Zhao Dong was on the court with Ewing, Buck Williams, Alan Houston, and Charlie Ward.
Knicks ball.
Zhao Dong caught it on the left wing beyond the arc and was immediately double-teamed by Penny Hardaway.
"Aren't y'all supposed to be sweeping us?" Dennis Scott taunted, stepping up.
"Heh."
Zhao Dong let out a cold chuckle, then exploded off the dribble, splitting the double-team like it was nothing.
BOOM.
He busted through the defense and stormed the paint, uncontested.
Two Magic defenders scrambled to stop him—too late.
Dime to Ewing—money.
"EASY work! He just DISRESPECTED that double-team like it wasn't even there," Marv Albert shouted. "Zhao Dong is too much of a mismatch at the three!"
Magic possession.
Zhao Dong and Houston switched—Zhao took Nick Anderson, staying ready to double Penny if needed.
Anderson sprinted, moving a little quicker than Zhao, and found some space.
Penny dished it—Anderson pulled up from deep.
"Read it!"
Zhao Dong wasn't quite there, but he leaped with everything he had—fingertips clipped the ball.
SWAT!
"He blocked it! Zhao Dong blocked the three!" Matt yelled.
He grabbed the ball—fast break initiated.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM…
Zhao Dong blazed down the court, Anderson trailing on his left.
He hit a quick cross to his right, then took off.
"BOOM!"
A MONSTER tomahawk jam shook the rim, the backboard groaning from the force.
"Zhao Dong just UNLOADED on that rim!" the commentator roared as MSG erupted.
Teammates rushed over—Zhao Dong turned up.
"LISTEN UP! I don't care how many of us are left—we are sweeping these dudes! You hear me?! SWEEPING the Magic!"
"SWEEP MAGIC! SWEEP MAGIC!"
The Knicks players roared in unison, Alan Houston hyping the crowd.
"SWEEP MAGIC! SWEEP MAGIC!"
MSG hit max volume in seconds—the arena was on fire.
"Whew... whew... whew..."
The Magic players felt the walls closing in—an invisible force choking them out.
"I see it. That fire. Zhao Dong is IGNITING the Knicks right now," Matt said in awe.
"A true leader can flip the whole team's mentality," Marv Albert added. "He can turn sheep into wolves—or wolves into sheep."
Back in the Knicks' locker room…
Oakley stared at the TV. "We finally got our best leader."
Larry Johnson and John Starks nodded immediately.
"A team can only have one leader," Pippen said to Jordan in Chicago.
Jordan blinked, then laughed hard. He nodded.
Pippen smirked. If that rookie had landed in Chicago, he wouldn't have even been Pippen No. 2 anymore—he'd be Pippen No. 3.
MSG, Second Quarter—Zhao Dong is locked in.
"Another assist! That's 8 in the first half—Zhao Dong is playing like John Stockton tonight!" the commentator roared.
The Garden was ELECTRIC.
CCTV Broadcast—Zhang Heli was losing it.
"Zhao Dong is putting on an absolute SHOW! 5-for-8 from the field, 1-for-2 from deep, 4-for-5 at the line. He's got 15 points, 8 assists, 7 boards, a steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, and 2 fouls. A true two-way force—and his playmaking? EXQUISITE."
"If Zhao Dong doesn't triple-double tonight, I'll retire," Ma Jian joked.
Halftime score: 54-42, Knicks.
Despite losing three key players, New York commanded the game.
"The Magic are COOKED," Sun Zhenping said.
NBC Broadcast—Matt Goukas broke it down.
"MSG's atmosphere is too much, Knicks' energy is too high, and the Magic are completely rattled. If they can't turn it around mentally in the second half, they're in trouble."
"Zhao Dong is killing them," Marv Albert added. "They keep throwing doubles at him, but he's slicing them up with passes like a surgeon."
Matt pulled up some stats.
"Zhao Dong touched the ball 32 times in the first half—26 of those were doubled. That's an 80% double-team rate.
He shot 5 times and passed 21 times—7 assists. That's 1 assist per 3 passes.
The Magic are BLEEDING OUT from these plays."
Marv shook his head. "So, Matt do they keep doubling him in the second half?"
Matt thought for a second. "I don't know. But if Zhao keeps playing like this, it won't matter what they do. The Magic are gonna lose either way.
And first? They gotta fix their morale. Cuz right now?
They don't have ANY."
Second half. Ten minutes later.
Start of the third, Ewing on the bench. Knicks rolled with Zhao Dong and Alan Houston as the main guys.
Magic were ice cold.
Penny tried to force his way in, looking for a better shot.
But as soon as he blew by Charles and Houston, he ran into Zhao Dong.
BOOM.
Ball loose—Zhao Dong snatched it. Knicks fast break—Charles finished the layup.
Knicks ball.
With Ewing sitting, the Magic cranked up the double-teams on Zhao Dong.
Left wing.
Zhao Dong didn't force it—he raised his hands, scanning the floor.
Big hands, total control—stealing from him? Forget it.
"Beep!"
Ref blew the whistle—Dennis Scott, hand foul.
"That's his fourth," Zhang Heli called out. "He's been the primary defender on Zhao Dong tonight, but let's be real—it ain't working."
Next possession.
Zhao Dong got doubled again—hit Charlie on the dime.
Charlie attacked the paint, pulled up at the free throw line— bucket.
"Another killer pass from Zhao Dong," Matt praised.
Halfway through the third—Zhao Dong hit double-digit assists.
Then Ewing checked back in.
Magic had to switch it up—no more double-teams.
That's when Zhao Dong WENT OFF.
"BANG!"
Dennis Scott didn't stand a chance—Zhao Dong blew by him, attacked the rim, and HAMMERED it over their big man, Rony Seikaly.
Absolutely brutal.
Seikaly hit the floor HARD.
Magic coach Richie was fuming.
"Dennis, I don't care HOW you stop him—JUST STOP HIM!"
Dennis Scott nodded, eyes locked in.
Next play.
One-on-one—Zhao Dong vs. Dennis Scott.
Zhao Dong bulldozed past him, hit the paint and pulled up for a quick mid-range jumper.
BUT—
Dennis Scott chased him down from behind—dove at him mid-air!
"WATCH OUT!"
Zhang Heli yelled in shock.
"Shit!"
Zhao Dong landed—his right foot hit something soft.
He knew instantly—he got tripped.
Instinct kicked in—he swung his arms down HARD.
CRACK!
His right elbow smashed into something solid.
"AAAAAHHH!"
Dennis Scott hit the deck—forehead gashed open, blood everywhere.
Zhao Dong sat on the floor, grimacing, gripping his ankle.
(He was fine. Just selling it.)
(Didn't even jump that high—no defender in front.)
But damn… dude really tried to trip him?
Mental note: Gotta protect himself better. Maybe learn that Curry foot spread technique?
MSG ERUPTED.
Knicks fans went OFF.
"DIRTY PLAY!"
"TOSS HIM OUT!"
Benches cleared—coaches started barking.
Even the assistant coaches were ready to throw hands.
Locker room—Oakley and the crew were TURNED UP.
"YESSIR!"
Back on the court, the ref made his call.
No flagrant. Just "regular contact."
But Dennis Scott? DONE.
Four-centimeter gash—needed stitches.
Twenty? Forty? Who knows.
But he was OUT.
Before checking back in, Zhao Dong fired up the squad.
"KILL THESE DUDES! SWEEP 'EM!"
"SWEEP! SWEEP!"
MSG ROARED.
Knicks—energy through the roof.
Magic—completely deflated.
Final score: 98-75. Knicks by 23.
Zhao Dong:
43 minutes
11-20 FG
1-2 3PT
7-9 FT
30 pts, 14 rebs, 15 asts, 2 stls, 4 blks, 4 TOs, 4 fouls.
Second career triple-double. First playoff triple-double.
Big moment.
Chicago.
Pippen, watching the highlights—concerned.
"Mike, this dude just put up back-to-back 30-point triple-doubles."
Jordan didn't flinch.
"I don't care what numbers he puts up."
"We're winning this title. Period."
His stare? Straight-up terrifying.
Pippen saw that look in Jordan's eyes and felt a wave of relief.
That fire. That unshakable confidence.
With Mike, there was no panic.
But something still lingered in his mind.
"Mike, you really don't regret pushing him out?"
---
MSG.
Zhao Dong was at the podium, holding court with the media.
"Zhao Dong, congrats on your first playoff triple-double. You're the first rookie since Magic Johnson in 1980 to do it," Zhang Heli said with a smile.
"Appreciate it," Zhao Dong grinned.
"How's the knee? The ankle?" Sun Zhenping asked.
"All good. I'm lucky like that," Zhao Dong smirked.
Then came the heat.
The Magic's beat reporter, still salty, threw a dagger.
"What do you have to say about that elbow on Dennis Scott?"
Zhao Dong locked eyes with him.
"Man's just a damn stepping stone."
The reporter scoffed, but deep down, he knew Zhao Dong wasn't lying.
Knicks media time.
"Zhao, thoughts on the Magic's defense tonight?"
"Dirty. They tryna be the next Bad Boys, but we the Knicks. We don't give a damn about their cheap shots. Nobody scared of them."
Interview over.
Zhao Dong turned back, and boom—Lindsay was still there.
Mood? Instant boost.
"Guess I must be doing something right if a goddess waits for me," Zhao Dong smirked, strolling up.
Lindsay chuckled. "Goddess?"
"Yeah, and you got me thinking sinful thoughts I can't control."
Lindsay rolled her eyes. "This guy…"
Zhao Dong grinned. "Aight, where's my surprise?"
She bit her lip, then flashed a playful smirk.
"I'm a devout Catholic. That surprise enough for you?"
"Wait, what?"
Zhao Dong blinked, stunned.
Lindsay giggled at his face. She got him good.
After exchanging numbers, Zhao Dong walked her out of the gym.
Paparazzi hovered, hungry for a story.
Too bad.
Zhao Dong ran interference all the way to the parking lot—no freebies for the media.
Then he saw her supercar.
Hold up.
She got money like that?!
Lindsay rolled the window down. "Zhao, tonight was a good night, yeah?"
He grinned. "Yeah."
"Bye."
"Bye."
She hit the gas, hair flying in the wind, looking straight out of a dream.
Zhao Dong watched the taillights disappear, then exhaled.
"Man… what a night."
---
Press Conference.
Van Gundy wasn't holding back.
"That was dirty. Straight-up dirty. They tried to take out Zhao like the Pistons did to Jordan back in the day. Every game, they wanted to see Mike's blood. Now? They tryna break Zhao.
We're taking this to the league."
(He knew it wouldn't do a damn thing.)
(But the media war? That was winnable.)
---
"Zhao, the Knicks still locked in for the sweep?" a New York Times reporter asked.
Zhao Dong didn't blink.
"Nothing stopping us. The dirtier they play, the harder we sweep."
BOOM.
Penny snapped.
"Man, y'all the ones playing dirty!"
Zhao Dong smirked.
"See that? That's arrogance. We're at home, and he won't even let me finish my damn sentence."
Penny nearly lost it.
---
Hotel.
Zhao Dong was soaking in the tub when he opened up his system.
"Congratulations, host. You've unlocked 'Iron Knee of the Hammer.' Apply?"
"Apply."
Done.
---
Next morning.
NBA hit 'em with suspensions and fines.
Brian Evans: 1 game, $10K fine.
Oakley: 1 game, $20K fine.
Starks & Larry Johnson: 1 game, $10K fine each.
Knicks owner James Dolan stepped up immediately.
"Team's covering the fines. Players only lose wages."
Zhao Dong hit up Oakley, Starks, and LJ.
"Yo, if we sweep and pop bottles for Dita, I got the tab."
Oakley laughed. "Bet."
Headline:
"NOTHING CAN STOP THE KNICKS FROM SWEEPING THE MAGIC!"
New York media torched Orlando.
Magic = Dirty.
Oak & Co. = Enforcers.
Ewing & Zhao = Bench unit killers.
Chicago media? Different energy.
"Magic just lost ONE bench player, but took out TWO starters and a key sub. The Knicks' IQ is so low, they ain't ever stopping the Bulls."
(No comeback for that. Had to eat it.)
Meanwhile, the league couldn't stop talking about Zhao Dong.
First rookie since Magic Johnson with a playoff triple-double.
And a 30+ one at that.
Since Zhao's idol was Magic, reporters swarmed Magic Johnson himself.
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