1998 NBA Finals, Game 6 – Bulls vs Jazz (Michael Jordan’s Last Shot)

Date: June 14, 1998

Location: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

Final Score: Chicago Bulls 87, Utah Jazz 86

Series Result: Bulls win Finals 4–2

Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals concluded the championship series between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. The Bulls entered the game leading the series three games to two, while the Jazz attempted to force a Game 7 on their home floor. This game ultimately became the final NBA game played by the Bulls’ core group during their 1990s championship run.

Game Context

The 1997–98 season was Phil Jackson’s final year coaching the Bulls, and management had already indicated that the roster would not return intact the following season. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman were all playing under circumstances that made this run widely viewed as the group’s last opportunity to win together.

Utah finished the regular season with the best record in the Western Conference and featured the league’s Most Valuable Player, Karl Malone, along with longtime point guard John Stockton. The Jazz had lost to Chicago in the Finals the previous season and were seeking the franchise’s first NBA championship.

First Half

The opening half was closely contested. Chicago relied heavily on Jordan for scoring, while Utah spread its offense between Malone, Stockton, and perimeter shooters. Pippen, dealing with a back injury sustained earlier in the series, was limited offensively and focused primarily on defense and ball movement.

At halftime, the Bulls held a narrow 49–45 lead. Jordan accounted for a significant portion of Chicago’s offense, while the Jazz remained within one or two possessions throughout the second quarter.

Second Half and Fourth Quarter

Utah increased defensive pressure in the second half and gradually closed the gap. Entering the fourth quarter, the score remained close, with neither team able to establish a double-digit lead at any point in the game.

With 41.9 seconds remaining, Malone scored in the post to give Utah an 86–83 advantage. The basket followed a defensive stop and represented the Jazz’s largest lead of the second half.

On the ensuing possession, Jordan drove into the lane and passed to Steve Kerr, who converted a jump shot from the right side to cut the deficit to 86–85.

Decisive Possessions

Utah attempted to run its offense through Malone again on the following possession. As Malone gathered the ball on the left block, Jordan reached in from the weak side and recorded a steal at the 18-second mark.

Jordan advanced the ball up the court without calling a timeout. Guarded by Bryon Russell, Jordan dribbled near the top of the key before moving to his left. He pulled up from approximately 18 feet and made the jump shot with 5.2 seconds remaining, giving Chicago an 87–86 lead.

Utah’s final possession resulted in a contested three-point attempt that missed as time expired.

Statistical Summary

Jordan scored 45 of Chicago’s 87 points, including all four of the Bulls’ final points, and recorded the game’s final steal.

Aftermath and Historical Significance

The victory secured the Bulls’ sixth NBA championship in eight seasons. Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the sixth time in his career. The game marked the final NBA appearances for Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson together with Chicago.

The play sequence consisting of Jordan’s steal on Malone followed by the made jump shot has become one of the most frequently referenced closing sequences in NBA Finals history due to its timing, execution, and championship implications.

Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals remains one of the most documented and analyzed games in league history because it concluded both a championship series and a dominant era for the Chicago Bulls.