1987 Lakers vs 1996 Bulls - Magic's Best vs Jordan's Best - NBA Finals

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- It's MAGIC's best team vs JORDAN's best team. The 1987 Los Angeles Lakers vs the 1996 Chicago Bulls. Best-of-7. NBA Finals. Game 1. It was a thriller!

Game link: https://youtu.be/FdJZsjMJFnI

The Lakers dictated the tempo of the game early on. THey were great at pushing the ball down the court, leading to fastbreak points while the Bulls appeared sluggish, especially Jordan who was just 2/8 from the field in the 1stQ, with 2 turnovers. Lakers were up by as much as 9, and led by 7 going into the 2ndQ.

MJ was determined to make up for a poor 1stQ and came out the 2nd firing. He would score 6 straight and help Bulls regain the upper hand early on. He had the Bulls up 5 late with a late spurt offensively, but Worthy and Magic Johnson would come back to match his intensity. A last second layin by Kareem put the lakers back on top going into the half, 46-45.

THe Bulls opened up the third quarter on an 11-2 run, led by Jordan who had 6 and Toni Kukoc. They led by as much as 13 with 4 mins left, before the Showtime Lakers started to run and push the tempo more. Lakers were quick, getting every def rebound and pushing the ball down on athe break. The SHowtime rally came fast, as they and the 3rd on a 17-4 run to tie the game heading in to the 4tQ, 71-71.

Both teams fought it out in the 4th quarter with tight defense and limted offense, got into a standstill tie about halfway thru the 4thQ. Both teams struggled, but it was the Lakers who were able to force the Bulls into turnovers and went on their trademark fastbreak. THey went on a quick 7-0 run to go up by 7 with 5 mins to go. The Bulls struggled on their offense but they were able to grind it out and cut the lead to 3, 90-87 with 3 mins to go. Both teams could not score after that, until Magic Johnson was able to drive and draw a foul on Jordan for 2FTs that would give LA a 5-pt lead with less than a minute to go. On the next possession, the Bulls again failed to score, but thanks to the tenacity of Dennis Rodman on the offensive glass, they were able to finally score on a putback form Dennis to bring them to within 3 with 29 secs to go.

29 secs and LA with a 3-pt lead.

Lakers run down the clock. ENd up in Magic's hand in the post against Jordan, made his move and layup but he misses! MJ grabs the rebound with 3.0 secs left and calls timeout.

Bulls gets it to Jordan at the top of the key who shoots a 3, and MAKES IT! TIed game with 0.7 secs left!


On the last play, Bryon Scott got it at the corner and shot the 3. HE MAKES IT!! BUt after a review, he was shown to have ran out of time and the game stays tied.

We go to OVERTIME!


THe first 3 mins of OVertime was back and fourth as leads changed hands, and no team led by more than 2 pts. Kerr was ablte to hit 2 consecutive 3's to finally put the Bulls up by 4 with 2 mins remaining. However, Scott was able to attack Kerr on defense and scored 4 straight to tie the game once again with 1:30 remaining.

This has become a battle of wills at this point and the two superstars on each team would not quit. Jordan and Magic Johnson would exchange tough baskets in the final seconds, and game remained tied until Kukoc missed in a cutting layup, and then WOrthy ran down the court to score on a 15-footer on the break to give the Lakers a 2-pt lead with 22 secs left. ONe last chance for Chicago. THey got JOrdan in the left shoulder against Bryon Scott. He makes his move and shoot shis patented fadeaway jumper with 3.2 secs left. GOOOOD!!

One last play for the Lakers. 3.2 secs left THey ran a perfect given and go play between AC Green and Scott on the inbounds. But Luc Longley was there to block AC Green's potential gamerwinner!


We go to another OVERTIME!

James Worthy and Magic Johnson played big in the 2nd Overtime hitting some big shot and giving LA a 7-pt lead with just 2 mins to go. It appeared the game was slipping away for the Bulls. But they still had Jordan, and Kukoc, who led the Bulls with one final push to try to win this game. Kukoc hit 2 3-pters and Jordan a tough jumper and the Bulls were down by just 1 with 26 secs to go. Bulls dont call a timeout and run a play to get MJ open at the top of the key. As he always does, Jordan drains the clutch jumper to give the home boys a 1-pt lead with 9.9 secs left.


Another improbable comeback!

But the other side also had Magic Johnson and he was a no stranger to gamewinner.

It was Magic guarded by Jordan with 9 secs left, for the win.


WHat a game!

Michael Jordan had a game high 56 pts in double OT, to go along with 9 assists. Pippen had 19. Rodman had a monster double-double with 14 pts and 23 rebs.

Magic Johnson finished with 39 pts 10 assists. He was 5/5 from the field to power the Lakers to the W.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- Having won Game 1 in Chicago, Magic Johnson and the Lakers are in great position to take over this series with a W in Game 2. Can Magic do to Jordan what no other competitor has ever done -- take a 0-2 lead in the Finals? You know MJ will do everything to not let that happen.

Game link: https://youtu.be/nyIe1tTmZUk

In the first quarter, the Lakers strategy was clear. Dump the ball inside to Kareem and let him operate. The Bulls were helpless to stop him. He was 8-12 from the field in the 1st, scoring 16. The Bulls, however, had their own unstoppable force. Michael Jordan also rose to the occasion, sensing the need to claim Game 2 after losing Game 1. He had 17 pts of his own, including a buzzerbeater to end the 1st quarter. Bulls up by 3, 31-28 after one.

The second quarter was nip and tuck for both teams. Neither team would lead by more than 2 and they exchanged leads multiple times. Neither team could build any kind of momentum, as both Kareem and Jordan would cool down. Bulls would have a 2-pt lead heading into the half, 54-52

Magic Johnson picked up the pace in the 3rd, pushing the ball more than in the first half, and with good success. Lakers jumped out of the half on a 10-3 run and continued their momentum to build an 8-pt lead 4 mins into the period. But Jordan and the Bulls would not go away easily. Starting with a monster dunk by Jordan over AC Green, the Bulls would respond with a 10-2 run of their own to retake the lead. But Magic Johnson was brilliant all quarter, shooting a perfect 6/6 from the field for 15 pts. He was able to match Jordan's output and kept the game within reach. Bulls keep a 1-pt lead heading into the final period.

The start of the 4th quarter was another back and forth affair. Bulls had a 3-pt lead with 7 mins to go. A lesser known Laker would then spark a rally and would not miss. Michael Cooper came up big, started an 11-0 run, with Cooper hitting 3/3 from 3-point range. That had the Lakers running and they were up by 8 with just 4:32 to go.

Sensing the game slipping away and going down 0-2 on their homecourt, Michael Jordan once again put on his cape and got to work. Over the next 3 mins, he would score 7 in a 9-4 run that would put them within 3 with 1:48 left. Bulls continue their push with huge baskets from Pippen and Kerr down the stretch and it was just a 1-pt lead with 13.1 secs left.

It's 106-105 Lakers with 13.1 secs on the clock, Bulls ball. Everyone in the world knew what the Bulls were gonna do.

JOrdan finished with 50 pts 4 rebs 8 assts Kerr and Pippen had 19 and 16 respectivley.

Magic had a monster game, with 31 pts 14 assts. Kareem finished with 26 pts 13 rebs. Worthy was next with 17 and COoper with 16, 11 of them in the 4thQ.

Series goes to LA at the Forum with the series tied at 1-1. Lakers still in good position in this series.

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[bulls96]

LOS ANGELES -- After stealing one game in Chicago going into LA, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & co. have a great opportunity to go up 2-1 in this series. Can they take advantage of the rowdy crowd at the Forum and win?

Watch the game here: https://youtu.be/eoa4lTTyoiw

THe Lakers attack in the 1st quarter was familiar. Push the tempo on every rebound, and then dump the ball to Kareem in the half court. Abdul-Jabbar delivered for the Lakers with 10 pts on 5/8 shooting. Not only that, he also had several blks that helped establish the Lakers defensive stance. They take a 6-pt lead into the 2nd quarter.

With JOrdan starting the 2ndQ on the bench, the Lakers pounced as Pippen could not get anything going offensively. A rare 3-pointer from James Worthy made it a 14 pt lead with just 4 mins in, forcing an early timeout. Even with Jordan back on the court, the Lakers were able to double him effectively, forcing his other teammates to make shots. And they could not. Meanwhile, James Worthy was also starting to heat up, with 9 in the 2nd. The Lakers led by as much as 17. Two late 3's from Kukoc, who had missed his previous 6 shots, helped but the ceficit to 12 going into the half.

The Bulls started the 3rdQ hitting 5 of their first 6 shots, led by Pippen who started to feel it in the period. THey were able to get to within 5 with 9 mins to go, forcing an early timeout from the Lakers. THey went back to their masterplan of dumping it inside to Kareem, and he delivered for them. He scored 12 and helped stave off the Bulls push to keep LA up by 8 with 5 mins to go. However, JOrdan would step up his aggressiveness as well, attacking the basket, going to the FT, scoring 16 in the 3rd. THey were within 2 pts with 1:44 remaining in the 3rd, when the Lakers again stepped on the fastbreak gas, ran off and finished the quarter on a quick 8-0 run to place themselves back up by 10 heading into the 4th.

The Lakers scored 5 quick pts to start the quarter and had a 15 pt lead early on in the 4th. The Lakers seemed destined to run away with this thing and grab a 3-1 lead in this series. Michael Jordan was facing constant pressure with double teams. But there came the least likely player played hero for the Bulls in this period. 6'6" forward Jud Buechler, in for Scottie Pippen at the start of the quarter, was frequently left open by the Lakers defense at the 3. He shot the open 3pointer five times, and made four of them early in the period, scoring 12 helping the Bulls back in the contest. Bulls got to within 4 with just over 2 mins to go. But Kareem went back to work though and couldn't be stopped, scored on 2 consecuvtive baskets to put the Lakers up by 8 with 1:43 left.


But the Bulls would make one last push, and it started make a miraculuous comeback in the final 90 secs of the down 6. Started with a Pippen 3, then the Bulls would tie it with a Kukoc 3 off another MJ double team.

It was tied with 35.8 secs to go, Lakers ball. Magic Johnson able to get crucial 2 pts in the post to give the Lakers a 2-pt lead with 20.9. But that was more than enough time for Jordan and the Bulls to operate. JOrdan would shoot a fadeaway jumper as time expired, and makes it!

Tied game. We are going to OT!

In OT, after Kareem's first sky hook went in on their first play, the Lakers struggled to find the bottom of the basket. The Bulls didn't shoot the ball particularly well neither, but they were able to connect on a pair of threes and get to the foul line and found themselves up by 6 with just 1 minute to go. Magic was able to drain a midrange jumper with 50 secs to go to cut it to 4. Bulls tried to run down the clock on their next play, and the Lakers looked to foul intentionally to stop the clock. They picked Ron Harper to foul, and to the Laker's luck, Harper misses both FTs!

ON the rebound, Magic rushed down the floor and threw a no look pass to Michael Cooper who was open in the corner for a 3. MAKES IT! Lead is down to 1. Lakers foul again, and they find Scottie Pippen. Pippen makes the first, but misses the 2nd.

118-116 for the Bulls. 24 secs left.

Lakers give the ball down to Cap. Bulls double with Rodman, and Kareem would pass it out to Byron Scott at the top of the key who was covered by Harper. Scott faked once, and faded away on his 3 over the outstretched arms of Harper. HE MAKES IT AS TIME EXPIRED!!

LAKERS ESCAPE WITH A miracle 3 from Scott!

Lakers now lead the Bulls 2-1 in this Finals.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was unstoppable all game. He finished with 41 pts 22 rebs 7 assists 1 steal and 6 blocks. Worthy added 22. Scott had 16, including the gamewinner. Magic had 14 pts 10 assts.

Jordan ended with 49 pts, 16 assts to lead the Bulls. There were 4 other Bulls players in double figures, led by Pippen with 17. Rodman grabbed 20 rebs.

[bulls96]

Catch up on Game 3 with this recap! https://youtu.be/wImjruS6js0

This exciting Finals series resumes tomorrow with Game 4. at 10:15am ET. See you there!

[bulls96]

LOS ANGELES -- Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers have a golden oppportunity to take hold of this series by winning Game 4 on their home court, up 2-1. Can they defend homecourt and bring the great Michael Jordan down 3-1 in this contest?

Game link: https://youtu.be/oSHO5-TIFnI


The first quarter was back and forth. Both teams' superstars showed up to play. It was a 2-pt lead for the LAkers after one, but it was a tight contest. In the second quarter, the inside-out game of the Lakers was in full gear as Abdul-Jabbar was unstoppable in the post. Byron Scott was also a perfect 5/5 from the field, including a 3-pointer. But the Bulls were able to stay in the game with some of their best outside shooting in this series. Facing constant double-teams, Jordan was able to pass it out to his open teammates for 3's and they delivered. THey made 6/10 3's and was just down by 4 at the half, 59-55.

The 3rd quarter continued the trend. Chicago was keeping it close, with great outside shooting, led by Toni Kukoc, off Jordan double teams. Jordan himself had a good quarter with 10, helping the Bulls take a 1-pt lead briefly in the period. But the Lakers stepped on the gas on their fastbreak attack in the latter part of the period, to help them keep a 4-pt lead 88-84 going into the 4th quarter.

The Lakers seemed in command in the 4th quarter as theyh kept a 4-pt lead with 4 mins left. But the Bulls stepped up their defensive pressure, and was able to go on brief fastbreak runs, finally tying the game at 110 with 3 mins to go. Jordan, who has played all of the 4th period, would then give the Bulls a lead with a 3-pt play with 2 and ahalf to go.

Both teams would be scoreless over the next 2 mins as the pressure mounts. Magic would reclaim the lead for the Lakers finally with a floater over Pippen with 1:17 to go. Jordan would answer with a triple from the top of the key to give the Bulls a 2-pt lead on the next play. The Lakers failed to take advantage next as the Bulls left Michael Cooper open on a Magic double-team. He misses the open 3.

With the lead and 48 secs left, the Bulls decide to run down the clock. Jordan had it on the shoulder and gets into some pick n roll action with oOdman. Dennis has been doing great with this all game with Kukoc and MJ. Jordan drives on the pick, and on the last minute passes it to Rodman who makes the layup with 4 secs remaining on their shot clock. 4-pt lead for the Bulls.

Lakers are able to respond on their next play to cut it to 2 with 23 secs left. THey foul MJ and he calmly sinks both FT's to keep the lead at 4 with 18 secs left. Cooper misses a rushed 3-pointer, and they foul Pippen on the rebound. Pip also sinks both FT to seal the W for the Bulls.

The Bulls Big-3 showed up for this crucial Game 4. They combined for 95 pts (Jordan 35, Pippen 30, Kukoc 29). Jordan, who faced constant double-teams all game came up with a career-high 19 assists. The Bulls made 17/27 3-pointers in this game, compared to just 5 3-pointers for LA.

Kareem led the Lakers with 34 pts 13 rebs 6 assists 3 stls 3 blks. WOrthy had 17, Magic with a double-double 15 pts 12 assts. Scott had 22 pts off the bench.

[Ghost Of The Year]

I remember losing money on the Lakers against the Bulls in the '91 Finals. But I wouldn't put one dollar on '87 LA against '96 Chicago. And honesty, as many times as Magic lost in the Finals, I wouldn't take any 1980's era Laker team against any of the Bulls six times 1990's champions.

[bulls96]

Here's a recap of Game 4. https://youtu.be/rkDovj3we6E

The series goes back to Chicago for Game 5 tomorrow. It's a best-of-3 now. FOllow me in my channel for the latest.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- With the series tied at 2-2, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan battle it out to get the crucial W in what is now essentially a BEST-of-3. Who will come out on top?

Game link: https://youtu.be/xRao4vO9eyo

At the onset, Magic Johnson set the tone. He was active trying to score and ran their fastbreak to a tee, scoring 9 pts and dished out 5 assists, helping LA break out early. But then came the offensive explosion that was Michael Jordan. MJ started hitting from everywhere, scoring on fadeaways, threes, drives, middies. He scored 17 pts in the period, including 10 straight that put the Bulls firmly ahead. He would get doubled but the perimeter players were hitting their shots, especially Steve Kerr, who would shoot a perfect 4/4 from the field, including 3 from 3. Bulls gain the upper hand in a a high scoring affair, 32-26 after one.

In the 2nd quarter, MJ would cool down significantly, and the Lakers were able to make up some lost ground with inspired play from El Capitan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He scored 10 pts in the 2ndQ to keep the game within reach for LA. Michael Cooper also stepped up, was effective on both sides, keeping MJ at 5/12 shooting from the field. Pippen was able to make some key plays and kept the lead at 7 going into the half, 56-49.

The third quarter saw the Bulls offense become stagnant, as the Lakers pressure forced them into several turnovers. The Bulls had 8 tunrovers in the quarter, leading to 13 pts, and the Lakers were able to end the period on a 19-7 run to take a 1-pt lead going into the 4th quarter.

The Lakers were in good position to steal this game once again and go back to LA with a 3-2 lead. One quarter to go.

In the 4th, The Bulls still appeared lost on offense, and still committing turnovers and unable to take good shots. Jordan was able to string together 4 straight shots midway, that cut the deficit, but he would lose steam over the next few minutes and the Lakers were able to build as much as a 7 pt lead with 4 mins remaining.

But Jordan came alive in time, and much alike the 1st quarter, so were his shooters. Jordan had the Bulls within 2 pts after a dunk over Kareem with 3 mins to go. From then on, the Lakers would double team him everytime he touched the ball, but his teammates stepped up. Kerr and Kukoc each hit crucial 3-pointers off MJ double-teams and it was a tied game with 1:00 to go. The biggest shot, however, came from Scottie Pippen who would hit another 3 off MJ's double team with 45 secs to go that would give the Bulls a 3-point lead. The Lakers were not able to answer with perimeter shots of their own, and the Bulls walk away with the W.


Kareem led the way for the Lakers with 22 pts 16 rebs 3 assts. Magic Johnson had a near triple-double with 21 pts 9 rebs 18 assists. Worthy had 20.

Jordan finished with 39 pts, 6 rebs 15 assts 2 stls. Pippen and Kerr had 24 pts each. Rodman had 16 boards.