Buzzer beater

With the game tied at 117 and only 46 seconds left on the clock, the tension in the arena was palpable. James' previous pass had fooled the entire Knicks defense, who never expected him to give up the Cavaliers' inside advantage and kick it out to Mo Williams on the perimeter. By the time the Knicks scrambled to recover, it was too late. Williams' three-pointer swished through the net, putting immense pressure on the Knicks.

Now, it was their turn.

Lian Dao dribbled up the court, taking control of the ball. He was methodical, managing the clock, assessing the Cavaliers' defensive setup, and using every precious second to regain some of his energy.

With just 5 seconds left on the shot clock, Millsap and David Lee set a double screen for Lian Dao. It was a high-risk move—if Lian Dao missed, the Knicks would likely lose the rebound and potentially the game. But Millsap and Lee didn't hesitate; they had full confidence in Lian Dao.

Taking advantage of the space created by the double screen, Lian Dao pulled up for a three-pointer from two steps beyond the arc. James, fighting through the screens, lunged to contest the shot, but Lian Dao's release was lightning fast. James was a split second too late.

"Rebound!" James shouted, hoping for a miss that would allow the Cavaliers to regain possession.

But then, the unmistakable sound of the ball passing cleanly through the net reverberated throughout Madison Square Garden.

"Swish!"

The arena erupted in deafening cheers as the Knicks took the lead, 120-117, with just 23 seconds remaining.

The Cavaliers were now down by three, and Mike Brown quickly called a timeout to devise a final play.

"Oh my God, Kenny, I'm so glad I decided to commentate on this game. This is playoff-level intensity!" Barkley exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement. "This game is electric!"

"Sickle has now scored 60 points in just his sixth NBA game—that's unbelievable!"

"Kenny, he's just shattered Wilt Chamberlain's rookie scoring record of 58 points in a single game! I never thought I'd see the day when a rookie would score 60 points under today's rules."

"You have to understand, this isn't the wild, unregulated basketball of the 1960s. We're talking about modern, tightly officiated NBA basketball. For a rookie to do this in just his sixth game? If someone had told me this before, I would've thought they were insane, but now I've witnessed it with my own eyes!"

Barkley was visibly moved. He had always believed that Lian Dao had the potential to become an All-Star, maybe even a superstar, but he hadn't expected such a breakout performance this early in his career.

"Kenny, if only he had been born 15 years earlier and I had him as a teammate, we'd have won championships for sure!" Barkley mused, a tinge of regret in his voice. "Not even Chicago's dynasties could have stopped us!"

Kenny Smith glanced at Barkley with a mix of amusement and disdain, casually spinning his championship ring on his finger. "Who's holding you back now?"

Barkley, unphased, responded with a smirk, "Sir Charles would've been the best partner for him—the best! I would've been his Olajuwon, you know that, Kenny?"

Kenny Smith just shrugged, twisting his ring with a knowing smile. "All I know is that Hakeem and I won championships—twice."

"And Hakeem doesn't have to live without a ring like you," Kenny added, twisting the knife a bit deeper.

"Okay, okay, let's get back to the game," Barkley said, quickly shifting the conversation back to the court as the two teams returned from the timeout. Barkley knew that not having a championship ring would always be a sore spot for him.

...

As the players returned to the court, the Cavaliers prepared to inbound the ball.

A heavy sense of pressure loomed over the Cavaliers as James took possession. Lian Dao, tasked with guarding him, was ready to stop any drive to the basket. But to his surprise, James suddenly pulled up from beyond the arc, launching a three-pointer.

Lian Dao was caught off guard. Is he really taking that shot? James had been struggling with his shooting all night, hitting only one of six attempts from deep.

But the ball swished through the net with a clean "swish!" sound, stunning Lian Dao and the entire Knicks team, including Coach D'Antoni.

D'Antoni had expected the Cavaliers to go for a quick two-pointer or draw a foul. The idea that James, given his earlier struggles, would attempt a three-pointer in such a crucial moment had seemed unlikely.

The scoreboard now showed 120-120.

With just 10 seconds left, the Knicks had one last chance to secure the win, though time was tight. D'Antoni quickly called a timeout.

As the team huddled, Lian Dao couldn't shake his frustration. "Sorry, I misjudged that play," he admitted, feeling the pressure.

D'Antoni immediately stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Lian Dao's shoulder. "No, that one's on me. Your defense was exactly what it needed to be. Now, let's focus on making this last shot and securing the win here at Madison Square Garden."

He paused, locking eyes with Lian Dao. "Sickle, are you confident?"

Lian Dao nodded, his resolve unshaken. "Mike, I've never lacked confidence in my life!"

D'Antoni smiled, satisfied with the response. While the outcome of this game was important, what mattered more to him was maintaining Lian Dao's confidence. He didn't want his rookie to hesitate when it mattered most.

"Alright," D'Antoni said, clapping Lian Dao on the back. "The final shot is yours. Let's make it count."

As the players prepared to return to the court, the entire arena buzzed with anticipation, all eyes on Lian Dao as he readied himself for the game-winning shot.

The game resumed, and the Cavaliers deployed their most powerful defensive lineup, determined to drag the game into overtime—a scenario that would work in their favor. In overtime, the Knicks would struggle to counter O'Neal's dominance inside. The thought of employing a "shark-killing" tactic in overtime was laughable; the Knicks, already exhausted, would only hasten their defeat.

James took on the responsibility of guarding Lian Dao, fully committed to preventing his shot. David Lee, the Knicks' reliable inbounder, delivered a high pass to Lian Dao, who secured the ball with his physical prowess.

The clock ticked down.

8 seconds... 7 seconds... 6 seconds...

With 6 seconds remaining, Lian Dao attacked from the backcourt, racing toward the three-point line without hesitation. Two steps away from the arc, he executed a sudden crossover, faking left before accelerating to the right. James kept pace, but Lian Dao abruptly stopped again, throwing James off balance. As James struggled to recover, Lian Dao performed another quick crossover, this time retreating to the logo near mid-court.

James attempted to close the gap, but his feet tangled, and he collapsed to the floor.

1.5 seconds remained.

Lian Dao, unfazed by the pressure, lifted the ball into a shooting motion. Varejao and other Cavaliers players rushed toward him, desperate to contest the shot, but Lian Dao was locked in. He released the ball with confidence, instinctively knowing it was on target.

Without waiting for the outcome, Lian Dao turned around and held up three fingers, celebrating before the ball even reached the hoop.

Madison Square Garden fell silent, and all eyes were on the ball as it soared through the air, tracing a long, graceful arc.

"Buzz!"

The game clock expired just as the ball reached the rim.

"Swish!"

The shot was perfect. The sound of the ball swishing through the net echoed through the arena, breaking the silence and igniting the crowd.

The arena exploded in celebration, while the Cavaliers' players felt their hearts sink, as if plunged into an icy abyss.