While Michael Jordan dropped 44 points in Game 3 of the 1993 NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns, he needed 43 shots to get there. To make matters worse, the Chicago Bulls lost 129-121, which put the series at 2-1 in favor of Chicago.
MJ entered Game 4 with a different resolve. Scoring was important, but he needed to do so in the most efficient way possible. Unlike in Game 3, where he forced some shots, Mike had to get into the game’s rhythm, remain patient, and pick his spots carefully.
In a different dimension
He scored his 50th point by completing an and-one play in the game’s final four minutes, which put them up by six points. Though the game got more chippy as it progressed, MJ remained calm and drained two more free throws in the final two minutes, which kept their lead at six points.
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Though MJ was having a field day, the Suns were close by. They cut the lead to two points with 39.4 seconds left. Unfortunately, a bad inbounds pass from the Suns turned the tide almost in the blink of an eye.
After eluding a double-team, Michael knocked down a drifting teardrop — with a foul that put his tally at 54 points. He completed the and-one, which put him at 55. Critically, those points extended their lead to 5 points with 13.3 seconds left. It was only then that the GOAT realized he had a big scoring night.
“I kind of fell into it,” Jordan said after Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals, per the Los Angeles Times. “I didn’t sense I was taking over the ballgame. I was just penetrating, getting easy baskets. I felt I was able to capitalize on the defense. The next thing I knew, I was into a rhythm and more or less carrying the team.”
“Many times in a big game, I try to do too much, get involved in too much hype, get out of my rhythm,” he continued. “This time, I tried to carry the load for the team, go to the basket more. When we needed a big basket, I scored a big basket. That’s my role for this team…Whatever it takes to get us over the hump.”
The “Black Cat” was 21-of-37 from the field and 13-of-18 from the charity stripe. He also had eight rebounds and four assists in the Bulls’ 111-105 victory, which gave them a commanding 3-1 lead.
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Torching the Blazers
One of Jordan’s hobbies was putting up great offensive performances in the NBA Finals. Apart from his offensive outburst against the Suns, one of his best feats was in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals, when he drained six first-half threes against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Like the Suns game, Jordan admitted he wasn’t completely aware of what was happening. He was just jacking up shots, and they were all going in.
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“I was in a zone,” Jordan said in Roland Lazenby’s book. “Michael Jordan: The Life.” My threes felt like free throws. I didn’t know what I was doing, but they were going in.”
Indeed, Jordan brought his best whenever he got to the NBA Finals. A winner never folds in high-stakes matchups. When the team needed him to deliver, “Air Jordan” was always prepared to do what he does best: swish the net.