"Both the Knicks and Bulls executed solid tactics in this quarter, but the Knicks' defense came through stronger. Zhao Dong racked up a steal and four blocks in just this quarter, helping the team hold off the Bulls." On site Commentator 1 analyzed.
"Zhao Dong's defensive range is insane—he's covering the entire half-court. The Bulls need to keep Pippen out on the perimeter to drag him away from the paint and neutralize his impact."On-site Commentator 2 added.
On the NBC broadcast, Matt Goukas reported:
"Zhao Dong went 12-for-18 in the third quarter, including 1-of-3 from deep, 4-of-5 on free throws, tallying 29 points, 8 boards, 5 dimes, 2 steals, 5 blocks, 1 turnover, and 3 fouls.
Jordan, meanwhile, shot 12-of-22, hit 2-of-5 from three, and drained 6-of-7 from the line, dropping 32 points with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, and 2 fouls."
"Zhao Dong's been killing it in transition and holding his own in half-court sets. His efficiency is off the charts. He's nailing pull-up jumpers and constantly creating space for clean looks," Marv Albert praised.
Matt Goukas nodded. "But his free throw count is way down—only 5 tonight. That's a huge drop from his playoff averages.
In the first two series, he averaged over 9 free throws a game. In the first five games of the Eastern Conference Finals, he was getting to the line 15 times a night. Only 5 tonight? That's a massive gap. Even though he hasn't attacked the rim as much, he's still been aggressive enough to draw more whistles."
"Through three quarters, the Bulls have taken 27 free throws, while the Knicks have only 18—a 9-shot disparity," Marv noted.
"Those free throws are game-changers. The Knicks need to keep their composure and play through it," Matt added.
On the Bulls' bench, Phil Jackson was sketching out new tactics.
He focused on tightening their defense, specifically targeting the Knicks' pick-and-roll game.
When the fourth quarter started, both teams stuck to their game plans.
The Knicks' offense remained simple—basic pick-and-roll actions with little coordination afterward, relying on individual playmaking.
Pick-and-rolls could be complex with layered screens and movement, but the Knicks' execution was basic and predictable.
Without much cohesion, the Bulls' defensive adjustments forced mistakes. Zhao Dong and Ewing each committed a turnover.
Seven minutes in, the score was knotted at 84-84, prompting the Knicks to call a timeout.
"On paper, the Knicks should have the edge over the Bulls with Zhao Dong's monster performance. But the coaching inexperience is glaring—the offensive sets are too basic. Every win feels like a struggle," Marv Albert sighed.
"Man, the Bulls got blown out by 15-plus in both games. They're lucky it's even close now," Matt Goukas snickered.
Timeout over. Game on.
Knicks' possession.
During the break, Van Gundy didn't add any new plays—just hammered on defense. The Knicks' offense stayed the same—basic drives and pick-and-rolls.
On the court, Zhao Dong knew he couldn't rely on his coach for tactical help.
"I'm on my own out here," he thought.
His mind flashed through plays—the triangle offense, the Kings' Princeton system, and even the future small-ball era.
Every time he drew double-teams, his teammates had open shots, but they kept bricking. The spacing wasn't right, and the off-ball movement was chaotic—no structure, no synergy.
"Hold up a sec."
He huddled with his teammates and whispered:
"When I get doubled, everyone clear out first. Then, keep cutting from the outside. Bigs, set screens for the wings."
"Got it!" They nodded.
The ball crossed half-court.
Zhao Dong took the pass two steps behind the three-point line on the left wing.
Pippen pressed in, but Zhao Dong threw him off with a powerful arm swipe and drove toward the arc.
Ewing and Oakley spread out, leaving the paint wide open.
Zhao Dong crossed the three-point line, powered through Pippen, and exploded down the sideline.
Harper rushed over to double him with Pippen.
At the same time, point guard Chris Childs slashed into the lane from the top of the key.
Jordan, from the weak side, sprinted to protect the basket.
But as he moved, Alan Houston, the man he left, made a sharp backdoor cut toward the rim.
Charles slid to the left wing, drawing Jordan's attention.
Zhao Dong fired a no-look pass behind Jordan's back—
Houston caught it in stride, took one step, and laid it in clean.
"Beautiful execution! The Knicks' continuous off-ball cuts tore through the Bulls' defense once Zhao Dong drew the double-team," Marv Albert roared.
Matt Goukas chuckled. "That's the way to do it—keep slashing into the paint. Closer to the rim, higher percentage shots. No need to force outside jumpers when your shot's off."
The Bulls brought it back up.
They upped their off-ball movement, making Pippen and Jordan run baseline-to-baseline, pulling Zhao Dong and the Knicks' defense in different directions.
Pippen sprinted from the left wing to the right, then back to the left, dragging Zhao Dong through a gauntlet of screens.
Jordan mirrored the action on the opposite side, dragging his man.
They both cut hard toward the right wing, meeting at the same spot.
Then, out of nowhere, Jordan set a sneaky screen for Pippen, blocking Zhao Dong.
The ball swung around the arc as Pippen cut inside to receive the pass, forcing Alan Houston to switch onto him.
But just as Houston closed in, Pippen kicked the ball out to Jordan, who was curling to the perimeter.
Jordan caught it two steps inside the arc—isolated with Zhao Dong. The double-team couldn't reach him in time.
"Bang, bang…" Jordan dribbled twice, quick and sharp, then suddenly squared up.
Zhao Dong instantly recognized the shift in pace. "He's either pulling up or driving," Zhao thought. He closed the gap immediately.
With his wingspan smothering Jordan, Zhao Dong forced the Bulls star to take an extra step around him if he drove. If it was a jumper, the close contest would alter Jordan's balance—making it easier to block.
Jordan opted for a fadeaway.
The second Jordan elevated, Zhao Dong jumped forward, predicting the move.
"Bang!"
Zhao Dong swatted the shot cleanly, but the two collided mid-air and hit the hardwood.
"Ohhh!"
"Beep!"
The crowd erupted, but the whistle cut through the noise.
"Fuck!" Zhao Dong barked as he stood up. He watched the ref signal a defensive foul, pointing directly at him.
"Shh!"
The away fans jeered, but the United Center exploded with cheers, drowning them out.
"Sir, I got all ball first! No way that's a foul," Zhao Dong protested.
"Sorry, but I saw contact with the shooter first," the ref explained, shaking his head.
"Ha!" Zhao Dong laughed bitterly.
"Yeah, right. So why the late whistle? You just hoping Jordan gets the and-one?" he muttered sarcastically.
"That was a textbook block, and the refs ruined it," Matt Goukas said on the NBC broadcast.
"Man, that's brutal. Blocking a fadeaway jumper is rare—it takes perfect timing and insane athleticism. And they're calling it off?" Marv Albert added in disbelief.
The game resumed. The Bulls had 4.5 seconds on the clock.
Kukoc inbounded the ball as the Bulls scrambled off screens. Suddenly, Harper backpedaled to the top of the arc, waving for the ball.
Zhao Dong was tailing Pippen on the left wing but spotted Jordan cutting inside.
Kukoc faked a pass to Harper, then whipped it to Jordan, who had shed Houston.
Without hesitation, Zhao Dong abandoned Pippen and sprinted into the paint.
Jordan caught the pass mid-stride, took one explosive step, and launched for the dunk with the ball cocked in one hand.
Ewing was tangled with Rodman in the low post and couldn't help.
But as Jordan lifted off, Zhao Dong came flying into the paint.
The Bulls legend instinctively pulled the ball back, anticipating a block attempt.
But Zhao Dong didn't jump early. He stayed grounded, waiting.
Jordan switched mid-air to a reverse layup, thinking he had dodged the contest.
Just as Jordan stretched out for the lay-in, Zhao Dong exploded upward.
"Bang!"
Zhao Dong pinned the ball against the backboard and snatched it clean.
The crowd gasped.
"Ohhh!"
The United Center fell into a brief silence.
Then, the Knicks' bench erupted. Van Gundy, Thibodeau, and John Starks leapt from their seats, cheering the block.
"Hell yeah! That's the way, Zhao Dong!" Marv Albert roared.
"That was surgical. He waited Jordan out, forcing him into the layup, and still rejected it clean," Matt Goukas praised.
"That was clutch. He just denied the best player in the game—twice in one sequence!"
The Knicks raced the ball downcourt.
Zhao Dong took control on the left wing. As his teammates spread out, he attacked off the dribble.
With the defense collapsing, the Knicks' guards cut hard toward the basket.
Charles slipped inside and caught a crisp dime from Zhao Dong, rising up near the rim.
Rodman lunged back to contest, but Charles floated a soft jumper over him—swish!
88-84, Knicks by four.
The Bulls called timeout.
"Phil Jackson's calling a quick timeout—good timing," Matt Goukas analyzed.
"The Knicks are hammering them inside with constant cuts. The Bulls' rotations can't keep up," Marv Albert added.
Matt nodded. "Zhao Dong is shredding the defense. Every time they double him, it leaves one, sometimes two Knicks wide open. That's a nightmare for the Bulls."
"Exactly," Marv agreed. "And if the Knicks keep slashing, the Bulls will have to overcommit defensively. That's only gonna create more gaps."
Matt grinned. "Yeah, and the Bulls can't match it. Jordan can draw doubles too, but their secondary cutters—Pippen aside—aren't as dynamic.
Rodman is too slow now, Harper and Kukoc are decent, but they can't cut like Houston or Charles. Plus, without Pippen creating plays, the Bulls are relying on Jordan to carry both the scoring and the playmaking load."
"Jordan's still balling out—he's got 39 points tonight—but the Bulls' lineup is clearly showing its age. And now they've got a young, terrifying monster in Zhao Dong to deal with," Marv smirked.
Matt chuckled. "Yeah, they let the future slip away, and now they're paying for it."
On the Bulls' bench, Phil Jackson was stressed, running out of reliable players.
He glanced at Zhao Dong on the Knicks' bench and sighed inwardly. "If we still had him, defending the title would be a walk in the park," he thought bitterly.
After the timeout, the Knicks subbed in Charlie Ward and John Starks to tighten the backcourt defense.
The Bulls' possession.
Pippen suddenly pulled back to receive the ball. As Zhao Dong chased him, Harper came over and set a pick.
Pippen took full advantage, shaking Zhao Dong and driving down the left wing.
Charlie Ward switched onto Pippen immediately, and Zhao Dong caught up to trap him outside the paint.
Meanwhile, Harper screened for Jordan, who slid to the left arc, creating space.
Pippen quickly swung the ball to Jordan. Without hesitation, Zhao Dong rotated over, forming a double-team with John Starks, who was trailing.
But Jordan burst through the double-team with a quick first step, knifing into the paint and pulling up for a left-elbow jumper.
Zhao Dong pivoted and chased, but it was too late.
"Swish!"
Two points.
Jordan stared at Zhao Dong briefly but didn't say a word. He was in no mood for trash talk. With the Bulls trailing, he was all business, quickly getting back on defense to avoid a fast break.
The Knicks' offense.
Charlie Ward took the inbound, but Harper applied immediate full-court pressure.
"Give me the rock," Zhao Dong signaled.
He took over the point, advancing the ball himself.
With his 95-rated ball-handling and elite speed, Zhao Dong was more than capable of running the offense.
As he crossed half-court, Pippen and Harper swarmed him, trapping hard.
Zhao Dong spun, protecting the ball, then faked with his back.
In a flash, he cut left between the two defenders like a blur, speeding into open space.
"Damn, like a dragon cutting through water," Marv Albert marveled.
Zhao Dong crossed midcourt at full speed, heading straight for the top of the arc.
Pippen and Harper sprinted to recover but couldn't close the gap.
Seeing the break, Jordan and Rodman abandoned their men and shifted over to contest.
That left John Starks and Oakley open—both Knicks streaked toward the rim.
"Squeak!"
Zhao Dong slammed on the brakes at the arc, faking a sudden-pull up jumper.
"Pull-up!" Matt Goukas shouted.
Four Bulls collapsed onto him, and both Rodman and Pippen leapt into the air.
But Zhao Dong wasn't shooting.
He immediately ducked and zipped a bounce pass between Jordan and Rodman.
"Oh no!" Matt Goukas yelled.
John Starks cut inside, caught the dime, and laid it in.
90-86, Knicks up by four.
Jordan missed on the next possession. The Knicks took over again.
At the critical moment, Zhao Dong waved off the point guard duties and took over ball-handling, bringing the ball up.
The Bulls didn't trap him this time, instead sticking to man-to-man defense. Pippen matched up against him.
"Pip, you've been garbage this series. I bet you're getting traded this offseason," Zhao Dong jabbed.
"What's it to you?" Pippen snapped back.
As he crossed half-court, Zhao Dong called out, "Move! Get going!" signaling his teammates to cut.
The Knicks players darted around, pulling the Bulls' defense out of position.
Three seconds later, Zhao Dong spotted the play develop.
John Starks set a pick on Ewing's man, creating a clear path to the basket.
Without hesitation, Zhao Dong lobbed the ball over Pippen's head.
"Bang!"
Ewing exploded, catching the lob mid-air and slamming it home with both hands.
92-86, Knicks by six.
"Zhao Dong, that was cold!" Ewing roared, pointing at Zhao Dong after landing.
"Haha!" Zhao Dong grinned, seeing the usually stoic Ewing fired up.
The Bulls inbounded and called a timeout.
"That was top-tier court vision," Marv Albert praised.
"Yeah, four straight assists in three minutes. Zhao Dong is running the offense like a seasoned point guard," Matt Goukas added.
"What's Phil Jackson's move now?" Marv asked. "I don't know, but one thing's clear: You can't give Zhao Dong space—not even in the backcourt. If you do, he'll pick you apart with his passing."
Matt nodded. "There's only 115 seconds left. The Knicks are up by six. Eliminating the Bulls is in sight."
"Zhao Dong just dished out his 10th assist, with five coming in the fourth quarter alone. That gives him a triple-double—his sixth of the playoffs!"Marv shouted.
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