SoCal Pro Basketball Game Report

Jordan Scores 49 Over Clippers
in Double OT--(November 21, 1997)

Bill Fitch is a genius. . . no, Bill Fitch is an idiot. . . no, he's a genius. . . no, he's just not very good at developing a substitution pattern.

But he's getting better.

Tonight he let Lamond Murray and Brent Barry play most of the game. Murray hit 24 points, on some very nice slashing drives to the hoop and some very sweet J's from the outside, but made a costly turnover in the waning seconds of the first overtime, when he inbounded the ball into the backcourt after a time-out, which is a violation. Brent Barry had 17 points for Los Angeles, and played credibly in front of a sell-out crowd which also included his father, NBA/ABA legend Rick Barry (more on that later).

In a game in which the Clippers (yeah, the Clippers) held a 36-18 lead over the Bulls through the first quarter, in which Michael Jordan only had 4 points, everyone in the house, including Steve Lavin, Norm Nixon, Kobe Bryant, and Billy Crystal, was beginning to think that Bill Fitch was a genius.

And then what does he do? You guessed it. He takes out the guys who're getting it done. Breaks the rhythm. Jordan gets hot. Kukoc nails a few jumpers. Luc Longley keeps playing with his back to the basket, backing in and just dumping point after point.

In less than 5 minutes, it's now only a two point game, and the Bulls aren't trailing. Just amazing.

Spot the Bulls 18 points and they'll catch you. Can't ever rest. And remember, there's always the third quarter if you're a Clipper fan. A third quarter in which you can lose the game, that is.

The half-time score Clippers 41, Bulls 42.

To most watching that first half, it seemed like Jordan was having an off night. Missing lots of jumpers. Not connecting on his passes. No drives to the hole. What was happening. Could the lowly Clippers be about to dethrone the King?

The second half was incredibly tight. At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied, 70-70. And the Clippers weren't going away. Nope. And Fitch was making the right substitutions. Things were working. Rodman was fouling. Things were going well for the Clips.

There was one particularly memorable moment when the score jumped from Clippers 80-Bulls 81 to. . .Clippers 84-Bulls 79. The Bulls actually lost a point, while the Clippers gained 4. Reason? The scorekeeper just lost track. Yup it was a true Clipper operation all the way.

With a little more than 5 minutes remaining, Chicago trailed 84-79. Jordan had had enough of these 1-10 upstarts. Even if the Bulls were 0-4 on the road, there was no way his Airness was going to lose to the . . .Clippers. Coming down the lane, jump stop. Jab left foot. Jab again. Cut left then reverse right, quickly feed the ball to Rusty Larue (who???). Bam. 2 points. 84-81. Come down court, Clippers miss, Bulls rebound. Jordan cutting right, stopping in the corner, then sweeping into the lane from a right angle. . . elevating. . . rising. . .BOOOM. Slam Dunk. The crowd goes nuts. Jordan's back. The king is dead, long live the king. Next play down the court, he does it again, this time from the top of the key. BOOM. Then comes a 10 foot fall away jumper, then a 15 foot jumper. Then two free throws. Suddenly, the Bulls lead 92-90 with only 15 seconds left.

Then the unthinkable happens. Jordan fouls Barry on the inbounds play, and Barry goes to the line, sinking two, to tie the game at 92-92. With less than 5 seconds on the clock, Jordan missed an 18-footer to leave it tied.

Overtime No. 1. Clippers are playing great. So are the Bulls. Murray can't miss. Neither can Jordan. 30 seconds remaining, and Chicago trails by four points. BOOM. Jordan hits another 15 footer, and it's now 102-100. Time-out Clippers. They take the ball out at mid court, across the court from the team benches. Murray is supposed to inbound the ball to Lorenzen Wright. He's guarded very closely. To escape his defender he goes into the backcourt. Big mistake. Murray gives him the ball. Second big mistake. Whistle. Turnover. Bulls get the ball with 21 seconds and you know who's going to take the shot. But before he can take the shot that'll nail the win, he's fouled by Murray (his 5th personal), and Jordan goes to the line to shoot two.

The crowd starts to gather its belongings, edging towards the door, but not performing in true LA fashion, they actually stay in their seats to watch the final seconds of the game. First free-throw. Jordan misses. Incredible. He's still got another, and can force the win. Second shot. Oh, my, he missed.

Nine seconds left, Murray drives the lane and scores a lay-up. Score, 102-102.

Second overtime.

Applying the Stu Lantz rule of "the team that scores the first two consecutive baskets will win" the Bulls not only score two, they score 4 in a row, plus a free throw, and the Clippers disappear, going absolutely scoreless in the final and third overtime. Jordan's now got 49 points, and with about 21 seconds left in the game, Ron Harper brings the ball upcourt, with Jordan over on the right side near the baseline. The crowd wants 51.

The crowd demands 51 for Jordan. Take that last shot Michael. Go for the 51.

But Jordan, Harper and the Bulls don't care. They don't need it. They got the W. The road game losing streak is snapped. Harper simply walks to the corner of the floor, waits for the buzzer, and tosses the ball back to the ref, and the teams head for the lockers.

Final score, Clippers 102, Bulls 111.

Whew. What a game.

Amazing.

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