After being thoroughly beaten by the Spurs in the first game, the SuperSonics' management couldn't stand it.
If they continued playing at this pace, not only would the team be swept out of the playoffs by the Spurs, but more importantly, for Game 3, a home game, few fans would be willing to spend money to buy tickets to watch.
With no other choice, the management proactively approached Vin Baker and Lewis, persuading them to return from injury to fight for Seattle!
However, even with injured players Lewis and Vin Baker returning, they couldn't stop the "god-slaying, Buddha-slaying" Duncan!
Duncan dominated Vin Baker and Lewis in this game, achieving an all-around stat line of 32 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 6 blocks!
He Xi Meng primarily played observer today, focusing on harassing Payton and keeping him occupied, preventing him from playing at full strength. This alone was enough to help the Spurs win Game 2.
98:90, the Spurs took another victory, leading 2:0 and pushing the SuperSonics to the brink of elimination.
Just as the SuperSonics were at a loss and the fans in San Antonio were preparing to celebrate the Spurs' sweep into the next round, an unexpected event occurred!
David Robinson was not injured, but something happened within Duncan's family: his father was critically ill!
Indeed, this past summer, Duncan urgently proposed to Amy precisely to fulfill his father's wish of getting married and establishing a family while he was still lucid.
Duncan achieved this, and Old Duncan was deeply gratified.
Now, Old Duncan's life was nearing its end, and the hospital had issued a critical illness notice.
Duncan had originally planned to play Game 3, defeat the SuperSonics decisively, and then visit his father in the hospital. However, He Xi Meng urged him to go immediately, not to miss their final moments.
He assured them that he would handle the SuperSonics and would not let the team fall into danger.
Therefore, for Game 3, the Spurs had to face the SuperSonics without Duncan!
In the original timeline, due to David Robinson's injury and Duncan's absence, the Spurs were pushed to a Game 5 by the SuperSonics. Had Duncan not returned for the final game, the Spurs would have nearly stumbled in the first round.
However, the Spurs' situation now was far better than in the original history.
Not only was David Robinson's back injury not career-ending due to Popovich's year of conditioning and protection, but the Spurs' roster also featured the formidable inside-outside combination of He Xi Meng and Yao Ming!
He Xi Meng was already a top point guard in the league, his overall ability surpassing that of the opposing Payton.
And though Yao Ming was still young, he was superior to Malik Rose and could form a weakened version of the Spurs' twin towers with David Robinson!
"The Spurs cannot defeat us so easily! We are confident in stopping them on our home court! We will achieve victory..."
Before the official start of Game 3, Payton made strong remarks to the media. This was partly to motivate himself and his teammates, and partly because Payton might have believed that with the home-court advantage and Duncan's absence, the SuperSonics could at least secure a resounding victory...
However, Payton thought too much!
He Xi Meng directly displayed the aura of the league's three-point king, sinking 9 three-pointers in this game and scoring a game-high 38 points! In addition, he added 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. This performance completely overwhelmed the SuperSonics.
But, if the Spurs had only He Xi Meng performing, the SuperSonics could have managed to hold on, as it's still difficult for one person to defeat an entire team.
However, what the SuperSonics didn't expect was that Yao Ming, another Chinese player starting in place of Duncan, also exploded!
Just as the SuperSonics were underestimating this lanky rookie, believing he wouldn't pose a significant threat to their interior, Yao Ming scored the second-highest points in the game with 28! Additionally, he contributed 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks!
The SuperSonics were stunned, and the Seattle fans in attendance were also dumbfounded!
Weren't they told that with Duncan out, the home team would thrash the Spurs?
How did it turn into another one-sided game?
Wasn't that Spurs number 11 a rookie this year? How could he play more ferociously and shoot more accurately than David Robinson?
By the end of the game, Yao Ming shot 12 times and made 8, and from the free-throw line, he shot 13 and missed only 1, with a terrifyingly high shooting percentage! His scoring efficiency was astonishing!
Under the leadership of He Xi Meng and Yao Ming, the Spurs not only withstood the counterattacks of Payton and Lewis but also successfully maintained their lead until the end!
98:94, the Spurs took another game, sweeping the SuperSonics without Duncan.
Even after the game ended, Payton struggled to comprehend how he had lost this game.
He had a vague premonition of He Xi Meng going off, but how could that number 11 rookie replicate Duncan's performance?
Yet, reality was this cruel. Payton and the SuperSonics lost, utterly defenseless...
In other Western Conference matchups, the Lakers swept the Trail Blazers 3:0.
Bonzi Wells, on whom the Trail Blazers had placed great hopes, was thoroughly outplayed by Kobe.
In their three matchups, in the first game, Kobe scored 34 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, while Bonzi Wells had only 8 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, and 0 blocks.
In the second game, Kobe scored 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals, while Bonzi Wells had only 10 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists.
In the third game, Kobe scored 25 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Bonzi Wells performed slightly better, but still only managed 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals.
In the third game, the Trail Blazers had a chance to win.
With only 10 seconds left in the game, the Trail Blazers led the Lakers 91:89 by 2 points.
Unfortunately, on the Lakers' final possession, Kobe drove to the basket and, at the last moment, passed to Horry on the wing. Horry was brave enough to shoot, and with a three-pointer, he semi-clinched the game on the Trail Blazers' home court!
92:91, the Lakers came from behind to win and complete the sweep.
The Mavericks also held a significant advantage in their matchup against the Timberwolves!
Dirk Nowitzki was unstoppable, dominating all three games!
In the first game, Nowitzki scored 33 points and 15 rebounds!
In the second game, Nowitzki scored 31 points and 15 rebounds!
In the third game, Nowitzki scored 39 points and 17 rebounds!
Although "The Big Ticket" Garnett also performed well in these three games, he was still a step behind the ferocious German machine.
The Timberwolves' defense had significant problems, allowing Nowitzki to unleash his firepower!
And once the Mavericks got into a comfortable offensive rhythm, only the Spurs, Lakers, and Kings in the entire league could match their scoring firepower!
All other teams, including the Timberwolves, had to step aside.
The biggest mistake the Timberwolves made was not realizing they shouldn't try to speed up and go blow-for-blow with the Mavericks.
The result was chaos, a 0:3 sweep by the Mavericks, sending them out of the playoffs...