signaled for the ball as soon as play resumed.
He had to respond, as he was the Lakers' star player and the player matched against Li Feng.
Kobe lived up to his reputation. Facing Li Feng's tight defense, he first hit a pull-up jumper from three-point range, scoring 3 points!
This three-pointer was Kobe's classic scoring method.
It was also the most suitable play against Li Feng, as he was slightly taller and could create more shooting space with a pull-up.
Li Feng had defended with all his might, but he could only watch helplessly as Kobe executed the pull-up.
After sinking the shot, Kobe excitedly bit his jersey and punched the air, his classic celebration.
Then, Li Feng wanted to respond, but the Lakers suddenly switched to a double-team.
This was the maturity of Kobe. At crucial moments, he abandoned single coverage.
For the sake of his team's victory, he was willing to set aside his pride.
From another perspective, Kobe was also acknowledging Li Feng's strength.
Facing the double-team, Li Feng chose to pass.
Duhon received the ball and passed it to Gallinari in the corner.
Gallinari took the three-point shot, but unfortunately, it was a little off, hitting the rim and bouncing out. Bynum grabbed the rebound.
The Knicks failed to respond, and the deficit began to widen.
With 1 minute and 37 seconds remaining, the Knicks trailed by 8 points.
Li Feng, facing a double-team, couldn't score himself, and his teammates, with a 4-on-3 advantage, only managed to make one shot.
Meanwhile, the Lakers' offense was firing on all cylinders, with Kobe, Gasol, and Odom all making baskets.
Li Feng could only sigh to the heavens. The overall gap was too large, and he was powerless to turn the tide.
Even though Li Feng scored 6 points in the final two minutes through tactical adjustments, the deficit was significant, and relying on one person was useless.
As the referee blew his whistle, the game ended.
The Lakers defeated the Knicks at home with a score of 105-101.
Li Feng played 35 minutes, scoring 42 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists.
Kobe played 34 minutes, also scoring 42 points, with 10 rebounds and 7 assists.
From the statistics, their performances were comparable. In terms of execution in the final moments, Li Feng was double-teamed while Kobe was not, indicating a superior performance from Kobe.
Overall, it was an exciting game, with intensity and suspense comparable to the playoffs.
Both Li Feng and Kobe delivered their strongest performances of the season.
Although Li Feng's scoring wasn't as eye-catching as before, he was the most exhausted player today.
Even more so than in the game where he scored 78 points.
After the game, Kobe did not celebrate with his teammates. Instead, he walked towards Li Feng first, and the two shared a big hug.
This was the first time Kobe had not celebrated with his teammates but instead sought out his opponent first.
"Li Feng, you are the toughest opponent I've ever faced. Keep it up! I hope to see you in the Finals!"
Li Feng was also very impressed with Kobe's performance, as Kobe's continuous individual scoring in the final stretch had extended their lead.
"Okay, I'll keep working hard. If we can make it to the Finals, I hope to defeat the Lakers!"
Kobe laughed heartily, "I won't let that happen. We'll win back-to-back championships, maybe even three! By the way, the Cavaliers are also very strong. You should focus on getting out of the Eastern Conference first!"
Li Feng nodded, "Thank you for your encouragement. I will work hard. The Western Conference is also very competitive, so you guys take care too!"
The two talked for a long time, like old friends.
Kobe was named the MVP of the game...
Li Feng had expected the media and fans to blast him after losing this game.
However, that did not happen.
Many media outlets praised Li Feng's performance in their headlines.
ESPN: "Lakers narrowly defeat Knicks at home, Kobe and Li Feng Shine Bright!"
Sports Illustrated: "Kobe channels killer instinct in the final moments, Li Feng's exceptional performance can't salvage the loss."
Yahoo: "Knicks lose with honor; losing to the defending champions doesn't mean the end."
Slam: "Li Feng becomes the greatest rookie in history, astonishing statistics!"
...
Besides the media, fans also heaped praise on Li Feng.
In fact, many of Li Feng's detractors were his critics precisely because he always won.
Now that Li Feng had finally lost once, those critics were relieved.
Internally, Li Feng was also relieved by this loss.
With the team constantly winning, Li Feng had been under immense pressure, feeling like a taut string.
After the loss, the entire team could relax and move forward with less burden!
The Knicks' next game was an away game against the Jazz.
It was not only a two-game road trip but also a back-to-back series, which was incredibly difficult for the Knicks.
The entire team had expended a lot of energy today, making the upcoming back-to-back a new challenge for the Knicks.
Upon arriving in Salt Lake City, the Knicks players appeared sluggish.
At this time, Deron Williams and Boozer were still the league's strongest pick-and-roll duo, with excellent chemistry.
Although Li Feng also played exceptionally well, the team's overall stamina was lacking. Li Feng himself felt a bit fatigued in the second half.
Compounded by the altitude sickness, Li Feng found it difficult to catch his breath.
In such a state, the Knicks struggled through three quarters, with Li Feng scoring 27 points.
However, in the fourth quarter, the Jazz seemed to gain more energy as the game progressed.
The entire Knicks team was listless. In the end, the Knicks lost the game by 12 points on the road.
After a nine-game winning streak, the Knicks suffered two consecutive losses.
Despite Li Feng scoring 37 points for the game, the team still lost, and media criticism resurfaced.
Li Feng was mentally prepared for this. In competitive sports, results are paramount.
The media did not care about back-to-back games or the difficulties of playing on the road.
A loss was a loss, so Li Feng faced it calmly.
After the game, Li Feng accepted a media interview.
Due to the previous loss, the Knicks were preparing for their next back-to-back game and had not conducted interviews.
Now that they had lost two in a row, the media naturally wanted to gauge Li Feng's attitude.
Li Feng's expression was calm, not overly dejected, as he calmly answered the reporters' questions.
A reporter asked, "Mr. Li Feng, what do you think are the reasons for the Knicks' two consecutive losses?"
Li Feng did not make excuses for himself and said calmly, "The main reason is me. I didn't do my job as the team's leader. I will continue to improve myself in future games."
The reporters were surprised by Li Feng's response.
Such young players were rare, willingly taking responsibility onto themselves.
Another reporter asked, "After a nine-game winning streak, suddenly two consecutive losses, do you think there are any problems within the team?"
Li Feng shook his head firmly and said, "There are no problems at all. It's normal for teams to have ups and downs during the regular season. We will adjust."
"Mr. Li Feng, if you make it to the Finals, do you think you can beat the Lakers?"
Li Feng frowned slightly and said, "That's too early to say, I can't answer you. First, the Knicks may not even make it to the Finals. Second, the Western Conference is full of strong teams, and the Lakers also have to fight their way out of the West, which is very difficult."
The reporters were not deterred and pressed further, "Then, what did you gain from this game?"
Li Feng shrugged, "Of course, I gained something. The defending champions are top-notch in all aspects, and this is valuable experience for the entire Knicks team."
A reporter from Los Angeles asked, "Kobe had a long conversation with you after the game. Can you briefly tell us what you talked about?"
Li Feng shook his head, "I don't want to tell you what we discussed. You should ask Kobe instead!"
Seeing that Li Feng was not easily swayed, the reporter let it go.
...
The Knicks were now facing their most challenging schedule: a five-game Western Conference road trip.
The next game, while not a back-to-back, was still difficult: an away game against the Dallas Mavericks.
The German Tank, Nowitzki, was in excellent form, posing another test for the Knicks.
On the night the Knicks arrived in Dallas, Li Feng received a call from Bill Duffy.
"Li Feng, I have good news for you. Mr. Deng Huasheng of Red Star Sports has agreed to sign a contract with you!"
Although it was expected, Li Feng was still very happy because Deng Huasheng had done a lot of charity work, which Li Feng deeply admired.
"Bill, my schedule is very tight these days, and I don't have much time. You have the experience, so you can talk to him properly."
"Don't worry, Li Feng, I will definitely discuss it with him carefully. And Mr. Deng is very sincere."
...
With the endorsement deal settled, Li Feng felt relieved. He hoped to grow together with a domestic brand.
That would bring a sense of accomplishment and allow him to give back more to his Chinese fans.
As businesses grow, Deng Huasheng would surely undertake more charitable work, something foreign brands couldn't match.
The Mavericks had a well-rounded roster. Nowitzki ranked fourth in scoring, and the Mavericks were third in the Western Conference standings.
Therefore, the entire Knicks team took the game very seriously. Despite the tight schedule, they organized a team meeting to watch recent game footage of the Mavericks.
The next evening at 8 PM, the Mavericks hosted the Knicks, who were on a two-game losing streak.
The Knicks' starting lineup consisted of Li Feng, Duhon, David Lee, Gallinari, and Jeffries.
The Mavericks' starting five were Nowitzki, Kidd, Dampier, Marion, and Caron Butler.
After two days of rest, the Knicks players' stamina had somewhat recovered, so they played well in the first quarter.
Nowitzki's shooting touch was average today, going 1-for-4 under Gallinari's defense.
Li Feng, on the other hand, had a hot hand.