74 points!
The Chinese team has successfully staged another comeback!
Bruton couldn't even reach the ball, as he had been faked to his knees, utterly humiliated!
The stadium's audience was ecstatic, they had finally witnessed another tying moment.
Although everyone had anticipated China would tie the score, seeing it happen filled them with immense excitement.
Especially Li Feng's tying three-pointer, it was absolutely spectacular and was sure to make it into the top ten plays of this Olympics.
Speaking of top ten plays, Li Feng had at least three or four baskets that could be nominated; his highlight plays were too numerous.
After tying the game, the Chinese team pressed their advantage. Li Feng once again broke through at speed, using his league-leading first step to drive to the paint and then tossing the ball to Yao Ming.
Yao Ming hadn't shown any signs of fatigue in recent games because Li Feng drew more defensive attention, making Yao Ming's job much easier.
Receiving Li Feng's pinpoint pass, Yao Ming roared and slammed the ball down with two hands, putting the Chinese team up by 2 points!
76:74!
This powerful dunk not only scored 2 points but also sent Bogut, who had come to provide help defense, crashing to the ground. The referee's whistle blew, calling a foul on Bogut.
Bogut now had 4 fouls. According to FIBA rules, 5 fouls result in disqualification. Head coach Gordy had no choice but to substitute Bogut out.
After Bogut was taken off, the Australian players' average height decreased, but their energy seemed to increase, and they launched a counter-attack.
Li Feng let out a cold laugh and went on a rampage again.
He employed more skillful maneuvers on offense, using post-ups, triple-threat positions, and various changes of pace, throwing the Australian defense into disarray, making them unable to cope.
This series of stunning plays left the Australian players and coaching staff in shock; they were a bit bewildered.
On the TNT broadcast, Barkley exclaimed again.
"My God, Li Feng is the perfect template for a point guard! Today, he can be called Asia's Iverson, no, Asia's Paul, no... Ugh, I don't even know how to describe him!"
Smith felt much the same as Barkley, but he appeared less outwardly excited.
He chuckled and shook his head, "You're really babbling incoherently. Are you trying to list the names of all the top point guards?"
"I feel the same way. Li Feng truly fulfills all fans' imaginations of a superstar point guard. It's so rare. Chinese basketball is about to rise!"
"It's a shame there's only one Li Feng."
"What's a shame about that? There's still Yao Ming. With one inside and one outside, they can dominate the league for years to come."
Seeing Barkley's envious gaze, Smith felt a similar sentiment.
Although the United States had many guards with various styles, such as Paul and Wade, a guard like Li Feng, who combined explosive drives with technical skill, was unparalleled!
As the two chatted, Li Feng used another incredibly skillful crossover, faking out an Australian defender to the ground, before easily sinking an open three-pointer.
"Artistry, it's truly brilliant. I wish Jordan could be reborn!" Barkley exclaimed again.
Smith was looking at a forum. Li Feng's latest basket had undeniably surged to the top of the trending topics, becoming a popular GIF on basketball forums.
Australian head coach Gordy panicked again. His trap defense was completely ineffective against Li Feng, who switched effortlessly between scoring mode and passing mode, making him virtually unstoppable.
Before the third quarter even ended, Li Feng's assists had surpassed 10, as if he were possessed by Magic Johnson.
Gordy, helpless, called another timeout.
Given Li Feng's explosive performance, Gordy felt ashamed to scold his players.
With Li Feng playing at this level, who could defend him?
Giving him space meant allowing Li Feng to practice his shooting. If they stuck to him tightly, they risked him breaking through with his flashy dribbling.
Gordy had no good solution and could only instruct the Australian players to employ various double-team strategies against Li Feng.
After the timeout, the game resumed, and Australia began to execute its double-team tactics with resolve.
However, Li Feng's passing skills continued to improve, his passes becoming increasingly unpredictable. Yao Ming was feasting on Li Feng's passes, almost to the point of being satiated.
Among the audience members, many were basketball savants. They believed that Yao Ming was having his easiest Olympic experience to date.
Because Li Feng drew most of the defensive attention, Australia simply couldn't focus on Big Yao.
Therefore, Big Yao was playing both easily and comfortably.
Furthermore, Li Feng's physique underwent a subtle change: his palms were also gradually growing larger.
Although the system hadn't provided a notification, Li Feng himself felt it.
His ability to palm the ball with one hand was becoming more fluid.
Previously, while Li Feng could palm the ball with one hand, it was only under non-contact situations, more for showing off.
But today, as his dribbling skills improved, he found he could palm the ball with one hand effortlessly.
During the timeout, he specifically observed his hands and indeed found they had grown considerably.
This led to the creation of various iconic moments for Li Feng.
Once, while driving to the basket, he leaped high, palming the ball in mid-air, seemingly intending to pass to an open Yao Ming.
But just as the defending player was about to intercept, Li Feng retracted the ball, practically toying with his opponent.
With these larger hands, Li Feng could employ more techniques, and each move appeared more relaxed and natural, reminiscent of Jordan's floating, elegant style.
At this point, with over a minute left in the third quarter, the Chinese team had completely seized control of the game, and Australia was faltering.
After Bruton was substituted out, Australia became even weaker, their offense stagnant and their defense lacking.
Li Feng initiated another offensive surge.
This time, as if calling a pet dog, he extended his palm and beckoned Bruton to come over.
Li Feng's gesture elicited laughter from the entire stadium.
Bruton deserved it; his defense was too dirty, and even after suffering a lesson, he hadn't learned to restrain himself.
Seeing Bruton angrily standing before him again, Li Feng executed a dazzling lightning-fast dribble, leaving the "catfish" so disoriented he couldn't even track the ball, let alone defend.
Suddenly, Li Feng had broken through by half a step, and Bruton had moved his feet to compensate.
But Li Feng quickly made a drastic change of direction, pulling the ball back.
It was another incredible maneuver, somewhat resembling Jordan's classic move to shake off Russell in the finals.
Completely unprepared, Bruton stumbled, twisting himself like a pretzel, and fell to the ground in pain once more.
Li Feng hadn't expected Bruton to be so fragile; he only intended to fake him out. Thus, Li Feng immediately shot the ball and hit another three-pointer.
The crowd erupted in cheers again; this shot was also worthy of the top ten.
However, Bruton lay on the ground in agony, taking a long time to get up. The team doctor rushed over to examine him again.
Upon closer inspection, the doctor discovered that Bruton's ankle had suffered a fracture!