Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls once held a team to the lowest score in NBA Finals history, proving their dominance.
Michael Jordan led arguably the greatest dynasty in NBA history, as he helped the Chicago Bulls dominate the 1990s.
In the 90s, there were only two teams to defeat the Bulls in a seven-game playoff series. One of the two teams was the Orlando Magic, but even Shaquille O’Neal admitted they were fortunate to do so.
The Bulls have achieved near-mythical status, with other great teams often being compared to them. Ron Harper recently rubbished comparisons between the 1990s Bulls and the 2010s Warriors.
For some younger fans, the dominance of the Bulls might be difficult to comprehend. But they were absolutely phenomenal, setting records left and right.
Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty ImagesMichael Jordan and Chicago Bulls kept Utah Jazz to 54 points
Heading into Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz were tied one game apiece, and looking to take a lead.
But entering the United Center for Game 3, neither side would have expected the result to be what it wound up being.
The Chicago Bulls would steamroll the Utah Jazz, winning Game 3 with a whopping 96-54 scoreline. The Bulls defeated the Jazz by 42 points, the biggest margin of victory and the lowest score total by a team in NBA Finals history.
On the Jazz, only Karl Malone scored double-digit points, scoring 22 points. But the rest of the Jazz couldn’t make it past eight points.
As for the Bulls, they were led by Michael Jordan, who scored 24 points. Croatian star Toni Kukoc followed him with 16 points of his own.
The largest margin of victory in the Finals happened on this day when the Bulls beat the Jazz by 42
MJ in the 1998 postgame interview: “We in a situation where we kill or be killed.” pic.twitter.com/xUHDsFOZRF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 7, 2019
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Chicago Bulls would wrap up NBA Finals in electric fashion
Interestingly, after Game 3, Dennis Rodman would next appear with Hulk Hogan on WCW Monday Nitro, much to the surprise of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson.
After taking a 2-1 lead, the Chicago Bulls didn’t waste much time, as they would close out the series in six games to lift their sixth NBA championship of the decade.
This would be the final appearance for Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals. While he would return to play for the Wizards, his days competing for the NBA championship would end after this series.
Since then, the Chicago Bulls have struggled to return to championship contention. Many feel as though the team never escaped the shadow of Michael Jordan.