Flashback #3: Bulls Win 1992 NBA Finals (1992)
As of 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these "flashbacks" have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary page.
June 14, 1992 - Chicago Bulls defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in 1992 NBA Finals
Fresh off the franchise's first-ever World Championship, the Chicago Bulls were hungry for more.
Equipped with one of the best players to ever touch a basketball in Michael Jordan, the Bulls were set to repeat as championship. The team finished the 1991-92 season with the best record in the NBA, earning home-court advantage in the playoffs behind Jordan's second-straight league MVP performance. After defeating the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, 4-2, Clyde Drexler and the Trail Blazers were all that stood between the Bulls and a repeat.
The star-studded cast of Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Bill Cartwright, Horace Grant and John Paxon took Game 1 easily, 122-89, behind 39 points from Jordan. The reigning MVP dominated from the beginning. His 35 first-half points broke the record for most points in a first half in the playoffs, once held by Elgin Baylor (33).
Again in Game 2, Jordan dropped 39 points, but the Trail Blazers took the game to overtime, eventually tying the series 1-1 behind 26 points from Drexler.
The series shifted to Memorial Coliseum in Portland for Game 3, but that wasn't stopping the title-hungry Bulls. Chicago's defense made a statement, holding the Trail Blazers to franchise playoff-low 84 points, as the Bulls took the 2-1 edge.
Though the Bulls took a 10-0 lead to start Game 4, Portland surged late behind 21 points from Drexler and forward Jerome Kersey, tying the series at two games apiece.
Jordan's 46 points in Game 5 gave the Bulls the 3-2 series edge, and brought the series back to Chicago. Though he sat briefly with an injured ankle, Jordan was 14-of-23 from the field and 16-of-19 from the line. Pippen fell just short of a triple-double, with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Though they had two chances to win the title, the Bulls wasted no time, defeating the Trail Blazers 97-93 in Game 6 and earning the franchise's second-straight NBA championship.
Jordan's 35.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game earned him his second-straight Finals MVP trophy.
The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary »
