Bulls vs Knicks, 1994 Eastern Conference Semifinals Game 2

Lore & Background

One notable highlight of the regular season occurred on March 28, 1995, in which the Bulls defeated the New York Knicks on the road, 113–111 at Madison Square Garden. Jordan scored a season-high of 55 points, as he made 21 of 37 field-goal attempts, 3 of 4 three-point field-goal attempts, and 10 of 11 free-throw attempts; it would later on be known as the 'Double Nickel' game.

In Their Own Story

Madison Square Garden hummed with a toxic mix of popcorn scent and hostile anticipation, the crowd desperate to see the Knicks bury the Bulls. Scottie Pippen wiped sweat from his brow, eyes locked on the rim as the clock bled down. The ball found him near the elbow. He attacked left, colliding with Ewing's immovable presence, then pivoted to draw Houston into a foul call. The whistle cut through the noise. Silence swallowed the arena, broken only by the squeak of sneakers and the thud of Pippen's heartbeat. First shot: swish. Second: nothing but net. Third: clean. Fourth: the dagger. As the buzzer screamed, the Bulls bench erupted in a roar that echoed off the rafters. The underdogs had walked out of the Garden with a victory that would redefine an era.

Reader's Guide

The only Bulls–Knicks game mentioned is the March 28, 1995 regular-season game.

Did You Know?

• Michael Jordan returned from retirement during the 1994–95 season, faxing a memo that simply said 'I'm back' and changing his jersey number to #45.
• Scottie Pippen was named to the All-NBA First Team and the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the 1994–95 season.
• The Bulls finished second in the NBA in home-game attendance behind the Charlotte Hornets, with an attendance of 926,218 at the United Center.