Li Feng and Green, in particular, were the biggest contributors in this game.
Green not only made two rare three-pointers but also played a significant role on defense, especially in interior help defense, repeatedly disrupting James's tank-like drives.
Green showed his toughness even in his rookie season.
Li Feng was the assurance for the Knicks on both offense and defense, having already scored 40 points, the highest on the court.
Both teams had now fielded their starting lineups for the final push.
Heat head coach Spoelstra showed no signs of complacency; he understood Li Feng's capabilities better than anyone.
He wouldn't let his guard down until his team had secured four wins.
James and Wade felt the same. Although James had appeared arrogant in his pre-game interview, he possessed extremely high basketball IQ and a strong understanding of the overall game.
He would ensure his team secured two home wins to guarantee a smooth advancement in the playoffs.
The Knicks were on offense.
Li Feng brought the ball past half-court. Facing a double-team from Battier and Wade, he passed the ball to Curry, making a gesture.
This gesture signaled a play where Li Feng would break free without the ball, make a cut, and then Curry would pass it back.
Li Feng occasionally used this move during games, relying on the element of surprise.
However, this play was seen through by James.
As Li Feng made a backdoor cut along the baseline, James suddenly surged forward, forcefully pushing Li Feng out of bounds.
Since this was in the referee's blind spot and his action was subtle, the referee did not call a foul.
Li Feng hadn't expected James to suddenly appear and was caught off guard, losing his balance and crashing into a chair.
*Bang!*
A cut opened on Li Feng's forehead, and blood immediately began to flow.
Seeing the blood, the referee finally called a timeout to allow Li Feng to tend to his wound.
The cut on his forehead wouldn't affect his ability to play, but it ignited Li Feng's fury.
He sat on the sidelines, clenching his fists, his teeth grinding, his eyes red as if they could spew fire!
Even the team doctor was a bit intimidated; it was the first time he had ever seen Li Feng like this.
After the wound was treated, the game resumed!
Li Feng re-entered the court and walked up to James, shouting loudly, "I will definitely win this game today!"
James was also startled by Li Feng's demeanor, but he believed the Heat were the stronger team, and Li Feng's individual effort would be futile.
So, he immediately retorted, "Are you dazed from the collision? Think you can make a comeback? Dream on!"
Li Feng offered no reply.
The Knicks continued their offensive possession, with 9 seconds left on the clock.
Li Feng actively called for the ball at the top of the arc. Bill Walker inbounded the ball from the sideline and passed it to Li Feng.
Facing the double-team, Li Feng didn't pass again. Instead, he executed two consecutive spin moves, shaking off Wade and Battier!
This was the first time Li Feng had used this move to get past an opponent.
Normally, Li Feng's signature crossover combined with a spin move was enough to shake off defenders.
But the duo of Wade and Battier was too difficult to handle, so Li Feng used two spin moves.
Executing two consecutive spin moves demanded extreme physical prowess. Even Tony Parker, known for his quickness, only used one.
Because performing two spin moves in a row would cause a player to lose balance and control of the ball.
Yet, Li Feng managed to execute the move with such fluidity, showcasing his truly elite talent!
After shaking off both defenders, Li Feng, his eyes blazing, drove towards the basket.
James immediately came to help defend.
Li Feng showed no intention of avoiding contact. He glanced at the basket and made a dribbling motion as if preparing to shoot.
Having been hit by Li Feng's mid-range jumpers twice before, James reflexively jumped.
Li Feng seized the opportunity, using a "onacci" move to get past James and drive to the basket.
The final line of defense was Bosh!
Chris Bosh had officially transitioned to center this season; he had previously played power forward.
Because he had moved to the center position, the Heat's mobility had increased. As soon as Li Feng got past James, Bosh rotated over.
Li Feng still chose not to pass, truly transforming into "Crazy Li."
"You're asking for it!"
Li Feng roared and leaped into the air, the ball in his right hand, slamming it towards the rim!
Bosh, with his height and long arms, desperately tried to block the shot. However, Li Feng's explosive verticality and nimble hand movement in the air allowed him to evade Bosh, who ultimately became a backdrop for Li Feng's dunk!
*Bang!*
*Thump!*
Bosh's massive frame was sent crashing to the ground by Li Feng!
The referee hesitated for a moment before pointing at Bosh, calling him for an offensive foul.
And-one!
The Heat's home arena fell silent, the crowd stunned by Li Feng's intensity!
It felt like he was taking on the entire team alone...
Li Feng's Knicks teammates were also energized by his intensity, rushing over to chest bump him with shouts of encouragement!
"Nice one, Feng Ge!"
"Feng Ge, you're amazing!"
"That was incredible!"
...
Although Li Feng was in a frenzy, he remained calm internally. He was indeed angry, but he hoped that his aggression would unleash his teammates' potential and lead them to victory.
He sank the free throw.
The score became 96-93, with the Knicks trailing by only 3 points.
The Heat players also grew tense. James and Wade exchanged glances, their brows furrowed.
Wade brought the ball up the court, and Li Feng closed in to defend him tightly.
Since Li Feng had just taken on five opponents and driven past multiple players, Wade felt compelled to respond.
*Swish!*
Wade employed his signature move, leaning his body to the extreme, flying low to the ground, attempting to drive past Li Feng on the right.
He had used this move to get past Li Feng several times before; it was his go-to weapon.
Ever since his knee had recovered, Wade had been playing like a fish in water, executing all his moves to perfection.
To his surprise, this time Li Feng had anticipated his move. The moment Wade changed direction, his body quickly lunged towards the ground, his long arm reaching out and hooking the ball with a *snap!*
He had stolen the ball from Wade!
Wade was already operating at his physical limit, his body still leaning. When he realized the ball was gone, he immediately went for the steal back.
But Li Feng's speed was too great. In the blink of an eye, he was already more than a meter behind him.
Wade's move was too aggressive, and he stumbled and fell to the ground.
After being stripped of the ball and then falling, it was quite an embarrassing situation.
Li Feng, having stolen the ball, quickly accelerated up the court. No Heat player could react in time.
*Swish!*
Li Feng drove to the basket alone, once again performing a "carolina-style" dunk!
If this had been a home game in New York, the crowd would have erupted in cheers, and the arena would have been deafened by the roar.
However, this was an away game, and the spectators were stunned into silence.
Yet, a few audience members offered polite applause, appreciating Li Feng's dunk.
Wade's expression was grim.
Being directly stripped by an opponent during a one-on-one duel between superstars was indeed embarrassing.
96-95. Li Feng's two consecutive possessions had narrowed the deficit to just 1 point.
Spoelstra was extremely anxious. With less than 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, if the Knicks managed to tie or take the lead, the Heat would have no chance to retaliate.
This wouldn't do!
He couldn't let the Knicks gain momentum!
Spoelstra quickly called a timeout.
Wade was visibly annoyed, feeling that Spoelstra shouldn't have called a timeout and that he wanted to score back.
He puffed out his cheeks and walked to the sideline huffily. Spoelstra patted his arm comfortingly, urging him to calm down.
Li Feng excitedly chest-bumped his teammates, roaring and motivating them.
Despite playing on the road, the entire team had adapted to the away atmosphere by this point and was no longer as nervous.
Coach D'Antoni also keenly observed the shift in momentum. Li Feng's furious collision with James had ignited his anger and his fighting spirit!
There was still hope; it wasn't over yet!
During the timeout, D'Antoni didn't mention any tactics or strategies. He simply rallied the team, delivering a rousing speech.
"Kids, this is our second road game. We must take this victory!"
"Let them see that we, the uncrowned champions, are not to be trifled with!"
"If we don't win this game today, we'll be letting Li Feng down!"
...
Under D'Antoni's fiery encouragement, the Knicks players were all brimming with energy, as if they had received a jolt of adrenaline.
Li Feng, sitting on the bench, also maintained a fierce gaze, ready for battle.
However, internally, he couldn't help but suppress a chuckle, finding D'Antoni to be a real talent. If he were in China, he might even be good at network marketing.
As the timeout concluded, both teams' starting players returned to the court.
The Heat players, under Spoelstra's guidance, were much calmer. After all, they had the advantage in terms of talent, and as long as they played normally, winning the game shouldn't be an issue.
Wade brought the ball upcourt again. Facing Li Feng's man-to-man defense, Wade cautiously called for a screen, with Bosh stepping up to block Li Feng.
Nikola Jokic did not come out to double-team. Since Wade's long-range shooting ability was average, Jokic focused on defending the paint.
Wade drove to the edge of the paint and was about to attempt a floater when Bill Walker came to help defend.
At this moment, James immediately cut towards the basket. Wade passed him the ball.
James's off-ball game was average, but when he used it, it was surprisingly effective.
Especially his chemistry with Wade, which was incredibly默契 (mòqì - tacit understanding/chemistry).
Many "James-Wade" fans aptly described them as a "couple."
Unexpectedly, the moment James received the ball, Green emerged from somewhere, swiping at the ball with a big hand, *snap!*
He had managed to steal the ball from James!
James reacted quickly and immediately tried to steal it back!
*Bang!*
The two collided. Green, holding the ball, fell to the ground, rolling several times.
This time, the referee didn't hesitate, blowing the whistle, *doot—*, and signaling a foul on James.
The referee had already let James off the hook when he had pushed Li Feng flying earlier.
If he had been biased again now, it would have been completely indefensible.
Green, though appearing to have fallen clumsily, was actually putting on a bit of a show.
When Li Feng went to help him up, Green winked at Li Feng.
It was as if he was saying: "How was that? Did I perform well?"
Li Feng gently patted his back without saying a word; everything was understood.
James was furious, spreading his hands and shouting at the referee, but the referee remained unmoved.
If it had been someone else, they might have been called for a technical foul. But this was a Heat home game, and the referees were hesitant to make controversial calls.
Having reached his foul limit, Green stepped up to the free-throw line.
He made one of two free throws.
96 all!
With 4 minutes and 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the two teams were tied once again!
For the Knicks players, this tie was profoundly significant!
They had been swept by the Heat in the regular season, with three of those losses being blowouts.
Consequently, many players harbored a sense of fear towards the Heat.
This tie made those Knicks players realize that the Heat were not an invincible force, and there was still a chance!
Spoelstra stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, a dark cloud on his face. He hadn't anticipated that Li Feng's outburst would trigger a chain reaction.
All the Knicks players seemed to have been injected with adrenaline and were unstoppable.
Meanwhile, the Heat players seemed bewildered.
Alas... LeBron, LeBron, why did you have to bump into Li Feng like that earlier?
The Heat initiated their next offensive play.
Perhaps due to their failure in the previous two possessions, Wade relinquished ball-handling duties, allowing James to bring the ball up from the backcourt.
Li Feng yelled out, and Bill Walker rushed to the frontcourt, applying tight pressure on James.
This was a change in tempo and a strategic move, not only to consume the opponent's offensive time but also to get under their skin.
As expected, James seemed a bit flustered.
After crossing half-court, Battier stepped up to screen Bill Walker, allowing James to drive into the paint.
Green once again came to help defend, positioning himself in front of James.
James scanned the court and noticed Bosh subtly retreating to the corner.
With that, he flicked his right wrist, passing the ball to him.
Jokic wasn't close enough to contest effectively, so he could only offer a token interference.
*Clang!*
Unfortunately, Bosh's three-point attempt hit the iron.
As James went to grab the rebound, Green firmly blocked him. Li Feng soared into the air and secured the rebound.
This demonstrated the trust and chemistry between teammates.
Green blocking James to allow Li Feng to grab the rebound meant Green's statistics wouldn't change, but the team gained an extra offensive opportunity!
Li Feng, having grabbed the rebound, didn't hesitate. He immediately launched a long pass to Curry, who was near the top of the arc.
Wade rushed to chase him down, but Curry, like a phantom, swiftly crossed half-court and, before Wade could impede him, pulled up for a three-pointer!
Curry had played averagely in the first three quarters because he was tightly guarded and had limited shooting opportunities.
However, in critical moments, Curry was unfazed, executing with precision!
*Swish!*
Like a cascading waterfall from three thousand feet, it seemed like a three-pointer descending from the heavens!
He made it!
The continuous splash of the Splash Brothers resonated throughout the game!
This offensive sequence took only a little over 2 seconds!
Impressive!
Unfortunately, being an away game, the quick three-pointer only served to mute the crowd's reaction.
The home crowd was bewildered. How had the Knicks suddenly unleashed such a spectacular performance? The Heat seemed to be faltering.
99-96!
This was the Knicks' first lead of the second half!
Spoelstra wanted to call another timeout, but having already called one less than a minute ago, he held back.
James and Wade's expressions grew increasingly tense.
The feeling of being dominated by the Knicks from the previous two years seemed to be returning, which was terrifying...
Before the Heat's baseline inbound, James and Wade exchanged a few whispered words.
As the two undisputed core players of the team, they had to make quick adjustments on the court.
Especially James, whose high basketball IQ made him the team's on-court commander.
At such a crucial juncture, James had to lead the team to hold firm and respond forcefully.
James dribbled the ball up to the frontcourt. Facing Bill Walker, he didn't call for a screen or pass. He simply dribbled the ball slowly.
The other Heat players spread out. From the look of it, he intended to go one-on-one!