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At 8:00 PM on Sunday, June 11, 2006, at American Airlines Arena, 20,000 Dallas fans showed their love for the home team, shouting enthusiastically from the start of the game.
Fanatics with white paint on their faces constantly ignited the atmosphere, and with Dirk Nowitzki's efficient start, the Arena completely erupted by halftime.
From the start of the singing ceremony, the fans unleashed unparalleled energy, which made many who wanted to see a joke rein in their emotions.
The Western Conference Champions showed their strength, shaking off their previous slow start and clinging tightly to the score throughout the first half.
Entering halftime, the broadcast once again showed the night view of Dallas to the fans in front of their televisions.
Fans also seemed to be gathered outside the Arena, with the entire city participating in the game.
The studio in the back also timely broadcasted the Wonderful performance of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry in the first half.
After grabbing a rebound and dribbling past half-court, Dirk Nowitzki, facing Gasol's Defense, advanced to the right block, switched the ball to his left hand with his back to the basket, faked a shot after posting up, and then used the timing difference to make a shot and draw a foul.
He cleanly hit a three-pointer from the right wing, then drove with the ball to the front of the rim, leaning sideways for a running floater that went in.
In these clips, Dirk Nowitzki played incredibly tough, showing a completely different game state from the previous two games!
After Devin Harris joined the starting lineup, Jason Terry, no longer responsible for organizing the offense, also performed exceptionally well in the first half, driving and shooting from outside, helping the team continuously score.
Although he was a bit off from beyond the arc, Terry's 6-of-13 shooting and 14 points in the first half were still commendable.
In the halftime highlight reel, the Dallas Mavericks repeatedly made difficult shots, 54:52, the Dallas Mavericks played excitingly, but were still trailing by 2 points.
Mark Jackson frowned slightly.
He didn't gush like his partner beside him, but instead seized the opportunity, looking hesitant as he seriously said:
"It's indeed difficult for a sweep to occur in the NBA Finals, but there's still a lot of game time left, and I still don't expect Dirk Nowitzki to maintain his efficient performance from the first half."
8 of 12 from the field, 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, 4 of 4 from the free throw line, 21 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover—this was Dirk Nowitzki's best first-half performance in the series.
Michael Wilbon, however, smiled slightly, shook his bald head, and immediately retorted:
"From a data perspective, Dirk Nowitzki is bound to bounce back. Don't forget, his regular season performance was second only to Clay Lee, surpassing most of the league's stars this season."
"I believe Dirk Nowitzki was overly nervous playing at Madison Square Garden. His true level is shown when he's back at home."
"The Dallas Mavericks eliminating the San Antonio Spurs is enough to prove their strength."
As a well-known ESPN host and NBA Finals guest, Michael Wilbon was absolutely adept at discussing statistics.
He was also a loyal Excel user, always believing that big data doesn't lie.
In the studio, host Dan Patrick didn't care about the two guests' debate.
After they both expressed their views, he smiled at the camera and said:
"In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, we witnessed a perfect first-half performance from the Dallas Mavericks. The New York Knicks had some minor shooting troubles, but they still managed to suppress their opponent."
"The second half is about to begin, and we can hear Head Coach Avery Johnson's perspective."
Lisa Salters interviewed Avery Johnson before the start of the second half, and cheers were already echoing throughout American Airlines Arena:
"The adjustments have paid off. Harris joining the starting lineup completely unleashed Terry, and this is exactly the effect we wanted!"
"I believe our players can overcome difficulties. Now all they need to do is believe in themselves."
Watching the Little General's serious expression, Lisa Salters nodded, then joined the broadcast, speaking rapidly in coordination with the commentary desk:
"The Dallas Mavericks continued with their first-half starting lineup. Although Harris didn't score in the first half, I understand this is the Dallas Mavericks' game strategy."
"In the second half, they will continue to test the opponent's shooting. Head Coach Avery Johnson doesn't seem to want to slow down, which will definitely be a huge test for them."
At the ABC commentary desk, Mike Breen, watching Dirk Nowitzki again trying to post up on the right block, thanked her and immediately returned to discussing the on-court situation:
"Pau Gasol is trying to front him. The referee didn't call a foul. Excellent Defense disrupted this catch."
The two big men battled in the block.
Unable to receive the pass from Terry on the high post, Dirk Nowitzki simply ran to the three-point line, attempting a pick-and-roll screen.
Terry, covered by Hill, dribbled with his right hand, dipped his shoulder, and accelerated, attempting to drive hard to the basket using a fake screen, but was quickly forced to stop and had to twist his body to pass the ball back to Dirk Nowitzki.
It was a localized 2-on-2, with everyone else spaced out on the other side.
Receiving the ball on the three-point line, Dirk Nowitzki put the ball down with his left hand and took a step-through, driving with the Defense to the right elbow.
Gasol still hadn't lost his position.
Nowitzki stopped abruptly again, pulled the ball back with his left hand, then quickly twisted forward, faked a shot, and then leaned back for a forced jump shot!
"Bang!"
A sigh immediately echoed through the Arena, as the Dallas Mavericks missed a chance to tie the score.
"Defense!"
Many Dallas fans stood up, shouting loudly while waving the white pom-poms in their hands, instantly turning a large section of the Arena white.
Gadzuric, who secured the rebound, cradled the ball, and the New York Knicks didn't rush to initiate a fast break.
Clay Lee was unguarded when he came to receive the ball, calmly signaled the play, and then slowly dribbled past half-court.
In this crucial game, Adrian Griffin of the Dallas Mavericks was DNP.
This guard, who was invisible in the previous two games, still hadn't gotten a minute of playing time.
Devin Harris had been responsible for guarding Lee, and despite the poor results, the Dallas Mavericks' occasional double-teams still had some effect.
In the familiar 131 alignment, Dirk Nowitzki shook his head left and right, loudly reminding his teammates on both sides.
As Gasol shuffled his feet to the top of the arc, the German quickly lowered his center of gravity.
Maintaining a defensive distance, Harris helplessly watched Lee continuously dribble behind his back and move his body to the front-left, then quicken his steps to slide and defend, only to be instantly shaken off by a front-crossover.
Seeing Lee, dribbling with his right hand, attempting to drive to the right, Dirk Nowitzki followed with a slide step, and Jason Terry on the right wing began to move towards the elbow.
Clay Lee's speed wasn't fast after shaking off the Defense.
The moment Harris squeezed past the pursuing defender and came to screen, Lee suddenly stopped, pounded the ball, and quickly spun his back, instantly shedding the Defense.
"Oh!"
The beautiful fake made the trailing Harris crash right into Gasol.
Dirk Nowitzki quickly slid to the right, but Lee, having shaken off the Defense, pounded the ball again, stopped abruptly, took a step back, and quickly jumped up for a shot!
Nowitzki could only raise his right arm, but facing such a long-range three-pointer, his Defense had no effect whatsoever.
"OH! Clay Lee with the long-range bomb!"
"Boo!"
The basketball swished through the net, and American Airlines Arena immediately erupted in boos.
Only Mike Breen at the commentary table shouted excitedly, while Hubie Brown beside him once again sighed softly:
"28 feet? Maybe the league should introduce more detailed shooting distance statistics, and if possible, also mark the distance during broadcasts."
"What a crazy shot!"
57:52, the New York Knicks' atmosphere group happily raised their right arms and held up three fingers to celebrate, while Avery Johnson on the sidelines was nervously shouting.
"Let's go Mavs!"
Facing Lee's on-ball Defense, Harris advanced cautiously.
The cheers grew louder and louder, and he ultimately continued to dribble past half-court just before the 8-second violation.
He tossed the ball from the logo to Dirk Nowitzki on the left wing.
Harris, who passed the ball, immediately stepped forward for a hand-off to receive it again, and using the screen, he drove hard to the basket from the wing.
Dirk Nowitzki's early pick-and-roll allowed Lee to easily squeeze past him.
While covering Harris, he continuously shuffled his feet.
Harris stopped abruptly in the left block, dribbled behind his back, and then immediately passed the ball to Erick Dampier under the basket.
Facing Gadzuric's Defense, Dampier took one dribble and immediately went strong to the basket.
As the referee blew his whistle, the "First Center" immediately punched the air in celebration!
Despite controlling his movements, raising both arms still resulted in him drawing a foul.
Gadzuric looked helplessly at the baseline referee, who firmly pointed to the free throw line.
57:54, both free throws were made, and Erick Dampier helped the team narrow the deficit.
Cheers echoed throughout the Arena.
The Moustache, standing on the sidelines with his arms crossed, complained twice then fell silent.
He had to admit that the league's referees' ability to control the game was also improving.
Dirk Nowitzki, retreating on Defense, clapped his hands repeatedly and also showed a determined look.
Noticing that the New York Knicks were running a "V-cut" offense, with another double screen coming up, he immediately shouted a warning to Erick Dampier.
Harris noticed the movement behind him.
Watching Lee switch to his right hand with a crossover dribble, he immediately stuck to him, agilely squeezing through the screen.
Using Gadzuric's pick-and-roll, Lee, dribbling with his right hand, dipped his shoulder and accelerated, driving with the Defense to the right block area.
Harris was about to lose his position, and Erick Dampier, who was retreating on Defense, immediately rushed to defend, while Terry, guarding the right baseline, also sagged back.
Facing the trio's coordinated trap, Lee didn't force the offense.
Tonight, the opponent was falling at the slightest touch, so he smoothly passed the ball to an unguarded Hill in the right corner.
Seeing Lee's pass, the cheers grew even louder.
Erick Dampier now instinctively sagged back to the left block to box out Gadzuric, while Terry slowly retreated on Defense, allowing Hill to shoot.
Clay Lee, who passed the ball, immediately accelerated and popped out to the right wing.
Although Harris followed him on Defense, he still maintained a small defensive distance, which prevented him from disrupting Hill's obvious return pass.
Although the passing intention was clear, Harris still watched Lee receive the ball beyond the three-point line, turn to face the basket, and attack.
His youthful face was full of nervousness, as he controlled the distance and lowered his center of gravity.
With more than half of the shot clock gone, the fans in the front row immediately started jeering loudly.
Protecting the ball on his right side, Lee quickly took a jab step with his left foot, then suddenly put the ball down with his right hand, dribbling forcefully, and simultaneously moving his body to the front-right while quickly wrapping the ball behind his back.
Harris misjudged the Defense, instinctively sliding to the left, and then instantly lost more than half a step, watching the basketball fly to the other side of his body.
Scooping the ball with his left hand, Lee leaned forward, squeezed past the Defense from beyond the three-point line, and in the blink of an eye, drove into the paint.
Dirk Nowitzki, near the free throw line, quickly shuffled his feet to help defend. Right in front of the rim, as he just raised his left arm, Lee drove past him, and against the Defense, grabbed the ball with his left hand, took a step, and shot a floater!
"And one!"
"Squeak!"
The referee immediately blew his whistle, calling a foul on Dirk Nowitzki for hitting the arm, while the basketball arced widely, leaving Erick Dampier, standing directly in front of the rim, no choice but to watch it go in.
As the basketball swished through the net, boos once again echoed through the American Airlines Arena.
Dirk Nowitzki complained excitedly to the referee, believing that Clay Lee was "flopping" and intentionally running into his arm.
Watching Lee calmly high-five his teammates and walk to the free throw line, Hubie Brown thought for a moment and decided to speak favorably of the Rookie:
"Harris reacted very quickly, but he needs to strengthen his physicality. I'm optimistic about his future. He can become an excellent guard."
After being driven past so many times in three games, Harris looked at Lee, who had just made the extra free throw, and tried to adjust his emotions until he vaguely heard a teasing voice:
"Rookie, it's time for a three-pointer next possession!"
"..."
Without a word, Harris drove hard with the ball in his right hand, but he still couldn't shake off Lee's Defense.
The New York Knicks suddenly started defending the catch.
Seeing Terry covered by Hill, Harris protected the ball with his side at the Logo, ultimately not risking a pass.
Near the right baseline, Josh Howard, facing Ron Artest's relentless Defense, found himself helpless.
Seeing Dirk Nowitzki try to slip along the baseline from left to right to receive the ball, he simply pushed his defender, attempting to set a screen.
The two kept pushing and shoving.
When his opponent exerted force, Ron Artest lowered his head and burrowed into his chest, failing to create space in time due to the entanglement.
As Dirk Nowitzki came to the right low post to receive the ball, Josh Howard gritted his teeth and pushed Ron Artest to the vicinity of the paint, intending to draw the Defense away for his leader, but then his hand suddenly felt light.
Ron Artest, who had fallen, covertly pulled in the crowd within the paint.
The inexperienced Josh Howard, following suit, fell to the floor with a thud.
As the sideline referee blew his whistle, calling an offensive foul, the Dallas fans in the American Airlines Arena immediately shouted in dissatisfaction:
"Referee suck!"
Watching Ron Artest get up, grin, and clap in approval, the American Airlines Arena erupted again, the angry shouts making it difficult for the players on the court to hear their teammates.
Dirk Nowitzki loudly encouraged Josh Howard, who, though he didn't clearly hear what his leader said, still nodded in agreement.
Clay Lee, receiving the inbound pass, smiled and made the same tactical hand gesture.
Gasol, who had already run to half-court, tilted his head towards Lee at the Logo.
It was still an on-ball double screen.
Dirk Nowitzki, watching the two communicate, felt another wave of tension.
Amidst the defensive cheers, as Gasol accelerated from the left elbow area, Lee, lowering his center of gravity and performing continuous in-and-out dribbles, also accelerated horizontally the moment the ball touched his left hand.
Dirk Nowitzki, who was prepared, quickly slid to his right, flailing his arms as he lunged towards the three-point line on the left wing.
As the two made body contact, Lee, who had charged to the three-point line, leaned forward, faking a drive.
As Dirk Nowitzki paused, he immediately pushed off his right foot and took a large step back.
Harris, who had been delayed by his side, now caught up and jumped to contest the shot.
Dirk Nowitzki, who had stopped his feet, also stared wide-eyed and lunged towards beyond the three-point line.
Having completed his step-back, Clay Lee created a huge shooting window.
As he drifted backward to his left, he raised his arc, ignored the block, and decisively shot!
The swift shot made the fans in the front row instinctively cover their mouths.
Clay Lee, who was knocked down by Harris from the side, took the opportunity to absorb the force.
As the referee blew the whistle, he slid towards the sideline in a "Tai" character shape.
"Squeak!"
As the basketball swished through the net, the American Airlines Arena suddenly fell silent, with only the New York Knicks' hype squad waving towels and shouting loudly.
"That's it! Screw these softies!"
Ron Artest, who rushed to Lee's side, was emotional, shouting loudly and making a punching motion.
Gasol, who came over, smiled triumphantly.
He knew the left wing was a sweet spot.
Watching Lee being helped up by Hill and others, he also stepped forward to high-five and celebrate:
"I knew this was the way to go! They have no answer!"
Clay Lee glanced at Harris, who was looking down with his hands on his hips, chuckled, and walked to the free throw line.
Soon, a chorus of shouts erupted in the slightly quieter American Airlines Arena:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
64:54. As Lee made the extra free throw, the Dallas Mavericks called a timeout.
At this point, the boos in the American Airlines Arena had ceased.
Having scored 10 points in just three possessions, Lee's performance made D'Antoni excitedly rub his hands together, unable to stop smiling.
As everyone returned to their seats, he immediately said loudly:
"This is it! Hold them for a few possessions, then we continue to give the ball to Lee!"
Mike D'Antoni had long since tossed the clipboard aside, which made the assistant coaches feel a bit speechless.
This tactic was so simple, "I can do it too!"
On the Dallas Mavericks' bench, Avery Johnson unbuttoned his suit jacket and excitedly pumped his fist, delivering a motivational speech to his silent players:
"We have plenty of time! Forget the score, trust each other, move, don't stand still waiting for the ball!"
Noticing the Head Coach's twisted expression, Jason Terry and Josh Howard quickly nodded.
It's just one-on-one on the other side, and even the big men switch on screens.
Dirk Nowitzki originally wanted to say something, but in the end, he was swayed by the motivational speech and just shouted "Let's go!"
"Let's go Mavs!"
After the timeout, the arena DJ shouted desperately, and the synchronized cheers once again resonated through the American Airlines Arena.
The broadcast camera focused on Mark Cuban behind the basket.
The big-mouthed owner's face was flushed red, and he was energetically shouting along with the fans in the front row.
After the inbound pass, Harris, who received the ball, first tried to complete a hand-off with Terry on the left wing, but Hill was chasing too aggressively, and the Rookie didn't dare to pass the ball.
Watching his teammate cut through the middle and run towards the right baseline corner, Harris, with the ball in his left hand, quickly initiated a pick-and-roll with Dirk Nowitzki, who popped out to the left wing.
Accelerating horizontally with the ball in his left hand, Harris originally intended to pass early, but he didn't expect Gasol to continuously slide this time, not returning to Defense.
Quickly splitting, Dirk Nowitzki originally wanted to receive the ball at the top of the arc, but at this moment, he helplessly found his teammate double-teamed.
Still wanting to move to the Logo to receive the pass, Dirk Nowitzki had just moved his feet when he saw Lee, who was chasing him, snatch the ball from Harris's arms as Harris stopped and turned to protect the ball.
Without time to think, Dirk Nowitzki instinctively slid to delay Lee, who was charging with the ball.
He had just spread his arms when he suddenly felt a chill between his legs.
"Oh!"
With a flick of his left wrist, the basketball passed between Dirk Nowitzki's legs and flew directly towards mid-court.
Twisting his body to accelerate, Lee evaded the pull and, to the fans' exclamations, charged past half-court, successfully recovering the ball.
A 1-on-0 fast break, Lee soared into the air within the paint, performed a between-the-legs dribble in mid-air, grabbed the ball with his right hand, pulled his arm to the side, and slammed it down with a windmill dunk!
The rim rattled.
Hearing the faint cheers from the back of the American Airlines Arena, Mark Cuban's face turned even redder, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath:
"Shit!"
Listening to the boos that reappeared, Lee, after completing the dunk, gestured for silence by pressing his hands down towards the fans, his face expressionless.
66:54. With the lead expanded, Avery Johnson paced nervously on the sideline, constantly yelling at his players.
Fortunately, this time Jason Terry received the ball early, moved horizontally with the ball in his right hand, and then immediately passed it back to the splitting Dirk Nowitzki.
Facing Gasol's Defense, Dirk Nowitzki, after receiving the ball, put it down with his right hand, drove with a step-through, slowed down at the elbow, and then continuously backed down, squeezing into the paint and stepping sideways.
Suddenly changing pace, taking advantage of Gasol's forward-leaning center of gravity, Dirk Nowitzki initiated body contact, then twisted his body and tossed the ball!
"And one!"
Amidst the shouts, the referee blew his whistle.
The basketball bounced twice but ultimately bounced out. Dirk Nowitzki clapped his hands in frustration.
This was a golden opportunity for a three-point play.
66:56. With Dirk Nowitzki's free throw, cheers once again erupted in the American Airlines Arena.
The double-digit deficit caused the Dallas Mavericks' Defense to aggressively double-team Clay Lee.
A screen on the left wing once again drew a triple team.
As Ron Artest quickly cut from left to right, his baseline layup was interfered with by Erick Dampier, and cheers instantly filled the American Airlines Arena.
Securing the rebound, the "First Center" saw his teammates and immediately launched a full-court long pass.
Although Harris, with his blazing off-ball speed, chased desperately, his teammate's pass was still a bit too strong.
Barely catching the basketball at the free throw line, Harris, leaning forward, gathered the ball and, with three long strides, charged up, intending to go directly for a layup.
Below the right side of the basket, Harris, in mid-air, cradled the ball with his right hand.
He heard the fans' gasps, and the moment the ball left his hand, it was slapped against the backboard with a "slap."
"OH! Blocked by Clay Lee!"
Mike Breen on the commentary table excitedly shouted.
Harris, stumbling and falling out of bounds, finally saw Lee.
His teammates couldn't defend in time.
Jason Terry, who had just crossed mid-court, quickly moved to meet him.
Watching Lee cross mid-court, the Dallas Mavericks' defensive formation was in disarray.
To everyone's surprise, Lee, who had reached the top of the arc, suddenly slowed down, performed a quick left-handed In and out, pushing the ball outwards while leaning into Jason Terry on his right.
The moment contact was made, Terry flew sideways, falling to the floor, his headband even falling off.
Clay Lee, who had stepped back horizontally, didn't hear a whistle.
Uncontested, he quickly shot a three-pointer from the top of the arc!
"Swish!" The three-pointer swished through the net.
The American Airlines Arena fell silent again.
Avery Johnson on the sideline jumped up, a wronged expression on his face, pointing at Terry and repeatedly shouting:
"Hey! Hey! My player was knocked down!"
Mark Cuban, who stood up behind the basket, turned even redder with anger, glaring and shouting loudly at the baseline referee:
"This isn't the NFL! Someone knocked my player down! This is a damn foul!"
The referee explained a few words, believing Terry was exaggerating, but vaguely heard Lee smilingly shouting "Softie" at the excited front-row fans, and finally added a technical foul.
69:57. Dirk Nowitzki made another free throw, but a look of urgency appeared on his face.
Hubie Brown watched Avery Johnson, who was completely breaking down, still nagging the referee.
At this point, he could only tactfully comment:
"Jason Terry needs to step up and score right now. These small defensive tricks won't stop Clay Lee."
The game continued.
The consecutive free throws seemed to help Dirk Nowitzki find his rhythm.
This time, he slipped along the baseline to receive the ball near the right block, and scored with a jump shot over Gasol's Defense.
On the return possession, Jason Terry, at the top of the arc, once again coordinated with Harris for an early double-team.
Clay Lee, unhurried, passed the ball back to Hill on the right wing, who didn't rush to attack after receiving the ball.
The two crossed positions.
As Lee ran towards the right wing, Hill at the top of the arc immediately signaled Ron Artest in the left baseline corner to slip along the baseline.
Moving quickly, Ron Artest set an off-ball screen near the basket.
Lee, who had slipped along the baseline, kept moving, ignoring Josh Howard, who had switched onto him, and continued to pop out to the left wing.
Watching Lee move up, Hill smoothly passed the ball to Gasol in the left elbow area.
Josh Howard, who was chasing, still wanted to accelerate and squeeze in front to disrupt the hand-off, but before he could even get close to the three-point line, Lee reversed his run again.
Gasol, who received the ball, barely paused, immediately sending a bounce pass.
Clay Lee, having shaken off his defender, received the ball near the left baseline, leaned slightly forward, and casually tossed the ball towards the backboard with his right hand.
"Bang! Swish!"
Watching the basketball bank into the hoop, Josh Howard, who had been chasing him closely, froze in place, an expression of disbelief on his dark face.
A 0-degree bank shot?
And this was the NBA Finals?
The smooth cooperation made D'Antoni clap his hands repeatedly on the sidelines.
Mike D'Antoni couldn't help but smile smugly, and the red scarf on his chest seemed even more vibrant.
71:59. Many Dallas Mavericks fans in the American Airlines Arena fell silent again.
This was indeed a beautiful play.
In the final few minutes, Jason Terry tried to take over the game, missing a layup and clanking a jump shot.
The New York Knicks also failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
Pau Gasol's easy basket under the rim was interfered with, and Ron Artest's open jump shot from the right corner still missed.
When Erick Dampier passed the ball from the left low post, Lee directly stole it with a double-team, and Harris had no choice but to commit a foul.
The cheers for Defense in the American Airlines Arena grew quieter and quieter.
Watching Clay Lee, after a pick-and-roll, once again drove hard past Dirk Nowitzki from the left wing, the Dallas Mavericks players all collapsed towards the basket.
While moving, Lee executed a quick spin in the left restricted area, squeezing between two defenders into the paint, then immediately swung the ball to the right corner.
Jason Terry shuffled his feet, starting to retreat on Defense, which gave Hill an opportunity.
With a left-handed drop step, he broke through, beating his defender in one step.
Amidst the exclamations of the fans, Hill, near the paint, suddenly exploded, grabbing the ball with his left hand, soaring through the air against Erick Dampier, and delivering a powerful dunk!
Boom!
The tomahawk dunk silenced the American Airlines Arena once more.
Watching Erick Dampier stumble and hold onto the basket, the Dallas Mavericks called a timeout.
"Ah!"
Ron Artest embraced Hill, who was posing under the basket, shouting loudly.
The atmosphere squad also came forward to celebrate happily.
Lee looked at the fans in the front row covering their faces and shook his head again, muttering to himself:
"I give you guys a chance, but you're useless."
In the latter half of the 3rd quarter, after Harris initiated a pick-and-roll and was directly stolen by Lee, the Rookie got hot-headed and committed his 5th foul, marking a turning point in the game.
After Stackhouse entered the game, Jason Terry returned to the point guard position.
In the following few possessions, besides Dirk Nowitzki and Stackhouse seizing their opportunities, Terry, under Lee's Defense, almost bent the rim with his misses.
On the New York Knicks' side, Gasol continuously made jump shots and easy baskets, and Ron Artest, after battling for most of the game, finally regained his shooting touch, making a three-pointer from the corner.
The New York Knicks' score continuously rose.
Harris, back on the bench, felt increasingly uncomfortable, his eyes reddening.
This was a chain reaction he had caused.
After a pick-and-roll, Jason Terry, with the ball in his left hand, accelerated horizontally, facing Gasol who had come to hedge, and clanked a pull-up jump shot from the left wing.
As Lee picked up the long rebound again in the right elbow area, the boos in the American Airlines Arena also died down.
Clay Lee continuously accelerated along the left sideline.
Josh Howard, who was chasing him on Defense, didn't commit another foul to send him to the free-throw line, his dark face filled with anxiety.
As he approached the left wing, Lee, with the ball in his left hand, began to slow down, looking up to observe the Defense.
Seeing Josh Howard suddenly rush forward, he lowered his center of gravity and quickly performed an In and out dribble.
While pushing the ball outwards, Lee moved to the front-left, faking out his opponent, and immediately changed direction in front of his body.
"Oh!"
The fans in the American Airlines Arena gasped in unison.
Josh Howard was beaten in one step, and Lee, with the ball now in his right hand, flew low to the ground directly towards the basket.
Erick Dampier, who had just retreated to the vicinity of the paint, felt as if Lee appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye.
He instinctively slid to the left, then lost his defensive position.
Faking right, driving left, Lee executed a wide Euro step to easily shake off the Defense.
As his left foot jumped, he scooped the ball with his left hand for a layup.
Erick Dampier, spinning under the basket, was dazed until he heard the sound of the ball swishing through the net, and only then did he fully come to his senses.
88:68. The lead still reached 20 points.
In the final possession, after a quick inbound from the baseline, watching Dirk Nowitzki miss a contested three-pointer from the right wing, the American Airlines Arena became even quieter.
Some children sitting in the front rows had already started to cry.
Walking towards the bench with his head down, Dirk Nowitzki kicked over his chair as soon as he sat down.
The German was extremely frustrated.
The sudden collapse of the game was a result he could not accept.
The staff looked at Dirk Nowitzki sitting on the floor, momentarily unsure how to comfort him.
Jason Terry went 0 for 6 in the quarter, scoring 0 points.
This couldn't be entirely blamed on the leader.
Knowing he had performed poorly, Terry, wearing a white headband, had his head down, staring intently at the floor.
His big contract was gone.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 11 points, going 3 for 6 from the field, 0 for 2 from beyond the arc, and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line, almost single-handedly accounting for all of the team's points.
Playing the entire third quarter, Lee went 7 for 7 from the field, 3 for 3 from three-point range, and 6 for 6 from the free-throw line, accumulating 23 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.
While filling the stat sheet, his personal score once again surpassed the Dallas Mavericks' total.
No one in the American Airlines Arena left, but most of the fans no longer held out hope, and the noise had subsided by more than half.
Hubie Brown, looking through the box score, found it difficult to comment on the game.
Everyone knew Lee would explode in the third quarter, but the opponents just couldn't stop him.
The veteran coach's face showed a look of regret.
Looking at Dirk Nowitzki, who had returned to the court, he could only offer a blessing:
"20 points. I think the Dallas Mavericks still have hope. They must narrow the gap to 10 points as soon as possible."
Mike Breen, beside him, noticed that Lee was also on the court and knew in his heart that the Dallas Mavericks had no hope.
He finally said tactfully:
"Unless Jason Terry can explode, I think that's the Dallas Mavericks' only chance!"
As the 4th quarter progressed in the American Airlines Arena, Dallas Mavericks fans completely despaired.
Facing the New York Knicks' small lineup, Dirk Nowitzki and Terry continued to clank shots one after another.
In some possessions, Dirk Nowitzki would step to the free-throw line, and his free throws remained accurate, but the deficit never seemed to shrink.
Prince and Raja Bell quietly capitalized on open three-point opportunities, while Antonio Daniels, frequently at the free-throw line for easy points, repeatedly delivered assists, allowing Gasol to score easy baskets.
Clay Lee, occasionally distributing from the top of the arc, steadily controlled the game's tempo.
When he sometimes grabbed a rebound and initiated a fast break, the Dallas Mavericks could only commit fouls.
With 6 minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the game, Lee once again stepped to the free-throw line.
The Dallas Mavericks had already entered the bonus, and the game was beyond doubt.
"Oh! Boo!"
Cheers and boos simultaneously erupted in the American Airlines Arena.
Clay Lee, replaced by Old Fish, smiled and waved to the fans.
The series was now beyond doubt.
Jason Terry's three-pointer came a bit late.
Although Marquis Antonio Daniels, coming off the bench, scored continuously, the New York Knicks' veteran Finley also responded in time.
As Dirk Nowitzki was also substituted out, the American Airlines Arena turned into a library.
In the back of the American Airlines Arena, the Dallas Mavericks' plus-sized cheerleaders no longer incited the fans.
Everyone looked at each other, seemingly unable to believe that the NBA Finals had ended like this.
The referees also stopped adding drama to themselves.
The final minute flew by quickly.
When the final buzzer sounded, Fisher handed the ball to the referee, then grinned and embraced his teammates on the court.
116:88. The huge point difference left Dallas Mavericks fans feeling hopeless.
Michael Finley's dark face showed a look of regret.
His former teammates left without a word, heading to the player's tunnel early.
"Michael, cheer up! We're going to lift the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy the day after tomorrow! This is a highlight of your career!"
Old Fish didn't care about the scattered boos in the American Airlines Arena.
He put his arm around Finley to comfort him.
This was indeed the easiest NBA Finals he had ever experienced.
"I know. Maybe in the future, I will return here to help the team. So this is what winning a championship feels like."
Finley, wearing the New York Knicks' away blue jersey, gradually smiled, his excitement uncontrollable.
He truly deserved to enjoy the victory.
Scott and the ABC staff on the sidelines were a bit awkward.
The home team's players weren't accepting interviews.
Watching Mark Cuban angrily approach the scorer's table to complain, everyone was speechless for a moment.
Fortunately, they had anticipated such a scenario and quickly moved to Lee's side.
Looking at his familiar smiling face, Scott, adjusting his glasses, quickly offered his congratulations:
"Lee, congratulations on reaching match point. Tell us about your performance tonight. You once again scored over 40 points in the NBA Finals. That's a truly remarkable achievement!"
Playing 38 minutes, he went 14 for 21 from the field, 5 for 8 from three-point range, and 9 for 10 from the free-throw line, accumulating 42 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block, with no turnovers.
Although he filled the stat sheet, Clay Lee could only give his performance a 9 out of 10.
At this moment, he humbly responded:
"The Dallas Mavericks' Defense indeed played a role. They cut off the connections between me and my teammates. Fortunately, my shooting touch was pretty good tonight."
"I should have been able to deliver more assists. In the first half, we played without enough patience. For that, I must praise our opponents!"
"..."
Lee's high standards left the black reporter with only a dry laugh.
He hadn't interviewed him much during the regular season, which often made it hard for him to follow Lee's train of thought:
"I've noticed many New York Knicks legends have already arrived in Dallas. Will you end the series the day after tomorrow?"
"Of course, anything is possible in basketball. We don't want to be the first team in history to be reverse-swept from a 3-0 lead! Therefore, in Game 4, everyone will still give their all!"
Hearing the affirmative reply, and involuntarily thinking of Lee's "15-point theory," the ABC staff finally understood that Lee had been humble at the time.
At this moment, Dirk Nowitzki, who had already returned to the locker room, sat in his seat without a word.
He should have accepted an interview, but he ultimately couldn't swallow his pride and face the defeat openly.
Harris silently shed tears beside him.
The Rookie went 0 for 5 tonight, scoring 2 points from free throws.
This year's NBA Finals was a painful lesson for him.
No one spoke in the locker room.
Jason Terry felt miserable.
He took off his headband, looked at the dejected Dirk Nowitzki, and said in a muffled voice:
"Dirk, it's my fault. I played too poorly. We wasted our perfect performance in the first half..."
Everyone listened to Terry's murmuring, and their spirits sank even lower.
Dirk Nowitzki also didn't respond.
He knew that after the NBA Finals, his reputation would be completely ruined.
Sitting in his seat, no longer making a sound, Jason Terry felt especially miserable.
He knew he had let his leader down:
"Why do we have to be labeled as 'softie'?"
...
By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)