Looking back another of Michael Jordan’s most iconic moments, in which he led his Chicago Bulls to victory in the ‘Flu Game.’
Looking back another of Michael Jordan‘s most iconic moments, in which he led his Chicago Bulls to victory in the ‘Flu Game.’
June 11, 1997. Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The series between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz were tied at two games apiece. With all the momentum on the Jazz side, as they had just won the last two games, this game would set up one of the greatest moments in NBA Finals history.
With a sick Jordan, his Game 5 performance would be forever known as the ‘Flu Game.’
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As for the series itself, three out of the six NBA Finals games would be decided by four points or less. The Jazz, in most ways, was the biggest threat to Jordan at this time and were really giving the Bulls trouble in this Finals.
In Game 4, Jordan and the Bulls didn’t play well. Jordan only shot 11-27 from the field (0-4 from 3) and the team as a whole only go to the free-throw line 12 times. They missed seven of those attempts.
John Stockton, on the other hand, scored 17 points and added 12 assists to tie the series at 2-2, heading into a colossal matchup in Game 5. Leading up to the game, Jordan had been battling a stomach virus.
There was growing speculation that Jordan perhaps would not be able to play that night. However, as game time grew closer, Jordan managed to make his way to the arena and by some miracle was going to give it a go. Michael Jordan was all systems go for Game 5.
The Jazz controlled much of the first half and carried a four-point lead into intermission. Michael Jordan, despite the sickness, managed to score 17 second-quarter points and finished with 21 points heading into halftime. Still, the look of exhaustion on his weary face was concerning.
Would Jordan run out of gas?
With less than a minute left in the game, the score was tied once again, at 85-85, and the Bulls would need none other than Michael Jordan to rise. On cue, with 25 seconds left, Jordan hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulls the lead.
The Jazz failed to capitalize on their ensuing possession and would go on to lose the game 90-88 with the series shifting back to Chicago for Game 6, in which Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls would go on to win to clinch the NBA Finals victory.
The lasting image from Game 5 is Michael Jordan collapsing into Scottie Pippen‘s arms. Jordan would finish with 38 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. What a game. What another iconic moment in the storied career of Michael Jordan.