Champion Rules

Chapter 348: An Epic Stage Needs an Epic Ending (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
David Stern was present at Game 2 of the Finals.

He knew that every finals night this year was very likely to break viewership records.

He was very willing to participate in history personally.

Before tonight's game, ESPN frontline reporter Rachel Nichols mentioned trade rumors surrounding the Thunder on the court.

She also didn't shy away from asking Kevin Durant this question.

"How much impact do you think this news will have on the team?"

Kevin Durant stated firmly, "The impact is almost zero. I'm not pretending to be calm. These rumors have been discussed inside the locker room, and we've reached a consensus on this matter."

"What's that?"

"To hell with these rumors, we need to win the championship first!"

Kevin Durant's resolute attitude surprised even Rachel Nichols.

Is this still the same timid KD who only dared to express his emotions on social media using a secondary account?
Is this still the same KD who, after losing the Finals, was exposed for following 42 female firefighters?
Rachel Nichols meant that Kevin Durant became a real man at this moment, showing unprecedented responsibility.

It's clear that Stephen Curry's motivational speech on the bus earlier that day was very effective.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have put aside all distractions and are focused on the upcoming game.

Everyone else was greatly influenced by Stephen Curry, so Stephen Curry's own fighting spirit goes without saying.

Stephen Curry scored a basket over DeMar DeRozan right at the start of the game tonight.

He didn't call for a screen or make any off-ball runs.

With just a very simple Buddhist feint, he forced DeRozan to raise his center of gravity to prepare to interfere.

Taking advantage of the moment DeRozan shifted his weight, Curry drove to the basket, lobbed the ball high off the backboard, and sent it past Lynch's fingertips into the net.

Kyrie Irving, who had a frustrating game in the previous match, immediately wanted to respond, so he took the ball and went one-on-one against number 30 on offense.

However, Kyrie Irving, a freshman, was not more advantageous than Curry in the confrontation and was quickly entangled by his opponent.

Stephen Curry's defense isn't actually as bad as people think. Besides defensive considerations, the main purpose of targeted tactics against him is to wear him down and reduce his offensive impact.

Even the mighty Raymond Thanos James couldn't easily devour him.

Kyrie Irving in his prime had a knack for playing against Stephen Curry, but the current Kyrie Irving can't easily break down Curry's defense.

With his attack thwarted, he could only pass the ball out in frustration.

Before the Finals began, Kyrie Irving acted like a competent second option.

He averaged 18.6 points and 4.4 assists per game in the regular season with a field goal percentage of 46.8%, and won the Rookie of the Year award.

He averaged 18.3 points and 4.1 assists per game in the first three rounds of the playoffs, with a field goal percentage of 43.2%, maintaining a consistent output.

As a rookie, his performance in the regular season was already dazzling. What's even more commendable is that his performance in the playoffs didn't decline much either.

This is also why Kyrie Irving was so confident before.

But once he stepped into the finals, an unprecedented sense of powerlessness struck him for the first time.

He felt like a tiny supporting character on a huge stage.

He completely failed to shoulder the responsibilities that a second-in-command should have.

The same was true in the last game, and the same will be true in this game.

After taking the blame, Lynch finally ended the attack with a layup after a breakthrough, bringing the score to 2-2.

From the very first round, a fierce and protracted battle seemed to have already begun.

In the following rounds, Kyrie Irving played very poorly.

He showed great fighting spirit on the defensive end, but his ability was ultimately limited.

The immense strain on the defensive end caused him to completely lose his way on the offensive end, performing even worse than in the previous game.

Kyrie Irving was getting anxious; he was eager to make a name for himself in the Finals.

However, this impatient mentality backfired.

Fortunately, amidst a chaotic game where everyone except the key ball handlers seemed to be playing Kobe Bryant and missing shots, Kyrie Irving's efficiency didn't seem so bad.

Everyone's shooting percentage was terrible, at least Kyrie Irving's missed shots were relatively beautiful.

Tonight, apart from their main attackers, the performances of all the players on both sides were disastrous.

For the Thunder, only KD and Stephen Curry maintained their normal offensive efficiency.

Everyone else was in a terrible state, including LeBron James.

On the Knicks' side, Lynch is the only player who can consistently score.

What Lynch feared was happening—the extreme pick-and-roll isolation strategy employed by both sides, while powerful, simple, efficient, and easy to execute, created a dazzling stage for star players. However, it almost brought the offensive system to a standstill, invisibly eroding the competitive form of others.

You can't expect a player to stand in the corner smoking for two games in a row and still maintain a hot hand.

In any physical sport, the cool-down period should not be too long. Excessive cool-down will either result in a loss of energy or muscle weakness.

If the two teams combined to showcase the brilliance of modern basketball's minimalist and efficient tactics in the last game, then tonight they both revealed the hidden dangers behind this cutting-edge weapon.

This is basketball. There are no perfect tactics in the world of basketball; every strategy has two dimensions.

Against this backdrop, Lynch scored explosively tonight, racking up 26 points by halftime.

He has to take on a lot of shots. Apart from the transition periods where he can catch his breath with DeMar DeRozan's one-on-one plays, Lynch will have to shoulder a huge amount of offensive tasks once he's on the court.

Both sides faced the same problem. Stephen Curry and KD scored very high individually and had to take a lot of shots. They combined for 35 points in the first half.

This has led other players into a vicious cycle of "not being able to make shots - lack of opportunities to touch the ball - increasingly cold form - even less ability to make shots".

Jeff Van Gundy joked after halftime: "Given tonight's circumstances, even if LeBron scores 5 points in a single game again, people will still praise his incredible output."

With both teams' stars putting on a scoring feast, the Knicks entered the second half with only a narrow 2-point lead.

During halftime, Lynch had already made suggestions in the locker room:
“We need to get things moving. We can’t keep relying on pick-and-rolls. They can be a weapon in tough moments, but they can’t be the norm.”

Mike Malone agreed with Lynch that the Knicks increased the variety of their tactics and distributed their shots more evenly in the second half.

But the expected results did not appear. Once you've been sidelined for too long, it's not so easy to get back into form.

Five minutes into the third quarter, the Knicks were still only leading by one point.

Lynch's offensive efficiency was very high, but KD and Curry were also incredibly effective tonight.

The intense match left the fans sweating profusely with excitement, and the atmosphere on the field was incredibly tense.

In this offensive possession, Kyrie Irving's dribble was disrupted by Stephen Curry and went out of bounds.

Stephen Curry pumped his fist and roared, while Kyrie Irving clapped his hands in frustration.

The referee blew his whistle, and the game entered a dead ball phase.

The score was close, the back-and-forth was agonizing, and the air inside the arena was scorching. Even Lynch couldn't help but pull up the hem of his jersey to wipe the sweat rolling down his forehead.

Seeing this, Jeff Van Gundy continued to echo his views from Game 1: "Look at the situation now, look at this scenario, a Game 7 is entirely possible. And it's safe to say we'll definitely have a Game 5."

At this point, it was time for DeMar DeRozan to leave the field early for a rest.

Taking advantage of a dead ball situation, Ray Allen substituted him onto the field.

He tucked his jersey into his shorts, exchanged a glance with Lynch, and walked over to him: "Need any help? You look like you could breathe fire from your throat."

Ray Allen was the only efficient role player for the Knicks in the first half, scoring 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting.

So, if anyone can help Lynch relieve the offensive pressure tonight, it's Ray Allen.

Even with limited production, it can still absorb some of the key sales opportunities.

Lynch wiped his wet jersey from his face and smiled. "Old man, don't let them catch up easily, the Swiss are fast. I'll draw double teams, you beat them up, okay?"

"Ah."

No further words are needed; the game continues.

Kyrie Irving aggressively cuts to the basket, trying to stretch the defense. Even with a mediocre performance tonight, his actions still draw defensive attention.

Lynch deliberately started towards Ray Allen's side, so that Sabo Sefolosha would be responsible for the defense.

Lynch didn't force a shot, but instead passed the ball to Ray Allen, who had just come on.

Ray Allen remained composed even when facing the Swiss players who came on as substitutes.

He needed to ensure that once Lynch pulled the trigger, a bullet would be fired.

Many people don't understand the point of him continuing to play for the Knicks for another year.

But he knows that this is the meaning of his existence at this moment.

"brush!"

"Ray Allen went 3-for-3 from three-point range tonight. He's like a microwave; his touch heats up instantly as soon as he steps onto the court!"

Amid Mike Brin's roar, Lynch and Ray Allen bump fists.

This is certainly not about "being able to quickly get hot as soon as you step onto the court." Just as Lynch said to Irving before, nothing in the world of competitive sports is a given, and naturally there is no such thing as "being able to quickly get hot as soon as you step onto the court."

Behind this story lies Ray Allen's relentless effort, self-discipline, and perseverance throughout the entire year.

It was those monotonous nights when I was shirtless, catching and shooting the ball again and again.

Even though his playing time has been drastically reduced this season, and even though he has completely become a role player.

But he never let his guard down.

He always makes sure he's in top form.

And everything he did was for this moment.

One possession later, Stephen Curry had just bypassed Kevin Durant's screen when he suddenly pulled up and released the shot from a gap a step beyond the three-point line!

His release speed is incredible, and his shooting range is unbelievable.

Before him, no one had ever made such frequent moves from such a distant place.

Before him, no one had been able to hit three-pointers so frequently through such a tiny gap.

The basketball swished through the net again, and Stephen Curry, in red-hot form, hit another three-pointer!

His incredible shooting ability made even the most conventional, veteran shooter like Ray Allen pale in comparison.

A true master is one who can create miracles even in the narrowest of spaces.

Top F1 drivers can corner with their wheels just 0.2 centimeters away from the guardrail.

Top action film actor Ieji Taka can film a climax scene using only the space of two fingers.

Similarly, top dunk champions can also hit three-pointers through tiny gaps.

Stephen Curry twists and turns, dancing on the court.

He admitted that only through hardship can one appreciate the value of winning a championship and understand what one should strive for.

But he didn't want his ordeal to be as long as Michael Jordan's struggles against the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.

That unforgettable experience last year is enough!

These two guys, who changed their lives with three-pointers, finally faced off in Madison Square Garden, the holy grail of basketball.

Both sides were evenly matched, and for the Knicks, they had to win all their home games before they could comfortably embark on their three-game road trip to Oklahoma City.

For the Thunder, who are eyeing the title, if they can win back a valuable away game in this tough battle, the subsequent three home games will pave a golden ladder for them to reach the top.

After one round, Ray Allen received the ball again.

This time, he didn't attempt a three-pointer. Instead, he faked a shot to get past Sefolosha, then cut in with lightning speed, stopped abruptly near the free-throw line, and calmly made a jump shot.

New York fans were cheering for Ray Allen, Knicks players on the bench were giving him thumbs up, and Spike Lee was yelling at him, "You're Jesus!"

I don't know if Spike Lee was praising his own performance tonight as being as miraculous as Jesus, or paying homage to his character in the movie *He Got to Play* (where Ray Allen played a character named Jesus).

Ray Allen may not have Stephen Curry's revolutionary ability to create his own shot, nor can he become a primary scorer like Curry.

But he still showed everyone with his steady killer instincts that he was still fighting!

This mid-range jump shot was like a scalpel, instantly cutting through the Thunder's tight defense and quietly changing the course of the third quarter.

The Thunder dared not send Thabo Sefolosha to double-team anymore, which gave Lynch room to continue his one-on-one play.

Although Ray Allen didn't score again for the remainder of the third quarter, like Kyrie Irving, even without scoring, their presence was like a time bomb hanging over the Thunder's heads, making the Thunder nervous and forcing them to keep a close eye on them.

Lynch seized his one-on-one opportunities, racking up another 16 points in the quarter. After three quarters, the New York king's personal score had reached a terrifying 42 points!
The Knicks entered the final quarter with a 3-point lead, just like in the previous game. Although the point difference was small, it seemed that everything was under Lynch's control.

David Stern, standing on the sidelines, could not hide his excitement. He took out a silk handkerchief from his suit pocket and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Madison Square Garden boasts one of the best temperature control systems in the United States, yet at this moment, the temperature inside the stadium is rising uncontrollably amidst the deafening cheers of the fans and the suffocating atmosphere of tension.

He originally came just to witness the ratings extravaganza, but before he knew it, he had also become caught up in the excitement of the competition.

After three quarters of dormancy, LeBron James finally woke up at the start of the fourth quarter, using consecutive drives to the basket to help the Thunder stay close in the score.

His "invisibility" in the first three quarters allowed him to conserve enough energy for a burst of energy in the final quarter.

His performance was indeed very good, because he didn't even have a single instance of traveling.

Once a superstar like LeBron James has mastered the most basic footwork in basketball, how do you defend him?

The Knicks responded quickly. To avoid Lynch getting bogged down in endless double-teams, he began to move like a shadow, frantically weaving through the muscle forest and launching numerous off-ball attacks.

Serge Ibaka's spirit was pushed to the edge of a cliff. He was chasing Lynch's figure almost as if his life was burning. His lungs felt like they were about to explode and his legs felt like lead, but he dared not stop for a moment.

Even the slightest gap could lead to a precise harvest by the Grim Reaper!

But that's not the worst part. The worst part is that when you finally catch up with Lynch after exhausting your last bit of strength, Ray Allen in the other corner is almost finished with his cigarette.

When Lynch's off-ball movement was temporarily restricted, Kyrie Irving was always able to calmly pass the ball to Ray Allen at crucial moments.

Ray Allen lived up to expectations, making 2 of 3 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, repeatedly thwarting the Thunder's ambition to close the gap.

Every near-perfect defensive play that ultimately falls short is a heavy psychological blow for the Thunder players.

The Knicks maintained their lead, while Lynch's scoring continued to climb.

48分、51分、53分、56分、58分.
His scoring is getting closer and closer to his own record of 62 points in a single Finals game.

Those fans who turned on the TV out of curiosity about "what magic the man who is closest to, or even surpasses, Michael Jordan possesses" have now been completely captivated by Lynch's dominant and terrifying spectacle.

Tonight, when the team needed him to score with his most aggressive one-on-one plays, he showed no weakness.

Yes, this isn't the way Lynch likes to play.

The team's system was almost completely shut down, role players were in terrible form, and everyone else was excluded from the game.
But he doesn't play basketball to play the way he likes; he plays to win.

Even if it means using methods he doesn't like, he will try his best to win.

With 1 minute and 34 seconds remaining in the game, the Thunder called a timeout.

The glaring 3-point deficit on the scoreboard reflected the incredulous faces on the Thunder's bench.

Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and LeBron James all played their best tonight.

Curry and KD efficiently completed a large number of key tasks, James Harden played exceptionally well during transition periods, and LBJ's explosion in the final quarter was crucial.

But they are still firmly stuck in the position of the laggards!
Stephen Curry looked up at Lynch's 58 points on the big screen and swallowed hard.

But soon, he clapped his hands loudly again:
"Look at these 58 points! We've pushed him to his limit! Keep pushing, crush him, and victory will be ours!"

The game restarted, and Lynch was breathing heavily.

He has scored such high points before, and he has taken so many shots in a game. 58 points is certainly a crazy display of his personal ability.

But doing these things at the intensity of the finals is completely different from doing them at the intensity of the regular season.

As Carey Irving watched Lynch's chest heave violently, a wave of intense self-reproach washed over him.

Even though he did his best to relieve the pressure on the team on defense, and even though his movement kept stretching the opponent's defense, he still hated his mere 12 points tonight.

He should have done more.

Ray Allen was also adjusting his breathing, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and brow bone.

Tonight, because of his hot shooting night, Mike Malone gave him more playing time, which is a physical challenge for the 37-year-old.

Ray Allen has scored 20 points tonight, making him the team's highest scorer besides Lynch.

Based on his performance so far, he has proven himself to be a true champion player.

But Ray Allen, who had a dream start to the Finals last season before falling behind, knew that nothing was set in stone until the end of the game.

He cannot relax yet; he must continue to stay focused.

Meanwhile, David Stern in the stands received a text message.

The text message was sent by his assistant, the next president, Adam Silver.

"Tonight, Game 2 of the Finals peaked at 3610 million viewers. David, we are witnessing history!"

David Stern felt his heart skip a beat; he had considered that tonight might make history, which was in fact the reason he was there in person.

But this is still an unimaginable number.

The entire basketball world is focused on this, with people filled with curiosity and scrutiny, wanting to see for themselves what the man who has been elevated to godhood by public opinion and claimed to be able to surpass Jordan really looks like.

As a result, the number of people watching the game increased to a level never seen before in NBA history!
And Lynch did not disappoint anyone.

Of course, this overwhelming attention was both an unparalleled honor and a heavy burden for Lynch.

Faced with an unprecedented wave of spectators, victory will propel his influence to unprecedented heights; but a misstep under the watchful eyes of millions will cause this surge of attention to recede like the tide, leaving only an empty echo. Lynch must compose the most perfect symphony in front of an unprecedentedly large audience in the history of basketball.

However, it was Stephen Curry who first set off the spectacular fireworks display at Madison Square Garden.

After the game restarted, he received the inbound pass in the barren area between the midfield line and the three-point line, facing Kyrie Irving.

Instead of setting a screen, he directed his teammates to spread out, leaving the open space entirely to the two players.

Kyrie Irving's close and aggressive approach was quite invasive.

But Stephen Curry used his stronger body to force his way through a small gap and then broke through.

Kyrie Irving naturally retreated quickly, since he was still far from the three-point line and preferred to give Stephen Curry space rather than allow him to break through easily.

As a result, after Stephen Curry took a step forward, he suddenly stopped, stepped back, and returned to the distance between the midcourt line and the three-point line. Ignoring the laws of space and any reasonable shooting logic on the basketball court, he shot an extremely long three-pointer!
Kyrie Irving failed to provide any effective interference; he never expected number 30 to shoot from such a distance.

Why take a step back when we're so far away?

The basketball swished cleanly through the net, and Stephen Curry scored his 35th point of the night!
The entire audience gasped, and Spike Lee froze in his seat.

He has been watching games from this spot since 1990 and has witnessed countless great performances by superstars at Madison Square Garden.

He had never seen anything like that before!

Even LeBron James stared in astonishment at the replay on the big screen, his Adam's apple bobbing with difficulty.

This is fucking ridiculous. I thought Stephen Curry was here to help me out!

This play was not only incredibly entertaining, but also of immense value. It erased the deficit, something the Thunder, who fought to the very last second in the previous game, couldn't achieve.

Stephen Curry's inspiring declaration before the game was not just an empty slogan; he turned his boiling passion into concrete actions.

Tonight, the Thunder came closer to victory than ever before.

Even David Stern was worried for Lynch.

Can that new god, who is being worshipped by millions of eyes, still seize the opportunity and firmly grasp victory in his own hands, just like in the last game, under the intense scrutiny of the masses?
The game continued, and Kyrie Irving controlled half-court. Opposite him, a completely excited Stephen Curry was even clapping at him.
"Come on, Kerry, let's end this!"

Kyrie Irving didn't lose his temper; sooner or later, he'll make this number 30 center look bad.

But at least for tonight, this isn't a battle between him and Stephen Curry.

Lynch cut out, and the basketball, as if summoned, instantly swept across the court, flying from Irving's hands to Lynch's fingertips.

Lynch feinted three threats, and Serge Ibaka took a half-step back. No, perhaps not even half a step.

But Lynch immediately pulled up for a three-pointer and the ball went in!

"brush!--"

Serge Ibaka covered his head with his hands, wishing he could take the length of his baton and add it to his arm span.

Stephen Curry shook his head in frustration; he wished he could ride Durant at center to defend Lynch.

What about LeBron James?

He felt that after the pause, his only role was to stand there and say, "Huh!?"

An incredible battle, an incredible attack.

Of course, there's also incredible data—Lynch's personal score has reached 61 points!
This also makes him the only player in NBA history to score 60 points twice in the NBA Finals during his career!

Elgin Baylor has once again secured second place.

A perfect stage, a perfect audience size, perfect data.

Now, all that's missing is a perfect ending.

"Huff...huff..." Lin Qi's heavy breathing filled his ears. As a physical monster, Lin Qi rarely felt this close to exhaustion.

There were still too many shots taken today, and to be honest, beating Serge Ibaka won't be easy; it will take a lot more stamina.

The Knicks regained the lead, putting the Thunder in another do-or-die situation.

This time, LBJ finally got some screen time.

He slowly dribbled the ball across half-court, his sharp gaze sweeping towards Stephen Curry. He extended his left hand, holding the ball outwards, making a clear passing gesture.

But just as the basketball was about to be passed to Curry, he suddenly changed his target and, without looking, passed the ball to Kevin Durant.

This beautiful pass, which even fooled the live camera, assisted Kevin Durant in hitting another three-pointer.

The score is tied again!
The Knicks called a timeout, and Kevin Durant was about to raise his arms in celebration when a bizarre string of "gigigigigi" suddenly rang in his ears!
LeBron James strode confidently, pounded his chest with both fists, and then made a gesture of putting on a crown. He performed the whole process with ease, highlighting the composure of a veteran artist.

KD: ? ? ?
At that moment, Kevin Durant even doubted his own memory.

Wasn't that the goal I scored?
Why are you singing and dancing here?!
That's the keen sense of a top star; he'll never miss an opportunity to shine in front of the camera.

Kevin Durant still has much to learn.

The Thunder were very tenacious tonight. In fact, they showed similar tenacity last season, which is why they played the Knicks for six games.

This is also the source of Jeff Van Gundy's confidence. He reiterated once again: "I still can't say for sure whether a Game 7 will happen, but the fifth game has opened its arms to us. The Oklahoma City team's tenacity has never faded."

"Even at 4-0, we're still embracing you!" Mike Brin retorted.

On the bench, Mike Malone was giving instructions. In this crucial moment, he needed Lynch to take the ball and attack.

After drawing up the tactics, the volatile head coach slammed his fist on the floor.
“Listen, we’re going to Oklahoma City with a 2-0 series lead, and then we’re going to lift the trophy in their own arena. I’m going to ask those dying bastards right there at Chesapeake Energy Arena, ‘Who’s your daddy?!’ Don’t give them a chance!”

Lynch liked Mike Malone's incredibly inhuman declaration of victory; just thinking about it was exhilarating.

But all of this depends on winning the game, and winning it beautifully.

The timeout ended quickly, and Ray Allen, who had scored 20 points tonight, threw away his towel and stood up.

At that moment, a dazzling line of text suddenly lit up on the giant screen in the Madison Square Garden dome:

"Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals set a new viewership record for the Finals."

Ray Allen's gaze swept coldly over the line of text, but his steps did not falter.

The clamor of fame? He paid it no heed.

He didn't care about anything else; he just wanted to win and prove that he was the real champion.

Meanwhile, the Thunder also stepped into this battlefield once again.

They are closer to victory tonight, at least to tie the score.

Stephen Curry looked at the panting Lynch and was certain that the god-like man was on the verge of collapse.

The game begins, and Lynch takes the ball, ready to attack.

But the Thunder's double-teaming was quite resolute, with LeBron James applying pressure with his upper body and Serge Ibaka using his lower body to block his lower body.

Lynch was unable to move easily and could only hastily pass the ball to Chandler Parsons.

Facing the aggressive LeBron James who had just returned from the rotation, Parsons, a rookie, hurriedly passed the ball to Irving.

The weakness of the young squad was exposed at this moment; Chandler Parsons was too flustered and his passing intentions were too obvious.

Stephen Curry squeezed past Kyrie Irving, got the ball first, and made the steal!

"Stephen! Could this steal be the game-changer in the Finals!?"

Amid Mike Breen's exclamation, Stephen Curry, carrying Kyrie Irving, drove straight into the paint, leaping up to catch the ball.

A shadow loomed over the basket.

Without a doubt, he is the guardian of New York.

All the New York fans stood up excitedly, knowing this was destined to be a bloody chase and block, just like countless times before.

But in the air, Stephen Curry changed his pass to Stephen Curry.

LeBron James was prepared; he knew Stephen Curry had seen him.

But after the ball was passed, he realized that it wasn't coming for him, but rather flying towards another James.

"what!?"

James Harden received the ball at the top of the key, and without hesitation, pulled up and shot.

Kevin Durant's eyes widened and his nostrils flared, as if he were trying to get more oxygen.

The moment the basketball swished through the net, he felt saved.

"It's in! Oh my god! The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a 3-point lead with 41 seconds left in the game tonight! Can you believe it!? They've made it! Game 5, baby, there's definitely a Game 5!" Jeff Van Gundy slammed his fist on the table. He wasn't a fan of either team, but he was still excited.

LeBron James paused for a moment, then repeated, "Huh!?"

Of course, he quickly suppressed his astonishment and joined in the celebration.

Thunder is slowly chipping away at victory from Lynch's clenched fist.

David Stern struggled to catch his breath and prayed, "God, let him win, let him take this damn game!"

The guy who wants to surpass Michael Jordan can't afford to fail tonight!
Only if he wins can he take the NBA to a whole new level!

The Knicks called another timeout, which was Mike Malone's last timeout of the night.

After the ball-handling offensive strategy failed, Mike Malone then sent Lynch back to off-ball play.

When the game resumed, Lynch discovered that his defender had changed to LBJ.

Moreover, he could no longer shake him off.

Lynch was too tired; his steps had become sluggish.

Despite seemingly coasting through the first three quarters, LBJ remained energetic, relentlessly entangled with Lynch.

Kyrie Irving's basketball was burning hot in his hands, his palms damp with cold sweat. His vision searched repeatedly in the suffocating defensive vortex, but he couldn't deliver the ball to the locked-down number 20.

An out-of-control thought pierced Irving's mind: if Steve Nash's magic hand were still in control, would Lynch have already caught the basketball?

The 24-second shot clock is ticking down, and LeBron James' defense remains flawless.

Having the upper hand, he even started trash-talking Lynch: "How does it feel to be cornered by 'Scott Pippen'? Still don't respect 'Scott Pippen'?"

It's been a long time since Lynch and LBJ have faced off so head-to-head.

For LBJ, tonight's victory will be a victory that proves "you and I are still on the same level."

Lynch had no time to waste on trash talk and continued looking for an opening.

With only 5 seconds left on the shot clock, Kyrie Irving still wasn't confident about passing the ball and decided to take it himself.

Just then, he heard a loud shout.
"Hey kid!"

Ray Allen raised his hand for the ball; he had already circled to the right corner using an off-ball screen on the other side.

Kyrie Irving immediately passed the ball, not because he was afraid of taking responsibility, but because Ray Allen's opportunity was indeed better.

The moment the orange ball touched his hand, James Harden's desperate dive loomed overhead, the space so cramped it was suffocating!
This is probably the most serious defensive play James Harden has ever made in his life.

Ray Allen didn't have much space, but he was incredibly fast.

Because he didn't aim or adjust.

He had always been prepared to take this shot, having honed his skills through countless trials.

He played for an extra year, running around the gym day and night like a young man.

What are we trying to prove by doing all this?

To prove that he was not wrong.

Knees bent, arms raised, wrists flicked, orange shadows streaking through the air—

"Lei Lei, a three-pointer from the corner! James Harden didn't make a mistake! Bang!!!"

Mike Brin's signature roar collided with the volcanic eruption of celebration at Madison Square Garden, giving goosebumps to the 3600 million viewers across North America and hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.

With 19 seconds left in the game, Ray Allen helped the Knicks tie the score when the game was hanging by a thread.

Then, instead of celebrating wildly, he simply pointed to Irving, who had provided the assist, and nodded to Lynch.

It was as if nothing had just happened.

It was as if the thunderbolt that had just struck down was just an ordinary jump shot from the training field.

For him, "not messing up" is the norm.

The Thunder used their last timeout, and Scott Brooks never expected Ray Allen to be the X-factor tonight.

This guy, who couldn't embrace victory in Milwaukee and Seattle, and who became a locker room cancer in Orlando, became a bright star in New York.

With 19 seconds left in the game, the Thunder had possession of the ball and held a dominant position.

Even if their attack fails, they won't lose.

If their attack succeeds, they will embrace victory.

David Stern's phone vibrated again; Adam Silver informed him that the number of viewers had reached 3700 million, an unprecedented peak.

He glanced at the tall, dark-haired man on the bench, his lips moving silently, almost like a prayer:
"Come on, Lynch, come on, come on."

Lynch sat on the bench, greedily seizing the last few seconds to catch his breath.

He extended his fist to Ray Allen, who lightly bumped it against him.

“You’re definitely going to get a real ring, I guarantee it,” Lynch said.

“I have never doubted that.” Ray Allen’s answer was like a stone thrown into a cold pool, leaving no ripples, only an unfathomable conviction.

The buzzer sounded for what felt like the umpteenth time, signaling everyone's return to the battlefield.

The Thunder were the first to solve this global problem of inbounds balls, with LeBron James securing the ball calmly.

But he didn't rush to attack; he wanted to run down the clock and not give the Knicks any chance to kill the game.

However, LeBron James is not the ultimate offensive option.

With 10 seconds left in the game, he passed the ball to Stephen Curry, who was curled out beyond the three-point line—the hottest player on the team tonight.

But the moment Stephen Curry received the ball, Lynch pounced like a wolf spotting its prey, rushing to the three-point line and surrounding Kyrie Irving before Curry could react!

Kyrie Irving's will was not broken, even though he didn't play very well tonight.

His excellent defense gave Lynch the opportunity to quickly double-team him.

Stephen Curry struggled to protect the ball amidst the chaos, his vision instantly blocked.

But he caught a glimpse of LeBron James receiving the pass out of the corner of his eye, so he delivered the ball with a behind-the-back pass.

LeBron James ran as fast as he could, but the basketball still grazed his fingertips and flew out of bounds!
"Lynch's aggressive double-team forced Stephen into a turnover! He had just made a crucial defensive steal against the Knicks, but now he's also stuck in the mire!"

Madison Square Garden was in an uproar, while Oklahoma City fans watching on television felt like they had fallen into an ice cave.

They made a mistake at the last second that seemed to seal the game, giving the Knicks five seconds.

Mike Breen bluntly stated, "If the Thunder lose everything in this year's Finals, it will be one of the most regrettable mistakes in NBA history!"

The Knicks didn't call a timeout, so they couldn't set up their offense in those five seconds.

David Stern gripped his phone tightly, unable to utter a sound.

Will this be a historic moment on this night with record-breaking viewership?
Lynch cut past the defender and received the ball, and the numbers on the timer started jumping wildly.

The moment he received the ball, Serge Ibaka and LeBron James immediately double-teamed him.

Lin Qi took a step, stopped abruptly, but quickly changed his rhythm, turned around and brushed past LBJ!

Lynch, with LeBron James clinging tightly to his side, took two large strides into the paint.

Time was running out, so he chose the simplest and most direct method.

Lynch leaped with all his might, bracing himself against LeBron James's charge, and stretched his body in mid-air before slamming the ball into the rim in what is now the world's largest basketball game in terms of audience numbers.

Time has stopped! The world holds its breath!
"boom!!!"

The basketball hoop made a loud bang.

The moment Lynch and LeBron James crashed to the floor like meteors, a red light shot out from the backboard.

Lynch scored a record-breaking 63 points in an epic game during the Thunder's most intense battle, a game that saw global viewership peak, with a dunk over LeBron James.

Victory is secured!

David Stern sat down among the frenzied New York fans, listening to the ear-piercing cheers and watching the surging waves of people before him. With trembling hands, he took off his glasses and covered his face.

Lynch seized this perfect script and opportunity.

He created an epic ending on an epic stage!

And this alliance will also reach a whole new level with him.

On the court, Lynch stood up, looked down at LBJ who had tried his best to defend him but failed, and waved to him.

This is his moment of revenge.

Goodbye LeBron, I'm so glad I shattered your illusions with my own hands—

Once again.

Immediately afterwards, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and all the warriors clad in blue and orange battle robes surged forward like a surging torrent.

Surrounded by his teammates’ enthusiastic cheers, Lynch slowly raised his arms, like a majestic statue frozen at the pinnacle of victory, cast in bronze.

(One update today, because I combined two 10,000-word chapters into one.)
(End of this chapter)