Chicago Bulls - Indiana Pacers | 1998 Playoffs | ECF Game 2: Jordan with 41 points

Michael Jordan, who was just named MVP for the 5th time in his career, scored 41 points on 13-of-22 shooting and 15-of-18 from the line. He scored 24 points in the second half, including a flurry of eight at the end of the third quarter and three straight Chicago baskets in the last 2 1/2 minutes to fight off a final rally by Indiana. It was his 35th career 40-point playoff game.

"At a certain point, I felt I had to take over," Jordan said. "We just weren't getting anything done offensively. I had a lot of extra energy tonight and luckily I was able to get the job done."

"Michael had a lot of great, tough shots tonight," Pacers coach Larry Bird said. "I'll change that -- that's tough shots for other people and routine for him. There's no question that he's the reason they won it. That's the reason why he's the MVP."

"As soon as they gave him the MVP award, I knew he was going to have a huge game for us tonight," Pippen said. "Michael loves challenges and when they tell him he's the best, by giving him the award, that's still a big challenge for him. I don't know if anybody can stop him when he's on his game."

"To tell you the truth, all we can keep doiing is keep plugging away," Miller said. "We had a great opportunity to take this game tonight. But Jordan wouldn't be denied. He did what a great player always does, he stepped up and took over."

In addition to Jordan's second-half explosion, the Bulls also used several other ingredients from their Game One victory - more stifling defense from Scottie Pippen on Pacers point guard Mark Jackson and converting 20 Indiana turnovers into 26 points. Jackson had seven turnovers for the second straight game.

"He's does a great job on me, no question about it," Jackson said. "It shouldn't affect our total game, yet it has. These series are about adjustments and we have to make them now."

"We've been there before and mental toughness is what wins this time of year," Jordan said. "We've been through it against Miami and New York in the past. Indiana's going through their first (conference) finals experience. There is a difference."

"The difference again tonight was that they stepped up their intensity on defense," Mark Jackson said. "We still remain confident. We've been in both games and had opportunities to win both of them. We're a veteran team. We're going back home, hopefully to take care of business there."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Chicago
• Bulls
• Indiana
• Pacers
• Michael
• Jordan
• Scottie
• Pippen
• Larry
• Bird
• NBA
• Basketball
• Playoffs
• 1998
• Rodman
• Miller
• Jackso

[LegendElTerror]

He in the regular season was THE BEST

In the playoffs was a LEGENDARY

And in the finals was a GOD

Best of all times MJ!!

[lumpyloks]

you can't blame kobe, everybody wanted to be like Mike.

[iluvrei]

Bird look like he was gonna kill mj or play to beat him! haha

[iluvrei]

@LegendElTerror perfect comment!♥

[TheBloodshower]

look how mad Jordan is in the final seconds. I can't blame him, 6 points is not a lot with 30 secs on the clock, and his teammates acting like there is only 5 secs left

[MagicJBalla21]

@lumpyloks You left out Lebron james

[danenairb03]

@scherifin just as chuck always says...

[VIPVICT]

4：01 is insane

[naiduaj]

@RohoicRamz94 it wouldn't matter.

[Augray37]

well no wonder the pacers lost, from the video it looks like they only shot maybe three times the whole game.

[RohoicRamz94]

What if Bird never got injured and Magic never got HIV.What if Bird played until 1997 along with Magic...And Len Bias never used cocaine.What if Sam Bowie couldve been healthy.Reggie Lewis never died.

[Thinker9713]

At age 35 MJ was playing like a 25 year old in his prime.