After the start of the second half, the two teams played as if they were in a ga where the score difference was only two points, going all out!
Ewing and John Starks led the Knicks in a gritty fight, while on the Lakers’ side, the Magician and Van Exel took turns controlling the ga, connecting the team.
Zhang Hao was doing what he had to do: creating space, drawing defense, and looking for his scoring opportunities.
When playing as a power forward or small forward, he proactively switched defenses, and as a center, he focused on defense, waiting for chances to counterattack.
The score stayed tight for a while, and at 3 minutes and 58 seconds into the third quarter, the Knicks hit a shot and then made a three-pointer following a steal, going on a 5-0 run!
to 79, the Knicks started the third quarter with a 13-7 run!
In almost 4 minutes, the Lakers scored just one less basket than the opponent, and the lead was cut to only 11 points.
Back on defense!
Ewing and Charles Oakley actively led their teammates in setting defensive formations.
John Starks, Hubert Davis, and JR-Red ford the periter defense lineup, paired with Ewing and Charles Oakley’s defense combination, they were significantly better defensively than the Lakers.
The Lakers had no regular offensive opportunities in the frontcourt!
Zhang Hao went around the arc, was blocked on the line, and as he went around the arc, the Magician’s off-the-ball screen was bypassed, and the left-handed Exel and Zhang Hao’s passing routes were blocked again. Zhang Hao rushed from the arc to the foul line, taking two steps forward before receiving the ball.
By this ti, Ewing was already prepared to co up and block Zhang Hao’s middle advance. As for Zhang Hao’s stop-and-jump shot, the Knicks didn’t bother. Tonight, they determined that Zhang Hao’s stop-and-jump shot wasn’t working; it was less accurate than the contested jump shots.
Zhang Hao indeed didn’t plan to take a stop-and-jump shot here, nor did he choose to stop and adjust his shot; Charles Oakley would have caught up on defense.
But Zhang Hao didn’t rush inside the paint either; instead, he followed the montum from the three-point line, landing directly on the free-throw line to jump! Flying towards the paint!
Zhang Hao had wanted to do this for a while!
Ewing saw Zhang Hao jumping from the free-throw line, extrely angry, and jumped towards Zhang Hao, pressing forward!
Zhang Hao fearlessly aid the ball towards the basket...
"Boom"
When Zhang Hao and the aggressively leaping Ewing collided, they both even heard the sound of muscle clashing. Ewing wasn’t blocking the dunk anymore, just trying to knock Zhang Hao down, but...
Couldn’t stop him!
Zhang Hao’s indifferent expression transford into sheer ferocity in an instant, forcefully pressing the ball down...
"Bang"
Amidst the disbelief of surrounding players and the gasps of the stadium crowd, Zhang Hao and Ewing seed to pause in mid-air. The lighter Zhang Hao clearly struggled to control his body, but just as they collided, Zhang Hao, despite being knocked off balance, extended his limbs around Ewing, almost like a koala, and smashed the ball into the basket with his right hand!
Watching Zhang Hao land, taking several steps backward to regain his balance, while Ewing, unable to stand, sat heavily on the ground with a face of disbelief... Knicks players felt like they were seeing a ghost!
Zhang Hao actually dunked it!
Jumping from the free-throw line and dunking over Ewing!
Too fierce!
Lakers players also thought Zhang Hao’s play was fierce, but unlike the shocked Knicks side, his teammates were thrilled! When they saw Ewing’s nacing expression pressuring Zhang Hao, they didn’t dare to watch.
But luckily they did! The scene was too breathtaking!
The referee whistle ca late, Ewing was called for blocking, Zhang Hao’s basket counted, and there’s an additional free throw!
Upon hearing the ref’s whistle, others on the court and fans at the venue reacted.
Teammates ran excitedly to Zhang Hao, celebrating with him.
Just not celebrating with Zhang Hao to avoid affecting his mood.
But this ti, Zhang Hao wanted to celebrate — "Hey, I’ve already raised my hand..."
At this mont, so fans couldn’t help but start cheering for Zhang Hao, the visiting player!
Knicks players quietly helped Ewing up... with just this one play, Zhang Hao single-handedly deflated much of the Knicks’ surging montum and fighting spirit!
With Zhang Hao making the additional free throw, 82 to 68, the Lakers’ lead expanded back to 14 points.
Originally, the Lakers’ belief was shaken a bit after the 5-0 run, but with Zhang Hao’s dunk, it was reaffird. In the following defensive round, taking advantage of the Knicks’ hesitation, the Lakers defended extrely well, and Charles Oakley’s close-range shot was disrupted!
Back on offense, Zhang Hao cut to the inside again, this ti with the Magician holding the ball and precisely delivering it as Zhang Hao penetrated deep into the paint.
Under Ewing’s supplental defense and the chasing of the opposing guard Hubert Davis, Zhang Hao made a layup, drawing a foul from Hubert Davis!
The additional free throw also went in! After the Knicks scored 5 consecutive points, Zhang Hao alone returned the favor with a 6-0 run!
to 68, extending the lead back to 17 points!
Old Nelson called for a tiout! Another basket and the lead would be pulled back to a 20-point margin!
But even though he temporarily halted the opponent’s surge, Old Nelson’s mood remained heavy.
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