It’s good!
The Bulls have taken the lead!
Gan Guoyang no longer holds out at the perimeter for double-team.
He sank into the low post, received the pass from Porter, quickly pivoted with his heel, and took a shot with a forward-leaning angle from zero degrees.
Horace Grant barely reacted to contest the shot, but Gan Guoyang had already scored the two points, and the Trail Blazers regained the lead.
Two fierce flames rapidly ignited, supporting their teams with the simplest, most reliable scoring methods, engaging in a life-or-death battle.
Both players refrained from consistently taking forceful drives, instead fully utilizing their teammates’ movements, screens, and their advantages in the tactical setup.
Jordan would use speed and strength to shake off Reggie Lewis’s defense, cutting to the basket for teammate passes to attack the hoop.
Gan Guoyang, on the other hand, provided pick-and-roll screens, using cuts, step backs, and crash to the basket to grab offensive rebounds for scoring opportunities.
Both players’ attacking desire and physical condition reached their peak, with the other eight players revolving around them on the court.
They resembled two eyes of a storm, churning two level-12 typhoons on the court in fierce confrontation.
The typhoon’s speed accelerated, as if ready to whisk everything away.
The score climbed from 44:45 at the start of the third quarter to 64:65, with all scoring directly linked to these two players.
Every play saw the ball run through their hands; otherwise, the offense would falter.
Under immense pressure, no one dared to step up and play hero, all obediently handing the ball to the strongest player.
For if they fail to score a play or falter in defense, the point gap may widen.
The teams maintained a firm grip; the atmosphere in the Rose Garden Arena was suffocating.
Towards the end of the third quarter, when Jordan scored a three-pointer on a fast break, Gan Guoyang promptly responded with his own three-pointer on the next offensive play!
67:68, the Trail Blazers kept a 1-point lead, thrilling while nerve-wracking, an Answer-ball that caused a fan at the venue to have a heart attack and collapse.
On-site medical staff quickly rendered aid, pausing the game for ten minutes, allowing the fan’s condition to stabilize quickly with timely treatment.
On the way to the hospital, he raised his fist in encouragement for the Portland Trail Blazers.
After this minor interlude, the game continued, with the ten minutes offering players a breathing opportunity.
Sweat drenched everyone’s clothes, the cooling system in the Rose Garden Arena wasn’t malfunctioning, but both teams faced great physical depletion.
Gan Guoyang stayed on the court throughout the third quarter without a break.
Phil Jackson, known for his bold personnel decisions, didn’t dare substitute Jordan out.
In last year’s finals, Gan Guoyang seized the opportunity, delivering an end third-quarter onslaught.
Both players endured, battling in an intense white-hot state for every point, every inch.
Their competition transcended positions, disregarding guard or center roles.
Jordan would defend Ah Gan, and Gan Guoyang would also guard Jordan; they confronted head-on.
Tonight’s referee Hugh Hollins focused entirely on Jordan and Gan Guoyang throughout the third quarter.
He didn’t call any fouls on them, not deliberately easing, but he couldn’t find flaws.
Their movements controlled impeccably, skirting the edge of fouls, applying maximum pressure but reeling back timely when whistles seemed imminent.
The finesse in detail control, offensively and defensively, was flawlessly exquisite.
Jordan’s fadeaway jump shot, Gan Guoyang’s turn and forward-leaning shoot, could be captured for the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Gan Guoyang’s coverage and blocks on defense, Jordan’s ferocity and steals, were pure, free of deceitful plots.
During the third and fourth quarter breaks, Hugh Hollins couldn’t help but tell colleague Jess Kersey: "Keep a keen eye, Jess, I fear I might become enchanted, turning into an audience member."
Kersey replied: "Oh, I’ve already turned spectator, don’t count on me."
Even battle-hardened referees fell captive to the duo’s performance.
Needless to say for the audience, fans, and commentators.
Tonight’s game viewing figures will again set an NBA historical record.
More daunting yet, regardless of tonight’s outcome, the sixth game will certainly break this record.
During the brief two-minute rest, Gan Guoyang kept drinking water, parched.
Every cell in his body shouted intensely; he was exhausted yet excited.
Entering the decisive moment, rising from the bench for the final quarter.
"Don’t let me rest; if I rest, so will you." Gan Guoyang told Beelman.
Beelman patted Gan Guoyang’s shoulder, saying nothing; nothing more needed words at this game stage.
The same could be said for the Bulls, where Jordan instructed Jackson not to sub him out for rest, or he’d leave this summer.
One scored 19 in the third, and the other notched 20; undoubtedly, the fourth quarter scores would continue climbing.
Neither side wanted to grant the opponent a shred of respite.
Bulls vs. Trail Blazers, whoever fancied a breather faced defeat.
Porter passed the ball to the top of the arc, Gan Guoyang promptly initiated, breaking through left-handed!
Jordan and Horace Grant didn’t expect Gan Guoyang to take the left path; Gan Guoyang cut inside with a left-handed layup, scoring.