In the second half, Link didn't get any more easy scoring opportunities. The Rockets' perimeter defense was tighter than ever on him.
However, the Lakers finally found a much-needed offensive rhythm because of it.
Link and Vujacic played almost the entire second quarter.
The two constantly cut and moved between the baseline and the wing, stretching the Rockets' defense thin with their shooting threat.
The Zen Master's adjustment was working: Yao Ming's slower foot speed was targeted, preventing him from focusing solely on rim protection and rebounding as he had in the first quarter.
Throughout the second quarter, Yao Ming was held scoreless on offense and grabbed only two rebounds—his presence dropped significantly.
Kobe, too, played smarter, no longer insisting on a brute-force matchup with McGrady. Instead, he repeatedly used his individual threat to draw double teams and find open teammates.
Lamar Odom was the biggest beneficiary, driving inside and shooting outside for 9 points in the quarter, completely energizing the Lakers' second unit.
At halftime, the Lakers led the Rockets 55 to 52.
"Second half, keep running the same game plan," The Zen Master said calmly, his eyes sweeping over the team. "Don't bang with Yao. Run, and wear him down!"
After a short break, the second half began.
Link was subbed back in midway through the third quarter, with both teams essentially back on even ground.
The Zen Master's strategy was paying off!
Yao Ming's weaknesses were being exploited by the Lakers' spacing, and although he found his scoring touch again, he was clearly exhausted on defense.
As the Lakers' lead began to grow, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy had no choice but to bring Tracy McGrady, who had just rested, back onto the floor!
As Link passed McGrady near the scorer's table, he noticed McGrady's sleepy eyes briefly glance at him.
For some reason, Link felt a tightening in his stomach—a bad feeling.
McGrady stepped onto the court. He didn't even do any stretching, just chewed his gum, his eyes eerily calm.
Rockets ball.
McGrady held the ball at the top of the arc. His defender crouched low, completely focused, afraid to give an inch.
With only eight seconds left on the shot clock, McGrady slightly raised his eyebrows. A teammate immediately stepped up for a screen.
Link tracked the play, ready to switch.
The instant the screen was set, there were no complicated moves, no fancy fakes. McGrady simply launched straight up, relying on his terrifying explosive power!
His lift, combined with his high release point and long frame, made Link's desperate block attempt useless.
The ball sliced through the air with a slight rotation, like a precision-guided missile.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net! Clean and absolutely clinical!
67-74. The lead was back down to single digits.
After the basket, McGrady remained expressionless, slowly retreating on defense as if he had just finished a routine practice shot.
Next, the Lakers missed their offensive possession. McGrady faced Link, using a series of wide, aggressive dribbles to manipulate the defense. Link stuck close, giving him no space.
Suddenly, McGrady hit a lightning-fast in-and-out dribble, faking a drive to the right.
The moment Link shifted his weight, McGrady pulled the ball back with an unbelievable change of direction and rose again!
Link stumbled and didn't have enough time to recover and launch a full block attempt.
The ball dropped straight through the net!
70-74. The Rockets hit another three!
That shot instantly extinguished the fire that had just been stoked inside the Staples Center. The Rockets' morale surged.
But he wasn't done.
On the next possession, McGrady palmed the ball, and his incredibly quick first step blew past Link into the paint. Facing the help defense, he casually tossed the ball up.
Juwan Howard, cutting through the lane, caught the pass and slammed it down for an alley-oop!
McGrady initiated three plays, and all three were successful!
72-74. The Rockets trailed by only 2 points!
Link's defense was still overmatched against an elite perimeter scorer!
Link nervously glanced at The Zen Master on the sideline, hoping the coach would call a timeout to break McGrady's momentum.
However, The Zen Master was unmoved, sitting there like an old fisherman.
Seeing the coach's calm, almost serene demeanor—he was even resting his eyes with his arms crossed—Link was first startled, then an inexplicable anxiety washed over him.
Why wasn't the coach calling a timeout? Was he really going to watch McGrady erase the entire lead?
Just as his mind wavered, the Rockets quickly inbounded the ball baseline.
McGrady ghosted into the lane, took the pass, and without adjusting, threw down a dunk!
"CRASH!"
The Rockets instantly tied the score!
In less than two minutes, McGrady had single-handedly erased a seven-point deficit!
The Staples Center fell silent, save for the cheers from the Rockets' bench and the visiting fan section.
Link felt his cheeks burning and his ears ringing. Every single one of McGrady's scores was like a heavy hammer blow to his confidence.
Self-reproach and a sense of powerlessness surged over him, threatening to drown him.
He didn't even dare to look toward Kobe or the coach.
No! I can't let this happen!
Just as his confidence teetered on the brink of collapse, Link fiercely shook his head, then pinched the palm of his hand hard with his fingernails. The sharp pain cleared his chaotic thoughts.
Link took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He fixed his gaze back on the deadly figure on the court.
McGrady was strong—unbelievably strong...
But Link wasn't the same player he was a few chapters ago. His weapons were running, shooting, and reading the game's tempo!
Link realized that the best thing he could do right now wasn't to spiral into self-blame over his defensive failures—that was a problem for the entire team's defensive system.
He just needed to excel at his job!
With that thought, Link's eyes hardened with determination.
On the Lakers' offensive possession, the ball moved through several hands before finding Link. A perfectly timed screen shielded his defender.
The fleeting moment of open space was all Link needed.
[Focused Shooter Lv2] quietly activated!
Link caught the ball and released it in one fluid motion, without a hint of hesitation.
"Swish!"
Three-pointer! The Lakers swung the momentum back!
On the following possessions, Link seemed blessed. He first settled into the corner, used a double screen from Odom and Mihm, and hit again from the right side of the court.
Then, on a fast break, he cut to the basket, took a pass from a teammate, and scored an easy layup.
In a short burst, Link scored 8 points!
The silent Staples Center reignited! The huge cheers instantly drowned out the visiting team!
The game situation completely shifted with Link's explosion. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy was forced to call a timeout!
As Link jogged back to the bench, the fans erupted in a roar of appreciation.
Many fans held up homemade signs and waved them wildly, ecstatic with excitement.
Kobe met him with a hard high-five and a celebratory chest bump.
The game had devolved into a brutal tug-of-war.
Entering the fourth quarter, Kobe held nothing back. He took over the game again, burying opponents with one iconic fadeaway jumper after another.
Tied at 87!
Tied at 89!
Tied at 91!
The score continued to climb, with every basket met by deafening cheers. The atmosphere at the Staples Center hit a fever pitch!
Link ran relentlessly on the floor. Even without the ball, he worked hard to draw away defenders, creating precious one-on-one space for Kobe.
With only 28 seconds left, the Lakers had possession, and the score was still deadlocked at 95-95.
Phil Jackson didn't call a timeout. Kobe initiated the offense.
Kobe received the inbound pass at the top of the arc. McGrady immediately locked him down. The entire crowd rose to its feet, holding its breath!
The seconds drained away. Kobe used a continuous cross-dribble, searching for a rhythm. McGrady's long arms shadowed him like a curse.
With 8 seconds on the shot clock, Kobe suddenly drove, forcing a move to the right!
McGrady held his ground. Kobe couldn't find an angle to shoot, so he pulled up near the free-throw line, attempting a desperate fadeaway.
But McGrady's long arms closed the gap, completely smothering Kobe's release space!
Kobe didn't force the shot. As his body was losing balance, he passed the ball to Link in the left corner!
Link caught the ball with an open look! Van Gundy leaped up on the sideline in shock!
However, in the next second, Link acutely saw two Rockets players lunging toward him. In a flash, Link made his decision.
He didn't shoot. With 3 seconds left, he handed the ball off to Kobe, who was cutting back toward him, and set a screen for Kobe at the same time, momentarily blocking his defender.
"WOW! Smart decision!" the commentator shouted in amazement.
Kobe took the handoff, didn't hesitate for a second, and utilized the instantaneous space created by Link's screen to jump and shoot!
The ball spun in the air, tracing an arc of destiny.
Time seemed to stand still!
"Swish!"
The clean sound of the net was like music, echoing through the arena!
A difficult long two-pointer, right on the line, connected!
97-95!
The Lakers took the lead! With only 2.1 seconds left!
"Kobe Bryant!!! In the clutch, he never flinches!" the commentator roared.
The entire Staples Center went completely insane!
Kobe landed and powerfully pumped his fist, releasing all the pressure!
He immediately pointed toward Link, the unselfish teammate who had made the absolute correct play!
Van Gundy used his last short timeout to draw up the final play. Without a doubt, the ball was going to McGrady.
Play resumed.
Kobe stuck to McGrady like glue, denying him any easy space to catch and shoot.
Rafer Alston, the inbounder, nearly turned the ball over, but finally lofted a high pass to McGrady, who had used a screen to sprint toward midcourt.
McGrady caught the ball, took two quick dribbles, and spun around hard. Facing Kobe's aggressive close-out, he put up a desperate fadeaway jumper!
It was an extremely difficult shot. There was slight body contact in the air, and McGrady's shot was severely disrupted!
The ball sailed wide and flew straight out of bounds!
The final buzzer sounded immediately!
97-95!
The Los Angeles Lakers had survived a grueling battle at home, narrowly defeating the Houston Rockets!
The moment the game ended, the Lakers rushed the court in celebration.
Kobe was swarmed by his teammates. He was undeniably the hero of the night, sealing the victory with a signature Kobe clutch shot!
McGrady walked over to embrace Kobe, not dwelling on the fact that Kobe's defense on the final play was arguably a foul.
That was the ethos of that era: heroes respecting heroes, no blame, and no discussion of soft fouls.
When you step on the court, you let your game do the talking!
After the wave of euphoria subsided, in the center of the bustling court, a tall figure walked through the crowd and headed straight for Link, who was celebrating with his teammates.
It was Yao Ming!
His face showed a hint of fatigue, and sweat soaked his Rockets jersey.
"Link," Yao Ming's voice was gentle and deep.
Link turned around at the sound, and seeing that familiar figure, his heart skipped a beat—a subtle throb of memory from across time.
From watching on TV in his previous life to standing on the court with him now, the name and image of Yao Ming had long transcended that of a mere basketball player.
He was a symbol, a totem etched in the hearts of countless young basketball players, like Link himself.
The overwhelming joy on Link's face from the victory instantly faded, replaced by genuine respect. "Yao Ge (Brother Yao)!"
The title came naturally, born not just from this game, but from the experience of two lifetimes. The name Yao Ming was the connection that lifted basketball to the world's highest stage, pioneering a path for dreamers who followed, including Link right now!
Yao Ming looked at him. A gentle warmth flashed in his slightly weary eyes, as if he sensed the weight of that address, far beyond the context of this single game.
"You played great," Yao Ming said, his gaze sincere. "Those few threes were crucial. You adjusted your mindset very fast."
This direct praise warmed Link's heart. Recognition from Yao Ming meant more than any media compliment.
Link quickly responded with humility, "Thank you, Yao Ge! I still have a long way to go. Today, in the paint... I truly had no answer for you."
This was not empty courtesy, but the most honest admiration after experiencing it firsthand.
Yao Ming smiled slightly, a hint of teasing in his expression. "Your game plan was very successful. You guys ran me ragged!"
He paused, his eyes holding a look of encouragement and expectation.
"Keep it up. You have a great opportunity on the Lakers. This path isn't easy, but you've already found your way!"
The brief encouragement was worth a thousand words. It came from the most representative player in the league, signaling both recognition and a passing of the legacy.
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