Li Feng shot a three-pointer from beyond the half-court logo, astounding everyone!
The crowd couldn't help but stand up, their eyes wide, tracking the ball's trajectory.
Could it go in?
If it did, the deficit would shrink to just 5 points, which would be incredibly invigorating!
Less than a second felt like an eternity.
Swish!
Flawless, the ball kissed the back rim and dropped into the net!
A three-pointer!
After scoring, Li Feng raised his hands high, striking a cool, low-key pose!
So cool!
His teammates rushed to embrace Li Feng again, and Da Yao's eyes actually glistened with tears.
For years, Da Yao had deeply wished for a superstar point guard on the national team.
Although Liu Wei was considered a standout on the national team, hailed as the point guard with the best chemistry with Yao Ming.
Da Yao knew in his heart that Liu Wei still had a significant gap to bridge to reach the level of top-tier point guards, especially on the international stage.
Now, with Li Feng's emergence, how could Da Yao not be emotional!
The game resumed, and Lithuania advanced on offense.
This defensive possession was crucial for China.
Despite Li Feng's three-pointer, they were still trailing by 5 points. If Lithuania continued to score, the situation would remain dire.
Seeing Da Yao's fatigue and Li Feng's ferocity from the perimeter, Lithuania decided to attack the inside, passing the ball to Krezha in the paint once more.
Krezha was a substitute. His interior skills were not as refined as Yao Ming's.
However, he had better stamina and was coming off the bench, giving him a slight advantage against an exhausted Da Yao.
Just as Krezha was pushing Da Yao aside, preparing for a short hook shot, Da Yao suddenly exploded upwards, his right hand lunging out – *smack*!
The exhausted Da Yao delivered a ferocious block to Krezha!
Not only did Da Yao block Krezha, but he also leaped again, firmly securing the ball in his hands.
This was almost a humiliation for Krezha.
After grabbing the ball, Da Yao immediately passed it to Li Feng, who was near the center circle.
Li Feng reacted with lightning speed. The moment Da Yao made the block, he had already started moving towards the opponent's half.
Receiving Da Yao's pass, Li Feng initiated a fast break.
Only Lavrinovich of Lithuania could barely keep up with Li Feng, but he was still half a body length behind.
Li Feng's speed was immense, like a flash, as he charged directly forward. Lavrinovich, with no other option, reached out and desperately tried to pull Li Feng's jersey.
With a *rip*, Li Feng's jersey was torn open, revealing his black undershirt.
Li Feng didn't slow down; in fact, he accelerated, driving straight to the basket for a windmill dunk!
*Boom*!
The two points were valid, and he was awarded a free throw and possession!
This was an international basketball rule. With no one between Li Feng and the basket, Lavrinovich's foul was unsportsmanlike, leading to a free throw and possession.
Li Feng made the free throw, narrowing the gap to just 2 points!
88:86!
The Chinese fans' excitement reached an unprecedented peak; it was incredibly invigorating, almost unbelievable.
From trailing by 20 points in the first half to being down by 2 now – it was a classic comeback story!
Everyone understood that the key to China's resurgence was Li Feng's substitution in the second half.
Lithuania's coach's face darkened as he watched their substantial lead being steadily chipped away by the Chinese team.
With a 2-point difference and just over three minutes remaining, the game was back on a level playing field for both sides.
More accurately, the scales of victory were starting to subtly tip in China's favor.
China's morale was soaring, and all the players felt as if they had been injected with adrenaline, unstoppable!
Especially Li Feng, who, with his own efforts, had thrown Lithuania's defense into disarray!
Helpless, the Lithuanian head coach called another timeout.
In the first half, he had barely called any timeouts; all of them were called by China's Jonas.
But in the second half, the tides had turned dramatically. Jonas had only called one timeout, and the remaining ones were all called by the Lithuanian coach.
The Chinese players roared at each other, high-fiving, and they surrounded Li Feng, affectionately manhandling him.
Of course, this was a special way of celebrating, a treatment reserved only for players who had turned the tide.
Li Feng didn't stay silent either, continuing to encourage his teammates.
"Brothers, only the last 3 minutes are left, we have to win this game!"
"Yeah, win the game!"
"China will win!"
"China will win!"
The players' roars echoed through the stadium, and the fans joined in the chant.
The stadium's roof seemed almost ready to be blown off by the sheer volume of the noise; the Chinese fans were truly ecstatic.
Not just the fans at the venue, but countless fans in front of their televisions were moved to tears. For years, Chinese men's basketball had been stuck in mediocrity, still some distance from being a top-tier team.
Even with Da Yao's presence, China had improved significantly, but they still lacked that final push.
Now, with Li Feng, everyone felt a surge of hope.
If they could achieve this incredible comeback victory against Lithuania today, China's ranking would undoubtedly soar!
During the timeout, Jonas held his tactical board, meticulously explaining the strategy.
He reiterated the importance of defense, and the players listened intently.
Although most players' minds were blank at this crucial juncture, team discipline could not be abandoned!
The timeout ended, and the game resumed.
The Lithuanian players returned to the court, their eyes red, likely having been severely reprimanded by their coach.
This nation was known for its toughness, and their basketball players were no exception.
Therefore, they could not accept being reversed after holding a massive 20-point lead in the first half!
Regardless, they were still ahead by 2 points, with over three minutes left. The advantage was still there!
Kukenas dribbled from the backcourt. Li Feng didn't press full-court; he saw that the Chinese players were extremely fatigued and needed to conserve energy, opting to settle into a half-court offense.
Lithuania's big man, Krezha, faced Da Yao and drove towards the basket.
Having been blocked by Da Yao earlier, he was a little hesitant. As he drove into the paint, he didn't attempt a direct layup but instead passed the ball to the cutting teammate, Hughes.
Da Yao's footwork was a bit shaky, and he couldn't catch up, only able to watch helplessly as Hughes cut to the basket, with Krezha's solid frame blocking him.
Just as he thought Lithuania was about to score, a figure flashed by Hughes like lightning – *whoosh*!
His right arm extended rapidly, snatching the ball into his embrace!
This wasn't just a steal; it was a robbery!
The home Chinese fans erupted once more with fervent cheers, applauding Li Feng's elusive steal!
"Li Feng is simply incredible!"
"He's so magical, Li Feng, you are the god in my heart!"
"My goodness, how did Li Feng get there? He's too fast!"
...
Da Yao also waved his arms excitedly. He realized how vital Li Feng was to the team, especially in these critical final moments.
He had almost given up, but Li Feng's presence in that exact spot was simply miraculous!