Chapter 65: Granting You Unlimited Firepower!

Fortunately, the situation had stabilized by this point, and the Bulls' team doctor rushed forward swiftly to check on Jordan's injury!

A few minutes later, amidst the intense gaze of all the Chicago fans, the team doctor slowly stood up, looked at Jackson, and said, "It shouldn't be too serious. There's no structural damage, and in all likelihood, it's just a deep bruise. But to be safe, we still recommend that Michael not play the second half of this game."

"We hope he can go to the hospital immediately for further examinations to make sure he is truly all right."

Jackson nodded without hesitation and told the medical staff to take Jordan away immediately!

For Jackson, what historical best record, what ten-game winning streak curse, or what teaching the Jazz a lesson—none of these mattered at all!

His sole goal this season was just one thing: the Championship!

And the team's leader, Jordan, absolutely could not afford to have anything happen to him at this moment! He had to stay healthy! Therefore, playing through minor injuries was something that could be done sometimes, but absolutely never in the regular season.

Even though Jordan was roaring right then and there that he could still play and could still go back in, the team doctor and Jackson completely ignored him. Dragging him practically by force, they hauled Jordan out of the arena.

Around the same time, the referees delivered their rulings.

Rodman, being the first to actively throw a punch, was directly ejected from the game. Others like Pippen, Kukoc, and Buechler were each assessed a technical foul! On the contrary, Stockton did not receive a single technical foul because he was tripped before even entering the fray.

Actually, none of these calls were particularly problematic.

In comparison, the home fans were far more worried about Jordan's injury.

However, the next ruling by the referees made the United Center completely erupt in fury!

Malone only received a flagrant foul—he wasn't ejected, nor was he disqualified!

He delivered an iron elbow to Jordan, brawled with Rodman, and in the end, didn't even get ejected from the game?

How could the fans in the arena possibly stomach this?!

Overwhelming boos and curses expressing dissatisfaction with the referees surged frantically toward the court!

All sorts of unprintable insults and foul language continued unabated for several whole minutes!

Yet, no matter how the fans cursed, the referees were not going to change their rulings. Malone and Stockton were allowed to stay on the court and keep playing!

As for the Bulls, a single altercation had robbed them of two absolute core pillars: Rodman and Jordan!

The Bulls were in trouble!

That was the immediate thought of everyone watching this game at that moment.

"Lin, go ahead. Remember what I told you." Jackson remained unhurried, acting as if it wasn't his own team facing dire straits, and calmly said, "Unlimited green light. Play however you want! Go get 'em."

Lin Tian cracked his knuckles and stood up.

Alongside Kukoc, Pippen, Longley, and Kerr, he stepped onto the court.

At this point, there were 3 minutes and 40 seconds left in the second quarter, and following a string of technical free throws, the score had become 50 to 42!

The Bulls were still leading by 8 points, and the first possession belonged to the Bulls!

"Kid, is it your turn to come up and get beaten up? I thought you were so tough, how come you didn't dare come out just now? Or were you scared shitless by what just happened? Did you wear a diaper? Is it completely soaked already? Huh?" Stockton didn't even wait for the ball to be inbounded before starting to trash-talk Lin Tian!

Having effectively crippled two of the Bulls' Big Three, Stockton's mouth was firing on all cylinders! He wanted to make the Bulls' mental resolve completely shatter!

At the same time, Malone heavily clapped his hands together and shouted, "Get your energy up, everyone! Stop this play, don't be as soft as those Chicago sissies on the other side! Before the half ends, we're taking the lead!"

"Old dog." Lin Tian used an elbow to create space against Stockton, carving out room to receive the pass. "Have you ever read my scouting report? Do you know that I am fast?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Tian suddenly accelerated his dribble, transforming himself into a streak of crimson lightning in an instant as he flashed right past Stockton!

How was Stockton's athletic ability, you ask? If you say his athleticism was poor, he was a supreme ironman: out of his 19-year professional career, he played every single game in 17 seasons, missing a total of only 22 games across just 2 seasons!

This was over a grueling 19-year career. Even in Stockton's final season, the 2002-2003 season, the 40-year-old Stockton still played all 82 games!

The durability of this body was unquestionably at the very peak of the pyramid.

Yet, if you were to say his athletic ability was good? Speed, leaping ability, strength, flexibility... everything you could think of that defined physical prowess was utterly ordinary for him, as if this person had poured every single attribute point entirely into the durability category.

And at this very moment, Stockton, who was playing full-court defense and eager to teach Lin Tian a lesson, was shocked to discover that not only did Lin Tian blow right past him in a single step, but he couldn't even catch up!

Yes, even without dribbling, he couldn't keep pace with Lin Tian, who was actively dribbling the ball!

Seeing that Stockton completely failed to catch up, Lin Tian wasn't about to give him a chance to recover his defensive position. Sprinting all the way past the Jazz's three-point line, Lin Tian suddenly stopped and raised his hand as if calling a play. Then, just as everyone on the Jazz relaxed their guard slightly, thinking he was going to slow down the pace, Lin Tian accelerated once more!

"Whoosh!"

Stockton, who had finally managed to run close to Lin Tian, felt another piercing whistle of air rush past his ears, and in the next instant, Lin Tian vanished again!

He had been blown past by Lin Tian in a single step—yet again!

How could the Jazz players ever expect Lin Tian to be this fast, let alone imagine that Stockton's vaunted defense would be easily beaten off the dribble twice in a row by Lin Tian?

Charging straight into the paint, Lin Tian showed not a shred of fear as he faced Malone, who rushed over to help defend with a fierce and provocative expression on his face!

If you don't rise to the challenge, what's the point of playing?

With absolute toughness, Lin Tian launched his body mid-air, crashing directly into Malone! Then, pushing through Malone's thick arms, Lin Tian flicked the basketball off his fingertips like a magician, narrowly evading Malone's blocking arm!

"Swish!"

"Beep, beep! Karl Malone, reaching foul! The basket counts, plus one free throw!"

The referee blew the whistle immediately, terrified that another brawl would erupt between the two sides!

There were already enough people leaving the court tonight; they didn't need any more casualties of any kind.

Their year-end bonuses and performance evaluations couldn't survive any more reductions, but clearly, Lin Tian didn't care much about whether the referees would get their year-end bonuses!