A hush fell over the Staples Center, every neck craned, every eye fixated on the arcing flight of Lin Feng's three-pointer.
This was the shot, the buzzer-beater that Kobe had entrusted to him.
A collective thought hung in the air: what was the dynamic between Kobe Bryant and Lin Feng? What prompted Kobe's confident pass for the potential game-winner to a rookie, albeit one who had played exceptionally well, instead of taking the shot himself, as was his legendary custom?
Then, the unmistakable sound: "Swish!"
The basketball, defying gravity for a fleeting moment, slipped cleanly through the net.
It was in!
The game-winning shot had fallen!
At the most critical juncture, the Lakers had surged ahead of the Golden State Warriors. Trailing by a seemingly insurmountable 18 points in the fourth quarter, they had fought back to tie the game and then sealed the victory with a breathtaking buzzer-beater!
"Ahhhhhh!"
"It's in!"
"He made it!"
"The Lakers are leading by one point with one solitary second left on the clock!"
Lin Feng's three-pointer was, in essence, a game-winning shot for the ages.
With just four seconds remaining, Kobe had passed him the ball, and Lin Feng had calmly sunk a 45-degree three-pointer from the right wing, leaving the Golden State Warriors with a mere, hopeless second.
A comeback was virtually impossible.
The scoreboard now read 101-100, the Lakers holding a precarious one-point lead.
"Unbelievable shot! A-Lin! He delivered the redemption! He delivered the redemption for the Lakers!"
"Kobe didn't pass to the wrong man! He passed to A-Lin, and A-Lin lived up to every expectation! He didn't let Kobe down! He made the shot! He sank that crucial buzzer-beating three-pointer!" Bill Worrell's voice was ecstatic, as if he himself had drained the game-winner.
Mike Breen's eyes were wide with disbelief.
In reality, Lin Feng wasn't completely unguarded; Richardson was closing out on the play.
However, the double-team had been firmly on Kobe. With two defenders swarming him, Kobe had made the decisive pass to Lin Feng, who had then fired without hesitation.
Fortunately for the Lakers, Lin Feng's clutch three-pointer found the bottom of the net, completing their improbable comeback.
Since entering the game, Lin Feng had risen to the challenge, undaunted by the 18-point deficit. And in the game's most critical moment, he had delivered the ultimate dagger: a buzzer-beating three-pointer.
In this game, the true MVP was undoubtedly Lin Feng, his impact even surpassing Kobe's stellar performance.
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"MVP!"
"A-Lin, you are the MVP of Staples!"
"We love you, Lin!"
"…"
The Lakers fans erupted in a frenzy of elation. This game was more thrilling than many Finals matchups – a rollercoaster of emotions that left them wanting more.
"Lin! Great job! I knew I was right about you. You are a clutch player, someone worthy of trust," Kobe said, acknowledging the significance of his rare buzzer-beater assist.
The reason for his pass was simple: trust. Throughout training camp and the summer league, he had witnessed Lin Feng's unwavering mental fortitude.
He believed Lin Feng possessed the composure to handle the ultimate pressure of a game-winning shot.
Facing Kobe's praise, Lin Feng smiled modestly. "No, it was because the boss made such a perfect pass, and I managed to find a good rhythm and a bit of luck for the shot to go in."
Lin Feng was being truthful; he had his lucky bracelet.
Its purpose was precisely to aid in making game-winning shots.
In his attribute panel, his luck stat was a solid 50.
Statistically, there was a 50% chance his buzzer-beater against the Warriors would fall.
But to Kobe, Lin Feng's words sounded like genuine humility and a low-key demeanor.
He patted Lin Feng on the head and chuckled. "You Chinese are all so humble. I noticed the same thing with Yao."
"Haha…" Lin Feng simply smiled in response.
Odom, Bynum, Brian Cook, along with the players on the bench – Fisher, Smush Parker, Aaron McKie, and others – all rushed towards their newfound hero, Lin Feng, engulfing him in a celebratory embrace.
With a single second remaining, the Warriors inbounded the ball from the baseline, their only option a desperate, Hail Mary long shot.
Unfortunately for them, it missed badly.
In this game, they had controlled the Lakers for the majority of the contest, only to be dramatically overturned in the dying moments. Resentment and anger etched their faces.
Such was the nature of competitive sports: victories and defeats. The entire Warriors team had become a backdrop for the heroics of Lin Feng and Kobe Bryant, victims of a stunning comeback and a heart-stopping buzzer-beater.
After the game, the Lakers fans lingered in the stadium, their chants of "MVP" echoing through the rafters.
Lin Feng had only played in the fourth quarter and hadn't amassed a huge point total, but his efficiency on the court was the highest on the team.
Kobe had delivered his usual stellar performance: 30 points, 5 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.
Statistically, Kobe was still the standout, followed by Odom.
Old Fish Fisher had also contributed significantly, seemingly scoring around 15 points.
Lin Feng didn't recall the exact numbers, but he was immensely pleased that the Lakers had started the season with a thrilling victory.
"Tonight's hero is Lin!" Kobe declared to his teammates before leaving the Staples Center, acknowledging Lin Feng as the star of the night.
Because it was Lin Feng's impactful performance in the fourth quarter that had single-handedly disrupted the Warriors' offensive flow and sparked the Lakers' comeback.
The Zen Master was visibly pleased. He hadn't anticipated such immediate and high-level efficiency from Lin Feng.
He pondered his lineup for the upcoming game against the Phoenix Suns. Should he elevate Lin Feng from a substitute to a starter?
If Lin Feng became a starter, it would unfortunately mean benching the veteran Fisher.
The team returned to the locker room, while the elated Staples Center fans slowly began to disperse.
Lin Feng's future girlfriend, Su Muqing, beamed with happiness and pride. Her man was so incredible; she had every reason to be overjoyed.
They chatted animatedly all the way home, and with each passing moment, Lin Feng seemed even more manly in her eyes.
"Baby, you were absolutely amazing tonight! Like a god descending from heaven! I love you so much! I hope you can perform just as bravely in the next game against the Phoenix Suns!"
"Bao, that's a given. The Suns defeated the Lakers last season. It's time for us to get our revenge!"
Lin Feng and Su Muqing continued their conversation, eventually reaching the locker room for a post-game shower.
Unsurprisingly, Lin Feng was met with another round of enthusiastic praise from his teammates.
Buoyed by the exhilarating victory, Lin Feng felt himself increasingly integrated into the Lakers family.
After showering and getting dressed, he emerged to face the waiting media.
Kobe and Lin Feng attended the press conference together, and many media outlets clamored to interview Lin Feng, almost overshadowing Kobe himself.
Lin Feng's responses remained consistently humble. The question he fielded most frequently was how it felt to sink a game-winning buzzer-beater.
One mischievous reporter even asked Kobe why he had passed the ball for the potential game-winner.
In the past, such a scenario was almost unimaginable – Kobe passing for the final shot?
It was a buzzer-beater! How could that be?
Whenever the game hung in the balance, Kobe had always possessed the unwavering courage to take that shot himself. But tonight, he had passed it to Lin Feng.
Reporters were baffled. When had Kobe Bryant become a player who passed in those crucial moments?
Kobe's answer was characteristically concise: he trusted Lin Feng and believed in his ability to execute the final attack.
It was that simple, based purely on instinct and feeling. He trusted Lin Feng, so he gave him the opportunity for the game-winning shot.
And Lin Feng had delivered, sinking the buzzer-beater to snatch victory and send the Golden State Warriors home in stunned silence.