Bulls vs Cavaliers, 1989 First Round Game 5

Lore & Background

In Game 5 of the 1989 First Round, Michael Jordan hit what is known as 'The Shot' over Cavaliers player Craig Ehlo to win the game and advance the Bulls to the next round against the New York Knicks. This occurred despite Cleveland having swept Chicago in the regular season that year.

In Their Own Story

Inside the Richfield Coliseum, the air felt heavy enough to choke on—a suffocating blend of Cleveland's desperate hope and Chicago's nail-biting anxiety. As the final second ticked away, Jordan elevated, twisting his body to create a sliver of space. The ball left his fingertips in perfect synchronization with the buzzer, tracing a high arc against the arena's harsh glare. For a heartbeat, silence held the crowd captive before the net snapped taut, instantly shattering into absolute bedlam.

Reader's Guide

The series was a best-of-five, so Game 5 was the final and deciding game. Jordan's shot was over a single defender, Craig Ehlo.

Did You Know?

• The Shot is remembered by Cleveland fans as part of the Cleveland sports curse, along with The Drive, The Fumble and Red Right 88.
• A sequel to 'The Shot' occurred at the end of Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals, again with Jordan hitting a series-winning shot on the same end of the Richfield Coliseum floor.