Chương 142: Unexpected Victory
November 22, Madison Square Garden Arena.
Knicks vs. Celtics!
The atmosphere was electric as the New York Knicks prepared to face off against the Boston Celtics. The game had drawn significant media attention, and before tip-off, reporters swarmed the Celtics' locker room, eager to hear from the veterans.
When asked whether he could contain the Knicks' rising star, Lian Dao, Paul Pierce responded confidently, "I'll show him what the truth is!" Garnett, ever the enforcer, backed up Pierce's bravado, flexing his biceps for the cameras and declaring that he would teach Lian Dao what real toughness looks like.
The duo emphasized that the Knicks would finally understand what it meant to face a true powerhouse.
The Celtics' confidence wasn't entirely unfounded. With a 10-2 record, they were one of the top teams in the league. Yet, the Knicks had taken the NBA by storm. With an 11-1 record, they were the top team in both the Eastern Conference and the entire league, a position that shocked many who remembered their dismal performance last season when they finished second-to-last.
The media and fans alike were stunned by their dramatic turnaround, which had them sitting atop the standings.
However, a closer look at the Knicks' first 12 games revealed that they had faced only a few of the league's stronger teams. This led some analysts to speculate that the Knicks' success might be due to a relatively easy early schedule. The one exception was their matchup against the Utah Jazz, where veteran coach Jerry Sloan had meticulously studied the Knicks and implemented a defense that handed New York their only loss of the season.
The Knicks' recent games had not all been smooth sailing. Although they managed to secure victories in the last four contests, two of them were hard-fought wins.
The game against the Atlanta Hawks, in particular, had gone down to the wire. With a lineup featuring Mike Bibby, Al Horford, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Marvin Williams, the Hawks proved to be a formidable opponent.
The game was decided in the final seconds, with the Knicks trailing by one point and the Hawks focusing their defense on Lian Dao. Expecting Lian Dao to take the game-winning shot, the Hawks double-teamed him, making it nearly impossible for him to get the ball.
In the final moments, Wilson Chandler took a mid-range jumper that missed, but Lian Dao seized a brief lapse in the Hawks' defense, darting to the basket and dunking over Al Horford with just 0.6 seconds left on the clock, securing the win for New York.
Against the Indiana Pacers, Lian Dao played a key role in shutting down their All-Star player, Danny Granger, leading the Knicks to another victory. Despite these successes, many in the league, especially those from championship-caliber teams, viewed the Knicks' impressive record with skepticism. To them, the Knicks had yet to prove themselves against the league's elite.
Given that this game against the Celtics was part of a back-to-back, Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni made the strategic decision to focus primarily on offense. The thinking was that even if the Knicks devoted all their energy to defense, it would be nearly impossible to completely shut down the Celtics' veteran lineup.
Therefore, D'Antoni chose to play to his team's strengths by emphasizing a high-paced, run-and-gun offensive strategy, hoping to outscore the Celtics and keep their momentum alive.
As the game was about to begin, the stage was set for a battle that would test the Knicks' resolve and potentially reshape the narrative around their early-season success.
The Knicks started the game with an explosive offensive rhythm, their movements smooth and fluid like quicksilver. Tony Douglas, stepping in as point guard, orchestrated the offense with precision, pushing the tempo and keeping the Celtics on their heels.
In the first quarter, the Knicks were on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of 12 three-pointers, which left the Celtics scrambling. With a three-point shooting percentage over 50%, the Knicks took a surprising 32-27 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Realizing they were in trouble, the Celtics quickly adjusted their defense, putting more pressure on the Knicks' shooters. However, Lian Dao adapted just as quickly. He stopped relying on his outside shot and began attacking the paint.
In one electrifying play, he drove to the basket, and as Garnett rose to block him, Lian Dao twisted mid-air, avoiding the block and tossing the ball into the hoop. The crowd erupted as Lian Dao raised his arms in triumph.
Garnett, still catching his breath, watched Lian Dao retreat on defense and couldn't help but smile. The rookie's explosive talent was undeniable. Garnett couldn't help but reflect that in his younger days, he might have blocked that shot, but time had taken its toll—even the fierce Wolf King couldn't defy gravity forever.
Paul Pierce, known for his strength and savvy, struggled to keep up with Lian Dao. Time and again, Lian Dao used his speed to blow past Pierce, only to pull back for a step-back three, leaving Pierce a step too slow. The Knicks' offense was firing on all cylinders, and the Celtics found it difficult to pull ahead until the fourth quarter.
The game remained tight throughout, with both teams exchanging blows and the score staying close. With just five seconds left in regulation, the Knicks trailed 109-112. Lian Dao found himself on the perimeter, took a quick dribble, and launched a three-pointer over the outstretched hands of the Celtics' defenders.
The ball sailed through the net, tying the game at 112-112 and sending the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy. The game was headed to overtime.
In overtime, the Knicks' youthful energy proved to be the deciding factor. The veteran Celtics struggled to keep up with Lian Dao, who had by now completely shifted his focus to running off screens, shooting threes, and playing relentless defense. He transformed into the epitome of a 3-and-D player, finding open space repeatedly and nailing shot after shot from beyond the arc.
During the overtime period, Lian Dao was unstoppable, making 5 of 7 three-pointers and racking up 17 points, along with 2 assists and 2 rebounds. His heroics propelled the Knicks to a 132-126 victory over the mighty Celtics.
When the final buzzer sounded, Lian Dao had tallied an astounding 52 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists. It was another 50+ point performance for the rookie, cementing his place as one of the league's most exciting young stars.
At the end of the game, Coach D'Antoni couldn't hide his surprise as he looked at Lian Dao with a broad smile, applauding his remarkable performance. This was a different expression than the one he had when Lian Dao scored 63 points earlier in the season. It was a look of pure admiration, one that acknowledged just how much Lian Dao had exceeded expectations in this game.
Originally, D'Antoni had considered this game a likely loss. The Knicks had just played the Nets on the 21st and had barely returned to New York before facing the Boston Celtics.
It was a tough back-to-back situation, and D'Antoni could see that his players were exhausted. So, he had quietly resigned himself to a defeat, and even Lian Dao and the rest of the team seemed to accept that outcome.
But what none of them expected was that, with the pressure off, they would perform at an extraordinary level. With nothing to lose, the Knicks players let loose, taking bold shots from the perimeter. Astonishingly, their confidence didn't waver, and their shooting percentage remained high. The Celtics, despite their best efforts, couldn't pull away until late in the fourth quarter.
Then, in the dying seconds, Lian Dao hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game and force overtime. As the players gathered, they exchanged determined looks. The thought of giving up was long gone—this game was now a fight to the finish.
In overtime, the Knicks tightened their defense significantly. The Celtics, who had grown accustomed to a looser defense throughout the game, were suddenly thrown off their rhythm, resulting in several turnovers. Lian Dao capitalized on these mistakes, launching fast-break counterattacks that crushed any hopes the Celtics had of winning.
When the final buzzer sounded, it took the crowd at Madison Square Garden a few moments to process what had just happened. The realization slowly dawned on everyone: the Knicks had just defeated the Celtics—the Boston Celtics, led by the formidable Big Three.
The fans erupted in deafening cheers, chanting "MVP" as they celebrated the victory. The idea that the Knicks could now be considered a strong team in the East was tantalizing, even if it was a bit premature. But in that moment, none of that mattered. What mattered was that they had won, and they were going to enjoy every second of it.
During the post-game interview, Lian Dao was asked about the bold statements made by Garnett and Pierce before the game. With a smirk, he responded, "I didn't see any of Garnett's so-called toughness out there. And as for Pierce, well, it looks like I was the truth tonight, and we won the game."
He then jokingly added, "Shaq, remember to call me Truth next time we meet. Hahaha!" tagging Shaquille O'Neal in his light-hearted dig.
Lian Dao's response was as bold as his performance on the court. Garnett and Pierce, hearing his remarks, could only grit their teeth. They vowed that the next time they faced the Knicks, they would make them pay. But their words seemed more like Big Big Wolf's empty threats of "I'll get you next time!"
This unexpected victory over the Celtics not only gave the Knicks their fifth consecutive win but also handed the Celtics a two-game losing streak, shaking up the Eastern Conference standings in the process.
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