Jokic was suspended, and the Cavaliers ultimately failed to hold their second home court.
Despite Hansen scoring 36 points in three quarters, the Cavaliers trailed the Warriors by double digits by the end of the third quarter.
Cole started playing like a snowball, putting the Splash Brothers on at the start of the fourth quarter to force Hansen onto the court early.
With 5 minutes left on the clock in the game, and the Cavaliers still trailing by double digits, Malone preemptively substituted Hansen out.
His actions were deemed as giving up on the game, leading to some Cavaliers fans questioning him post-match.
However, Malone also provided his explanation at the post-game press conference.
The possibility of the Cavaliers catching up at that point was already minimal, and exhausting Hansen’s stamina in a game they couldn’t win was not a rational move.
Malone’s explanation was acknowledged by the fans, though some still felt it was wrong, thinking any chance should be fought for wholeheartedly.
Because losing G4 meant the Cavaliers gave away the home advantage they grabbed right back to the Warriors.
Although Jokic would return after his one-game suspension, the next King Mountain Battle would be played in Oakland, posing a great challenge for the Cavaliers to win. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱
If they lose at King Mountain, the Cavaliers’ path to defending the championship would essentially end there.
At this time, many Cavaliers fans and Hansen’s followers started criticizing the league.
If it weren’t for the league suspending Jokic, the situation would be completely different.
Some even started citing the incident two years ago, when Green was suspended and the Lakers made a 1-3 comeback.
The day before the King Mountain Battle, the Cavaliers flew to Oakland.
As soon as Hansen landed, he received an unexpected call.
Kobe informed him he would be at Oracle Arena to watch his game the next day.
They chatted for a while, and after hanging up, Hansen felt quite sentimental.
Time is the most elusive thing in this world; in the blink of an eye, it has been a full year since Kobe retired.
Kobe hasn’t appeared much in public over the past year, nor on the sidelines of the court, making people, including Hansen, almost forget his existence.
So Hansen was genuinely surprised and puzzled by Kobe coming to watch his big game.
Although the Bay Area and Los Angeles are close, Kobe didn’t come during the first two rounds of finals played in Oakland.
On the night of the match, the Oracle Arena was packed to capacity.
When Kobe appeared in the arena with Vanessa and his daughters, it caused a burst of excitement among the audience.
Many speculated that he was there to support James, as they were teammates for two years before, and this was at the Warriors home court.
However, when all the players arrived at the arena, Kobe proactively walked over to Hansen.
"Congratulations on soon bringing the second championship to Cleveland," Kobe opened with.
"Are you jinxing me?"
Kobe laughed heartily, then reached out and gave Hansen a strong hug.
"Long time no see," Kobe continued to laugh as he shook Hansen’s hand after the hug.
It was clear to see his demeanor post-retirement was completely different from before he retired.
If Kobe hadn’t retired, he would likely still be dwelling on last season’s finals loss.
"What are you up to?" Hansen also showed interest in Kobe’s post-retirement life.
As for Duncan, Hansen knew he was engrossed in car repair and modification in San Antonio, but Kobe seemed to have almost vanished.
"I’m preparing my training camp, Mamba Academy." Kobe was honest with Hansen.
His honesty was also purposeful.
"The first session starts this summer; do you have time to come?"
Even for Kobe, such an academy needs NBA stars to promote and increase its influence.
Hansen’s presence would be highly beneficial for him.
"Is this why you came today?" Hansen was somewhat surprised, as this kind of thing could be handled over the phone.
"Yes, but it’s not the whole reason, or not the main reason." Kobe said, looking towards the Warriors’ half-court.
"I’m here to see you win."
Toward the end, Kobe withdrew his persistent smile, and you could even see a hint of determination in his expression.
Kobe’s post-retirement state was different, but his personality remained unchanged, still dwelling on the events of last season’s finals.
Perhaps, aside from last season’s finals, Kobe was even more hurt by James leaving.
Whether personally or for the Lakers, James’s departure from Los Angeles was heartbreaking for him.
"I’ll go." Hansen promised Kobe.
As he spoke, he also looked towards the opposing half-court.
He was determined to help the Cavaliers win this game no matter what.
After the opening ceremony, both teams’ starting lineups emerged.
Cavaliers: Hansen, JR, Tucker, Covington, Jokic
Warriors: Curry, Makao, Thompson, James, Green
Cole made adjustments in the previous game, putting Iguodala back on the bench to cope with the depth of the Cavaliers’ lineup.
Jokic won possession for the Cavaliers, and as soon as he reached the front court, he actively set up a pick-and-roll for Hansen, quickly driving Makao away.
Makao’s defensive experience certainly did not match Iguodala’s, but Jokic’s enthusiasm for the game was visibly apparent.
Due to his amiable personality, though Cavaliers fans criticized Malone and the league, few spoke negatively about Jokic.