Flashback: Jordan's jumper rattles out

Day 10 of our 30-team NBA playoff flashback profiles the Utah Jazz. The Jazz franchise has never won an NBA title, and has 16 playoff appearances since the 1991-92 season.

Date: June 8, 1997

Situation: The No. 1 Utah Jazz trail the No. 1 Chicago Bulls, 2-1, heading to Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Context: One season after faling in seven games to the Seattle Sonics, the Jazz had the best regular season in franchise history, finishg 64-18 to earn the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. In a trio of playoff series, the Jazz lost a total of just three games, sweeping the Clippers in the first round, the eliminating the Lakers in five and Rockets in six to advance to the franchise’s first finals. The Bulls won a pair of games in Chicago to jump out to a quick 2-0 series lead. But in Utah in Game 3, Karl Malone broke out, scoring 37 points on 15-for-29 shooting to lead the Jazz to a 104-93 win, setting up a potential series-tying Game 4.

Recap: Played in front of one of the loudest crowds in NBA history, the Bulls and Jazz locked horns in a low-scoring Game 4 in Utah. Neither team managed to grab a commanding lead in the early going, Utah taking a five-point lead after the first quarter, then the Bulls pulling ahead by five at halftime. The Jazz proceeded to outscore the Bulls 21-16 in the third, tying the game up, 56-56, heading into the fourth. With under a minute left, the Jazz had pulled ahead, clinging to a 76-73 lead, with the Bulls controlling the ball. Needing a three to tie, Michael Jordan controleld the ball from outside the arc before firing a fadeaway three-pointer. Seemingly halfway down, the ball ultimately rattled out, and Utah grabbed the rebound, ensuring the victory, and tying the series up at two apiece. Utah won, 78-73.

Top players: Karl Malone led all scorers, finishing with 23 points. John Stockton registered a double-double with 17 points and 12 assists. Michael Jordan managed just 22 points on 11-for-27 shooting. In 47 minutes of action, Scottie Pippen finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

After the game: The Bulls dealt the Jazz a major blow in Game 5, using a fourth quarter run to win on the road, 90-88, setting up an elimination in Chicago. Led by a balanced scoring attack, the Jazz stayed close in Game 6, even taking a six-point lead into the fourth. Ultimately, though, Michael Jordan (39 points in the decisive game) proved to be too much, as the Bulls won, 90-86. Utah and Chicago met in a Finals rematch the following year; again, the Bulls eliminated the Jazz in six games. The Jazz have advanced past the Western Conference semis just once since 1998.

Check back tomorrow for the Nuggets.

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