Flashback #38: Bulls Win 1998 NBA Finals (1998)

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, 1998 - Bulls win 1998 NBA Finals

Destiny was just four wins away.

After defeating the Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls were set for a rematch of the 1997 NBA Finals against the Jazz.

The two teams faced each other twice during the regular season, with the Jazz taking both games.

Coming into the Finals, many had predicted the Jazz would exact their revenge against the Bulls. Those predictions only grew stronger when the the Jazz took Game 1, 88-85, in overtime.  The Bulls, however, came back in Game 2, tying the series after putting together a fourth-quarter run to silence the Delta Center.

After the Bulls' win in Game 2, the series shifted back to Chicago for a less-than-thrilling Game 3.

The Bulls annihilated the Jazz in Game 3, winning 96-54. In the loss, the Jazz set the record for the lowest points scored in Finals history, as well as the lowest number of points scored in any NBA game (since eclipsed by the 49 points from the Bulls on April 10, 1999) in the shot-clock era.

After the teams split Games 4 and 5, the Bulls traveled to Utah with a chance to win their sixth title in eight seasons.

Things looked rough for the Bulls early, as Scottie Pippen, who was already struggling with an injured back, suffered a set back when he dunked in the opening minutes of the game. He scored only eight points in the entire game. Without Pippen, the Bulls relied almost completely on Michael Jordan, who scored 23 points in the first half alone.

With the Bulls trailing by one point with less than 30 seconds to play, they needed to stop the Jazz from scoring to have a chance to win. That's when Jordan did what Jordan does in the Finals -- he carried his team.

When John Stockton passed to Karl Malone, Jordan stole the ball and dribbled down the court. With time running out, Jordan crossed over Bryon Russell and hit a 20-foot jump shot to give the Bulls an 87-86 lead with 5.2 seconds left. The shot is now famously referred to as "Jordan's Final Shot."

After a time out, Stockton's desperation three-point attempt rattled out, solidifying the victory for the Bulls. Jordan finished Game 6 with 45 points, earning his sixth NBA Finals MVP.

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 »