The brawl became a global hot topic; its impact was simply immense.
The discussion surrounding the incident grew even wider, especially after Su Xi launched a blunt tirade post-game.
It was undeniable: Su Xi was a ratings magnet, a natural headline-maker.
Moreover, the brawl fundamentally altered this year's playoff picture.
After Su Xi and the Knicks eliminated the Miami Heat, they had all but guaranteed their spot in the Finals. All that was left was to see whether the Dallas Mavericks or the San Antonio Spurs would come out on top.
Meanwhile, everyone in Cleveland was ecstatic.
LeBron James popped the champagne.
They had taken a 3-1 series lead the night before. All they needed was one more win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, and facing a Knicks team with two core frontcourt players suspended, they thought, 'We could win this in our sleep.'
Their run as the dark horse of the playoffs had already given them an abundance of confidence.
