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by: Chris Maynard
([email protected])
([email protected])
What looked like it was going to be a sweep suddenly turned into a series as the Chicago Bulls fell 89-78 to the Seattle SuperSonics during Game Five of the 1996 NBA Finals.
At the time of Chicago's second-straight loss to the Sonics, the Bulls fell to 2-2 during Game Fives of the NBA Finals. Of course, Chicago's first NBA title came in the fifth game of the 1991 NBA Finals, a 108-101 triumph against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After winning six titles, Chicago would finish 4-2 during Game Fives of the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.
Make the jump to read my descriptors of Chicago's performances during Game Fives of the '90s Finals, including:
At the time of Chicago's second-straight loss to the Sonics, the Bulls fell to 2-2 during Game Fives of the NBA Finals. Of course, Chicago's first NBA title came in the fifth game of the 1991 NBA Finals, a 108-101 triumph against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After winning six titles, Chicago would finish 4-2 during Game Fives of the 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals.
Make the jump to read my descriptors of Chicago's performances during Game Fives of the '90s Finals, including:
- The Clincher.
- The Differentiator.
- The Party Pooper.
- The Stupor.
- The Vaccinator.
- The Party Pooper, Part II.
The Clincher: 1991 NBA Finals, Game 5
Chicago Bulls 108, Los Angeles Lakers 101
Chicago won its first NBA title during its 25th year of existence as guard John Paxson caught fire late to vanquish Los Angeles and give Michael Jordan his long-awaited title!
The Differentiator: 1992 NBA Finals, Game Five
Chicago Bulls 119, Portland Trail Blazers 106
Portland star Clyde Drexler was very good, scoring 30 points, but Chicago superstar Michael Jordan was much better, finishing with 46 points, as the Bulls took a 3-2 series lead in the 1992 NBA Finals.
The Party Pooper: 1993 NBA Finals, Game Five
Phoenix Suns 108, Chicago Bulls 98
The city of Chicago was ready to burst at the seams celebrating a three-peat, but Charles Barkley warned during pregame warmups that the Bulls weren't clinching during a Game Five that Phoenix controlled from the get go.
The Stupor: 1996 NBA Finals, Game Five
Seattle SuperSonics 89, Chicago Bulls 78
While better than Game Four, Chicago still looked unlike itself during a Game Five the Sonics outplayed the Bulls, which had lost back-to-back games for just the second time this season and were suddenly looking vulnerable with just a one-game lead on Seattle.
The Vaccinator: 1997 NBA Finals, Game Five
Chicago Bulls 90, Utah Jazz 88
The Bulls were in jeopardy of losing three straight games as Utah jumped out to a 20-point lead early in the first half while Michael Jordan dealt with a nasty case of food poisoning before the G.O.A.T. rose to the occasion once again, hitting a huge three in the last minute and finishing with a game-high 38 points as Chicago stole the series-turning victory.
The Party Pooper, Part II: 1998 NBA Finals, Game Five
Utah Jazz 83, Chicago Bulls 81
The city of Chicago was ready to burst at the seams to celebrate a second three-peat, and Toni Kukoc nearly delivered the title, but Karl Malone was just too much, scoring 39 points to deliver the series back to Utah and echo a feeling of deja vu from Game Five of the 1993 NBA Finals.
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