BEEP!
The buzzer sounded.
2.4 seconds left on the clock.
Players from both teams took the court, and Su Xi stuck close to Kobe.
Kobe used a screen from Luke Walton to catch the ball. He then quickly drove forward two steps and heaved the ball toward the hoop... Su Xi didn't even jump to contest the shot.
He simply focused on disrupting Kobe's rhythm.
The ball left Kobe's hands with speed and force. It was clear he was trying to end the battle in 2.4 seconds, hoping to draw a foul for the Lakers in the process.
But... CLANG!
The ball hit the front of the rim and bounced high into the air.
The backboard lit up red. The game was over.
SWISH!
The ball fell back through the net.
The basket counted.
But it had no effect on the outcome of the game.
With that three-pointer, Kobe surpassed Jordan, setting a new NBA record for the most points scored in a single Finals game.
For the first time in the entire series, Kobe's performance outshone that of Shaquille O'Neal.
