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Full Game: Surviving a Game 7 War | Bulls vs Pacers, Game 7 ECF (May 31, 1998)
Channel 23: The Complete Michael Jordan Archive
The Chicago Bulls' "Last Dance" faced its most perilous moment in this grueling, winner-take-all Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In one of the toughest playoff series of their championship era, the aging Bulls were pushed to the absolute brink. This hard-fought 88-83 victory was a testament to veteran poise and championship will, sending Chicago to the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight years. This series was a physical, defensive war from the start. "If I had to pick a team that gave us the toughest time in the East, Indiana was probably the toughest, outside of Detroit," Michael Jordan later stated in The Last Dance, Episode 9. The Pacers, led by legendary rival Larry Bird in his first year as head coach, were bigger, younger, and brimming with confidence. "We all felt we were the better team," Reggie Miller recalled of that Pacers squad. The decisive seventh game was anything but a masterpiece for the Bulls' superstars. Michael Jordan struggled with his shot, finishing 9-for-25 from the field, while Scottie Pippen was just 7-for-20. With the dynasty hanging in the balance, it was the Bulls' depth and experience that rose to the occasion. Toni Kukoč provided a critical spark off the bench, scoring 21 points on efficient 7-for-11 shooting. "It was a real struggle for us," coach Phil Jackson conceded after the game. "Thank goodness for Toni Kukoc coming off the bench." Despite an off shooting night, Jordan found other ways to dominate, finishing with 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Pippen contributed 12 rebounds and punishing defense. In the end, it was the Bulls' championship DNA that outlasted the Pacers' challenge in a brutal contest. "It was a very tough, tough series," Jordan acknowledged. "We were very fortunate to win." The victory set the stage for a historic NBA Finals rematch against the Utah Jazz. Timestamp Index: 00:00 - NBA Showtime Introduction 00:15:45 - Bob Costas' pre-game interview with Reggie Miller 00:28:55 - Dale Davis' opening dunk for the Pacers 00:30:28 - Michael Jordan's first basket on an offensive rebound and putback 00:41:20 - Michael Jordan to Scottie Pippen for a dunk on a 2-on-1 fast break 00:52:23 - Reggie Miller's three-pointer gives Indiana a 10-point lead 00:55:08 - Start of the 2nd Quarter 01:00:40 - Steve Kerr's three-pointer cuts the lead to two 01:01:52 - Michael Jordan ties the game with a drive to the basket 01:05:20 - Jordan gets the putback on his own missed free throw for a three-point play 01:17:40 - Final Two Minutes of the 1st Half 01:19:25 - Reggie Miller's second consecutive three-pointer cuts the Bulls' lead to one 01:19:42 - Scott Burrell hits a shot at the buzzer to end the first half 01:25:39 - Start of the 3rd Quarter 01:31:40 - Tony Kukoc hits his second three-pointer of the quarter 01:42:43 - Tony Kukoc's basket gives him 21 points for the game 01:50:35 - Start of the 4th Quarter 01:54:10 - Jalen Rose ties the game at 69-69 01:58:11 - Michael Jordan's offensive rebound and putback ties the game at 71-71 02:04:20 - Steve Kerr ties the game at 77-77 02:09:05 - Michael Jordan's offensive rebound leads to a Luc Longley basket 02:14:03 - Scottie Pippen's driving layup and-one puts the Bulls up by four 02:16:40 - Final Two Minutes of the Game 02:20:25 - Ahmad Rashad's post-game interview with Michael Jordan 02:21:54 - Bob Costas' post-game interview with Tony Kukoc
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