The Chicago Bulls rebounded from their game one loss to pull out game two, 93-88. Michael Jordan scored a game-high 37 points on 14 of 33 shooting. Scottie Pippen also had a solid game, scoring 21 points. Utah’s Karl Malone was held to just 16 points on 5 of 16 shooting. Jeff Hornacek led the Jazz with 20 points. John Stockton scored just 9 points. The Bulls tied the series 1-1 and headed back to Chicago for games 3, 4 and 5.
This game was played on Jan. 25, 1998. Utah beat Chicago 101-94. Michael Jordan scored 32 points, two of which came on a nasty dunk on Jazz center Greg Ostertag in the fourth quarter. Enjoy.
With a 3-1 series lead, the Chicago Bulls looked primed to win their sixth championship on their home court. But Utah’s Karl Malone had other ideas. Malone hit 17 of 27 shots for a game-high 39 points and led the Jazz to a tight 83-81 win. Michael Jordan scored 28 points, but hit just 9 of 26 shots. Toni Kucoc led the Bulls with 30 points on 11 of 13 shooting. No other Bull scored in double figures. Scottie Pippen scored just 6 points on 2 of 16 shooting. The Jazz win forced a sixth game back in Utah. NOTE: My DVD cut off just before the end of the game. Sorry about the abrupt ending.
In yet another magnificent performance in the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan fell just one assist shy of his first triple-double in a Finals game. MJ scored 38 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dropped nine dimes to lead the Bulls to a 97-85 win over the Utah Jazz in game two of the 1997 NBA Finals. Jordan’s triple-double seemed like a sure thing after a pass late in the game to a wide open Scottie Pippen. Pip missed the layup, however, and Jordan finished with nine assists. Pippen had somewhat of an off night offensively, hitting just four of 13 shots for 10 points. Ron Harper scored 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting. The Jazz were led by Karl Malone’s 20 points, followed by 19 from Jeff Hornacek and 14 from John Stockton. The Bulls took a 2-0 lead in the series and prepared to head to Utah for games 3, 4 and 5.
The Utah Jazz looked fresh and re-energized playing in front of their home crowd at the Delta Center in game 3 of the 1997 Finals. Behind 37 points from the MVP Karl Malone, the Jazz beat Chicago 104-93. Greg Foster had a huge game, finishing with 17 points. John Stockton also scored 17 and added 12 assists. Scottie Pippen paced the Bulls with 27 points, while Michael Jordan added 26. (Michael Buffer never gets old.)
THE LEGEND
The Chicago Bulls had never let an NBA Finals series go to a Game Seven in their franchise history, and all but one of their previous five titles (the exception was in 1991) were clinched in the sixth game. Thus, winning Game Six in Salt Lake City was imperative for Chicago. Yet, as they arrived at the Delta Center for Game 6, things did not look good for the Bulls. Scottie Pippens back gave way when he dunked the opening basket of the game and he was slowed down, scoring only eight points all game. Tensions ran high in the Delta Center when the Jazz discovered problems of their own. They suffered several shot clock violations, including one on a successful three-point attempt by Howard Eisley. Television replays showed, however, that Eisley got the ball out of his hands in time before the shot clock hit zero and the referees missed the call.[citation needed] In the fourth quarter, the Bulls closed the gap. With 41.9 seconds left, the Bulls suffered a jolt as John Stockton hit a clutch 3-point shot to give Utah an 86-83 lead and send the Delta Center into a frenzy. Down by three, the Bulls had one last chance to stay alive. Running perilously low on energy, the Bulls knew they must win the game or else face overtime. After Michael Jordan made a layup to cut the Jazz lead to one, the Bulls needed to stop the Jazz from scoring again. When John Stockton passed the ball to Karl Malone, Michael Jordan stole the ball away and dribbled to the front. Guarding him was Bryon …
1997 NBA Finals, Jazz and Bulls. Michael Jordans Sick game Highlights etc.
“A courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan.” — Marv Albert Fighting the flu and the rejuvenated Jazz, Michael Jordan put in one of his greatest games ever. Struggling even to stand at times, Jordan scored 38 points to will his team to a 90-88 win over Utah in game 5 of the 1997 Finals. There’s not too much that can be said about what Jordan did in this game. One can really only watch and marvel at that man’s will to succeed.
This is the Legendary Flu Game where MJ rises from his death-bed. It is my opinion that this game can be considered mj’s greatest game ever. The book “mj’s 50 Greatest Games” ranks this at #2. This is the game that signified the core and purity of Michael Jordan. Take away all the circus shots, amazing dunks, hang-time jumpers, acrobatic drives, huge scoring nights etc, and you had what Michael Jordan represented – the unparalleled desire and will to succeed in the most crucial moments and in the most dramatic fashion. The only question left after this game was whether MJ would be the greatest there ever will be. mj’s sickness left him devoid of energy, food and sleep. During the game, someone mistakenly gave him Gatorlode instead of Gatorade which made things even worse since Gatorlode is a post-activity drink. But the Bulls needed this game since the series was tied 2-2 and losing this game meant they would have to go to 7 games to win the title. This was unacceptable to MJ. Also, that year’s “MVP-trohy borrower” Karl Malone had to be defeated. Going 13-27 (modest by mj’s standards) and at times, about to pass out, MJ stuck through and came up with the clutch FT, clutch rebound and of course, the famous clutch trey-winner. Is it possible to have more drama? MJ stated that he still has trouble remembering the whole game because of his condition. He said, “I almost died playing that game.” The greatest, as always, MJ.