Next, Zhao Dong got hit with a defensive foul.
Grant stepped up for the free throws but looked lost—clanked both.
Coach pulled him in the 9th minute of the first quarter.
Zhao barely got any touches—just one pass from Ewing. Charlie Ward iced him out after a turnover. Even when Grant had to chill on defense after his second foul, the rock still didn't come his way.
So, he flipped the switch and went all-in on offensive rebounds—that was his game plan anyway.
Dude snagged 6 boards in a single quarter, 4 on the offensive end. He cashed in on three putbacks, including two and-ones. Shot a perfect 4-for-4, hit 3 of 4 from the stripe, and stacked up 11 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block, 1 turnover, and 3 fouls.
Defensively, it wasn't his best showing, but Ewing had his back. Grant, who was matched up with him, only hit 1 of 3 shots, bricked both free throws, and ended the quarter with 2 points, 2 boards, 1 dime, and 1 turnover.
Sitting on the bench, Zhao Dong ran through the first quarter in his head.
Grant was just Orlando's third option, getting about 10 shots per game. He wasn't an on-ball scorer, and with Ewing anchoring the paint, the defensive assignment wasn't all that.
On offense, it was tough—no touches meant he had to eat off second-chance buckets. But Grant couldn't stop him under the rim, and he feasted.
After breaking it all down, Zhao felt solid—no tasks slipping away.
Over on Orlando's bench, Grant was thinking too.
Dude had dropped the idea of checking Zhao Dong for Jordan—MJ played him already. But after getting cooked, he wanted revenge.
"That rookie eats off second-chance points. I ain't got his hops or strength, so maybe I should go Rodman mode."
So, he decided—next quarter, he was switching up his defense.
6th minute of the second quarter—Zhao Dong checked back in. Magic subbed Grant back in too, sticking him on Zhao again.
"Rookie, I'm about to send you packing!"
"You like it when I put hands on you, huh?"
Grant was chirping nonstop, throwing in sneaky little grabs and nudges.
That's straight out of Rodman's bag—trash talk and mind games. Rodman lived for getting under dudes' skin, especially in the playoffs. Get 'em mad, get 'em tossed, then laugh all the way to the bench.
But Zhao Dong wasn't phased. He had over 60 years of life experience across two lives—this wasn't new.
"Old man, you stay dropping the soap in the locker room, huh?"
"What'd you say, rookie?!"
Zhao clapped back instantly, and that one line almost made Grant lose it.
BEEP!
At the 8-minute mark, Zhao Dong grabbed an offensive board and went up strong—Grant flopped hard, screaming like he got hit by a truck.
Whistle blows.
Grunfeld was straight up acting. Fake fall.
Offensive foul.
Zhao Dong's second offensive foul. Fourth foul overall. Second turnover.
"Man, screw this dude!"
If he slipped up one more time, he was losing out on the big prize from the system—the cutting technique he badly wanted.
"How's that feel, rookie?"
Grant got up, grinning like he just won the game.
Zhao Dong clenched his fists, ready to swing.
Grunfeld saw what was up and backed up real quick.
The ref stepped in, looked at Zhao Dong first, then turned to Grant, made a fake flop gesture, and hit him with a technical foul. Knicks got a free throw.
"...What?"
Grant was stunned. Ain't this our home court?!
"Haha… that's the best call all night!" Zhao Dong laughed, walking to the stripe.
The arena announcer roasted Grant: "That was way too dramatic, man. Work on that acting!"
Even some Magic fans laughed.
Zhao Dong took the tech free throw—cash. Knicks ball.
10th minute—Grant tried to shake free on the right wing, got the rock, but Zhao Dong was right there, pressing up.
Zhao used his strength to keep Grant off balance, making him stumble on his moves.
Grant had no choice—he spun into a step-back jumper, but his legs weren't under him. Bricked it.
Ewing grabbed the board.
Knicks pushed it up. Zhao Dong hit the paint again, Grant fighting to front him.
Backup PG Chris Childs saw Zhao Dong's spot, took a step back to create space from Penny, and lobbed it up.
Grant was wrapping Zhao Dong up, arms damn near bear-hugging him.
But Zhao powered through, dragged him half a step, and still snagged the lob.
Two hands. Big turn. Grant got LAUNCHED.
BANG!
Rim got baptized.
BEEP!
Defensive foul on Grant. And-one.
Doug Collins was hype: "That's how Shaq does it! If you can catch the lob, it's a bucket!"
Marv Albert chuckled: "Grant just ain't got the size for that matchup."
"He's a stretch four," Collins added. "He keeps mobility and shooting, but in a battle down low with a bruiser like Zhao Dong? Nah, that's tough."
Next play, Grant ran to the wing again.
But at this point, dude was slower than Zhao Dong. He couldn't shake him, couldn't create space.
Got the ball—Zhao Dong was already up in his grill.
No airspace.
Grant went for a jumper.
BANG!
Zhao Dong leaped, using his elite hops, and swatted that shot straight out of the air.
By halftime, Grant was 0-for-3, missed two jumpers, got his shot sent, and on one cut to the basket, got spooked by Zhao Dong, hesitated, and got locked up by Ewing.
Zhao Dong?
In half a quarter, he got 2 passes from Chris Childs, hit 1-of-1, drew a foul on Grant, went 1-for-2 at the line, and posted 3 points, 2 boards, 1 assist, and 1 foul.
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