Chris Mullin called Game 2 of 1991 WCF vs. Lakers his favourite on-court moment: "You wanted to play well against him"

Chris Mullin played nearly 1,000 regular-season games over his NBA career, split between the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers. The Hall of Famer also played in 71 playoff contests, but when asked in 2011 to pick his standout on-court moment, he pointed to just one.

Talking with ESPN, Mullin recalled Game 2 of the 1991 Western Conference semifinals, when he erupted for 41 points to lead his team to victory during a heated and nail-biting California rivalry matchup.

Game 2 glory

Game 2 of that year’s playoff series saw Mullin’s Warriors face the stacked Los Angeles Lakers at The Forum.

The Lakers, led by point guard icon Magic Johnson, were perennial contenders for the championship. They had finished the regular season in third place and carried the momentum of a first-round sweep against the Houston Rockets into the second round, having already taken Game 1 against the Warriors with a score of 126-116.

For Mullin, Game 2 was not just about getting his team — featuring the dynamic “Run TMC” trio of himself, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond — back in the series. As he later shared, it was also about proving to one of his heroes, Magic — a five-time NBA champion and three-time MVP — that he could go toe-to-toe with him.

“Magic was one of the guys I looked up to,” reflected Mullin, per ESPN. “You wanted to play well against him.”

Mullin added that he was also motivated by earning the Lakers’ “stamp of approval,” going up against a roster featuring Byron Scott, James Worthy, Sam Perkins and Vlade Divac.

Career highlight

Mullin had set out to play well against Magic and earn the Purple and Gold’s respect. By the final buzzer, he had certainly accomplished both.

“We won a tough game on the road,” the left forward later recalled, highlighting just how thrilling the Warriors’ 125-124 win was, in which he played a starring role.

That night, Mullin scored 41 points on an efficient 16-of-21 shooting, including a flawless success rate on his four attempts from downtown. He also went 5-of-6 from the charity stripe while adding four rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, all in 47 minutes of action.

This scoring masterclass tied his career playoff high, previously set in 1989 against the Utah Jazz, and it’s safe to say that witnessing the performance firsthand later prompted Magic to call Mullin “God’s model player.”

As for Magic himself, despite being sidelined for part of the game, he still put on an impressive showing by nearly reaching a triple-double. He had a game-high 44 points, nine rebounds and 12 assists.

In the end, the Warriors’ Game 2 win — courtesy of Mullin — evened the series and showcased his ability to deliver in the most intense moments against top-tier opponents.

Even though the Lakers eventually won the series with a gentleman’s sweep, it’s understandable why, decades later, Mullin singled out this particular game as his favorite on-court moment. During his 16 NBA seasons, in which he was a five-time All-Star, there were many memorable performances, but this one had it all: scoring brilliance, high stakes and the chance to prove himself against one of his dear heroes.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chris Mullin called Game 2 of 1991 WCF vs. Lakers his favourite on-court moment: “You wanted to play well against him”

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