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Start of the second quarter. The wind changed direction.
The Suns made an adjustment.
Their second unit, led by "The Brazilian Blur" Leandro Barbosa, hit the fast-forward button.
This season, Barbosa was playing like a Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
His first step was a dimension-shattering problem for the Lakers' bench.
He didn't need complex sets. Just catch, accelerate, sprint.
First possession: He used a single screen, blew past Vujacic with one step, and laid it in.
The Lakers missed on the other end.
Boris Diaw grabbed the long rebound and immediately outlets to the frontcourt.
Barbosa was already gone, leaving everyone in the dust for another bucket!
In just three minutes, Barbosa slashed and shot his way to 8 quick points.
Leading the Suns on a 10-2 run.
Tie game! 34-34!
"The Brazilian Blur living up to the nickname! The Suns' bench firepower is terrifying!" the commentator exclaimed.
Phil Jackson's face remained calm, but he didn't hesitate. He subbed the starters back in immediately.
Kobe and Link checked in together.
On the other side, Mike D'Antoni matched the move.
Nash, Stoudemire, and Marion all returned to the floor.
Starters vs. Starters. The real dogfight began.
Kobe stopped the bleeding the moment he stepped on the court.
He posted up Raja Bell on the left block.
Shoulder fake, shimmy, turnaround fadeaway.
Swish.
Nothing but net. Lakers retook the lead!
Suns ball. Nash executed a signature V-cut.
Using a Stoudemire screen to shake Farmar.
He drew Odom's help defense, then whipped a magical bounce pass right through Odom's legs—a nutmeg!
Straight to a rolling Stoudemire, who hammered it home!
36-36!
The Footprint Center erupted, the noise deafening.
Even the commentators were stunned by the dime. The broadcast replayed the angle multiple times.
"Oh My God!!! Steve Nash!! That is already booked for the Top 10 plays of the season!" the announcer screamed.
Lakers ball.
Odom inbound quickly from the baseline. Farmar pushed the pace.
Link was already streaking down the sideline.
Farmar saw it instantly and launched a cross-court bomb.
Link caught it just outside the arc. Only a retreating Marion stood between him and the rim.
He didn't pause. He pulled up right in Marion's face!
Because of his momentum, his body drifted slightly forward.
Marion contested hard, but Link's release was too fast, too decisive.
Swish!
Another three!
39-36.
Lakers back on top!
"My goodness! Link is scorching hot tonight! That's his third triple in Marion's face!" the commentator yelled.
"This Christmas game is incredible! The Lakers are actually running and gunning with the Suns!"
Marion's face was dark enough to drip water.
Next possession, he called for the ball in the post, backing down Link aggressively.
Solid physical contact.
Marion forced a turn and threw up his signature, unorthodox floater.
Good!
"Shawn Marion! Answering with the iso! The gunpowder between him and Link is getting explosive!"
The game spiraled into a rhythm neither side could control.
The Suns' "Seven Seconds or Less" offense was flowing like water.
Nash's passes seemed to have GPS, always finding the open man.
Stoudemire was a force of nature in the paint, unstoppable.
Marion and Barbosa were chipping in everywhere.
On the Lakers' side, they clung to the lead thanks to Kobe's surgical mid-range game and Link's lights-out shooting.
Link curled off a double screen, caught the ball at the elbow, pump-faked Marion into the air, and drilled the mid-range jumper!
As he ran back on defense, he made a show of looking around in confusion.
His body language screamed: "Where did he go?"
The taunt drew a storm of boos from the Phoenix crowd and frenzy from the courtside photographers.
Nash clapped back immediately.
He danced through the defense with his dribble, finding Barbosa in the corner.
Bang. Three-pointer.
The score for both teams skyrocketed like a runaway train.
Defense had become a suggestion.
Final possession of the first half.
65-63. Suns up by 2.
19 seconds left.
Lakers' final shot.
Kobe held the ball at the top of the key, bleeding the clock against Raja Bell.
The floor was spaced.
8 seconds left.
Kobe made his move. Hard drive, stopping on a dime near the free-throw line.
Bell and Marion jumped to block him simultaneously!
Kobe contorted in the air, a double-clutch fold, and kicked it out to Link in the left corner!
Link caught it. Not a defender within ten feet.
He took one dribble to rhythm, and rose up calmly.
The ball traced a perfect arc.
Swish!!!
Buzzer-beater!
66-65!
The Lakers took a 1-point lead into halftime!
"The Prophet! Another buzzer-beater! The Lakers' shooting percentage tonight is scary!"
The commentator analyzed while praising the shot, "But can they keep this up?"
"If they cool off in the second half, the Suns could end this with one run————"
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The first half was an offensive masterclass. The two teams combined for 131 points, both shooting lights out.
Link finished the half 8-for-14 from the field, 4-for-6 from three, dropping an efficient 22 points.
Kobe added 19 points.
For the Suns, Nash dished out 10 assists. Stoudemire had 18 points, Marion 14.
Inside the locker room, the vibe was strange.
Not tired, but a wired, restless energy.
Everyone was dripping sweat, chests heaving.
It was an exhausting track meet.
Phil Jackson stood in front of the whiteboard, waiting for them to catch their breath.
"Gentlemen, look at the scoreboard." The Zen Master's voice was calm, but it commanded instant attention.
"In the past, we might have tried to slow the game down, grind it out in the half-court. But we always end up playing their game anyway."
He paused, scanning the room.
"So tonight, I changed my mind. We are going to outshoot them!"
He turned and started drawing on the board.
The tactical lines became clear.
"Second half, we keep pushing the offense." Jackson paused, his eyes landing on Link. "With Link as the finisher!"
The locker room went quiet. Everyone looked at Link.
Kobe stood there with his arms crossed, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
"We need more complex off-ball screens, more decisive drive-and-kicks. Create absolute open looks for Link!"
"As for defense," the Zen Master looked at Kobe.
"Second half, Kobe, you take Nash. Lock down his passing lanes. Force him to be a scorer!"
"If that doesn't work, then you take over the game!" Jackson finished, looking at the rest of the squad.
"Everyone else, stay on your man. Protect the glass! Let's win this!"
The fighting spirit in the room thickened.
The Zen Master had made Link the primary option.
On the 2006 Lakers, next to Kobe Bryant, that was a level of trust and responsibility that was almost unheard of.
Link wiped the sweat from his face. He looked at Phil Jackson, then at Kobe, who gave a slight nod.
"I got this, Coach."
The second half was about to begin!