CHICAGO -- It's the series everyone is waiting for! These 2 teams have perenially been named as the GOAT, but which team will come out in a best-of-7? I'm here to play these two to find out!
Game link: https://youtu.be/5cjo4uP1E6k
The Bulls set the tone early in the 1st quarter as the Bulls defense immediately took hold. Jordan got hot midway, dominated his matchups. He would have 20 1st quarter pts, 18 consecutive in a 21-11 run that had the Bulls up by double figures. Late baskets from Livingston helped narrow the gap somehwat to 8 heading to the 2nd quarter.
No big lead is safe with these Warriors though. WIth KD back and Steph, they got the game tied int her first 3 mins of the 2nd period. Pippen struggled to anchor the offense with KD on him and MJ resting on the bench. They got to within 1 after a 3 from Klay THompson 3 mins into the period. The Bulls would get a much needed jolt from Steve Kerr, whose 3-pointer started a 9-2 run to keep the Warriors at bay. Lead was still at 6 when Jordan came back from the bench with over 4 mins left. A jumper from MJ made it 43-35, but the Bulls would be forced into some tunrovers late, while Kevin Durant would score 7 straight to bring them within one with a minute go.
Bulls would keep a 2-pt lead at halftime. Jordan was having quite a Game 1. He had 24 pts, 20 in the 1st. The Warriors could not really get any offensive momentum yet with the Bulls defense. Lets see how long they will stay cold.
In the third quarter, after initial baskets from Chicago. Klay Thompson would finally catch fire. He would ignite a 7-0 run and give the Warriors their first lead of the game with just 2 mins in the 3rd. Bulls would fight back with some hustle plays to reclaim a 5 pt lead. It was then Draymond Green's turn to make an impact, scoring 7 straight points. It remained close. A Kukoc 3 would give the Bulls a 7-pt advantage and the Bulls take a 4 pt lead into the 4th 79-75.
Down 4 in the 4th, that is nothing to these Warriors. They can score in a hurry. They tied the game within the next 2 mins, and the game was back and forth between a tie and a small lead for the Bulls for much of the quarter. The WArriors would take their biggest lead of the game - 3 pts - with 3:36 to after a 3-pointer from Klay Thompson, forcing an early timeout by Phil Jackson. Jordan would get to work, and would find himself in a battle with Steph Curry in the final moments. Both superstars were aggressive and getting to the line. With Steph starting to get hot, Bulls made a late adjustment, putting Pippen on Steph in the final 3 minutes. Steph would still make a long 3 to give the Warriors a 3 pt lead 3:10 left. Jordan would answer with a basket on the other end and it would be a 1-pt game with less than 2 mins to go.
After a huge defensive possession by the Bulls, they go on the other end and find Toni Kukoc who scores on a HUGE 3 pointer to give the Bulls a 101-99 lead.
Still anybody's ballgame.
Warriors ball and Steph Curry has the ball again in his hand, but this time with Pippen in his face. Another huge stop by Pippen. Warriors also had a stop on the next play, with Jordan missing on a fallaway over KD. KD would then run down the court and give the ball on the wing to Klay in transition who would sink a huge jumper to tie the game with 46 secs left.
Warriors double JOrdan on the next possession and PIppen finds himself with an open 3 at the top of the key. Scottie sinks a HUGE TRIPLE to give the Bulls a 3-pt lead with 33 secs to go.
One more stop is what they needed and they did it, with Pip again forcing Steph to give up the ball, leading to a difficult shot by the last person the Warriors wanted to shoot, Javale McGee. Rebound by ROdman and the Bulls immediately call time. THe Bulls would make the FT's in the end and they hang on.
Bulls win 108-104.
Jordan was phenomenal. He had 46 pts, with 13 assts 7 rebs 2 stls. Pippen added 22 pts and 6 rebs, including Clutch D on Steph in the final minutes as he was starting to get hot, and the biggest 3 of the game to break a tie with 33 secs to go. Kukoc led all bench players with 13 pts. Rodman had 16 rebs.
Steph led the Warriors with 28 pts, 11 in the 4thQ. Klay had 26. KD had a subpar game in Game 1, with 16 pts on 4/16 shooting.
Game link: https://youtu.be/5cjo4uP1E6k
The Bulls set the tone early in the 1st quarter as the Bulls defense immediately took hold. Jordan got hot midway, dominated his matchups. He would have 20 1st quarter pts, 18 consecutive in a 21-11 run that had the Bulls up by double figures. Late baskets from Livingston helped narrow the gap somehwat to 8 heading to the 2nd quarter.
No big lead is safe with these Warriors though. WIth KD back and Steph, they got the game tied int her first 3 mins of the 2nd period. Pippen struggled to anchor the offense with KD on him and MJ resting on the bench. They got to within 1 after a 3 from Klay THompson 3 mins into the period. The Bulls would get a much needed jolt from Steve Kerr, whose 3-pointer started a 9-2 run to keep the Warriors at bay. Lead was still at 6 when Jordan came back from the bench with over 4 mins left. A jumper from MJ made it 43-35, but the Bulls would be forced into some tunrovers late, while Kevin Durant would score 7 straight to bring them within one with a minute go.
Bulls would keep a 2-pt lead at halftime. Jordan was having quite a Game 1. He had 24 pts, 20 in the 1st. The Warriors could not really get any offensive momentum yet with the Bulls defense. Lets see how long they will stay cold.
In the third quarter, after initial baskets from Chicago. Klay Thompson would finally catch fire. He would ignite a 7-0 run and give the Warriors their first lead of the game with just 2 mins in the 3rd. Bulls would fight back with some hustle plays to reclaim a 5 pt lead. It was then Draymond Green's turn to make an impact, scoring 7 straight points. It remained close. A Kukoc 3 would give the Bulls a 7-pt advantage and the Bulls take a 4 pt lead into the 4th 79-75.
Down 4 in the 4th, that is nothing to these Warriors. They can score in a hurry. They tied the game within the next 2 mins, and the game was back and forth between a tie and a small lead for the Bulls for much of the quarter. The WArriors would take their biggest lead of the game - 3 pts - with 3:36 to after a 3-pointer from Klay Thompson, forcing an early timeout by Phil Jackson. Jordan would get to work, and would find himself in a battle with Steph Curry in the final moments. Both superstars were aggressive and getting to the line. With Steph starting to get hot, Bulls made a late adjustment, putting Pippen on Steph in the final 3 minutes. Steph would still make a long 3 to give the Warriors a 3 pt lead 3:10 left. Jordan would answer with a basket on the other end and it would be a 1-pt game with less than 2 mins to go.
After a huge defensive possession by the Bulls, they go on the other end and find Toni Kukoc who scores on a HUGE 3 pointer to give the Bulls a 101-99 lead.
Still anybody's ballgame.
Warriors ball and Steph Curry has the ball again in his hand, but this time with Pippen in his face. Another huge stop by Pippen. Warriors also had a stop on the next play, with Jordan missing on a fallaway over KD. KD would then run down the court and give the ball on the wing to Klay in transition who would sink a huge jumper to tie the game with 46 secs left.
Warriors double JOrdan on the next possession and PIppen finds himself with an open 3 at the top of the key. Scottie sinks a HUGE TRIPLE to give the Bulls a 3-pt lead with 33 secs to go.
One more stop is what they needed and they did it, with Pip again forcing Steph to give up the ball, leading to a difficult shot by the last person the Warriors wanted to shoot, Javale McGee. Rebound by ROdman and the Bulls immediately call time. THe Bulls would make the FT's in the end and they hang on.
Bulls win 108-104.
Jordan was phenomenal. He had 46 pts, with 13 assts 7 rebs 2 stls. Pippen added 22 pts and 6 rebs, including Clutch D on Steph in the final minutes as he was starting to get hot, and the biggest 3 of the game to break a tie with 33 secs to go. Kukoc led all bench players with 13 pts. Rodman had 16 rebs.
Steph led the Warriors with 28 pts, 11 in the 4thQ. Klay had 26. KD had a subpar game in Game 1, with 16 pts on 4/16 shooting.
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