Payback

The scene was tense as Richard Jefferson lay motionless on the floor, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still in Madison Square Garden. Fans and players alike were frozen in shock, unsure of what had just unfolded. As the Spurs players rushed forward, Theo Ratliff in particular looked ready to confront Lian Dao.

But as Lian Dao assumed a combat stance reminiscent of Xingyiquan, a traditional Chinese martial art, Theo hesitated. The sight of Lian Dao's poised and deliberate posture made him pause, the intensity radiating from Lian Dao forcing him to take a step back. It was clear that Lian Dao wasn't to be trifled with, even outside of basketball.

Meanwhile, the Knicks players quickly surrounded their leader. Darko Milicic, in particular, took a defensive stance, fists clenched, his eyes darting around fiercely as if daring anyone from the Spurs to advance. His message was loud and clear: mess with one of us, and you'll deal with all of us. The Spurs players, seeing the escalating situation, backed off. After all, it was just basketball, not a matter of life and death.

The referees, sensing the rising tension, stepped in just in time to defuse the situation. They rushed between the two teams, physically separating the players before the scene could descend into chaos. Nobody wanted a repeat of the infamous Garden brawls.

As the referees restored order, the Spurs players retreated angrily, knowing they'd have to settle things on the court. Soon after, the team doctor sprinted onto the floor to attend to Richard Jefferson. Kneeling beside him, he checked for vital signs, calling his name repeatedly. For a moment, the entire arena held its breath.

"Did you kill him?" Danilo Gallinari whispered to Lian Dao, half-jokingly.

Lian Dao frowned. "No, don't be ridiculous. He just got in the way of the ball."

Danilo and Larry Hughes exchanged amused glances, well aware that Lian Dao's 'innocent' smash had been anything but. If Lian Dao had wanted, he could have caught the ball with ease, putting on a highlight-reel play. But he hadn't. His hand, still red from the impact, told the real story.

This was about sending a message. Lian Dao's fierce response spoke louder than any words ever could: hurt one of my teammates, and you'll feel the consequences.

Soon, with the team doctor's efforts, Richard Jefferson began to stir, opening his eyes slowly. A collective sigh of relief passed through the arena—no one wanted to see a player seriously injured, no matter the rivalry. Jefferson's face, however, told a painful story. His nose was clearly broken, blood smeared across his face, and a basketball-shaped imprint remained on his cheek.

The team doctor gave a preliminary diagnosis: a broken nose, possibly displaced, and a mild concussion. The damage was clear, but not life-threatening. It was a lucky escape for Jefferson, though reconstructive surgery might be in his future.

As the game replayed on the jumbotron, the slow-motion footage confirmed what everyone had suspected—Lian Dao hadn't committed a foul. Jefferson had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, using his face to intercept the ball instead of his hands. It was brutal, but within the rules of the game.

On the sidelines, however, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was far from convinced. He stormed the technical table, yelling, "He did that on purpose! It wasn't an accident!"

The referees, unfazed, asked Popovich to present evidence. The replay spoke for itself—Lian Dao hadn't broken any rules. Frustrated but knowing he had no case, Popovich continued to pressure the referees, his voice growing louder with each word. Eventually, he was issued a warning, with the threat of ejection if he continued.

Knowing he was walking a thin line, Popovich had no choice but to quiet down, seething as the game continued.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden was electric after Lian Dao's emphatic block. The volleyball-like spike of the ball sent a surge of adrenaline through every Knicks fan, igniting the arena with cheers. While Richard Jefferson lay on the floor, the home fans didn't show much concern. In their eyes, this was karma—retribution for his earlier foul on Chris Duhon. They saw the ball hitting his face as poetic justice, a punishment from the basketball gods.

As the arena staff cleaned up the bloodstain on the court, the game resumed, but the Spurs seemed rattled. The injury to Jefferson had cast a shadow over their performance. The team that had previously been poised and competitive now looked disorganized, unable to regain their rhythm.

With tensions high and both teams down a key player, the referees tightened their officiating, blowing the whistle for any hint of a foul. The Spurs, still shaken by Jefferson's injury, couldn't find their footing. The Knicks took full advantage, breaking away to a 22-point lead by halftime, 62-40.

In the third quarter, Lian Dao took a seat on the bench for a well-deserved rest, but it didn't slow the Knicks down. To everyone's surprise, Jrue Holiday stepped up in a big way, relentlessly attacking the basket and locking down Tony Parker on defense. His breakout performance kept the Spurs at bay, maintaining the lead even without their star player on the floor.

Lian Dao returned to the court with three minutes left in the third quarter, immediately taking control of the game. With a series of aggressive plays, he extended the Knicks' lead, ending the quarter with a dominant 93-65 scoreline, a comfortable 28-point cushion.

By the fourth quarter, the Spurs had all but surrendered, putting in their bench players as Coach Popovich conceded defeat. The Knicks followed suit, resting their starters as well. The final score was a decisive 112-87 victory for the Knicks, marking their fifth straight win and ending the Spurs' brief winning streak.

Lian Dao finished the game with a near triple-double: 28 points, 15 assists, and 8 rebounds. His performance earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors once again, solidifying his dominance this season.

After the game, despite the earlier tension, the players exchanged handshakes in good sportsmanship. Lian Dao and Manu Ginobili embraced, with Lian Dao expressing his admiration for the Argentine star's game-changing ability. Then came Duncan, who playfully tried to mess with Lian Dao's hair—a well-known habit of his. Fortunately, Lian Dao saw it coming and dodged Duncan's hand just in time, prompting a round of laughter.

"Tim, do you always mess with Manu's hair?" Lian Dao asked with a grin, voicing a suspicion he had held for a while.

Duncan, looking somewhat sheepish, quickly denied it. "No, no! It's not my fault his hair's thinning. It's just my way of showing friendship."

Ginobili, overhearing the exchange suddenly seemed to piece it all together, casting a wary glance at Duncan. "Wait a minute... so you're the reason for my hair loss?"

Duncan looked bewildered, shrugging innocently as the entire exchange left both Lian Dao and the crowd in fits of laughter. But just as Lian Dao was basking in the lighthearted moment, Duncan made another move, this time successfully ruffling Lian Dao's hair before quickly disappearing down the tunnel.

Left standing in disbelief, Lian Dao couldn't help but chuckle along with Ginobili, who continued muttering to himself about Duncan's playful yet mysterious ways.