1997 NBA Finals Game 5 vs Jazz

Background

Michael Jordan woke at 2:30 a.m. on the Tuesday morning before the game vomiting and was diagnosed with a stomach virus or food poisoning, likely caused by a pizza ordered the night before; the Bulls' athletic trainers told him there was no way he could play, but he insisted. The Jazz were a perfect 10–0 at home in the postseason up to that point.

Utah led by 16 points (36–20) in the second quarter before Jordan scored 17 in the quarter to cut the half-time deficit to 53–49. With 46.4 seconds left and Chicago down 85–84 he tied the game at the free-throw line, then hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Scottie Pippen for an 88–85 lead with 25 seconds remaining. A Greg Ostertag dunk brought the Jazz within one, Luc Longley answered with a dunk of his own, and Chicago held on. With a few seconds left, Jordan collapsed into Pippen's arms, the image that has come to symbolize The Flu Game.