Debut Triple Double
With one minute remaining in the second quarter, the Miami Heat found themselves in a difficult position after losing Jermaine O'Neal. Coach Erik Spoelstra couldn't help but regret not benching O'Neal earlier. Although O'Neal had been playing aggressively, pushing the limits with small but constant physical plays, Spoelstra had let it slide, as basketball in this era was still rougher than it would become in later years.
The physicality on the court included hidden elbows, kicks, pinches, and shoves—standard in a game like this. Jermaine O'Neal, a veteran and a key figure in the infamous Auburn Hills Palace brawl, was usually the one dishing out punishment rather than receiving it. But today, he hadn't expected to encounter a rookie like Lian Dao, who wouldn't let a dirty play go unpunished. The result was O'Neal being taken out early, leaving the Heat significantly weakened inside. Spoelstra had no choice but to sub in Udonis Haslem to cover for the loss.
Lian Dao stepped to the free-throw line after O'Neal's foul, sinking both shots effortlessly. The Knicks retained possession, and Lian Dao capitalized with a step-back three-pointer, pushing the lead to 13 points. On the other end, Wade attempted a three-pointer at the buzzer but missed, bringing the first half to a close with the Knicks leading 65-52.
As halftime began, the commentary team in the CCTV broadcast studio, featuring Director Zhang and Yu Jia, took the opportunity to recap the first half of the game.
"From the first half, it's clear the Knicks are a force to be reckoned with this season," Director Zhang noted. "And Lian Dao's performance has been nothing short of impressive."
"That's right," Yu Jia agreed. "In just 17 minutes, Lian Dao has already put up 26 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. He's proving himself in his very first NBA game."
Yu Jia continued, "Lian Dao's physical fitness is truly remarkable. The pre-draft evaluations really underestimated his physical talents. A small forward standing 2.06 meters tall, moving with the agility of a guard and the power of a forward or even a center—it's almost unheard of."
"Big O recorded a triple-double in his debut game," Zhang added. "And looking at Lian Dao's performance so far, it wouldn't be surprising if he does the same tonight. Let's see what more he has in store for us in the second half."
This year, CCTV had secured the broadcast rights for the Knicks' games, leading to a significant spike in viewership. The increased ratings had a direct impact on economic benefits, with advertising costs soaring as a result. The excitement surrounding Lian Dao and the Knicks was palpable, and fans were eager to see how the rookie would continue to dominate in the second half.
Knicks Locker Room
As the Knicks players gathered in the locker room during halftime, all eyes were on Lian Dao, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. Paul Millsap, who sat next to Lian Dao, kept glancing at his elbow, a strange light gleaming in his eyes. Every now and then, he looked as if he wanted to reach out and touch it, his admiration evident. Clearly, Millsap wasn't one to shy away from a bit of physicality on the court.
Though the official line was that O'Neal's injury was the result of an unintentional collision caused by Lian Dao losing his balance, none of the Knicks players believed it was entirely accidental. They knew better.
"Sickle, after today, I bet no team in the NBA will dare to use dirty tricks against you," Millsap teased, using Lian Dao's nickname. "You've got the iron elbow now—you can walk around the league with your head held high."
The locker room erupted in agreement, the players nodding enthusiastically. Wilson Chandler, always one to stir the pot, chimed in, "You're like the protagonist of the Auburn Hills Palace incident, Sickle. That was epic."
Chandler's excitement was palpable; if Coach D'Antoni hadn't held him back earlier, he might have started a brawl himself.
Coach Mike D'Antoni, with his usual calm demeanor slightly rattled, addressed the team. He hadn't expected Lian Dao to stir up such aggression among the Knicks players, but he recognized the potential benefits.
"Listen up, guys," D'Antoni began, his tone firm but understanding. "We're here to play basketball, not to fight. But you do need to be tough. Remember, we don't start trouble, but if someone takes a shot at you, you have my permission to hit back—hard."
He paused, letting the words sink in. "We don't pick fights, but we don't back down from them either!"
The Knicks players, momentarily stunned by their coach's fiery words, quickly rallied behind him, their spirits lifted and their resolve strengthened.
Heat Locker Room
Meanwhile, in the Heat locker room, the mood was somber. The players sat in silence, their thoughts on Jermaine O'Neal and the severity of his injury. The potential loss of O'Neal weighed heavily on them, as they knew how crucial he was to the team's inside presence. Without him, their interior defense would be significantly weakened, leaving Dwyane Wade to shoulder an even greater burden.
Coach Erik Spoelstra paced anxiously, desperate for an update on O'Neal's condition. But with only a few minutes having passed since the incident, he knew it was too soon to expect any news. The ambulance probably hadn't even reached the hospital yet. The uncertainty gnawed at him, but he had no choice but to wait until the end of the game for any definitive answers.
The Heat knew they had a tough second half ahead, and with O'Neal's status in question, the pressure on Wade and the rest of the team only intensified.
As the 15-minute halftime break came to an end, the game resumed with the Knicks eager to capitalize on their momentum. The absence of Jermaine O'Neal from the Heat's defense was immediately felt, as the Knicks' inside offense was unleashed with full force.
On the defensive end, Lian Dao made a strategic adjustment. He focused on limiting Dwyane Wade's ability to penetrate the defense, daring him to take three-pointers from the outside. Wade, visibly frustrated, couldn't believe that a rookie would challenge him in such a way—after all, he was the scoring champion from last season.
Determined to prove a point, Wade took two three-point attempts in quick succession, both of which missed the mark. Realizing his outside shot wasn't falling, Wade reverted to his bread and butter, driving inside for a layup. But the Knicks' defense, spearheaded by Lian Dao, was ready for him.
As Wade continued to push for points, Lian Dao stayed vigilant, anticipating Wade's moves and seizing opportunities to disrupt his rhythm. Wade found himself double-teamed on pick-and-rolls, and Lian Dao capitalized on this by timing his steals perfectly, snatching the ball away from Wade on several occasions.
Without O'Neal to anchor the Heat's defense, the Knicks' frontcourt players, David Lee and Paul Millsap, thrived. Lee was a model of efficiency, making 7 of his 12 shots in the second half and finishing the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Millsap was equally effective, scoring 24 points and grabbing nine rebounds with a 58% shooting percentage.
The Knicks' offensive firepower was on full display, with seven players scoring in double figures. Wilson Chandler contributed 15 points and four rebounds, while Chris Duhon added 10 points and eight assists. Even the bench players, Danilo Gallinari and Al Harrington, got in on the action, scoring in double digits.
Lian Dao, however, was the star of the show. In the second half, he not only scored prolifically but also set up his teammates with precision, dishing out assist after assist. David Lee and Millsap, in turn, helped Lian Dao by boxing out opponents, allowing him to grab crucial rebounds. Initially, Lian Dao felt a bit awkward about their help, but he quickly adapted, leaping to snatch defensive rebounds and further contributing to the Knicks' dominance.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, Lian Dao had put up an astonishing stat line: 41 points, 16 rebounds, 21 assists, and 7 steals. The Knicks had routed the Heat with a commanding 35-point victory, finishing the game with a score of 126-91.