Facing the Rockets' aggressive and fierce defense, He Ximeng directly entered his strongest scoring mode!
He Ximeng's strongest scoring mode was not directly attacking the basket, but firing from anywhere on the three-point line! He shot wildly from one, two, or even three steps beyond the three-point arc!
Although his overall shooting percentage was not as good as in the first half, He Ximeng still made 5 three-pointers and 6 free throws in the second half!
He Ximeng's final game statistics remained at 40 minutes played, 19 of 12 field goals, 11 of 17 three-pointers, and 4 of 4 free throws, scoring an incredible 39 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds! This performance broke several of his personal records, including his highest single-game score, most three-pointers in a single game, and most free throws in a single game.
By the end of the game, O'Neal was having fun! This was because 7 of the 12 baskets He Ximeng made were assisted by O'Neal!
He Ximeng would pass the ball to O'Neal, who would dribble to draw the Rockets' defensive attention, then pass to He Ximeng, who had found space on the wing. He Ximeng would catch the ball and shoot, and score!
The strategy was simple, but it was this very simplicity that dismantled the Rockets!
Throughout the game, O'Neal recorded 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, narrowly missing out on his first career triple-double with points, rebounds, and assists.
113:95, the Lakers decisively defeated the Rockets, avenging their four losses to the Rockets last season.
He Ximeng and O'Neal combined for 63 points, overwhelming the Rockets' three veteran stars!
At the post-game press conference, O'Neal, with a wide grin, joked that the game was incredibly fun!
"It's a magical feeling! It reminds me of when I was 13 years old. Back then, I was the point guard for my school team... Yes, I know how to pass! But a year later, I grew from 1.7 meters to over 2 meters... So, unfortunately, I had to leave my favorite position, point guard, and become a pure center, transitioning from a No. 1 position player to a No. 5 position player. Do you know that pain? Over a decade later, I still dream of playing point guard again... Thanks to Ximeng, you helped me relive that dream today... I love passing to you..."
As he spoke, O'Neal made a large heart gesture towards He Ximeng, who was on the other side of Harris, and then, laughing, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water. The "slender" bottle looked like a small vial of oral medicine in O'Neal's massive hand.
He Ximeng, suppressing his urge to burst out laughing, took the microphone to answer reporters' questions.
This was He Ximeng's first post-game press conference as a "player." Coach Harris stood beside him, kindly reminding him, "Don't be nervous! Just say whatever comes to mind..."
He Ximeng, however, did not just say whatever came to mind. He attributed all the credit for his excellent performance to Coach Harris's tutelage.
"I am very fortunate to have met a great coach like Mr. Harris at the beginning of my career! Yes, in my opinion, Mr. Harris deserves the title of 'great'! He taught me how to read the game, how to control the game, and how to compete with the great players in the league... My rapid progress is inseparable from Coach Harris's meticulous guidance and his immeasurable trust..."
He Ximeng paused, giving Harris a look of "gratitude." Harris returned He Ximeng a look of "感动" (moved) and "赞许" (approval).
As a rookie participating in his first team press conference, He Ximeng's words were clearly going off-topic. He didn't talk about the game at all, spending most of his time thanking and praising Coach Harris. While there were elements of flattery, no one suspected He Ximeng had ulterior motives. Everyone naturally interpreted He Ximeng's words as the excited expression of a Chinese player, who was not highly regarded, finally about to make a name for himself in the league through his own efforts and the coach's appreciation.
"In my future career, I will continue to follow Coach Harris's guidance and become stronger step by step... I believe that under his leadership, our team will soon be able to contend for a championship."
"Let me add something!" O'Neal, having quickly finished his "oral medicine," had been somewhat bored listening to He Ximeng praise Harris. When the topic of championship arose, O'Neal couldn't resist grabbing a microphone to add his input.
"I believe we are ready to contend for the championship! This season..."
Indeed, the Big Diesel's confidence was top-notch in the league.
That night, in faraway Los Angeles and even further across the ocean, basketball reporters who learned of the game's outcome were in a frenzy, writing with passionate fervor!
"He Mania Sweeps Houston!"
"Purple and Gold New Star Shines in Houston!"
"The Younger Generation Overtakes the Old, Rockets' Three Veterans Washed Ashore..."
Among Chinese fans, after this game, no one ever again said He Ximeng was "not sharp enough offensively, lacked scoring ability, or was hesitant in his shots." It was no longer a question of *if* he could score, but *if* he wanted to.
As for the Los Angeles media, they had initially intended to define He Ximeng as a pure point guard. However, with this performance, the definition of He Ximeng clearly needed to be rewritten.
While things were buzzing on the sidelines, He Ximeng and his teammates were unaware. The Lakers' focus was entirely on their next opponent in this three-game road trip.
Of the Texas trio, the Lakers had already defeated two. The last remaining opponent was the Spurs, a new team that had tanked the hardest last year and was still in the process of integrating this season.
Despite being a new team, the Spurs showed no signs of being one. In the 6 games played so far, the Spurs were 6-0, leading the entire league! Their opponents in these 6 games were not all weak teams; they included strong contenders like the Jazz and near-strong teams like the Timberwolves.
The undisputed top pick, Duncan, had immediately delivered a double-double average of 18 points and 10 rebounds in his first six games, making teams that didn't tank last year regret their decisions immensely.
The Lakers, although also undefeated, had played one less game, with a perfect 5-0 record.
This Western Conference showdown was a test for both the Spurs and the Lakers in the new season!
If the Spurs could defeat the Lakers, it would mean the Spurs were guaranteed a playoff spot this season.
If the Lakers could defeat the Spurs, it would indicate that the Lakers were contenders for the Finals this season. This was because consecutive road games were the ultimate test of a team's depth and resilience! The intensity of these games was essentially on par with playoff intensity.