He Xi Meng's talent was beyond question, just as Duncan's was.
Garnett, Parker, and Yao Ming had all been tested in the NBA Finals more than once. Whether they were superstars or not was a separate matter, but they were all players who could withstand pressure.
The biggest uncertainty now was Carter, who had joined the Celtics this season!
This was Carter's first NBA Finals. Therefore, it wasn't just He Xi Meng, but even Carter himself, who was unsure if he could handle the immense pressure in such a crucial moment… Facts would speak for themselves, and skill would determine the outcome!
In the final quarter, Carter didn't have a superhuman performance, but he didn't falter either.
At the decisive moment, Carter displayed the demeanor of a veteran leader, with measured advances and retreats. He didn't vie for ball possession with He Xi Meng, nor did he shy away from shooting. He excellently fulfilled his role as the second option, providing solid support while He Xi Meng battled Duncan. Simultaneously, when He Xi Meng passed him the ball, Carter didn't hesitate, taking the shot decisively when necessary!
With Carter's assistance, He Xi Meng successfully withstood the impact of the resilient 'Stone Buddha.' The score between the two teams reached 100-100!
Duncan had exploded in the second half, scoring 36 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks!
He Xi Meng, who primarily exploded in the first and fourth quarters, had already amassed 35 points, 12 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals!
The two main protagonists had fought to a standstill.
The Spurs, leveraging their "slight" home-court advantage, saw Ginobili draw two fouls, converting both free throws. The score became 102-100, with the Spurs leading the Celtics by 2 points.
With less than half a minute left in the game, the Celtics had possession. He Xi Meng held the ball to attack. Josh Smith set a high pick-and-roll for He Xi Meng and then rolled to the basket.
Duncan simultaneously retreated, wary of He Xi Meng's drive while also guarding against Josh Smith's direct charge to the rim…
Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred!
As Duncan backpedaled, he tripped over the charging Josh Smith, and they tumbled together. The Spurs' paint instantly descended into chaos.
He Xi Meng secured the ball amidst the melee. Seeing that the referees hadn't blown their whistles, he immediately intended to drive to the basket, taking advantage of the confusion.
However, during his drive, He Xi Meng saw Duncan clutching his right knee in apparent pain. A bad omen struck him…
Without a second thought, He Xi Meng stopped his drive, abandoned this excellent scoring opportunity, and called for a timeout.
The referee in charge, Crawford, was bewildered: "You're not going for such a clear opportunity? Are you kidding me?"
"Of course not!" He Xi Meng made a firm "T" gesture for a timeout request. Crawford shook his head and blew the whistle.
After the timeout, He Xi Meng handed the ball to Crawford and then turned to run towards Duncan, kneeling on the floor to ask him about his condition.
Duncan gasped in pain, shaking his head, "Not good! I might be done for…"
"No! The game isn't over yet! I don't want to win by taking advantage of you…"
"It seems… this advantage… you'll have to take it…"
Crawford, now realizing the gravity of the situation, arrived at Duncan's side with the team doctors. He immediately cleared the players surrounding Duncan, including He Xi Meng.
However, He Xi Meng did not, like the other Celtics players, leave Duncan and return to the visitors' bench.
He resolutely joined the Spurs players, standing on the periphery, anxiously awaiting the team doctors' diagnosis, blending in seamlessly.
The team doctors' prognosis was grim. Duncan had likely re-injured an old wound, and he would definitely not be able to continue playing in this game. Whether he could play in future games would depend on further examination after the match…
Duncan, having somewhat recovered, stood up with the help of He Xi Meng and Ginobili, hopping on one leg back to the bench.
A number 4 from the Celtics and a number 20 from the Spurs were helping a number 21 from the Spurs.
The scene was somewhat peculiar yet remarkably fitting.
The fans in San Antonio wore expressions of worry, but they collectively stood up to applaud and cheer for Duncan, hoping he would recover from his injury and return to the court as soon as possible.
The team doctor advised Duncan to return to the locker room for treatment, but Duncan refused, determined to stay on the sidelines and accompany his teammates for the final minute of the game.
With the game nearing its end, this short period wouldn't exacerbate his injury. The team doctor agreed to Duncan's request for emergency treatment on the sideline.
He Xi Meng returned to his bench with a grim expression.
The Celtics players all looked at He Xi Meng. No one spoke, but their eyes conveyed the same message: they needed a definitive word from He Xi Meng.
"Don't worry! My relationship with Tim is strong, but I won't hold back in the game! Without Tim, we've got this win!"
With He Xi Meng's words, the Celtics players were reassured.
He Xi Meng's decision to forgo the offense earlier was not the choice of a mature team leader.
In the face of team interests, all personal friendships should take a backseat.
However, given the respect He Xi Meng had earned throughout the season with the Celtics, no one dared to question his decision.
Even if someone harbored doubts, they wouldn't dare to voice them openly.
He Xi Meng had no intention of explaining further. Yao Ming didn't need explanations, nor did the rookies or the veterans. He simply turned to Carter and said earnestly, "Trust me! I can still lead this team to victory!"
"Of course! I trust you unconditionally! Do what you need to do!" Carter immediately extended his right hand, giving He Xi Meng his unwavering support.
After the timeout, the Celtics resumed their offense.
Due to the preceding scramble, the Celtics had very little offensive time left.
Kevin Martin inbounded the ball from the baseline. He Xi Meng attempted to receive the pass near the basket but was heavily guarded by the Spurs.
Kevin Martin then passed the ball to Carter, who was standing beyond the three-point line. Carter held the ball to steady the play.
He Xi Meng cut along the baseline, seemingly heading towards the weak-side corner, but instead, he made a sharp turn and used Yao Ming's off-ball screen to head towards the three-point line on the left wing!
As He Xi Meng arrived, Carter immediately passed the ball into his hands.
He Xi Meng caught the ball, stopped abruptly, and with Bowen closing in, he turned and shot, executing the play flawlessly!
Bowen's desperate lunge was unable to disrupt He Xi Meng's high-arcing, confident shot!
The 24-second shot clock expired as He Xi Meng's three-pointer went in!
103-102!
He Xi Meng kept his word.
Instead of opting for a two-point layup to capitalize on Duncan's injury, he turned around and hit an improbable three-pointer, giving the Celtics 3 points!
Not only did he erase the deficit, but he also successfully put the Celtics ahead by 1 point!
With only 6 seconds remaining, the Spurs trailed by 1 point, facing a desperate situation!