Overview
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz four games to two in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1997-98 NBA season. It was the last of six titles in an eight-season span for the Bulls, who completed their second "three-peat."
This series was a rematch of the previous year's NBA Finals. It was the first time the same two teams met in consecutive finals series since the Lakers and Pistons met in both 1988 and 1989. This was the first time that one team defeated another in consecutive finals since the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in both 1968 and 1969.
Michael Jordan won the NBA Finals MVP award for the sixth time, extending his record for most Finals MVP awards. No other player has won the award more than three times.
The Jazz had home-court advantage for the Finals, having swept the season series from the Bulls during the regular season. The two teams finished with identical 62-20 records in the regular season.
This series was a rematch of the previous year's NBA Finals. It was the first time the same two teams met in consecutive finals series since the Lakers and Pistons met in both 1988 and 1989. This was the first time that one team defeated another in consecutive finals since the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in both 1968 and 1969.
Michael Jordan won the NBA Finals MVP award for the sixth time, extending his record for most Finals MVP awards. No other player has won the award more than three times.
The Jazz had home-court advantage for the Finals, having swept the season series from the Bulls during the regular season. The two teams finished with identical 62-20 records in the regular season.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Bulls | Jazz |
| Regular Season | 62-20, 1st in Central Division | 62-20, 1st in Midwest Division |
| First Round | Def. (8) New Jersey Nets, 3-0 | Def. (8) Houston Rockets, 3-2 |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (4) Charlotte Hornets, 4-1 | Def. (5) San Antonio Spurs, 4-1 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (3) Indiana Pacers, 4-3 | Def. (3) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0 |
Game 1 - Jazz 88, Bulls 85 (OT)
After John Stockton hit two free throws with three seconds left in the overtime session, Scottie Pippen missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Jazz a win in Game 1. It was the first time the Jazz led the Bulls in either of their Finals series, and the first time the Bulls lost Game 1 of the Finals since 1991.
Stockton scored 24 points to lead the Jazz. He scored seven of Utah's nine points in overtime. Karl Malone added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz, while Bryon Russell had 15 points.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 33 points on 13-of-29 shooting. Pippen also struggled with his shot, scoring 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting. Pippen was just 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
Stockton scored 24 points to lead the Jazz. He scored seven of Utah's nine points in overtime. Karl Malone added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Jazz, while Bryon Russell had 15 points.
Michael Jordan led the Bulls with 33 points on 13-of-29 shooting. Pippen also struggled with his shot, scoring 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting. Pippen was just 1-of-7 from 3-point range.
Game 2 - Bulls 93, Jazz 88
The Bulls outscored the Jazz 23-15 in the final quarter to earn a split in Utah and even the series at one game apiece. The Jazz led the game 86-85 with 1:46 left, before Chicago ended the game on an 8-3 run, during which Michael Jordan scored six of the Bulls' eight points. The Bulls took advantage of Utah's sloppiness with the ball, scoring 33 points off 20 Jazz turnovers and converting 18 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points.
Jordan finished with 37 points to lead all scorers, going 14-of-33 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line. Scottie Pippie added 21 points and Toni Kukoc had 13 for Chicago.
John Stockton, the hero of Game 1 for Utah, attempted just five shots during the game and scored only nine points. Jeff Hornacek led the Jazz with 20 points, while Karl Malone scored 16 on an uncharacteristically poor 5-of-16 shooting night.
Jordan finished with 37 points to lead all scorers, going 14-of-33 from the field and 9-of-10 from the line. Scottie Pippie added 21 points and Toni Kukoc had 13 for Chicago.
John Stockton, the hero of Game 1 for Utah, attempted just five shots during the game and scored only nine points. Jeff Hornacek led the Jazz with 20 points, while Karl Malone scored 16 on an uncharacteristically poor 5-of-16 shooting night.
Game 3 - Bulls 96, Jazz 54
The series shifted back to Chicago and the Bulls took all the momentum, beating the Jazz in blowout fashion. The 54 points scored by the Jazz were the fewest ever in the Finals, and at the time set the shot-clock era record for fewest points scored in any game. The Jazz actually trailed by just three points after the first quarter, but were outscored 32-17 in the second quarter, then scored just 23 points for the entire second half.
Michael Jordan scored 24 points to lead four Bulls players in double figures. All 12 players scored for Chicago, including Dickey Simpkins, who saw his only action of the series in this game. Scottie Pippen scored 10 points and was the only Bulls player to play at least 35 minutes.
If not for Karl Malone's performance, the Jazz may have scored even fewer than their 54 points. Malone finished with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The rest of the team combined for 32 points while shooting 13-of-59 (22.0 percent) from the field. Malone also accounted for six of the team's 11 made free throws. The Jazz scored just nine points and shot 18 percent from the field in the fourth quarter. Compounding their shooting difficulties, Utah turned the ball over 26 times, including seven by Malone and five by point guard John Stockton.
Michael Jordan scored 24 points to lead four Bulls players in double figures. All 12 players scored for Chicago, including Dickey Simpkins, who saw his only action of the series in this game. Scottie Pippen scored 10 points and was the only Bulls player to play at least 35 minutes.
If not for Karl Malone's performance, the Jazz may have scored even fewer than their 54 points. Malone finished with 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting. The rest of the team combined for 32 points while shooting 13-of-59 (22.0 percent) from the field. Malone also accounted for six of the team's 11 made free throws. The Jazz scored just nine points and shot 18 percent from the field in the fourth quarter. Compounding their shooting difficulties, Utah turned the ball over 26 times, including seven by Malone and five by point guard John Stockton.
Game 4 - Bulls 86, Jazz 82
With the game tied at 72, the Bulls used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to earn a four-point win and take a commanding 3-1 series lead. Dennis Rodman, who'd skipped practice the day before the game to attended a wrestling event, was a surprise hero from the free throw line, making six of his eight attempts, including multiple makes in crunch time.
Michael Jordan (34) and Scottie Pippen (28) were the only Bulls to score at least 10 points. All six of Rodman's points came at the free throw line, and he had 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.
Karl Malone had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Jazz. Bryon Russell was the only other Utah player in double figures, and he scored just 10 points.
Michael Jordan (34) and Scottie Pippen (28) were the only Bulls to score at least 10 points. All six of Rodman's points came at the free throw line, and he had 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.
Karl Malone had 21 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Jazz. Bryon Russell was the only other Utah player in double figures, and he scored just 10 points.
Game 5 - Jazz 83, Bulls 81
In danger of being eliminated, the Jazz got 39 points from Karl Malone -- including 17 in the third quarter -- and made clutch free throws down the stretch, to force the series back to Utah. Game 5 was particularly chippy, with double technicals being assessed to Scottie Pippen and John Stockton during the third quarter. Shortly after that, Dennis Rodman and Jeff Hornacek got tangled up, again resulting in double technicals. Michael Jordan had a chance to win the series at the buzzer, but missed a desperation 3-pointer.
Malone's 39 points came on 17-of-27 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Antoine Carr was the only other Jazz player in double figures (12 points). Stockton had 12 assists to go along with six points.
Toni Kukoc scored 12 of the Bulls' first 13 points of the game and finished with 30 to lead Chicago. However, he missed a potential game-tying free throw with 10.4 seconds left, and was just 4-of-7 from the line in the game. Jordan had 28 points, but shot just 9-of-26 from the field. Pippen, struggling with back problems that had plagued him all season, was just 2-of-16 from the field but had 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Malone's 39 points came on 17-of-27 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from the line. Antoine Carr was the only other Jazz player in double figures (12 points). Stockton had 12 assists to go along with six points.
Toni Kukoc scored 12 of the Bulls' first 13 points of the game and finished with 30 to lead Chicago. However, he missed a potential game-tying free throw with 10.4 seconds left, and was just 4-of-7 from the line in the game. Jordan had 28 points, but shot just 9-of-26 from the field. Pippen, struggling with back problems that had plagued him all season, was just 2-of-16 from the field but had 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Game 6 - Bulls 87, Jazz 86
In one of the greatest single-game performances in NBA Finals history, Michael Jordan cemented his legacy, leading the Bulls to their sixth NBA championship. After John Stockton made a 3-pointer to put Utah up 86-83, Jordan made a driving layup to pull the Bulls to within one. On the ensuing Jazz possession, Karl Malone posted up off a screen from Jeff Hornacek. However, rather than follow Hornacek to the corner, Jordan double-teamed Malone and stole the ball from Malone just a second after he received the pass from Stockton. Jordan then dribbled the ball up court and set up on the left side, isolated against Bryon Russell. Jordan drove to the right, then crossed over his dribble at the top of the key, giving the stumbling Russell a push on the leg with his off hand. Jordan pulled up and made the game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds left on the clock. The Jazz could not get a clear shot at the basket on their final possession and the Bulls clinched the title.
Jordan finished with 45 points, 23 in the first half and 22 in the second half. After scoring just six points in the third quarter, Jordan had 16 of the Bulls' 26 in the fourth quarter, including the final four points of the game. Jordan's performance was needed, because Scottie Pippen aggravated his back injury while dunking for the first basket of the game. Pippen finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes.
This was the final game as a member of the Bulls for Jordan, who retired for the second time following the 1997-98 season. The Bulls nearly dismantled their entire team following this season and the subsequent lockout, with only one starter returning for the '98-99 season.
Karl Malone finished Game 6 with 31 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers, all of which were team highs. As of 2009, the Jazz have not been back to the Finals since this loss.
When the NBA released its list of the 60 greatest playoff moments in NBA history to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game, and specifically Jordan's final shot, was No. 1 on the list.
Jordan finished with 45 points, 23 in the first half and 22 in the second half. After scoring just six points in the third quarter, Jordan had 16 of the Bulls' 26 in the fourth quarter, including the final four points of the game. Jordan's performance was needed, because Scottie Pippen aggravated his back injury while dunking for the first basket of the game. Pippen finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in 26 minutes.
This was the final game as a member of the Bulls for Jordan, who retired for the second time following the 1997-98 season. The Bulls nearly dismantled their entire team following this season and the subsequent lockout, with only one starter returning for the '98-99 season.
Karl Malone finished Game 6 with 31 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and five turnovers, all of which were team highs. As of 2009, the Jazz have not been back to the Finals since this loss.
When the NBA released its list of the 60 greatest playoff moments in NBA history to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game, and specifically Jordan's final shot, was No. 1 on the list.