The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage. The series was played under a best-of-seven format, so the first team to collect four game victories wins the series. The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Associations 1996-1997 season. ... The 1996-97 NBA season is the 51st season of the National Basketball Association. ... The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each. ... The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each. ... In team sports, a team representing a city or a region is to be that areas home team. ... There are several different playoff formats used in various levels of competition in sports and games. ...

The Bulls won the series 4 games to 2. For the fifth time in as many Finals appearances, Bulls guard Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player of the series. Shooting guard (SG), also known as “two guard” or “off guard”,[1] is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. ... Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. ... The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award is presented to the National Basketball Association (NBA) player in the NBA Finals that is seen as contributing the most to the series. ...

Background

In the 1996–97 season, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to a 69–13 record. The Bulls reached the finals after sweeping the Washington Bullets, and then beating, 4 games to 1, the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat. In 1996–97, the Jazz was led by John Stockton and Karl Malone, posting a franchise best 64–18 record. They reached the NBA Finals for the first time ever after sweeping the Los Angeles Clippers 3–0, Los Angeles Lakers 4–1, and Houston Rockets 4–2 to meet the Bulls in the Finals. A three-pointer at the buzzer by John Stockton over Charles Barkley in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Championship sent the Jazz to the Finals. This shot remains one of the highlight shots of the Jazz franchise. Washington Bullets may refer to either the former name of the Washington Wizards basketball team or the song by The Clash, Washington Bullets (song). ... The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ... The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. ... John Stockton John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a former NBA player. ... Karl Malone Karl Malone (born July 24, 1963 in Bernice, Louisiana) is a former professional basketball player. ... The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. ... The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, who play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... The Houston Rockets are a professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. ... Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama) is an American former basketball power forward. ...

The series between the Bulls and Jazz featured two of the more memorable clutch efforts of Michael Jordan's career. He won Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer-beating jump shot. The Jazz would eventually fight the first four games to a 2–2 tie. In Game 5, Jordan scored 38 points despite suffering from a stomach virus that had rendered him feverish and dehydrated at the start of the game. The Bulls won the contest 90–86 after Steve Kerr made the go-ahead basket, and then Scottie Pippen made a steal followed by when Toni Kukoč made the clinching dunk. The Bulls win the series in six games, with a 90–86 victory in Game 6. Steve Kerr shoots the game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals for the Chicago Bulls. ... Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is an American former professional basketball star who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is most remembered for leading the Chicago Bulls together with Michael Jordan to six championships. ... Toni Kukoč (born September 18, 1968 in Split) is a renowned Croatian basketball player. ...

Series scoring summary

The following scoring summary is written in a line score format, except that the quarter numbers are replaced by game numbers. In baseball, the totality of a game is summarized in a line score, or more verbosely in a box score. ...

Schedule

• Game 1 - June 1, Sunday @Chicago, Chicago 84, Utah 82: Chicago leads series 1-0
• Game 2 - June 4, Wednesday @Chicago, Chicago 97, Utah 85: Chicago leads series 2-0
• Game 3 - June 6, Friday @Utah, Utah 104, Chicago 93: Chicago leads series 2-1
• Game 4 - June 8, Sunday @Utah, Utah 78, Chicago 73: Series tied 2-2
• Game 5 - June 11, Wednesday @Utah, Chicago 90, Utah 88: Chicago leads series 3-2
• Game 6 - June 13, Friday @Chicago, Chicago 90, Utah 86: Chicago wins series 4-2

The Finals were played using a 2-3-2 site format, where the first two and last two games are held at the team with home court advantage's (Chicago's) home court (United Center). June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... June 4 is the 155th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (156th in leap years), with 210 days remaining. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (158th in leap years), with 208 days remaining. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... June 13 is the 164th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (165th in leap years), with 201 days remaining. ... The United Center is a sports arena located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines, located at 1901 W. Madison Street, west of downtown Chicago. ...

Game One

Sunday, June 1, at the United Center The United Center is a sports arena located on the west side of Chicago, Illinois, named after its corporate sponsor, United Airlines, located at 1901 W. Madison Street, west of downtown Chicago. ...

Scottie Pippen was easily the most valuable player of the game. Despite having a foot injury earlier, he helped the Bulls to a 84-82 win over Utah on the Sunday night. The Bulls were losing 79-78 in the fourth quarter, yet were able to come back after Pippen blocked Antoine Carr's jumper shot and after an assist from Ron Harper when Pippen would make his third 3-pointer of the night. With the game tied, and only seconds remaining, Karl Malone was fouled and had a chance to give the Jazz the lead. But he missed both free throws and the Bulls rebounded and quickly called time-out. With the game on the line, Chicago put the ball into the hands of Michael Jordan. M.J. dribbled out most of the waning seconds and then launched a mid-range jumper that swished in at the buzzer, as the Chicago Bulls took the first game of the 1997 NBA Finals. Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is an American former professional basketball star who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is most remembered for leading the Chicago Bulls together with Michael Jordan to six championships. ... Ronald Harper (born January 20, 1964 in Dayton, Ohio) is a former professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the National Basketball Association. ...

Game Two

Wednesday, June 4, at the United Center

After a hard fought first quarter, the Bulls took control of the game with a 12-0 run in the second quarter. The Jazz's 31 points was only one above an NBA low. Karl Malone, who missed two key free throws in the last game, would have another bad night, going only 6 for 20 shooting. The game gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead.

Game Three

Friday, June 6, at the Delta Center Northwest side of the Delta Center The Delta Center is an indoor arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

The Chicago Bulls would start off the first three quarters with mediocre play, despite Scottie Pippen tying the NBA Finals record with seven 3 pointers. Utah was led by Karl Malone who scored 37 points and had 10 rebounds. Chicago attempted a 4th quarter come back, but ultimately Utah would win their first game of the series 93-104.

Game Four

Sunday, June 8, at the Delta Center

With 17 seconds left, Karl Malone made two free throws, despite taunting by Scottie Pippen to put the Jazz up by 3 points, helping them to tie the series. The 78-73 score was one of the lowest scores in NBA Finals history.

Game Five: The Flu Game

Tuesday, June 10, at the Delta Center

Game 5, often referred to as "The Flu Game", featured one of Michael Jordan's most memorable games, during which he scored 38 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz. Just 24 hours earlier, on June 9, 1997, Michael Jordan woke up feeling nauseated, and he was sweating profusely. He hardly had the strength to sit up in bed and was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning. The Bulls trainers told Jordan that there was no way he could play in the game. The Jazz had just won two in a row to tie the series, and Chicago needed their leader in this critical swing game. Against all odds, Jordan rose from bed at 3:00 p.m., just in time for the 6:00 tip-off at the Delta Center. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. ... The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. ... Foodborne illness or food poisoning is caused by consuming food contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, toxins, viruses, prions or parasites. ... Northwest side of the Delta Center The Delta Center is an indoor arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

Jordan was visibly weak and pale as he stepped onto the court for Game Five. At first, he displayed no energy whatsoever, and John Stockton, along with reigning MVP Karl Malone, quickly led the Jazz to a 16 point lead. But in the second quarter, Jordan's natural feel for the game began to take over, and he started to sink shots despite lacking his usual explosive speed and hardly being able to concentrate. He scored 17 points in the quarter. John Stockton John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a former NBA player. ... Karl Malone Karl Malone (born July 24, 1963 in Bernice, Louisiana) is a former professional basketball player. ...

Luc Longley and Scottie Pippen did their best to keep the Bulls in the game while Jordan was plagued by fatigue again in the third. But, when it really counted, Jordan turned it on again. He scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch rebound and three point shot with the game tied and under a minute left that provided the final margin of victory. He finished the game with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Malone was the highest-scoring Jazz player with 19 points. Jordan stayed on the court for 44 minutes, resting for only four minutes while being perpetually at the brink of fainting. With only a few seconds remaining and the game finally at hand, Jordan collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms. Luc Longley Luc Longley headshot Lucien James Luc Longley (born January 19, 1969 in Melbourne, Australia, ) was the first Australian to play in the NBA. He attended college at the University of New Mexico. ... Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is an American former professional basketball star who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is most remembered for leading the Chicago Bulls together with Michael Jordan to six championships. ...

• Game Recap
• Box Score

Game Six

Friday, June 13, at the United Center

Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 39 points, but Bryon Russell hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 86-86 late in the final minutes. With 28 seconds left, the Jazz expected Jordan to hit the winning shot. Instead, Jordan passed off to Steve Kerr, who hit a shot with 5 seconds left to send the United Center crowd into a frenzy. The Jazz looked for one final shot to stay alive, but Scottie Pippen knocked Russell's inbound pass away and was able to roll the ball over to Toni Kukoc, who dunked the final 2 points of the game and bring the Finals to an end. Afterwards, Jordan was named the NBA Finals MVP.

Quotes from the Finals

"The mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays, " —Scottie Pippen, prior to game 1, in reference to Jazz power forward Karl Malone. Karl Malone would later go on to miss two key free throws with under a minute left in the fourth quarter, allowing the Bulls to cling to a one-point deficit that Michael Jordan erased with a shot at the buzzer.

"A courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan." - Marv Albert after Michael's improbable performance.

Trivia

• The Bulls won their second straight title from their first three-peat in similar fashion, winning Games 5 and 6 with the series tied 2–2, and clinching the series at home, like they did in the 1992 NBA Finals series with the Portland Trailblazers.
• Dennis Rodman became the first player in NBA history to be win back-to-back titles with two different franchises.
• Rodman also drew criticism from Bulls fans and Jackson for skipping practice to become involved with World Championship Wrestling (he was subsequently fined by the NBA). Rodman was featured as a tag team partner of Hulk Hogan and an honorary member of the nWo. Hogan and Rodman teamed in a loss to Lex Luger and The Giant at the Bash at the Beach event, and teamed the following year in a victory over Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page.