The Chicago Bulls’ first-round playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989 will always be remembered for ‘The Shot’ that Michael Jordan hit over Craig Ehlo.
But many forget that Jordan’s iconic series winner made up for his costly miss at the foul line one game earlier.
Before the series went to Game 5, the Bulls had taken a 2-1 series lead over the injury-hit Cavs. In Game 4, the Bulls had a chance to put the Cavs away, but with perhaps the biggest free throw attempt of his career at that point, Jordan buckled under pressure and missed.
“Even the greatest golfers in the world miss a putt now and then,” said Jordan after the game. “I can’t make them all.”
Bulls had a chance to close out the series in Chicago
Jordan’s Bulls entered their 1989 playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers as the underdogs. Seeded 6th, Chicago needed to win one of the first two games of the series to steal home-court advantage and win the five-game series at home.
With Mark Price out due to injury, the Bulls took Game 1 95-88, with Jordan scoring 31 points. As expected, Cleveland bounced back in Game 2, 96-88, to tie the series. But the Bulls got the split that they wanted. After taking Game 3 101-94 behind MJ’s 44 points, the Bulls had a chance to close out the series in Game 4 in front of their hometown fans. But the injury-hit Cavs refused to go away and kept the game close.
There were 34 lead changes in the game, the last time being when MJ went to the foul line with 48 seconds left, and the game tied at 97. Jordan missed the first free throw and made the second. The Cavs had a chance to take the lead, but Pippen stole Mike Sanders’ pass with 29 seconds left, and Chicago got up 98-97.
Jordan missed another crucial free throw
As soon as the Bulls completed the steal, Jordan demanded the ball, and, of course, he got it. MJ then waved off everybody in the typical ‘Archangel offense’ that the Bulls ran. With time winding down, he attacked the basket and drew another foul with 9 seconds left. But after making the first, Jordan missed the most important free throw of his career at that point in time.
Brad Daugherty made two free throws to tie the game at 99. With four seconds left, Jordan had another chance to close out the Cavs, but he missed a short jumper, and the game went to OT, where Jordan only scored two points after putting up 48 in regulation. The Cavs won 108-105 to send the series back to Cleveland for a winner-take-all game.
Jordan said he felt so low after that game that it reminded him of the time when he was cut from his high school varsity team. In Game 5, Chicago almost blew the series away by allowing Craig Ehlo to score 24 points. MJ, however, had the final say. He hit the game-winner over Ehlo, and the Bulls dynasty was born.
