The Terminator.

With continued strong performances from Han Sen and O'Neal, the Cavaliers quickly regained the lead.

This forced Van Gundy to make adjustments, bringing in the starters earlier than planned.

In response, Coach Brown also substituted his starters back in.

Han Sen was subbed out five minutes into the second quarter.

He played a total of eight minutes in the first half, contributing 10 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block.

Of course, there were many defensive plays that didn't show up in the stats but were clearly noticed by the fans.

By halftime, the Cavaliers led 59 to 51.

"Han Sen is a dark horse. His outstanding performance as a substitute changed the course of the game. We have every reason to remember his name."

At halftime, Kenny Smith gave Han Sen a high evaluation.

Unlike Barkley, Smith didn't recall Han Sen's past appearances, as there were so many participants in each episode of NBA Entertainment. This only further validated the objectivity of his evaluation.

As the second half began, the game resumed.

Varejao remained in the starting lineup.

This wasn't due to Brown being stubborn; it's common practice for the starting lineup to remain unchanged between halves.

After all, no one knows if a player who performed poorly in the first half will improve after halftime.

Well, the answer is no.

The Cavaliers' problems weren't with individual players' performance but with the lineup itself.

The Magic seized the opportunity, and with some good luck, hit a series of three-pointers. Carter alone sank two, and not only did they retake the lead, but they pulled ahead significantly.

By the time Brown subbed Cunningham in for Varejao again, the Magic had pushed their lead back to double digits.

The camera once again focused on Brown pacing back and forth on the sidelines.

This time, the crowd was not only restless but even began booing.

They came to see revenge for last season, not to relive the painful memories of last year's playoffs.

Han Sen couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Brown.

Actually, based on the training schedule before the regular season, it was clear Brown intended to adjust the starting lineup, but he couldn't go against LeBron's will.

This had nothing to do with Brown being weak. If he had been more assertive, he would have been fired like his predecessors in Cleveland.

What's the number one rule for the head of security? The number one requirement for a ball boy? What's the top priority for being LeBron's coach?

The answer to all three questions is the same.

Han Sen was subbed back in with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Brown brought him in earlier this time, and it was his first time playing alongside LeBron.

This stint didn't offer Han Sen as many offensive opportunities as in the first half, but he showcased his defensive skills and continued to limit Carter's effectiveness.

The Cavaliers managed to close the gap during this stretch.

Then, as the fourth quarter began, a familiar scene played unfolded again.

Brown once again deployed the Han-O'Neal combo.

This pairing once again revitalized the Cavaliers, as they launched a counterattack that closed the gap, forcing Van Gundy to bring his starters back earlier.

The game became a stalemate.

Han Sen was subbed out five minutes into the fourth quarter.

He had contributed more on defense in the second half, seizing one opportunity on offense to hit a three-pointer.

After being subbed out, Han Sen put on his warm-up gear.

His debut was essentially over.

He played 18 minutes, scored 13 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, dished 1 assist, had 2 steals, and blocked 1 shot. He shot 5 for 8 from the field, including 3 for 5 from three-point range.

Such a debut, combined with his defensive contributions to the team, could be called perfect.

The remaining question was whether the Cavaliers could secure the win tonight.

Outstanding stats shine like gold when you win, but in a loss, they become tarnished and lose their luster.

Brown didn't use Varejao again, opting instead for Cunningham at the power forward position.

Cunningham's skill set was similar to Han Sen's. Although he hadn't developed a three-point shot yet, he had a reliable mid-range jumper that could space the floor, and his defensive energy was high.

He had a noticeable impact on the game, helping the Cavaliers stay within reach.

However, in the final two minutes of crunch time, the Magic began targeting O'Neal on offense.

Carter repeatedly ran pick-and-rolls with Howard, punishing O'Neal with back-to-back three-pointers.

Carter had already hit four three-pointers that night and was on fire.

With one minute left in the game, the Magic stretched their lead to four points, forcing Brown to call a timeout.

When coaches draw up plays, the starters typically huddle in the center, with the bench players standing on the outer circle.

Han Sen stood on the outer edge, but before Brown picked up his clipboard, he called his name directly.

He was going to sub in for Parker to play the final minute of crunch time.

Han Sen was a bit surprised.

No coach does that— if you want someone to play in crunch time, you'd sub them in earlier. Playing the final minute sounded like... taking the fall.

Still, upon hearing his name, Han Sen quickly shed his warm-up clothes.

No matter how many minutes, standing on the court during crunch time is an opportunity.

Moreover, he had only sat for 5 minutes in the fourth quarter, so his body hadn't cooled off completely.

After the timeout, the camera zoomed in on Han Sen, who was re-entering the game.

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Even though he was a substitute and a rookie, the fans clearly recognized his performance.

Those cheers made Han Sen clench his fist in determination.

He wanted to be criticized because it drove him to become stronger and earn more respect.

And tonight, he had already earned the recognition of so many people.

For himself, and for those fans who believed in him, he had to help the team win this game!

On the next Cavaliers possession, LeBron drove to the basket, battling Howard and drawing a foul. He stepped to the free-throw line.

LeBron made the first free throw, but missed the second. Howard secured the rebound.

With 40 seconds remaining, the Cavaliers trailed the Magic 99 to 102.

"Defense! Defense!"

The crowd's deafening chants filled the arena.

The Cavaliers had to stop this possession to have a chance to force overtime, let alone win.

Nelson dribbled while backing down Williams, running down the clock.

With 14 seconds left on the shot clock, he passed the ball to Carter, who came off a screen.

Carter caught the ball, but Han Sen fought through Howard's screen to meet him.

Seeing this, Carter crossed over and made a strong drive to the basket.

The Magic were up by three. Even if they couldn't score, just drawing a foul would essentially seal the win.

Han Sen, being a rookie, was great on defense, but his lack of experience was a potential weakness.

That was Carter's assessment, but when he leaned in to take his shot in the paint, he realized he had misjudged again.

Han Sen had honed his skills by defending elite slashers like Wade. He wasn't going to fall for Carter's tricks easily.

Carter's shot missed, and O'Neal grabbed the rebound.

There were 17 seconds left in the game.

Brown called the Cavaliers' last timeout.

The fans instinctively looked up at the scoreboard.

The Cavaliers had one final opportunity to tie the game, but it was a tough one, as the Magic knew they could only go for a three-pointer, and they would extend their defense accordingly.

LeBron grew anxious and took the clipboard from Brown, drawing up the play himself.

No one on the team found it unusual.

Not even Han Sen.

In the past, he thought it was strange when LeBron took over the clipboard, but when a player could reschedule practices and decide the starting lineup, was taking the clipboard that big of a deal?

As LeBron drew up the play, Han Sen understood his role— camping in the weak-side corner.

It was, well, pretty realistic.

After the timeout, the game resumed.

The crowd fell silent, watching the court intently, too nervous to breathe.

While theoretically, the Cavaliers could go for a two-pointer and hope the Magic missed free throws later on [1], Van Gundy had already subbed out Howard in anticipation.

The message was clear— if you want to go for a tough two-pointer, the Magic wouldn't contest it.

Of course, Han Sen knew that LeBron had drawn up a three-point play.

When the whistle blew, Williams advanced the ball quickly and passed it to LeBron in the frontcourt.

With 14 seconds left, LeBron had the ball.

The Magic extended their defense, refusing to give him an open look.

LeBron tried to use a screen from O'Neal to create space for a shot, but it didn't work, and he was double-teamed.

The Magic knew they just needed to defend the three-point line, ignoring everything else.

LeBron was forced to dribble farther from the three-point line as time dwindled, and the play was falling apart.

Well, you couldn't expect a player to draw up the best plays, and LeBron's play-calling was certainly lacking.

But just then, Han Sen moved from the corner to the 45-degree angle and successfully executed an off-ball screen with Cunningham, creating an open look.

LeBron, nearly giving up hope, saw this glimmer of opportunity and made a sharp pass.

Han caught the ball and quickly jumped to shoot. But a figure came flying toward him.

No, it was a UFO!

Carter had been blocked multiple times by Han Sen tonight, and now he was determined to redeem himself with his signature jumping ability!

Han Sen ignored Carter's contest, just like he had ignored Varejao's challenges in practice.

Smack!

Carter's hand slapped Han Sen's arm, the sound crisp and clear.

The referee's whistle blew instantly.

A foul on the three-point attempt, and the Cavaliers now had a chance to tie the game.

No, not just to tie it.

Han Sen had gotten the shot off cleanly despite the contact!

The ball spun rapidly toward the basket.

The crowd collectively held its breath, their hearts pounding in their chests.

As the ball reached its peak and began to descend, excitement flashed in their eyes.

Even though the shot had come after the foul, its trajectory was perfect.

Swish!

The net snapped as the ball fell cleanly through.

Han Sen had drained the three, and now he had a free throw to win the game!

The crowd erupted like a tidal wave.

LeBron was celebrating wildly on the court.

Han Sen had wanted to celebrate too, but his gesture froze halfway, and he shook his head, walking calmly to the free-throw line.

The deafening arena gradually quieted down.

With only one second left in the game, this free throw would determine whether the game went into overtime.

The referee held up one finger and handed the ball to Han Sen.

Han Sen took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, though it didn't help much.

Even after two lifetimes, it was impossible not to feel the nerves in such a critical moment.

"I bet you miss this free throw," came a familiar taunt from the line.

It was Carter, clinging to his last bit of pride after making a costly mistake.

Hearing that, Han Sen felt like he was back on the NCAA court, and in an instant, all his nerves disappeared.

"How about 500,000 dollars?"

With that, he released the shot.

The ball arced perfectly through the air and swished through the net.

"Remember, you owe me 500 grand."

Han Sen had sealed Carter's fate.

The arena was in absolute pandemonium!

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(Author's Note: [1] The rule against Hack-a-Shaq in the final two minutes was introduced in the 2016–2017 season.)