Chapter Twenty: "Penny" vs. "The Flyer"!

If anything could fuel Jordan’s fury tonight and make him even more determined to crush the Magic, it was the arrogant jeers from the Magic fans!

“Michael, you’re old now, you can’t fly anymore!”

“Defeated foes, all you’ll take home tonight is failure!”

“Old Michael? You’re nothing to fear! We’re not scared of you!”

“Whether it’s No. 45 or No. 23, you’re past your prime! Anfernee is the new king of the league!”

As Lin Tian warmed up with shots, he observed Jordan’s expression and demeanor. Seeing Jordan’s tightly wound, grim face, a sure sign something was terribly wrong, Lin knew that tonight would be a nightmare for the Magic.

In his mind, he even swapped Jordan’s face with that of Li Yunlong, a fierce and relentless warrior.

“Xie Baoqing, Xie Baoqing, why did you provoke that bastard Li Yunlong for no reason!” he thought.

Amid the crowd’s relentless boos and trash talk, Jordan’s expression hardened further, and as soon as the game started, his rage transformed into terrifying offensive power.

Three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, drives to the basket, back-to-back post moves—Jordan unleashed a relentless assault that left his counterpart, Nick Anderson, utterly overwhelmed.

Accompanied by a barrage of salty remarks and mocking jabs, along with his unpredictable footwork, Jordan forced Anderson into two fouls within five minutes, and by the end of the first quarter, Jordan had already scored 14 points.

He was proving with every move: no matter what number I wear, no matter if I can still fly or not, beating you scrubs is nothing but a breeze.

Yet, despite Jordan’s brilliant form, and the Bulls’ Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen also contributing on offense, the Bulls failed to pull ahead.

The reason was simple: although the Magic couldn’t stop Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee Hardaway were forces the Bulls couldn’t handle.

These two young superstars, the hottest rising talents in the league, faced the veteran Bulls without fear or hesitation, showcasing their immense skills and holding the score steady.

By the end of the first quarter, the score remained tightly contested.

The Bulls led by a mere three points: 27 to 24.

This game was truly a battle between titans.

In the CBS studio, commentator Will Marcus exclaimed excitedly, “Tonight’s match is undoubtedly the most thrilling showdown since the season began! Both teams are so evenly matched that this game will likely be decided only in the final minute!”

“Will’s right,” his partner, Smith, nodded. “No one on the Magic can stop Jordan, but no one on the Bulls can contain O’Neal. And let’s not forget Hardaway’s top-tier performance against Grant. The key to victory will come down to the coaches—whether they can pull out something fresh and unexpected.”

Will continued, “Also, the wildcard factor: will any unexpected players step up? For example, the Bulls’ rookie Lin, who performed well in the six preseason games.”

“However, for some reason, the rookie hasn’t played in the first three regular-season games. Let’s see if Phil gives him a chance tonight.”

As their banter continued, the second quarter kicked off.

Lin Tian entered the game, replacing Horace Grant, marking his first official appearance this season.

He played about five minutes but failed to make a significant impact.

The main reason was O’Neal’s presence on the court—a seemingly unstoppable beast dominating the paint, grabbing nearly every rebound.

O’Neal’s dominance neutralized Lin’s greatest strength—fast breaks—leaving him with few opportunities to shine.

O’Neal’s power in the paint left the defense helpless.

After five minutes and just two points and one assist, Lin was substituted out by coach Jackson. The Magic had surged ahead by five points, and Jackson had to send Jordan back in to combat O’Neal’s destructive presence.

The Magic quickly countered by keeping Hardaway on the court, and the two teams fought fiercely in the final minutes before halftime.

When the half ended, the Magic had successfully taken the lead, 50 to 47.

Aside from O’Neal’s 14 points and 7 rebounds, the stars of the half were undoubtedly Jordan and Hardaway, the two elite perimeter players.

Jordan had already piled up 28 points by halftime, while Hardaway wasn’t far behind with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists—a stat line that, in this era, marked the performance of a true superstar.

Both commentators and the crowd focused heavily on these two, their cheers and shouts almost unceasing.

Before leaving the court for halftime, Lin glanced over at the Magic bench and clearly saw O’Neal staring at Hardaway’s back—a gaze filled with envy and frustration.

Lin suddenly remembered: this was O’Neal’s contract year.

Yet the Magic front office seemed indifferent to re-signing this monstrous talent.

Their full attention and effort were poured into Hardaway.

It was no wonder that O’Neal, proud yet sensitive, felt deeply displeased.

On his way to the locker room, Lin suddenly stopped Toni Kukoc.

“Tony, if we get to play together in the second half, can you set me a few screens?”

“Of course,” Kukoc nodded. “What’s the plan?”

“I’m going to take O’Neal one-on-one,” Lin said, patting Kukoc’s shoulder—a statement that sounded almost suicidal to Kukoc.

Lin had gone mad.

...

In the second half, the teams resumed their fierce battle, with Hardaway and Jordan continuing their intense duel.

Every time Jordan nailed a mid-range jumper, Hardaway would respond with a sharp drive, slicing through the Bulls’ entire defense.

Six minutes into the third quarter, Hardaway once again drove past, drawing Longley’s fourth foul and earning himself a trip to the free-throw line.