The first quarter ended with the score at 33:31, the Magic leading the Spurs by 2 points.
Logically speaking, the Spurs' offense wasn't too bad, and although their defense wasn't effective, the players were still trying their best.
It was just that when their shooting touch arrived, neither McGrady nor Hill were easy opponents.
During the rotation, just as McGrady and Hill went off to rest, the Magic brought on a streaky player, Troy Hudson!
Hudson, with his signature dirty dreadlocks, would drive to the basket regardless of who was defending him!
This time, even when Popovich brought on Arenas, it didn't help!
Hudson was so wild he even scared himself, so who cared who was in front of him?
As a result, the Spurs didn't gain much advantage during the rotation, and the two teams battled all the way to the final minute of the last quarter.
98:95, the Magic still tenaciously led the Spurs by 3 points!
He Xi Meng and Duncan executed a small play. He Xi Meng passed back to Duncan, who drove to the basket, drawing a foul from Hill!
Duncan went to the free-throw line and sank both shots, narrowing the gap to 1 point.
But in the next possession, McGrady immediately drove to the basket and scored, and He Xi Meng's attempt to steal the ball failed, also resulting in a foul called by the referee.
McGrady went to the free-throw line and made both shots, restoring the 3-point difference.
With 40 seconds left in the game, Popovich drew up a three-point play.
The Spurs first passed the ball inside to Duncan, feigning a quick two-point attempt. After Duncan drew the Magic's defense in, he passed to Bowen, who was setting up at the corner. Bowen didn't shoot, but held the ball for a moment, drawing McGrady from the wing before passing to He Xi Meng, who ran over to receive the ball!
When it came to receiving a three-pointer after an off-ball screen, He Xi Meng was a standout, not just on the Spurs but in the entire league!
On this play, Ginobili delayed Armstrong, who couldn't catch up. McGrady initially went to guard Bowen, and by the time he recovered, he couldn't match He Xi Meng's rhythm. He could only watch helplessly as He Xi Meng made the three-pointer!
100:100!
With only 26 seconds left in the game, the Spurs had once again tied the score.
The Magic's coach Rivers was forced to call a timeout to set up their final offensive play.
On the Spurs' side, Popovich roared, "We don't need overtime! If we can defend this Magic possession, we'll still have time for a final shot and aim to win in regulation... I hate playing overtime..."
Before this, He Xi Meng hadn't realized the old man hated overtime so much... But since the old man said so, He Xi Meng just accepted it, who was he to argue with the head coach?
However, defending McGrady and Hill, who were both on fire today, didn't seem like an easy task. Both were top-tier shooters with many weapons at their disposal. You couldn't be sure if they'd go for a pull-up jumper or drive to the basket! You couldn't even be sure if McGrady or Hill would take the final shot...
But since Popovich was roaring, the players all put in twelve points of spirit, ready to face the Magic's unpredictable final attack.
Armstrong inbounded the ball from the sideline. McGrady and Hill both stepped forward to receive it, but in the end, Armstrong passed it to McGrady!
Ginobili's burden was heavier!
Throughout the entire game today, Ginobili hadn't managed to significantly disrupt McGrady's mid-range shots. It wasn't that Ginobili didn't want to, but McGrady's shot was so peculiar that it was impossible to contest... McGrady's rhythm was unlike anyone else's...
Ginobili was extremely nervous on this play, worried about another irrational pull-up from McGrady. But to his surprise, McGrady, in pursuit of a higher success rate, abandoned the pull-up jumper and opted for a drive to the basket!
Ginobili was actually beaten by McGrady's first step, but he felt a sense of relief.
Because once McGrady entered the Spurs' paint, Ginobili wouldn't be fighting alone.
As expected, the moment McGrady started his move to the side, Duncan and David Robinson simultaneously slid over from both sides. Duncan, with his quick footwork, directly blocked McGrady's path, while David Robinson, with his slower steps, positioned himself behind McGrady.
But sometimes, being a step slower wasn't a bad thing!
On this play, McGrady evaded Duncan's block in front, but couldn't evade David Robinson, who came up from behind...
After David Robinson blocked McGrady's shot, the ball was recovered by Hill, who followed up.
Hill caught the ball, turned around, and attempted a post-up second-chance shot, but the ball slipped out of the rim.
The Magic had missed two chances to seal the win against the Spurs consecutively.
Duncan grabbed the rebound, and with only 2.7 seconds left in the game!
2.7 seconds was barely enough time for a complete offensive play, but more than enough for a game-winning shot!
Popovich gave He Xi Meng the inbound pass, but the final shot was designated for Duncan!
This meant He Xi Meng would immediately run to receive the ball and, within two seconds, safely deliver it to Duncan for the game-winning shot!
"Of course, if there isn't enough time, you can also make a decisive shot, Xi Meng!"
Fortunately, Popovich added a last sentence, giving He Xi Meng some on-court decision-making power, otherwise, such a rigid strategy might have been figured out by the Magic.
Since He Xi Meng also had the option to shoot, he immediately dribbled towards the three-point line at the top of the arc as soon as he received the ball!
The top of the arc was the spot where most perimeter players had the highest shooting percentage. More importantly, the top of the arc offered the widest field of vision and the most room for passes!
The Magic's head coach predicted that the Spurs would give the final shot to Duncan. However, they didn't expect He Xi Meng to adopt a do-or-die stance, which made the Magic players hesitant.
As Armstrong chased after He Xi Meng, McGrady couldn't help but join in the effort to contain him!
Seeing that his fake seemed effective and Duncan had already set up position at the edge of the paint, He Xi Meng made a mid-air pass, accurately delivering the ball to Duncan!
Duncan leaned on Grant, caught the ball, turned, and shot as the countdown clock sounded... The entire motion was fluid, without any hesitation or pause...
Under the expectant gaze of all the Spurs fans, the ball swished through the net!
102:100!
The Spurs, having been pushed to the brink by the Magic for almost the entire game, finally staged a comeback and secured a buzzer-beating victory with just 2.7 seconds left!