Death.

"Defense! Defense!"

Han Sen's fierce offensive and defensive plays electrified the crowd, and the stadium roared with cheers.

Kobe, undeterred, went right back at Han with his trademark back-to-the-basket move, shaking him off with a smooth up-and-under.

But as Kobe went up for the layup, Marc Gasol stood tall in the paint, nearly blocking him a second time.

Though Kobe avoided the block, the shot clanged off the front of the rim.

This was all part of the defensive strategy Han and his team had discussed: guard Kobe closely on the perimeter and rely on interior help.

It was reminiscent of how Yao Ming and Artest used to defend LeBron James years ago.

But, Kobe wasn't LeBron, and this approach worked partly because Kobe was visibly heated. If he'd been calm, he'd have seen Marc Gasol closing in and recognized Okafor was wide open under the basket, ready for a pass.

However, every strategy has its downside. On the other end, a determined Kobe returned the favor by blocking Han's shot.

He wasn't as 'washed up' as Han claimed. An 'old' Kobe wouldn't have posted his career's most efficient stats to win MVP, nor would he be averaging 30+ in the playoffs.

But Han Sen didn't back down either.

Still, Han didn't back down. When Kobe later drove into the paint, drawing a foul on Marc Gasol to go to the line, Han moved right next to him at the free-throw line.

"Did VC give you the 500k?" Han asked, casually resting his hands on his knees.

Back when Han bet he could shut down Kobe and lost, he owed Kobe $500,000. He'd told him to collect from Vince Carter, who happened to owe Han the same amount.

More than a year had passed, and Han couldn't help but check up.

After all, Han knew one of life's hardest things was collecting a debt—especially a gambling debt.

Kobe ignored Han's taunt… until Han made his next comment.

"How about we bet another 500k that you'll make this free throw?"

Clang!

Kobe missed the free throw.

Han's psychological game was unparalleled in the league. He earned a cold, piercing glare from Kobe—the exact reaction he'd been aiming for.

Han wanted Kobe to focus on him, turning it into a grudge match for three quarters straight.

By the end of the third quarter, the Lakers led the Grizzlies 89-86. Both Han and Kobe were resting on the bench, drained after three quarters of intense back-and-forth.

The results spoke for themselves: Han's strategy had paid off. A fired-up Kobe tried to handle everything himself, but the Grizzlies' well-rounded defensive scheme kept him at bay.

And, notably, Kobe didn't adjust to the referees' calls the way others might, attempting to draw fouls more subtly.

The refs were clearly favoring the Lakers, but Kobe seemed determined to beat the Grizzlies on his own merits. This limited how much help the officials could realistically provide.

"Kobe's the only real man on the Lakers tonight," Shaq commented approvingly.

As the fourth quarter began, Chris Paul and Rudy Gay led their respective teams.

Unlike Kobe, Paul understood how to work with the refs and quickly drew fouls on Faried and Speights, slowly widening the Lakers' lead.

Coach Joerger had no choice but to send in his starters early, forcing both teams into crunch time.

With 8 minutes remaining, the Lakers led 98-91.

Some Grizzlies fans stood early, sensing this might be their team's final 8 minutes of the season.

Han came in and assisted Conley on a three-pointer, trimming the Lakers' lead to four. Paul brought the ball up the court, only to find Han had switched onto him.

Paul immediately called for a pick from Pau Gasol. He remembered vividly how Han had humiliated him before, and tonight, he was determined to send him home.

But Pau's screen wasn't enough to contain Han. Although Han didn't have Paul's famed footwork, his lateral quickness and agility were on point.

Paul darted past, charging toward the rim. Checking Han's position over his shoulder, he went for a bank shot.

However, he underestimated Han's jumping speed. Just as he released the shot, Han soared up from behind him.

Smack!

A LeBron-esque chase-down block pinned the ball to the backboard. Han's momentum sent Paul tumbling out of bounds.

Han recovered the ball, but Paul lunged to grab it, fouling Han in the process. Paul stormed over to the ref, yelling in protest.

"What about the calls we're supposed to get?"

How could he get bumped out of bounds without a call, yet get hit with a foul for going after the ball?

But the ref's response was rooted in policy: blocks are typically judged by arm contact, not leg positioning, and Paul's hand had pushed against Han Sen's back—referees had already shown leniency.

Conley missed a mid-range shot off a pick-and-roll, but Marc Gasol grabbed the offensive rebound and scored on the second putback, reducing the Lakers' lead to just a single point.

Marc punched the air with a primal roar.

The Grizzlies players seemed to have been transported back to Game 4, but this time, they were hungrier than ever for the win.

Paul wasn't giving up, and he used a burst of speed to drive past Han Sen again. Expecting Han Sen's chase-down block, Paul stopped abruptly, hoping to draw a foul.

But he was shocked to find himself backing into empty air.

Han Sen saw that move coming a mile away.

Paul's foul-baiting attempt backfired, as he had to pass out of the awkward position to avoid a turnover, only for Conley to intercept the pass.

Conley wasn't one to play dirty, but he was lethal with steals, averaging 2.1 per game—more than Han Sen himself.

The Grizzlies surged forward on the fast break, with Gay catching Conley's pass and hammering home a tomahawk slam.

The Grizzlies' 4-0 run tied the game, sending FedExForum into a frenzy.

Han Sen's regular-season taunt to Chris Paul had become a series truth: in crunch time, you could always count on Paul!

Though the score was tied, the Grizzlies clearly looked like the team with the better shot at winning.

"Whoop that trick!"

Returning from the timeout, fans chanted louder and louder.

Kobe began running the play, and when he received Paul's pass, he faked out Gay and took a dribble step into a pull-up jumper.

Clang!

The shot clanked off the rim; Kobe's legs were visibly drained, affecting his shooting accuracy.

Game 4 seemed to be repeating itself.

But before the cheers could start, Kobe anticipated the bounce and darted forward, grabbing the offensive rebound and drawing a foul on Marc Gasol on the second-chance attempt.

After the contact, Kobe lost his balance and fell, and as Paul and World Peace pulled him up, he said nothing, going straight to the line.

The camera focused on Kobe, biting his jersey with a look of fierce determination.

After Game 4, Kobe had said in the post-game press conference, "The loss was on me. I didn't step up in the fourth."

Now, facing a similar scenario, Kobe wasn't letting that line become just words; he was stepping up.

Releasing his jersey, he took a deep breath and hit both free throws amid relentless heckling from the crowd.

The Lakers took the lead once more.

Marc Gasol attacked the basket, but his shot was disrupted by Okafor, and Randolph's putback was blocked by a retreating Kobe.

The Lakers had defended the possession.

Kobe then drove into the paint, only to be blocked by a helping Han Sen.

But then the ref's delayed whistle sounded.

Han Sen was called for a defensive foul, and Kobe was awarded two free throws.

Han's 'core player' had broken.

Or rather, such a thing had never existed. The referees had simply chosen not to foul him out—until now.

At crunch time, the whistle always finds its way to the stars.

Han Sen took a deep breath.

He knew confronting the refs would only earn him a technical.

Kobe's two free throws once again extended the Lakers' lead to 4.

Back on offense, Han Sen initiated the play.

Marc Gasol screened Kobe tightly, and Han Sen received the ball with a behind-the-back dribble, breaking free of Pau Gasol and stopping in the lane for a floater.

Knowing his shot percentage would suffer due to fatigue, he drove as close as possible to the basket.

Clang!

His floater didn't fall.

Okafor reached out, ready to grab the rebound.

Before he could secure the rebound, a figure soared up, smashing the ball back through the hoop with a thunderous putback!

Seeing the one-handed dunker hanging on the rim, Okafor's eyes filled with shock.

It was Han Sen—the same guy who had just attempted the floater.

How did he manage to do that?

"Phew!"

Landing, Han Sen let out a long exhale.

This dunk had been a way to release his pent-up emotions.

But his steps were a bit shaky afterward.

He'd used up his last reserves of energy to jump, as he no longer had the stamina to play this way.

But the basket had gone in, and that made it all worth it.

As he transitioned back to defense, Han Sen switched back to guarding Kobe.

Seeing this, Chris Paul drove toward the basket, trying to draw a foul on Marc Gasol.

But Marc wasn't Faried, and he'd already adjusted to the refs' calls for tonight's game, sidestepping early.

As a result, Paul, lacking leverage mid-air, had to change his direct layup to a reverse, but it bounced off the rim.

Marc Gasol grabbed the defensive rebound, ending the Lakers' possession without a score.

Han Sen and Randolph ran a pick-and-roll, but Randolph's mid-range shot missed as well.

At this stage, the physical toll on both teams was immense, making each point increasingly difficult to earn.

At this moment, the fans realized only Kobe and Han Sen could still score on the court.

With the game entering its final minute, Han Sen's putback tied the game again at 101.

The crowd's hearts felt as if they were about to leap out of their chests.

Paul dribbled to the frontcourt and passed to Kobe, with everyone else clearing out.

It was Kobe and Han Sen, one-on-one at the top of the key.

Sweat beaded on Kobe's forehead, clearly showing his fatigue.

But Han Sen, with his soaked jersey, wasn't doing much better.

Kobe began his move, opting for a face-up drive into a pull-up jumper.

Even if he had other options, he didn't have the energy left for more complex moves.

This move didn't shake Han Sen off.

Han Sen forced him to stop dribbling.

Kobe tried to fake, but his continuous movements only brought Han Sen closer.

Such fake-outs were like LeBron's ground-stare before a three-point shot—only fooling himself.

In the end, Kobe went for his signature, high-difficulty turnaround fadeaway.

Han Sen leaped to contest it.

Kobe had to increase his fade angle, shooting almost at a 45-degree incline.

The ball barely cleared Han Sen's fingertips, nearly getting blocked again.

As it arced high…

Swish!

It went through the hoop!

The FedEx Forum erupted.

Kobe could make even this kind of shot!

After the shot, Kobe fell backward. As his teammates helped him up, he pulled at his jersey in celebration.

A classic Kobe moment: tough shot, heavily contested, but it still went in!

The Grizzlies called a timeout.

With 40 seconds left, the Grizzlies still had a chance to tie or take the lead.

The FedEx Forum fell silent; this next possession would decide if the Grizzlies' season would end here.

Some fans with weak hearts covered their faces, unable to watch.

Last year, they had lost in Game 6 to the Mavericks. Would they lose to the Lakers the same way this year?

As the timeout ended, the camera focused on Han Sen.

The message was clear: besides Kobe, only Han Sen had been scoring in these last moments. He was the Grizzlies' last hope.

After Conley brought the ball up, he passed directly to Han Sen.

Dribbling the ball, Han Sen waited until the strong side cleared, then gestured for Marc Gasol to come up for a high pick.

After the screen, Han Sen stepped back, raising his hand as if preparing to shoot.

"He's going for the three!"

Coach Brown yelled from the sideline. He knew Han Sen well; with a chance to take the lead, he wouldn't settle for a two-pointer.

Kobe and Pau Gasol both lunged toward Han Sen.

But what no one expected was Han Sen's quick, low bounce pass.

The ball shot between Kobe and Pau, bouncing straight to Marc Gasol.

Marc grabbed it and went up strong toward the basket.

Okafor was boxed out by Randolph.

Boom!

With all his pent-up energy, Marc Gasol dunked it hard.

With 28 seconds left, the Grizzlies tied the game again!

Brown's guess was kinda right—Han Sen hadn't gone for the two, but he had chosen to pass.

In these past two possessions, the contrast between Kobe and Han Sen was evident.

Kobe had relied on himself to solve every problem, while Han Sen's eyes had always been on his teammates.

This time, the Lakers called a timeout.

When the game resumed, Kobe brought the ball forward himself.

Once in the frontcourt, all the Lakers players spaced out, and Kobe and Han Sen were left one-on-one at the top.

It was do-or-die.

Kobe held his ground against Han Sen, running the clock down. When there were about ten seconds left, he started his move.

He didn't face up this time; instead, he turned to his lifelong weapon: the post-up.

Turning to the high post, Kobe leaned on Han Sen, faked repeatedly, then spun baseline for a fadeaway.

Han Sen followed, both players rising for the shot.

It was a battle of height and strength in the air, and Han Sen barely tipped the ball with his fingers!

Both players were exhausted, but Han's youth and slight weight advantage gave him the edge.

The shot fell short, missing the rim entirely and dropping into the crowd below.

After a scramble, Marc Gasol secured the ball, but just as he raised it, Chris Paul reached in to poke it away.

Paul's hand was sore from the jab, and he didn't get the ball. It bounced out of bounds.

The Grizzlies' possession.

With 3.6 seconds left.

Just as Coach Joerger was about to call a timeout, the referee signaled that it was frontcourt possession.

The arena exploded.

This wasn't just a biased call—this was a scandalous one!

With no 'challenge' option yet available, the referees had plenty of room to maneuver.

Grizzlies players were furious, and the crowd filled the arena with boos.

The possession was crucial!

But the referees didn't reverse the call. They wouldn't.

Since the Lakers were out of timeouts, Paul quickly walked to the sideline, signaling for an inbounds play.

"Stay on your man!" Han Sen shouted.

This brought the Grizzlies back to focus. They were used to a 5-on-8 game; they couldn't expect a fair call now.

Kobe started moving, with Pau Gasol screening Han Sen.

Paul raised his hand to pass but saw Han Sen anticipating, positioning himself on the slant.

Paul tried to pull the ball back, but his sore finger twinged, and the pass floated out.

"Watch out!"

Smack!

Amid Paul's warning, before the ball reached Kobe's hands, Han Sen intercepted it!

The instant his hand touched the ball, Han Sen felt a surge of energy, driving him forward as he outpaced Kobe, who tried to chase, and Paul, rushing in from the sideline.

The arena erupted.

Han Sen was like an arrow, unstoppable.

He was racing against time.

He sprinted past half-court, reaching the front of the three-point line.

Time wasn't on his side to drive closer, so he attempted a last-second three-pointer.

Momentum carried him forward, so he took a leaning, horseback-archer shot.

The ball left his hand, spinning toward the hoop.

Before it peaked, the red lights flashed.

The crowd held their breath, hearts pounding.

Because of his forward motion, he had already drifted inside the three-point line, making the shot closer than a standard three-pointer.

Swish!

But it flew straight through the hoop, piercing the Lakers' hearts!