Chapter 586: Mid-Air Drift Killing Blow

The whistle blew, and the game continued.

The Knicks' lineup at the final moment was: Fan Xi, JR Smith, Josh Smith, Stoudemire, Kevin Garnett.

The Miami Heat's lineup at the final moment was: Ray Allen, Xiaoen Badi'er, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, Ke Li Si Bo Shen, Kenyon Martin.

Fan Xi received the inbound pass from Josh Smith's hands, and Le Bu Lang Zhang Si came over to defend.

Their matchup had started long ago, but by now everyone clearly understood that the game would become a showdown between the two of them.

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, as of tonight so far, has already gotten 51 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.

This can be said to be James's best Eastern Conference Finals game of his career.

Fan Xi's stats tonight are relatively 'ordinary': 18 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.

He has already achieved a triple-double, but in scoring, he falls far short of James.

However, Fan Xi is not anxious.

No one will deny his scoring ability just because he scored less than James in one game; he has long proven himself to be one of history's greatest scorers, otherwise you couldn't explain why he set the all-time greatest single-game scoring record.

Fan Xi varied his rhythm at the top of the three-point arc, his dribbling impenetrable. The basketball flicked at his fingertips, darting wildly and sharply.

Defenders could not predict Fan Xi's next move; he had already elevated his drives to an art form. Any defender who tried to anticipate his dribble trajectory and act would be punished—many have already made the top-five plays because of it. James did not want to be a background figure, so his defense was slightly conservative.

Until Fan Xi suddenly probed inward with his steps, his speed was quite fierce.

James instinctively stepped back.

But just as he stepped back, Fan Xi made a sudden stop, a step-back, and a quick release—so fast, so decisive, the motion flowing like clouds and water.

Although James lunged at him immediately, he had no effect.

Boom!

Fan Xi slammed into the backboard, but the ball bounced in… swish!

A front bank shot.

The difficulty was extremely high.

The luck was extremely good.

93:93!

The two teams were tied.

Fan Xi drew his sword.

Cold light flickered.

The home fans at Madison Square Garden erupted in unison the moment the ball went in, like a huge kettle suddenly bursting its lid, pressure released, heat peaking.

Sure enough, in the crucial moment, it still came down to Fan Xi.

"Spoelstra's expression changed; when Jie Ke hit a three in the clutch, that was an extremely risky fact for any opponent…"

Magic Johnson said on television.

But before his words finished, James dribbled to a spot two meters from the three-point line, leapt straight up, and shot—swish!

Three-pointer made.

James played more resolutely than ever, without the slightest hesitation. His demeanor when shooting resembled Kobe's.

Many previously thought James was soft in clutch moments, liking to 'consider everything.' But now he shouldered all responsibility, displaying the aura of 'if you don't like it, fight; life and death are to be disregarded.'

For James, there is no retreat—cowering is a blade, sticking out your head is also a blade.

Since that's the case, it might as well go all out; perhaps he could carve a path.

Suddenly, the heavens and earth felt vast!

After James helped the Heat establish a lead, Fan Xi did not stop his steps; he launched a cut from the top of the arc like a sharp dagger separating fat from flesh of a tuna, Fan Xi entered the paint, he made a sudden stop and shot motion, fooling James's close defense, then easily lofted the ball into the basket.

The margin narrowed to 1 point.

James then attacked the paint in a completely different way; he too was an unstoppable defensive force, drawing a foul on Garnett inside. This was Garnett's fifth foul.

James walked to the free-throw line, Garnett did not leave the court to rest.

Swish!

Swish!

James made both free throws, his touch tonight extremely soft; this was his 56th point of the game.

After switching sides, Fan Xi and Stoudemire set a high pick-and-roll; Fan Xi passed the ball to Stoudemire, then drove inward quickly, but after two steps he abruptly cut back, Stoudemire angled his body to block James, then passed the ball to Fan Xi who had run out to the three-point line; Fan Xi released quickly with his one-stage jump shot… swish!

He tied the score again.

Afterward, James went in alone, made a stop-and-go jump shot, and scored.

He scored his personal 58th point, also putting the Heat ahead by 2 points.

At this point, there were 2 minutes and 11 seconds left in the game.

Fan Xi and James's high-intensity personal duel had the live and TV audiences' blood pumping; this is the greatest individual showdown in NBA Eastern Conference Finals history.

After returning to half-court, Fan Xi once again passed the ball to Garnett who had come to the top of the arc.

He quickly ran to the left, drawing James over, then abruptly cut back; Josh Smith and Garnett simultaneously closed in, trapping James.

Fan Xi caught the ball beyond the three-point line and suddenly released… swish!

Another three-pointer.

After the timeout ended, Fan Xi took over the Knicks' scoring, having already scored 11 straight points; his scoring jumped instantly from 18 to 29.

And the Knicks thus took a 1-point lead.

"So exciting! I dare say, in the history of all past NBA Eastern Conference Finals, there have never been two superstars like tonight who decided the game's outcome with such straightforward talk. This is a battle in the realm of the gods!"

Earl Johnson said on television.

Before the TV, Michael Jordan longed for it.

He thought, if he were one of them, how exhilarating that would be.

Meanwhile, James got past Fan Xi's defense, he drove into the three-point line by a step, and released a stop-and-go jump shot……swish!

It went in again, the score flipped once more, and the Heat led by 1 point.

James raised his personal postseason scoring record to 60 points, he became the first player in Miami history to score 60+ in an Eastern Conference Finals, and he was only one rebound away from achieving a super triple-double.

Of course, for James now, getting a 60+ triple-double isn't that important; victory is what matters most.

Fan Xi arrived in the frontcourt, James intensified his defense on Fan Xi, aiming to stop Fan Xi's three-pointer.

But at that moment, Fan Xi suddenly drove inward.

Fan Xi's drive pulled half of the Heat's defense, and at that moment Fan Xi passed the ball to the corner; JR Smith caught it, leapt, and shot……swish!

Three-pointer made.

The Knicks took a 2-point lead.

At this point, only 35 seconds remained in the game.

Beep!

Spoelstra requested the final long timeout of the game.

For the Heat, these final 35 seconds are their last lifeline. This game is the last breath hanging over their heads; if they win this game, Miami still has a chance. If they lose this game, the Knicks will get match point, and then… everyone will think the Heat are out of miracles, and in history no team down 0-3 has ever managed to reverse the sweep. Especially, Fan Xi is still standing on the other side.

Fan Xi is nevertheless the strongest opponent the Heat have ever encountered.

James's individual performance tonight is almost godlike, but who would have thought that Fan Xi, after being 'invisible' for most of the game, would go on a killing spree in the final few minutes.

"Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, I now dare to pass my basketball to any teammate; I know their hands are hot, do you dare to pass your ball to your teammates?"

As Fan Xi left the court, he didn't forget to leave a string of trash talk behind James's ear.

James did not respond.

But Fan Xi believed that his words dealt James a heavy blow.

Just as Fan Xi said, the teammates he has now selected to play with him are those whose shooting has been relatively good over the past period. Fan Xi spent three and a half quarters verifying this.

He only erupted at the final moment, for this very moment, he wants to drag James into a sea-of-people tactic.

James's touch is indeed excellent tonight; he seems possessed by God. But even if he were God, he is still only one person.

The Fan Xi he must face is likewise a deity, and behind him stands a group of elite troops.

It's not that the Heat players aren't trustworthy, but at this point the cost of trial and error is too high.

In theory, the Heat have at most two offensive possessions left.

…

TNT's camera has been constantly following Fan Xi and James, and the split-screen in front of the TV can see both of them.

Fan Xi sat on the bench, calm and composed, while Larry Brown emphasized some defensive details beside him.

James, meanwhile, was in a heated discussion with Spoelstra, gesturing animatedly, both looking quite excited.

Just from this contrast, people would think Fan Xi is more confident.

"After all, Jie Ke has already beaten Le Bu Lang Zhang Si many times in clutch moments. He has more experience and confidence." Magic Johnson said: "Actually, in clutch moments, it often comes down to luck. Everyone is already a superstar of this level; whoever has better luck will have the last laugh."

"I think so." Magic Johnson expressed his opinion.

"Luck is also part of skill. That's why, all along, only Jie Ke's luck has always been good, while other players are just ordinary. Jie Ke has never lost any crucial battle." Kenny Smith is a die-hard Fan Xi supporter, he will always stand on Fan Xi's side.

Charles Barkley has a different opinion, he said: "Tonight there will be different changes; Le Bu Lang Zhang Si is too amazing, he has already gotten a 60+ near-triple-double. Between him and Jie Ke there is actually no gap; they are on the same level. If he ends up laughing last tonight, I think it will become the watershed between the two."

"The first person is fluid. Elvin, you and Larry Bird used to take turns sitting on the throne back in your day, right?" Barkley asked Magic Johnson.

Johnson nodded.

Beep!

The whistle blew at this moment, and the game continued.

Fan Xi closely followed James, James used his bull-like body to fend off the defense, after receiving the ball he hesitated not at all, and quickly drove inward.

He hardly spent any time before he had already burst into the three-point line, and his drive was extremely resolute.

Josh Smith came over at this moment to execute a double-team.

Fan Xi immediately sensed something was wrong, James quickly passed the ball to the corner.

Ray Allen received the ball via Battier's screen, he quickly shot, and Fan Xi flew in to contest, but it was already too late.

But…bang!

The basketball did not go in.

Fan Xi shouted: "Rebound!"

Under the basket, players scrambled for the ball in a tangle.

At this moment James emerged out of nowhere, he leapt high, he outmuscled Josh Smith, grabbed the rebound, and as he landed he used his strong body to push Stoudemire to the ground……Stoudemire is a bit soft.

For James, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; he didn't run back to the three-point line to waste time, but instead promptly seized the space and flung the ball out……swish!

Made.

The score was tied.

There were still 17.6 seconds left.

James recorded his first career super 62-point triple-double, and this frontcourt rebound was worth its weight in gold.

All of Miami erupted because of this, their bench buzzing with noise.

Morale peaked.

At this point, for the Knicks, it was an extremely bad situation.

Beep!

Larry Brown requested a timeout.

He wanted to set up the final offensive play.

"Now, Tyson Chandler has five fouls, Kevin Garnett five fouls, Stoudemire although only has four fouls, but he's a softie, his defense is nearly zero; just now his defensive lapse gave Le Bu Lang Zhang Si an opportunity. Moreover, the other Knicks players' physiques are affected to varying degrees. If the game goes into overtime, the Knicks will definitely lose."

Moreover, the effort in overtime could very well test the Knicks' stamina in the next game. This is a chain reaction. The longer the game drags on, the more advantageous it is for the Heat.

It can be said that the next several seconds will determine whether the series can be reversed.

Er Yuehansun said on TV. He was not speaking alarmingly for effect; there is some truth to it.

At least now, Fan Xi's eyebrows furrowed.

He never imagined James would choose to pass, nor that James could grab that rebound, let alone that he would decisively finish the put-back.

These three 'unexpected' moments highlight James's change; he has indeed entered another realm.

Fan Xi's trash talk didn't have the intended effect; now he is somewhat passive, but not much.

He gathered his teammates, began to whisper, Larry Brown stood beside him, he pricked up his ears.

This scene looked rather comical on TV.

"It's hard to believe that such a control freak as Larry Brown would willingly be isolated." said Charles Barkley.

In front of the TV, Michael Jordan was brainstorming, wondering: How will Jieke Fan resolve this battle? If I were on the court, how should I defend?

Beep!

The whistle blew.

The game continued.

Fan Xi still returned to the court with the same lineup, and the Miami side, being highly in sync, made no personnel changes.

But when Fan Xi ran over to receive the halftime inbound, LeBron James did not go to shadow Fan Xi; instead, he interfered with Kevin Garnett's inbound.

Fan Xi quickly ran, shaking off Battier, received the ball and moved forward.

Fan Xi lingered at the top of the three-point arc, with Battier guarding him.

The Heat set up such a defensive formation, which was beyond Fan Xi's expectations.

He didn't know whether James was playing mysterious or truly had some precognitive ability.

Fan Xi lingered outside the three-point line.

When the countdown reached single digits, James suddenly rushed from one side, and the experienced Shawn Battier also applied quick pressure, the two aiming to trap Fan Xi.

They actually wanted to choke off the offense at its source, and specifically choke Fan Xi's offense.

How bold is that?

Very bold.

Moreover, they indeed caught Fan Xi off guard.

But Fan Xi's quick wit was unprecedented; his brain's processing speed might exceed the sum of theirs.

In a flash, Fan Xi passed the basketball to JR Smith on the other side.

Moreover, he accelerated to break through Shawn Battier's defense.

Then JR Smith lofted the ball in.

James chased after him, attempting to disrupt from behind; Fan Xi anticipated the trajectory, leapt, and caught the ball in midair.

At that moment, James waited for Fan Xi to land, preparing to interfere.

However, the unexpected happened: Fan Xi caught the ball, his body twisted in midair to adjust his posture and then directly shot the ball……James's ambush failed.

The basketball traced a beautiful arc.

Fan Xi's posture in the air was exceptionally graceful.

Michael Jordan in front of the TV was dumbfounded; he thought a lot, never expecting James to suddenly double-team, nor expecting Fan Xi to be so bold in this countdown situation to make a pass-and-wall play, and most unexpectedly, Fan Xi anticipated that James would not contest him in the air, so he leapt early, caught the ball in midair, and then shot…

All these unexpected elements formed a beautiful picture.

Fan Xi completed an epic-level performance.

His elegant posture was so perfect, the arc traced by the basketball also became classic… swish!

The basketball swished through the net.

Afterwards… honk!

A rapid electronic buzzer sounded.

Another buzzer-beater!

But Spoelstra quickly went to request a replay, thinking there was still time; in case a miracle happened, although they had no timeouts left.

When the technicians replayed the footage, the entire Madison Square Garden erupted because of this miraculous basket; after the crowd's explosive cheers, they turned into a unified chant: mvp! mvp! mvp!

The sound waves were towering.

After Fan Xi and his teammates bumped fists, he looked at James and said: "LeBron, you've evolved. But your luck is still a bit lacking."

James turned his head away, ignoring Fan Xi.

He is in a bad mood now; he never imagined that his meticulously planned ambush would still fail to break Fan Xi's clutch shot.

What he doesn't know is that Fan Xi's original plan was nothing like this.

But plans can't keep up with changes.

This is the perfect moment.

Fan Xi scored this goal.

His goal was replayed over and over on the overhead big screen and in front of televisions, this elegant stance eliciting continual cheers.

"It can be said that the difficulty of this clutch shot exceeds any of Jordan's career clutch shots." Kenny Smith couldn't wait to jump in and give his verdict: "From a purely technical standpoint, I won't talk about those sentiments or the game's value."

"I tip my hat to Jie Ke; his showdown with LeBron was top-notch. If LeBron loses this game, I wouldn't blame his ability—it's just luck. Jie Ke is just lucky." Magic Johnson said.

But Jordan, watching on TV, disagreed with his view.

Jordan thought for a long time; he had determined that Fan Xi and James were on his level, because he couldn't guess James's defensive strategy, nor did he expect Fan Xi to finish with that method.

This game left Jordan wildly regretful: Why wasn't I born 20 years later?

…