Here’s the great thing about Friday night. Everybody left the United Center with a story.
The people who paid scalpers $1,200 for courtside seats and the die-hards who stood in the 300 level can tell their grandkids they saw Michael Jordan’s last professional game in Chicago–or so Jordan says.
Jordan one day will wax nostalgic about the four-minute standing ovation he received during player introductions and the way he laughed with teammates as they teased him about crying, which he didn’t.
And the only thing Bill Cartwright cared about–the game–ended in a way that allowed him to return to home and rattle on long into the night, if he so chose.
Playing with passion and aggression rather than passiveness and idol-worship, the Bulls jazzed a standing-room only crowd of 23,215 with a 104-97 victory, handing Jordan his first loss in the five games he has played against the franchise he led to six NBA championships.
Marcus Fizer’s 18 points paced the Bulls. But they also received huge contributions from Donyell Marshall, with 16 points and 13 rebounds; Rick Brunson, with 10 points and 10 assists; and Eddie Robinson, with 15 points off the bench.
The Bulls’ fourth straight home victory improved their United Center mark to 14-7, equaling their number of home victories from last season.
“Don’t get me wrong. Michael deserves all that he gets,” Cartwright said. “But I’m happy the circus is over.”
Jordan provided one highlight-worthy move, scooping a left-handed layup under Tyson Chandler with 4 minutes 41 seconds left in the third quarter. He also scored four straight points to cut what was an 11-point lead for the Bulls to 97-95 with 1:46 remaining.
But Fizer, who scored 17 fourth-quarter points, sank a driving layup after almost losing the ball to Jordan with 1:25 left. Marshall then rebounded a Jerry Stackhouse miss at the other end and the Bulls iced the victory with free throws.
Jordan finished with 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting, his third straight ho-hum performance as a visitor in Chicago. At least his statue got heavy pregame traffic despite the bitter January cold.
“This will not ruin what my career stood for,” Jordan said. “It’s just a game. Unfortunately, we lost. I move on.”
When Jordan last visited on Jan. 2, the Bulls turned in a lethargic effort that embarrassed Cartwright and his players. They vowed to do less stargazing this time, and following the lengthy ovation that prompted a spontaneous speech from Jordan, they did.
“We handled it well,” Jalen Rose said. “I mean, that [ovation is] unprecedented.”
Brunson and Robinson combined to hit 9-of-10 shots and score 19 second-quarter points to give the Bulls a 52-43 halftime lead. The reserve duo helped offset an off-half by Rose, who hit 1-of-10 shots while being hounded by Jordan.
“I’m just going to say it: I finally got a point guard [Brunson] who’s looking for me on the break,” Robinson said.
Washington, led by Jerry Stackhouse’s 23 points and 10 assists, pulled to within 74-71 at the end of the third quarter. But Fizer scored the Bulls’ first 11 points of the fourth, consistently getting deep position on Kwame Brown and Christian Laettner.
“Marcus was terrific,” Cartwright said. “He was aggressive. He attacked the basket. When we give Marcus space, he can be pretty formidable down there.”
The Bulls shot 53 percent, had six players in double figures and had 32 assists to just nine turnovers. Rose struggled, shooting 4-of-19, but had nine assists.
Everybody, it seemed, got what he or she wanted. Jordan exited to one more standing ovation with 8.1 seconds left, and fans even got tacos when the Bulls topped the century mark.
“My heart always will be here,” Jordan said.
Jordan revisited
Career statistics
MN FG% FT% REB AST PTS
38.2 .498 .835 6.2 5.3 30.4
2001-2002 Washington Wizards
MN FG% FT% REB AST PTS
34.9 .416 .790 4.8 5.2 22.9
2002-2003 Washington Wizards
MN FG% FT% REB AST PTS
34.6 .438 .810 5.5 3.8 18.4
%%
%%
JORDAN LOWS AND HIGHS
Since joining the Washington Wizards in 2001
LOWS
2 pts: 4/2/02 L.A. L. L 113-93, 12 min.
2: 12/15/02 at Tor. W 95-82, 40 min.
6: 12/27/01 at Ind. L 108-81, 25 min.
6: 11/6/02 Cleve. W 107-100, 24 min.
7: 3/20/02 at Den. W 107-75, 16 min.
8: 10/30/02 at Tor. L 74-68, 25 min.
8: 11/16/02 Mia. W 95-65, 19 min.
8: 11/22/02 at Hou. L 93-86, 30 min.
9: 3/26/02 Den. W 103-87, 20 min.
10: 1/16/02 at NJ L 111-67, 18 min.
10: 3/31/02 Dal, L 110-103, 28 min.
10: 11/05/02 at Min, L 90-86, 29 min.
10: 12/28/02 Atl, W 84-76, 34 min.
10: 1/2/03 at Bulls W 107-82, 30 min.
11: 2/18/02 Hou, L 102-89, 36 min.
11: 3/21/02 at Utah L 94-79, 22 min.
11: 1/24/03 at Bulls L 104-97, 38 min.
HIGHS
51: 12/29/01, Char. W 107-90, 38 min.
45: 12/31/01, NJ W 98-76, 39 min.
44: 11/16/01, Utah L 101-92, 41 min.
41: 1/26/02, Pho. W 112-102, 40 min.
41: 1/4/03, Ind. W 107-104, 53 min.
40: 1/24/02, Cleve. W 94-85, 40 min.
37: 2/23/02, Mia. L 97-95, 37 min.
35: 1/12/02, Min. L 109-100, 40 min.
34: 3/29/02, Milw. W 107-98, 26 min.
33: 12/18/02, Mem. W 118-100, 35 min.
32: 11/7/01, at Bos. L 104-95, 41 min.
32: 11/9/01, GS L 109-100, 38 min.
32: 1/16/02, Orl. W 108-93, 39 min.
32: 1/29/02, Det. L 89-86, 42 min.
