Yu Fei and Kobe's spirited showdown ignited the fans' enthusiasm.
Key Arena tonight looked no less impressive than any other NBA home court.
At half-time, the SuperSonics led the Lakers by 7 points, 64 to 57.
"If this game happened on Christmas Day, I believe it would mean more," Karl said in a half-time interview, "I mean, special games should belong to special nights."
Karl was right, but even if today was just an ordinary day, a special game could still leave a lasting impression on the fans at Key Arena.
The exciting gameplay greatly stimulated the fans' desire to consume.
During the half-time break, one-third of the fans left their seats to head to the stores outside the stadium to buy refreshments and replenish their energy.
The energy here is truly impressive," Adam Silver said, though not sincerely.
As the NBA's Deputy Commissioner and the successor favored by Stern, he had been deeply involved in the League's plans to relocate the SuperSonics.