Date: June 3, 1990

Location: The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Final Score: Detroit Pistons 93, Chicago Bulls 74

Series Result: Pistons win Eastern Conference Finals, 4–3

The “Migraine Game” isn’t remembered because of a shot, a single highlight, or a box-score oddity. It’s remembered because it was a Game 7 at the exact moment Chicago was trying to break through the league’s most punishing gatekeepers — and their best two-way wing spent the afternoon battling a migraine that he later said brought double vision and made it difficult to even see teammates clearly.

Why the stakes were so high

For three straight seasons, Chicago’s path to the Finals ran through Detroit. The Pistons were the defending champions, built around a veteran core that knew how to control tempo, win ugly possessions, and punish mistakes with waves of physical defense and veteran shot-making.

Chicago entered Game 7 already thin. Starting point guard John Paxson was out with a severely sprained right ankle, forcing Craig Hodges into the starting lineup. And then, just as the day’s tension was settling in, Scottie Pippen’s migraine returned during warmups after he believed it had eased earlier in the day.

What was going on with Pippen before tip-off

Pippen said the headache began the day before. He thought he was okay after sleeping and waking up feeling fine — but the symptoms returned during warmups. He described moments of double vision, and he spent portions of the game going to the bench for ice-pack treatments before checking back in.

The key point is that he still played heavy minutes — but the version of Pippen Chicago relied on (their slasher, secondary creator, and elite defender who could run the floor) simply wasn’t there.

First quarter: a tight, tense start

The opening quarter looked like a Game 7 is “supposed” to look: rushed shots, nerves, and both teams trying to steady themselves. Chicago led 19–17 after one, even though neither offense found a clean rhythm early.

This mattered because Chicago’s best chance was to keep it low-scoring and pressure Detroit into mistakes — the kind of grind where one hot stretch or one defensive run can decide everything.

Second quarter: the game swings hard

The swing came quickly, and it came in a way that explained why depth and health mattered so much. With the score tied at 25 and 8:42 left in the second quarter, Detroit’s defense tightened and their bench ignited. Mark Aguirre (off the bench) scored repeatedly, and Detroit’s second unit piled on pressure and points.

Detroit outscored Chicago 31–14 in the quarter — the decisive stretch of the afternoon. During one blistering run, the Pistons hit 14 of 15 field-goal attempts, including 10 straight, while Chicago went cold and ended the period missing 11 of 12.

That’s the scoreboard version. The on-court version was harsher: Chicago’s half-court possessions became tighter and more predictable, and without a fully functional Pippen (and without Paxson), there were fewer counters when Detroit loaded up on Michael Jordan.

Third quarter: Detroit stretches it, Chicago briefly answers

Detroit’s lead ballooned to 61–39 with 7:47 left in the third — a 22-point margin that, in a Game 7, can feel like a canyon. Chicago did have a response: Jordan scored to spark a push that cut the deficit.

By the end of three, the Bulls had climbed back within 69–59. It wasn’t a full reversal, but it was enough to keep the door cracked — and it’s why the “Migraine Game” carries a particular sting: Chicago did get one last chance to make it a true finish.

Fourth quarter: the last push never arrives

The fourth quarter is where the missing pieces showed up the most. Chicago needed a second scorer to punish Detroit’s help and to give Jordan relief possessions — a downhill drive, a timely cut, a transition burst, anything to force Detroit to guard the entire floor.

Instead, Detroit controlled the final period. Chicago couldn’t sustain efficient offense long enough to threaten, and the Pistons kept making the steadier plays to close out the 93–74 win.

Pippen’s line — and why it mattered

Pippen finished with 2 points on 1-for-10 shooting. In normal circumstances, a Pippen off-night might still be survivable because of his defense, rebounding, and transition play — but in this specific game, Chicago needed his offensive presence just to keep Detroit honest.

Jordan scored 31 and also piled up rebounds and assists, but the Bulls didn’t get enough efficient support to keep pace once Detroit’s bench and veterans seized control. Horace Grant reached double figures and pulled down a massive rebound total, yet even he struggled to convert shots as Chicago’s overall shooting cratered.

Detroit’s formula: veterans + bench punch

Detroit didn’t win Game 7 with one player; they won it with layers. Isiah Thomas led them with 21 points and 11 assists, and Detroit’s bench production was a major separator — especially in that second quarter burst that effectively decided the game’s shape.

It wasn’t flashy. It was “Bad Boys” control: pressure, poise, and stretches where Chicago simply couldn’t manufacture clean offense.

Aftermath: why this game still gets referenced

Historically, the “Migraine Game” sits at the hinge of the Bulls’ story. Chicago was close enough to see the Finals — one game away — and far enough to feel the gap between a rising contender and a champion that knows exactly how to finish.

Detroit advanced to the 1990 NBA Finals, while Chicago walked into another offseason with the same painful lesson: to beat Detroit in May and June, they needed health, composure, and enough offensive options that one player — even Michael Jordan — didn’t have to solve every possession.

Date: May 7, 1995

Location: Madison Square Garden, New York City

Final Score: Indiana Pacers 107, New York Knicks 105

Series Context: Pacers lead series 1–0

Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals produced one of the most sudden and disorienting finishes in NBA history. What unfolded at Madison Square Garden was not a slow comeback or a gradual swing of momentum, but a violent reversal that happened faster than the crowd could process it.

Reggie Miller’s eight points in 8.9 seconds didn’t just steal a game. They permanently altered how late-game leads are perceived inside the Garden.

Game Context

The matchup carried weight before the opening tip. Indiana and New York were not strangers — they were building one of the NBA’s most physical and emotional rivalries. The Knicks entered the series as a 55-win team. The Pacers arrived with 52 wins and a roster designed to survive pressure.

Madison Square Garden was loud, confident, and fully expecting control.

First Quarter — Indiana Sets the Tone

The Pacers opened the game with aggression, scoring efficiently and refusing to let the environment dictate pace. Indiana moved the ball, attacked mismatches, and leaned heavily on Rik Smits in the post.

Smits scored consistently throughout the night, finishing with 34 points on high efficiency. His presence prevented New York from loading up on perimeter shooters and kept Indiana from becoming predictable.

Second Quarter — New York Finds Control

The Knicks responded by turning the game into a grind. They won the second quarter behind physical rebounding, transition opportunities, and balanced scoring.

John Starks attacked the defense off the dribble. Charles Oakley cleaned possessions with rebounding and interior scoring. Anthony Mason brought his usual force and playmaking.

By halftime, New York had nudged ahead and successfully slowed Indiana’s rhythm.

Third Quarter — A Two-Possession Game Emerges

Indiana reclaimed control in the third quarter by tightening defensively and returning to structure. Mark Jackson organized the offense, Smits continued scoring, and Reggie Miller remained active even without extended scoring runs.

The game entered the fourth quarter close and tense — exactly the type of environment New York typically thrived in.

Fourth Quarter — The Knicks Build the Finish Line

The Knicks spent most of the fourth quarter protecting a narrow lead. Madison Square Garden responded to every defensive stop as if it were a series-clinching play.

With under 20 seconds remaining, Greg Anthony made two free throws to extend New York’s lead to six points. In real time, the game felt over.

Reggie Miller — Quarter-by-Quarter Impact

Miller finished the game with 31 points, but his scoring pattern was deceptive. He did not dominate the fourth quarter with repeated baskets. In fact, he did not make a field goal in the final period until the closing seconds.

Indiana remained alive because of Smits’ interior efficiency and disciplined execution — and then Miller detonated the ending.

The 8 Points in 8.9 Seconds — Complete Breakdown

Down six: With roughly 18 seconds remaining, Indiana trailed 105–99.

The first three: Miller immediately hit a three-pointer, cutting the lead to three. The crowd shifted from celebration to tension.

The steal: On the ensuing inbound pass, Miller anticipated the play and stole the ball — the pivotal moment of the entire sequence.

The second three: Miller retreated behind the arc and buried another three to tie the game. The Garden went silent.

The missed opportunity: Indiana fouled John Starks, who missed both free throws.

The final swing: Patrick Ewing grabbed the rebound but missed a short jumper, allowing Indiana one last possession.

The free throws: Miller was fouled and made two free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining, giving Indiana the lead.

The ending: New York failed to generate a clean look on the final possession, and the Pacers escaped with the win.

Why It Worked

The sequence was not luck. It required:

Immediate shot recognition — Miller knew a three was mandatory.

Defensive anticipation — the inbound steal was a calculated gamble.

Composure under chaos — two threes without hesitation.

Poise at the line — free throws that sealed the game.

Statistical Summary

Reggie Miller (IND): 31 points, 4 steals

Rik Smits (IND): 34 points

Mark Jackson (IND): 7 assists, 7 rebounds

John Starks (NYK): 21 points

Charles Oakley (NYK): 17 points, 10 rebounds

Patrick Ewing (NYK): 11 points, 10 rebounds

Aftermath and Legacy

Indiana didn’t just win a road game — it seized emotional control of the series in the opening minutes.

The moment has endured because it is precise. Eight points. Less than nine seconds. No ambiguity.

Whenever a late lead feels safe inside Madison Square Garden, this sequence still lingers as a reminder: no lead is safe until the clock hits zero.

Date: May 7, 1972

Location: The Forum, Inglewood

Final Score: Los Angeles Lakers 114, New York Knicks 100

Series Result: Lakers win Finals 4–1

Game 5 of the 1972 NBA Finals was more than a championship clincher. It served as the final chapter of one of the most dominant seasons in league history — a season defined by a record-setting 33-game winning streak, a 69-win regular season, and a postseason run that finally delivered the Los Angeles Lakers their long-awaited title.

For years, the Lakers had been a frequent Finals participant without consistent championship closure in Los Angeles. The 1971–72 season changed that narrative permanently.

What the 33-Game Winning Streak Represented

The Lakers’ 33-game winning streak remains the longest in NBA history. It began in early November and extended into January, spanning over two months of travel, physical matchups, and escalating pressure.

This was not a run built on favorable scheduling or short-term shooting luck. The Lakers defeated contenders, survived road stretches, and maintained consistency night after night while every opponent treated the matchup as a measuring stick.

When the streak finally ended, it did so against a powerhouse opponent — a reminder that the run required excellence to sustain and elite competition to stop.

The Team Behind the Streak

The dominance of the 1971–72 Lakers was the product of clarity. Roles were defined, and every player executed within them.

Wilt Chamberlain: Defensive anchor, rebounding control, interior efficiency, and the team’s physical foundation.

Jerry West: Offensive organizer, primary ball-handler, and late-game stabilizer.

Gail Goodrich: Perimeter scoring threat who stretched defenses and punished rotations.

Bill Sharman (Coach): Implemented a structured, disciplined system that prioritized pace, spacing, and responsibility.

Most notably, Chamberlain accepted a reduced scoring role in favor of defense, rebounding, and efficiency — a shift that unlocked the full potential of the roster.

The 1972 Postseason Run

Los Angeles entered the playoffs as the league’s most complete team, and the postseason reflected that status.

The Lakers swept Chicago in the opening round, advancing without disruption. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced Milwaukee — the defending champions — and defeated them in six games, removing the league’s most imposing interior presence from the championship path.

By the time the Finals began, Los Angeles had already passed its most difficult test.

The Finals Matchup

The opponent was the New York Knicks, a disciplined and experienced team led by Walt Frazier. The Knicks had previously denied the Lakers a championship earlier in the decade, adding emotional weight to the matchup.

This time, however, the Lakers controlled the series. They dictated pace, owned the paint, and consistently responded to New York’s adjustments.

Game 5 — Setting the Tone

Game 5 opened tightly contested. At halftime, the score was even, and the Knicks had managed to prevent the game from slipping away early.

In the second half, Los Angeles gradually imposed control. The Lakers didn’t rely on sudden runs. Instead, they chipped away through defensive stops, rebounding, and efficient half-court execution.

Wilt Chamberlain’s Defining Performance

Chamberlain entered the game with a wrist injury, but his presence was unmistakable. He controlled the glass, anchored the defense, and finished efficiently around the basket.

Wilt Chamberlain: 24 points, 29 rebounds

Although blocks were not officially tracked at the time, his defensive impact was widely acknowledged by observers and broadcasters.

The Backcourt Delivers

While Chamberlain controlled the interior, Jerry West and Gail Goodrich provided the scoring balance that prevented defensive collapse.

Jerry West & Gail Goodrich: Combined 48 points

New York continued to compete behind Walt Frazier’s scoring and playmaking, but every push was answered.

The Final Stretch

As the fourth quarter unfolded, the outcome became increasingly inevitable. Los Angeles extended its lead methodically, and the Forum crowd responded with the recognition that this was not merely a win — it was validation.

The final score reflected control, not survival.

What the Championship Meant

The victory secured the Lakers’ first NBA championship in Los Angeles and validated one of the most dominant team constructions the league had ever seen.

The 33-game winning streak, the postseason consistency, and the Finals execution formed a single narrative — sustained excellence without chaos.

Why the 1972 Lakers Still Matter

The 1972 Lakers remain a benchmark for team dominance. Their success was not defined by individual peaks, but by collective execution across an entire season.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals didn’t just end a series. It completed a story — one built on structure, sacrifice, and sustained control — that still stands as one of the greatest seasons in basketball history.