The second game began quickly, and for the Trail Blazers, this was a match they couldn't afford to lose.
If both home games were broken consecutively, their championship path would become perilous.
Prior to the game, news of the fight between Kobe and Little O'Neal spread like wildfire in Portland.
Although Ah Gan told the media to keep quiet, the fans would not stay silent, especially in 2003, when the internet was already widespread in America.
Many fans would leave comments and opinions online, and these reviews were often much sharper and more critical than usual remarks.
Once people donned the cloak of anonymity online, they expressed opinions more recklessly.
It was from this point that the era of superstars gradually came to an end because no one could maintain perfection in the online world.
This incident of Kobe getting punched in practice would remain in his online archives, although compared to future events, this was a minor detail.
