What should have been a most glorious triumph for the Bulls turned into a bitter defeat Tuesday night.
Despite a sparkling performance by Michael Jordan, the Bulls let the Milwaukee Bucks escape with a 116-107 victory before a capacity crowd of 11,052. Jordan finished with 28 points in 26 minutes and almost singlehandedly brought the Bulls back from a 9-point deficit in the third quarter to an 83-81 lead going into the final 12 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Jordan continually hit the big shots to help the Bulls take a 96-92 lead that eventually grew to 102-94 with 5 minutes 13 seconds left.
”We didn`t handle the pressure,” Jordan said. ”We turned the ball over and they capitalized on our turnovers. This one really hurt because both the other teams (Cleveland and Indiana) lost. We could have gained on Cleveland.”
Instead, the Bulls remain 2 1/2 games behind the Cavaliers with six games to go in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
”They were double-teaming me and they really help out on defense,”
Jordan said about the Bucks` strategy that kept the ball away from him near the end of the game. ”I was kind of hoping that if they double-teamed me, it would take the pressure off the other guys. If I`m double-teamed, that`s when the open player has to step up and take on his identity.”
Behind Jordan, Charles Oakley and Gene Banks, the Bulls increased their third-quarter lead to 102-94 and it looked as though they would gain a game on the Cavaliers. Jordan was sensational, scoring on jumpers and drives to the basket, drawing fouls, dropping free throws and finding ways to beat the Bucks` double-team.
But Milwaukee hasn`t been Central Division champions the last six years for nothing. Sidney Moncrief`s basket ignited a 15-4 Bucks` run. Orlando Woolridge`s free throw made it 109-107 with :47 left, but the Bulls never got any closer.
Displaying his power underneath, Oakley almost tipped in the free throw that Woolridge missed, the ball rolling around and out. After that, the Bulls misfired on three-point shot attempts and resorted to fouling. The Bucks converted 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch.
The entire fourth quarter was played with playoff intensity. Rising to the occasion, Jordan had his best game this season. But for about a two-minute stretch near the end of the game after Jordan had hit a 20-footer as the shot clock expired, the Bulls couldn`t get the ball to him. The Bucks` defense did an outstanding job of denying him the ball, keeping two defenders near him at all times.
The Bucks started out fast, seizing a 16-4 lead in the first 1/2 minutes. The Bucks led 34-26 lead after one quarter and they upped it at the half to 58-48.
A three-point shot by Kyle Macy near the end of the third quarter brought the Bulls within 77-76, and after a Kenny Fields free throw, Jordan drove inside and scored on a three-point play, giving the Bulls their first lead at 79-78.
Defensively, the Bulls were forcing the Bucks to shoot from outside and were controlling the defensive board. On offense, Jordan was foiling the Bucks` double-teaming by dishing off to Woolridge and Macy.
This third quarter was the Bulls` finest 12 minutes in a while. They got strong contributions from Dave Corzine, Woolridge, Macy and Jordan. With :29 left, Jordan hit a pair of free throws and the Bulls led 81-79. After Pressey hit a jumper with :07 left, Jordan came right back with two more free throws with :02 to go and the Bulls led 83-81 going into the fourth quarter.
