218: Chapter 218 Suffocating Offense and Defense and Deadly Free Throws

The final buzzer was still echoing above the arena.

The players were all bent over, hands on their knees, panting heavily.

Their physical exhaustion had reached a terrifying level.

A brief moment of rest.

The atmosphere at the Lakers' bench was solemn.

"Water! Give me water, quick!"

Lin Feng felt like his throat was smoking. He took the water handed to him by a staff member and downed the entire bottle.

The icy liquid flowed down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the fire burning inside his body.

"How are you feeling?"

Kobe walked over. He didn't sit down, he just stood there.

That leg, which had been treated with a numbing injection, made even bending his knee a luxury.

"Not dead yet."

Lin Feng grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

There was a hint of madness in his smile.

Kobe looked at him and said nothing more, only giving his shoulder a heavy pat.

On the other side, the Miami Heat bench.

James sat in a chair, large ice packs draped over his shoulders and knees.

His chest heaved like a worn-out bellows.

"LeBron, you take the final shot."

On Spoelstra's tactical board, there was only one word: ISO.

No complex movements, no screens.

Give the ball to the strongest man, and then, clear out.

Wade and Bosh both walked over and bumped fists with James.

At this moment, trust needed no words.

Overtime begins!

The intensity of the game was even more brutal than in the fourth quarter.

Every offensive play was a bloody, grinding struggle.

Lin Feng had the ball, and Battier and Chalmers immediately swarmed him.

He didn't even have room to turn around.

Lin Feng didn't force a shot; he passed the ball to Gasol at the free-throw line.

Gasol acted as a high-post playmaker, lobbing the ball to Howard in the paint.

Howard powered up against Bosh's defense, but his hook shot missed!

Rebound!

Everyone on the court rushed toward the basket like madmen.

The sound of muscles colliding was enough to make one's teeth ache.

In the end, it was James!

Like a grizzly bear, he snatched the rebound right over the heads of Gasol and Howard!

Miami Heat on the attack.

James held the ball at the top of the arc.

Time ticked away, second by second.

Only thirty seconds left in the game!

The score was still tied!

James looked at the shot clock and began to bleed the time.

Everyone knew what he was going to do.

He was going to use the final possession to decide the fate of this Pivotal Game 5!

Eight seconds left on the shot clock!

James made his move!

He moved!

Like a prehistoric beast breaking out of its cage!

His irrationally strong body, like a heavy truck at full speed, charged straight toward the Lakers' restricted area!

The man defending him was Lin Feng!

Lin Feng gritted his teeth, using every last ounce of strength in his body!

He spread his arms wide, blocking James's path with everything he had!

Bang!

Their bodies slammed together violently!

Lin Feng felt as if his sternum was about to crack; a massive force left him unable to breathe!

He was knocked back repeatedly!

But his footwork didn't falter!

His lower body was like it was rooted to the ground, still firmly cutting off James's driving lane!

One step!

Two steps!

James was still grinding his way in!

Lin Feng was still desperately pushing back!

Both of their faces were distorted from the extreme exertion!

Sweat dripped from their foreheads and chins onto the floor, mixing together!

This was the ultimate showdown between kings!

The most direct collision of will against will!

James had already reached the vicinity of the free-throw line!

He leaned into Lin Feng and forced a jump!

His body was in the air, preparing to complete the final layup!

At that critical, hair-thin moment!

Tweet—!

The referee's sharp whistle echoed throughout the entire American Airlines Center!

The whistle blew, and James followed through with the shot.

The ball didn't go in.

But that didn't matter anymore.

The referee's gesture pointed clearly at Lin Feng!

Blocking foul!

Defensive foul on Lin Feng!

Lin Feng was stunned, his hands spread wide, his face a mask of disbelief.

He looked at the referee, wanting to argue.

But all he saw was an indifferent face.

A foul is a foul.

The entire Miami American Airlines Center erupted in deafening cheers at that moment!

Meanwhile, the Lakers fans who had followed the team to the away game let out a storm of boos and curses!

The game clock was frozen at the final 5 seconds!

LeBron James was awarded two free throws!

The perfect opportunity to win this Pivotal Game 5 had been handed to the King!

James didn't celebrate.

He just silently walked to the free-throw line.

No emotion could be seen on his face.

But his rapidly heaving chest betrayed his inner turmoil.

Pressure!

Unprecedented pressure!

The weight of the entire basketball world rested on his next two free throws.

Make both, and the Heat would lead by two, leaving the Lakers with only one final shot.

Make one, and the Heat would lead by one, and the Lakers would still have a chance for a game-winner.

Miss both...

No one dared to think about that outcome.

James stood at the free-throw line.

He dribbled the ball and took a deep breath.

The entire Miami crowd fell silent.

They stood tensely, hands clasped in prayer for their King.

The Lakers fans, on the other hand, used every bit of their lung capacity to create noise.

"MVP! MVP!"

"Bum! Bum!"

All sorts of sounds intertwined, forming a massive wave of noise intended to distract James.

But James was deaf to it all.

In his world, there was only himself, the basketball, and that rim.

He bent his knees and released the ball.

The motion was textbook and steady.

The basketball traced an arc through the air.

Swish!

Nothing but net!

99:98!

The Heat took a one-point lead!

American Airlines Center instantly exploded!

James expressionlessly took the ball from the referee, preparing for the second free throw.

This time, the pressure was even greater.

If he made this shot, they would practically seal the victory!

James dribbled the ball again.

He adjusted his breathing.

Perhaps the pressure really was too much.

Perhaps his physical stamina had truly reached its limit.

He shot.

The ball flew toward the rim.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Clang!

The ball hit the back of the rim and bounced high!

The second free throw was no good!

The crowd gasped in shock!

An opportunity!

The Lakers' chance had come!

Under the basket, Howard was like a beast, boxing out Bosh and jumping with all his might!

He secured the crucial defensive rebound!

Without the slightest hesitation!

The moment Howard landed, he spun and hurled the ball downcourt like a quarterback!

There, Lin Feng had already sprinted out like an arrow from a bow!

"Foul him!"

Spoelstra roared from the sidelines!

The Heat players snapped out of it!

Chalmers was closest to Lin Feng; without thinking, he grabbed Lin Feng from behind!

Tweet—!

The referee's whistle blew again!

The Heat had immediately employed an intentional foul strategy!

Lin Feng was sent to the free-throw line!

Only 3.5 seconds remained!

The situation on the court was changing in the blink of an eye!

A few seconds ago, the man deciding the fate of the game was James.

And now, it was Lin Feng's turn to decide the final outcome of this match!

Make both, and the Lakers would lead by 1, but would leave the Heat with 3.5 seconds for a final shot.

Make one, and the game would be tied, likely heading into a second overtime.

Miss both, and the Lakers would lose Pivotal Game 5.

The script of fate was just that thrilling.

Lin Feng slowly walked to the free-throw line.

His steps were heavy; his stamina was completely depleted.

He could clearly hear the sound of his own heart racing.

The entire American Airlines Center went from euphoria to dead silence in an instant.

The Miami fans greeted Lin Feng with the most malicious glares and the sharpest boos.

Lin Feng ignored them.

He took the pass from the referee and dribbled twice.

He looked up at the rim.

Then, he shot.

The first free throw!

Swish!

Straight through the hoop!

99:99!

The score was tied once again!

There was still no expression on Lin Feng's face.

He just silently waited for the referee to hand him the ball for the second time.

On the Lakers' bench, everyone was standing tensely.

Kobe's fist was clenched tight.

If Lin Feng made this shot, the Lakers would take the lead!

Just when everyone thought he would steadily sink the second free throw to go for the win.

A flash of extreme madness and daring glinted in Lin Feng's eyes!

He didn't immediately take the ball from the referee.

Instead, he subtly made an extremely obscure gesture toward Kobe on the bench.

He lightly tapped his finger against his temple.

Kobe saw the gesture and was momentarily stunned.

That was a secret signal they had agreed upon.

It meant they were going to use that most daring of tactics!

Immediately, Kobe understood completely!

A expression of madness, identical to Lin Feng's, appeared on his face!