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Chapter 199: Knicks vs Cavaliers End
🕑 Added 2025-06-27 12:45:11 +0000 UTCLin Yi’s fast-break three-pointer from nine meters out detonated the entire Quick Loans Arena.
What the hell was that?!
Seriously—why was he shooting like this? Who permitted him? Where was the logic? The science? The coaching restraint?
But somehow... it felt so right.
In the stands, Cavaliers fans were caught in a crisis of loyalty. Deep down, they still worshiped LeBron—their King, their hero. They were the most faithful of the faithful.
But even they couldn’t lie to themselves right now.
Because as soon as Lin Yi pulled up from the logo and let it fly, a wave of awe swept through the crowd. It was electric. And then…
Swish.
It happened again.
“Lin Yi is so awesome!” a young Cavaliers fan blurted out.
She clamped her hands over her mouth immediately, scandalized by her betrayal—but it was too late. Some fans gasped. Some snorted. Some nodded slowly, silently agreeing.
The arena didn’t know whether to cheer or boo. It was a full-blown emotional breakdown. People were yelling, swearing, cheering, and crying—it was chaos.
Cavaliers coach Mike Brown had seen enough. He yanked off his clipboard and slammed a timeout card on the scorer’s table.
On the bench, he turned to LeBron with an expression that could only be described as: “Fix this.”
LeBron, now fully alert, had shed all traces of his earlier ease. His eyes were locked in, his jaw clenched. He was already standing before the substitution was even confirmed.
He was going back in. Early.
Because Lin Yi’s barrage wasn’t just hot shooting—it was soul-snatching.
Three threes in a row. Boom. Boom. BOOM.
And that last one? That wasn’t just a transition play—it was borderline criminal.
Nine meters out. No hesitation. No conscience.
Mike Brown looked like he was about to lose it. What the hell is this? he thought. O’Neal’s grandma could’ve made a more reasonable play!
Lin Yi wasn’t just playing basketball. He was rewriting the rules in real-time.
In 2010, the NBA still had structure, still had discipline. Deep threes were rare. Wild. Reckless.
But Lin Yi?
He made them look inevitable.
Yes, Mike Brown knew Lin Yi led the league in ultra-long three-point attempts. Sure, the stats said he averaged 0.5 makes per game from that distance.
But this?
This wasn’t statistical.
This was supernatural.
...
“I swear, every time Lin Yi makes a shot like that, it’s like my understanding of basketball gets thrown out the window,” Yu Jia said, practically standing in the commentary booth.
“It’s unreasonable,” Su Junyang agreed, shaking his head. “But he’s making them. And if you’re the Cavaliers right now, you don’t have a choice. You have to accept it. It’s 33–38 now, and the Knicks are just five points behind. Keep in mind, they’ve been destroying second quarters this season, beating teams by nearly 10 points on average. The Cavaliers need to respond—fast.”
If this were the streaming era, the live chat would’ve exploded into flaming chaos. Even without a proper barrage feed, Knicks fans on forums were already losing it.
...
Knicks bench players probably popped a shoulder joint with their amount of towel waving.
Three straight threes to start the quarter? Against this Cavaliers team?
Lin Yi wasn’t playing the game.
He was commanding it.
By the time that last three left his hand, even his teammates knew it was going in. The arc was too perfect, too calm.
It didn’t even look like a shot—it looked like destiny.
And Lin Yi?
He just smiled.
“Give me the ball.”
Surrounded by his teammates during the timeout, Lin Yi kept it simple. Four words, calm and clear—but with weight.
The Cavaliers were locking down the paint, collapsing like a fortress anytime someone dared to drive. So Lin Yi knew exactly what had to be done—stretch the floor, and force them to come out.
If he couldn’t find space inside, then he’d take them out from the perimeter. And if the Knicks were going to survive tonight? It had to start with him.
He felt good. The rim looked wide. Even if Cleveland had figured out how to wall off his drives, there was nothing they could do about his jumper, especially not tonight.
Lin Yi’s role in this game was slowly evolving into something eerily similar to a future Kevin Durant: long, skilled, unguardable once he found his rhythm.
The reality? The Cavaliers were just better. They had the best record in the league for a reason. In their first meeting, they’d been rattled by the young Knicks. In this second matchup, they were prepared, sharp, and calculated.
D'Antoni didn’t have time to whip up new plays on the fly. The answer wasn’t on the clipboard anymore.
It was in Lin Yi’s hands.
Shoot.
He knew a regular shot couldn’t bring the Knicks back. But a three-pointer?
A killer three-pointer?
That was a different story.
Every basketball player in the league was still human. Even the so-called supermen.
And just like Steph would do years later with the Warriors, a few deep threes could rattle even the best—get in their heads, throw them off rhythm. Make them start second-guessing.
Lin Yi’s three straight threes had already planted the seed.
Cleveland had to respond.
Coach Mike Brown was no fool. He didn’t wait for another possession. He yanked Moon and called for LeBron.
LeBron stood up with a look that sent chills down his teammates' backs—serious, focused, all business.
They had to be serious now.
...
Out of the timeout, Cleveland had the ball. James got into position, backed his defender down, and faded into a jumper.
Classic.
Smooth. Controlled. Aesthetically pleasing.
But the rim wasn’t buying it.
Clang!
Lin Yi came soaring in for the rebound, securing it with authority. He took off down the court with the rock still in his hands. The Cleveland fans, who had just started to breathe again, tensed.
No way...
Is he going to shoot again?
Bingo.
Lin Yi didn’t hesitate. He dribbled to the top of the arc, rose, and fired.
This time, the infinite-range badge didn’t light up. No magical cue, no invisible signal.
Just Lin Yi’s feel for the moment.
Clang—rim, bounce, bounce... net.
36–38.
Four straight threes. One man. One mission.
“Another one! Lin Yi again!” Yu Jia’s voice practically cracked. “I don’t even know what to say anymore!”
“That’s his fourth three in this quarter,” Su Junyang said, shaking his head in disbelief. “Not only has the lead shrunk in an instant, but now the Cavaliers face a defensive dilemma—do you extend your defense to stop Lin Yi’s deep bombs? Or stay packed inside and let him keep firing? Either way, you’re getting burned.”
And then it came.
Lin Yi walked back on defense, turned to the Cavaliers’ bench, and pulled out the celebration.
Right hand cocked like a pistol, he aimed, fired a shot toward their sideline—and then gently blew the smoke from his fingers.
If hearts hadn’t been stolen yet, they were now.
Meanwhile, back on the Knicks bench, players like Ewing and Baron were mimicking Lin Yi’s move, goofing around, pretending to fire imaginary guns toward the sky.
“Yo, did he just shoot at their bench?” someone whispered, half-laughing, half-stunned.
Coach Mike Brown, on the other hand, looked like a man one shot away from retirement. He didn’t even flinch when the imaginary gun was pointed his way.
He just sighed.
“And there it is,” Yu Jia said, unable to keep the grin off his face. “Lin Yi’s signature celebration—we call it the blow-gun. And honestly? He’s earned it.”
“He’s not just hot,” Su Junyang added. “He’s devastating. These threes are breaking more than the scoreboard. They’re shattering Cleveland’s rhythm, and Mike Brown has some serious thinking to do.”
...
In the crowd, Cavaliers fans were struggling.
“He’s just so... smooth,” someone whispered.
Another fan clutched her jersey and sighed, “I feel like I’m betraying LeBron.”
And honestly, betrayal never felt this good.
...
On the floor, LeBron was back to full lockdown mode, jaw tight, voice low as he coached Hickson.
“Stay low. Stay tight. Don’t give him space.”
Hickson looked miserable.
Three threes? Sure, you could call them reckless. But that fourth one?
And he’d been right there. In front of it.
Hope, Hickson thought helplessly. They’re going to blame me, aren’t they?
Again.
When the Cavaliers were still reeling from Lin Yi’s four consecutive three-pointers...
The scene shifted again.
LeBron James had had enough.
SBC had tried to step up. But trying to hold back LeBron? That’s like trying to stop a tank with an umbrella.
A jab step, a burst of speed, a powerful Euro step—and LeBron stormed the paint for a vicious layup.
The Quicken Loans Arena erupted.
Even as the shot dropped through the net, Lin Yi gave Gallinari a pat on the shoulder and a faint smile.
“Danilo, just hold on a few more possessions. Wilson’s checking in soon.”
Gallinari gave a short nod. He knew the game plan: no double-teaming LeBron.
Let him get his points—just don't let him involve everyone else.
Sure, LeBron had 14 points already, but only one assist. That was a win in the Knicks' book.
On the next possession, with LeBron’s eyes on him, the Cavs tightened their defense. Hickson stepped out early, trying to take away Lin Yi’s three.
But Lin Yi didn’t force it. He calmly took a few dribbles, leaned into Hickson, and drove inside. As James stepped over to help, Lin Yi smoothly kicked the ball behind his back to a wide-open Gallinari on the wing.
The Italian didn’t hesitate—rose, fired—
Swish!
“The Knicks are out of their minds tonight,” Yu Jia exclaimed. “Not only is Lin Yi hitting everything, but now his teammates are cashing in too.”
“They’ve been one of the league’s top three-point shooting teams this season,” Su Junyang added. “Gallinari, Harrington, Belinelli—combine those three and you’re getting close to 20 three-point attempts per game.”
Gallinari gave Lin Yi a look—one part swagger, one part payback. After getting burned by LeBron earlier, he was back on the scoreboard and proud of it.
But the Cavaliers were getting flustered.
James, trying to respond quickly, forced a drive and threw an elbow to create space—whistle.
Offensive foul.
LeBron turned toward the ref, stunned, waving his hands, hoping to change the decision.
“What? That’s a blocking foul!”
But the call stood. The crowd booed.
Didn’t matter.
Gallinari raised an eyebrow at Lin Yi with a smirk as he jogged back on defense.
SBC wasn’t so soft anymore. After a rough rookie year, he was stepping up. Knicks fans had once mocked him as a “front office favor,” but tonight, Gallinari was rewriting his narrative.
Lin Yi had always believed in him and knew this season would be his breakout regardless. Even without Lin Yi, Gallinari was destined to rise.
He wasn’t just a shooter—he could handle, create, and play through contact. He’d go on to be a key player with the Nuggets later, even leading them in scoring stretches.
As Cleveland extended their defense, their vulnerability inside was exposed.
And let’s face it—this Cavs team wasn’t built like latter future title contenders.
They had LeBron, yes. But apart from Danny Gibson, reliable shooters were scarce. Without a true inside anchor or consistent perimeter threats, the team relied heavily on LeBron doing everything.
The Knicks, meanwhile, were mimicking the playbook of last year’s Magic—the very team that dismantled these Cavaliers in the playoffs. Orlando had spacing, fast breaks, and a dominant center in Howard to control the paint.
Lin Yi wasn’t Dwight, but he was the engine.
And tonight, the Knicks were playing like a team that believed.
By the time halftime arrived, New York had flipped the game on its head.
57–51. Knicks up six.
Lin Yi’s statline at the half: 24 points (six made threes), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block.
James wasn’t far behind with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, but the difference was clear.
And the one in orange and blue had stolen the show.
Back on the Cavs bench, James looked frustrated. This wasn’t about effort. He was doing everything he could. But something deeper was bothering him.
He glanced at Mike Brown’s clipboard and frowned.
If I don’t know how to stop them, he thought, how do you?
...
In the third quarter, Lin Yi knocked down two more three-pointers—his touch hadn’t cooled off one bit. Those two shots were enough to force Cavaliers coach Mike Brown into calling another timeout.
Originally, Brown had considered sending LeBron to guard Lin Yi if things got out of hand, figuring it would be a last resort. But after Lin’s hot streak carried into the third quarter, Brown quickly shelved that plan.
Why?
Simple—New York was in control now.
Since taking the lead in the second quarter, the Knicks had found their rhythm, while the Cavs were beginning to press and panic. Brown hesitated. If he assigned LeBron to defend Lin Yi and it didn’t work, that would burn James’ stamina for nothing and risk breaking their rhythm entirely.
It was a gamble, and Brown wasn’t ready to roll the dice.
But that hesitation would cost him.
By the time the Knicks stretched their lead past 20 points, it was too late to make adjustments. The best window to close the gap had passed, and now New York had all the momentum.
Even though Lin Yi didn’t get the opportunity to go one-on-one with LeBron, he didn’t mind. He knew he wasn’t at that level yet. After all, he had just been schooled by Kobe Bryant earlier in the season when the Knicks played the Lakers. That game was an eye-opener—Kobe had been flawless, a masterclass of footwork and shot-making that left Lin in awe.
But since then, Lin had leveled up.
When he first faced Cleveland, Hickson gave him a few problems. Now? Lin Yi was blowing past him without breaking a sweat.
And as for Varejao?
The Brazilian big man didn’t even make it through the third quarter. Known for his flopping and theatrics, Varejao quickly found himself in foul trouble. With the All-Star break approaching and Lin Yi on the league’s priority protection list, referees weren’t about to let Varejao’s antics go unchecked.
After drawing his sixth foul, Varejao hit the bench and stayed there.
Meanwhile, LeBron was feeling the pressure. At one point, when Lin Yi drove for a layup, James tried to swat it off the glass with a little too much force. It wasn’t malicious, but the frustration was showing.
LeBron, always conscious of his image, quickly walked over to Lin Yi and gave him a pat on the back. He understood the game within the game. You can’t lose your cool, especially when the cameras are rolling.
On the sidelines, Mike Brown was already preparing for damage control. With the Knicks pushing the lead to nearly 30, he waved the white flag and pulled his starters.
Secretly, he was thankful that both O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had been rested tonight. At least now he could spin it for the media: “We’re prioritizing playoff conditioning.”
No one was going to buy it, but hey—it might keep some fans from going full witch hunt on him.
As the third quarter ended, Lin Yi drained his ninth three-pointer of the game, tying Stephen Curry’s rookie record for most threes in a single game.
Unfortunately, the Cavs had already surrendered. And with the All-Star break coming up, Coach D’Antoni chose not to send Lin back out in the fourth.
Final score: 123–94. Knicks win on the road and extend their win streak to four.
Knicks: 36-14.
Lin Yi’s statline was ridiculous:
45 points on 14-of-23 shooting (9-of-15 from three), 8-of-8 from the line, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks.
LeBron finished with 30 points, but he was frustrated. So frustrated that he skipped the postgame press conference entirely.
With two dominant wins over the Cavs this season, the media finally stopped doubting the Knicks' playoff potential. The conversation was no longer about whether they could win a series, but about how far they could go.
After the game, Lin Yi caught a flight to Dallas. The next stop?
The All-Star Weekend.
And all eyes were on him.
When asked by a reporter if he was confident about the upcoming Dunk Contest, Lin Yi grinned.
“Trust me, the trophy’s mine,” he said, flashing that trademark smirk. “I’ve got this locked. Dallas is going to light up.”
