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Chapter 134: Knicks vs Lakers End ( First Buzzer Beater)
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 16:52:48 +0000 UTCDuring the timeout, the Zen Master made some quick changes—he swapped in Kobe, Artest, for Walton, and Vujacic. Phil Jackson knew exactly what mattered: if you want to beat the Knicks, you have to slow down their offense.
The Knicks responded, too, subbing in David Lee and Harrington for Milicic and Jeffries.
It was chess now—bishop for bishop, rook for rook, king for king.
Phil Jackson kept Bynum on the bench throughout the rest of the second quarter. The Knicks were pushing the pace, and the Lakers had no choice but to try and match them stride for stride.
Bynum was fuming on the inside. Does Coach think that I couldn't keep up with Lin Yi? That I ain't good enough?
But this was Kobe’s team, and deep down, Bynum knew he had to swallow it.
“Tch… if I were the main guy, I could torch him,” Bynum muttered to himself. Secretly, he was hoping the Lakers would fall behind, just to prove that they needed him.
And maybe the basketball gods heard him. Kobe came back in and clanked three straight shots.
In the latter half of the second quarter, the Knicks slowed things down, working on their half-court sets. Lin Yi was out there throwing dimes—behind the back, no-look, off the dribble—you name it. Even the Lakers fans, frustrated as they were, couldn’t deny it was entertaining.
By halftime, the Knicks were up 56–47.
Lin Yi already had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.
“Looks like Lin might be on his way to his second career triple-double,” Barkley said during the halftime show. “After dropping 61 through three quarters the other day, who knows what kind of show he’s got for us tonight?”
He grinned over at Kenny Smith, who just scowled. The two had made a bet earlier in the season on whether Lin could average 15 points in his rookie year.
Barkley laughed. Kenny just groaned, clearly regretting not siding with Lin.
“The season’s not over yet, Charles,” Kenny grumbled.
“You’re just lying to yourself, man,” Barkley said with a smirk.
“…shut up.”
When the third quarter started, Phil Jackson stuck to his guns—no Bynum. He went with Odom and Gasol instead, sliding Pau Gasol to center.
But the Lakers weren’t exactly struggling without him. They showed flashes of their championship-caliber defense in the third quarter. The Knicks hit a wall. Fortunately for New York, Chandler did a solid job locking down Kobe—he was just 3-for-11 through three quarters.
Back in the 08–09 season and the present 09–10 season, Kobe had shifted his mindset. He wasn’t trying to do everything by himself anymore—he wanted that ring. Sure, he still took some wild shots, but his playmaking had improved with Gasol in the mix.
But tonight? Against a self-proclaimed fan like Lin Yi? Kobe’s competitive fire was fully lit. And it was just a regular season game—Phil wasn’t going to rein him in too much.
The third quarter saw the Lakers firing on all cylinders. Kobe put up 8 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished out 2 assists, clawing their way back.
Before the fourth quarter, Lin Yi already had 12 rebounds. David Lee had 10. But the Knicks were slipping, and they trailed 76–77 heading into the final period.
And Lin Yi? He was about to make history.
D’Antoni didn’t mess around—when the team fell behind, he only trusted his core players. Lin could try to sway him, slowly shift his thinking, but old habits die hard.
The fourth quarter exposed the Lakers’ biggest weakness: inconsistency. They had a bad habit of coasting through regular-season games, especially against teams they didn’t see as threats.
And the Knicks? They pounced. A 10–0 run early in the fourth forced Jackson to call a timeout and send Kobe back in.
With Kobe’s death stare activated, the Lakers locked back in. Say what you want—his glare alone has sparked more than a few comebacks.
Even after trimming the lead, Kobe kept forcing shots against Lin Yi. Meanwhile, Lin was gassed—he had his triple-double by the end of the third, but he was still fighting on both ends of the floor.
Phil Jackson and D’Antoni were dueling on the sidelines. On the court, Kobe and Lin took over—trading buckets, going one-on-one.
But as the clock ticked down, Lin’s legs started to go. His shots clanked off the rim. The difference? The Knicks didn’t have many guys to lean on. The Lakers had big names everywhere.
Still, Lin’s teammates trusted him. Even when he missed. They knew he was their guy.
It’s just that when you’re still raw and your game’s not polished enough, it’s hard to carry the load when things get tight.
...
Final minute. After another series of misses, Kobe got the ball, faced up against Chandler, and nailed a smooth turnaround jumper.
97-98, Lakers.
The Staples Center erupted.
Eleven seconds left. Knicks timeout.
D’Antoni kept it simple—an iso for Lin. At the end of the huddle, he gave Lin a pat on the back and said softly, “You’ve carried us this far. Now finish it.”
Lin nodded. He didn’t want to lose either.
The Knicks had played their hearts out. Lin and D’Antoni had shown what they could do. And Lin felt something tonight, which made him fall in love with basketball in the first place.
Challenge. Overcome. Repeat.
But right now? No more thinking. Just one play left.
“Whether the Knicks win this or not depends on this possession,” Barkley said. “And I’m guessing the ball’s going to Lin.”
Kenny Smith rolled his eyes. “You think?”
The Lakers were locked in. Kobe was barking out orders. Part of him probably wished he could guard Lin himself.
On the court, Lin got the ball at the high post. No double-team—Phil knew better. Lin’s passing was just too unpredictable. Sending help would just give someone a wide-open look.
Odom took the assignment. Taller than Artest, faster too. It wouldn’t be easy.
Lin dribbled. Tick, tick, tick.
The Knicks were moving off the ball. No screens, no tricks. Just Lin, isolated. D’Antoni trusted him completely.
With three seconds left, Lin made his move—dribble left, Odom closed the lane.
He pulled the ball back. Behind-the-back crossover. Odom stayed with him.
The crowd held its breath.
Lin protected the ball with his back, kept probing. Odom stayed glued to him.
Four seconds. The crowd was on its feet.
On the Lakers' bench, Bynum folded his arms and smirked.
Three seconds.
Lin gave a subtle shoulder fake, then spun right—clean, fast.
Odom bit.
It was one of those moves where even the rim paused.
Only one second left.
The ball soared in an arc, a whisper through the air…
Swish.
Net. Pure. Game.
The Knicks' bench exploded, swarming Lin. He could finally exhale.
This—this was it.
The moment he’d dreamed of.
Game-winner in the NBA.
Call it luck. Call it skill.
Doesn’t matter.
What matters is that he did it.
The Lakers might regret taking their foot off the gas earlier, but tonight? The Knicks earned this one.
“That,” Barkley said, shaking his head, “was a hell of a game.”
Bynum?
Speechless.
