The game began with O'Neal defeating Ewing, giving the Lakers the first possession. However, O'Neal's strong drive to the basket against Ewing failed, and his hook shot missed! Larry Johnson grabbed the defensive rebound.
After advancing past half-court, Charlie Ward passed the ball to Ewing in the paint.
Ewing backed down O'Neal but also failed to score.
Larry Johnson secured the offensive rebound, took a dribble, and shot over O'Neal, but the ball rimmed out.
It was Larry Johnson again. After grabbing this offensive rebound, he passed out to Oakley, who caught the ball and hit a three-pointer!
In just 40 seconds, Larry Johnson grabbed 3 rebounds, 2 of which were offensive!
"This rebounding ability is too insane!"
"Damn! Larry Grandma is going off..."
The Lakers players sighed. Larry Johnson's two offensive rebounds felt like he was playing against no one in the Lakers' paint...
Larry Johnson, at only 1.98 meters, often played power forward, directly confronting NBA's interior giants and holding his own.
Charles Ceballos was the same height as Larry Johnson, but their low-post offensive skills and rebounding abilities were worlds apart.
Turning around, O'Neal continued his strong drive in the paint against Ewing. Oakley came to help defend and was called for a shooting foul by the referee.
O'Neal went to the free-throw line, but missed both shots, causing the Lakers' bench players to cover their faces in exasperation...
The 'Big Shark's' free-throw percentage was truly embarrassing.
Ewing also got two free throws on the subsequent possession, but the 'Gorilla' at least made the first one. The second bounced out, and Oakley grabbed the offensive rebound, passing to Allan Houston on the perimeter. Houston, guarded by Van Exel, took a mid-range pull-up jumper, and the ball once again rimmed out. But Larry Johnson came through again, grabbing the offensive rebound and passing inside to Oakley...
Oakley turned and made the layup!
The Knicks were dominating the Lakers on the boards!
Unable to stand it any longer, Harris, less than three minutes into the game, replaced Ceballos with Corie Blount to strengthen the interior height and physicality, to contend with the Knicks' three big men: Ewing, Oakley, and Larry Johnson!
This was a common tactic in the league!
If the opponent stacked the paint, they would do the same.
Two stacks of big men battled fiercely inside the paint, unwilling to utilize outside shooters, not trusting their erratic shots...
After the timeout, O'Neal still couldn't break through the Knicks' triple threat. Instead, Larry Johnson received a perfect pass from Charlie Ward and drove to the basket for a one-handed dunk!
With nearly four minutes gone in the first quarter, the Knicks led the Lakers 8-0, with the Lakers yet to score.
He Ximeng couldn't help but shout from the bench: "In-out-in! It's too crowded inside, why don't you take it outside?"
Harris, pacing the sideline, happened to walk past He Ximeng and shot him a glare. Then, he shouted to O'Neal, who was pounding the ball inside, "Out."
O'Neal, hearing his coach's call, passed the ball to Van Exel on the perimeter!
Van Exel didn't hesitate and took the shot, but unfortunately, the ball bounced off the rim.
"Sigh, why didn't you pass it back inside?" He Ximeng muttered again.
Harris looked back at He Ximeng and beckoned him over.
"Can you help O'Neal break through?"
"Of course!" He Ximeng readily agreed. In this situation, he had to agree, whether he could or not!
"Okay! Get ready to play, and don't disappoint me!"
"You got it!" He Ximeng said, taking off his jacket to reveal his number 4 jersey.
Kobe stared dumbfounded as he took He Ximeng's jacket and couldn't help but quip, "Can you even do that?"
Fortunately, the Knicks' fast break didn't materialize, and the score remained 8-0. If the Knicks had scored on this possession, the Lakers would have been down by double digits from the start, which would have been a real blow to their pride...
As soon as He Ximeng entered the game, he went to O'Neal's side and whispered a few words.
Then, He Ximeng made a lob pass to O'Neal inside, followed by a back cut into the paint. O'Neal, prepared, made a bounce pass to the cutting He Ximeng!
He Ximeng took one dribble, stopped abruptly, and then threw up a high lob shot towards the rim. After passing to He Ximeng, O'Neal spun past Ewing, cut to the basket, and soared through the air, catching the lob pass with both hands over Oakley for a thunderous dunk...
After nearly four minutes of play, O'Neal finally helped the Lakers break their scoring drought!
"Damn! Why did Van Exel's passes look so difficult, but it became so easy when it got to number 4, Ximeng?"
"Who cares! We're here to watch He Ximeng, not Van Exel..."
In the stands, a group of Chinese fans unfurled a banner that read "We Love Ximeng."
Many Chinese and Chinese Americans lived in New York and were originally Knicks fans. However, today, they wore Lakers number 4 jerseys to cheer for He Ximeng, a temporary act of betrayal.
Turning around, the Knicks made a passing turnover. Ewing's interior pass to Oakley was stolen by Campbell. Corie Blount scrambled for the loose ball and passed it to He Ximeng. He Ximeng dribbled up the court, attempting a fast break, but Oakley suddenly came from the side and knocked He Ximeng flying...
The referee's whistle blew, and Oakley was called for an offensive foul.
The moment he was knocked flying by Oakley, He Ximeng felt like he had been in a car accident, unable to react and flying sideways.
In this play, Oakley was clearly going for the man, not the ball. If this were in Los Angeles, this foul would have been more than just a simple offensive foul...
"Damn it, Campbell stole the ball from you, not me. Why are you taking it out on me? Do you think I'm an easy target?"
Lying on the ground in a daze, He Ximeng couldn't help but curse Oakley's ancestors.
Oakley, the bodyguard who was Michael Jordan's personal escort during his first three-peat, was known in the league as a notorious enforcer.
He Ximeng's current physique, though much improved from his previous life, still couldn't withstand an intentional collision from an enforcer like Oakley...
O'Neal's large face appeared directly above He Ximeng's vision: "Hello? Kid, can you still stand up and play?"