1995 Nba Playoffs Bulls Vs Magic Game 6
The Background
The 1995 NBA Playoffs saw the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, face off against the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and a young Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. The Bulls had won three straight NBA championships from 1991-1993 before taking a hiatus due to Jordan's temporary retirement. They returned in 1995 with Jordan playing his first full season since his comeback.
The Series
The series was closely contested, with both teams winning their respective home games. The Magic had home-court advantage as they had finished the regular season with a better record. The pivotal Game 5 saw the Magic take a 3-2 lead in the series after a stunning 121-83 victory in Chicago.
The Game
Game 6 was played on May 18, 1995, at the Orlando Arena. The Bulls needed a win to keep their championship hopes alive, but the Magic were looking to make history by eliminating the defending champions in the second round of the playoffs.
The game started off well for the Bulls, who took an early lead thanks to Jordan's scoring. However, the Magic fought back and took the lead in the second quarter. The game remained close throughout, with neither team able to pull away.
As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 94-94. The Magic had the ball with just a few seconds left on the clock. Hardaway inbounded the ball to Horace Grant, who passed it back to Hardaway. Hardaway then drove to the basket and dished it out to Nick Anderson, who was wide open for a three-pointer.
Anderson missed the shot, but he was able to grab his own rebound and was fouled by Jordan. Anderson made one of the two free throws to give the Magic a 95-94 lead with just 10.5 seconds left on the clock. The Bulls had one last chance to win the game.
The Bulls inbounded the ball to Jordan, who drove to the basket but was stripped by Hardaway. The ball was then picked up by Anderson, who was fouled by Jordan. Anderson made both free throws to give the Magic a three-point lead. The Bulls had one last chance to tie the game with a three-pointer, but Toni Kukoc missed the shot as time expired.
The Aftermath
The Magic had done the unthinkable by eliminating the Bulls from the playoffs. Jordan, who had been phenomenal throughout the series, had an off-night and was unable to carry the Bulls to victory. He finished the game with 24 points, but he shot just 9-of-25 from the field.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Bulls and their fans. They had been the dominant team in the NBA over the previous three seasons, but their reign had come to an end. The Magic would go on to lose in the NBA Finals to the Houston Rockets, but their victory over the Bulls remains one of the greatest upsets in NBA playoffs history.
Conclusion
The 1995 NBA Playoffs Bulls vs Magic Game 6 is a legendary moment in NBA history. It was the day Michael Jordan lost, and the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs. Despite the loss, Jordan would go on to win three more championships with the Bulls, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.