1992 NBA Finals

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls won their first NBA championship the previous season, ushering in a new era in the league. Proving that their maiden championship was no fluke, the Bulls continued their dominance in the 1991–92 season, finishing with a 67–15 record, surpassing last season's record by six games. Jordan won his second consecutive MVP award with a 30.1/6.4/6.1 season.

After easily sweeping the Miami Heat in the opening round, they encountered the New York Knicks, who were now coached by Pat Riley. The Knicks' hard-nosed style of play soon took its toll on the Bulls, but led by Jordan, they were able to escape in seven games. Up next were the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals, whom the Bulls had beaten in two prior postseason meetings. Despite facing a much-improved Cavaliers team, the Bulls were still too much to handle, and they won in six games.^[3]

With their co-tenants at Chicago Stadium, the Blackhawks, coached by Mike Keenan and captained by Dirk Graham, playing in the Stanley Cup Finals, it was an opportunity for both the Bulls and the Blackhawks to help the city of Chicago become the first city to have both NBA and NHL championships in the same year.^[4]

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers were destined to meet the Bulls the previous year, having won a franchise record 63 games. But the Los Angeles Lakers had other ideas, defeating Portland in six games of the conference finals.

Retaining the same core that led the Blazers to the finals in 1990, the team won the Pacific Division title with a 57–25 record. They took advantage of a weakened Lakers team that lost Magic Johnson to retirement earlier in the season, winning 3–1 in the first round. They followed that up with a five-game defeat of the Phoenix Suns in the second round, before booking another trip to the finals with a six-game elimination of the Utah Jazz in the conference finals.

The 1992 NBA Finals would cement the reputations of both Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler (placing the latter firmly in the former's shadow).

Road to the Finals

Regular season series

The Chicago Bulls won both games in the regular season series:

Chicago Bulls

1992 Chicago Bulls Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From PG 7001100000000000000♠10 Armstrong, B.J. 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1967–09–09 Iowa C 7001240000000000000♠24 Cartwright, Bill 7000215899999999999♠7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1957–07–30 San Francisco PF 7001540000000000000♠54 Grant, Horace 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson SG 7001200000000000000♠20 Hansen, Bobby 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1961–01–18 Iowa SG 7001140000000000000♠14 Hodges, Craig 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1960–06–27 Long Beach State SG 7001230000000000000♠23 Jordan, Michael 7000198120000000000♠6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1963–02–17 North Carolina PF 7001210000000000000♠21 King, Stacey 7000210820000000000♠6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1967–01–29 Oklahoma PF 7001530000000000000♠53 Levingston, Cliff 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1961–01–04 Wichita State C 7001250000000000000♠25 Nevitt, Chuck 7000226059999999999♠7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 1960–02–19 Kansas State PG 7000500000000000000♠5 Paxson, John 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1959–06–13 Notre Dame C 7001320000000000000♠32 Perdue, Will 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1965–08–29 Vanderbilt SF 7001330000000000000♠33 Pippen, Scottie 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas PF 7001520000000000000♠52 Randall, Mark 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1967–09–30 Kansas PF 7001420000000000000♠42 Williams, Scott 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–03–21 North Carolina	Head coach Phil Jackson (North Dakota) Assistant coach(es) Johnny Bach (Fordham) Jim Cleamons (Ohio State) Tex Winter (Southern California) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Portland Trail Blazers

1992 Portland Trail Blazers Finals roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. DOB From PF 7001310000000000000♠31 Abdelnaby, Alaa 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1968–06–24 Duke SG 7000900000000000000♠9 Ainge, Danny 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1959–03–17 BYU PF 7000200000000000000♠2 Bryant, Mark 7000205740000000000♠6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–04–25 Seton Hall C 7001420000000000000♠42 Cooper, Wayne 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–11–16 New Orleans SG 7001220000000000000♠22 Drexler, Clyde 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston C 5000000000000000000♠00 Duckworth, Kevin 7000213360000000000♠7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 275 lb (125 kg) 1964–04–01 Eastern Illinois SF 7001250000000000000♠25 Kersey, Jerome 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1962–06–26 Longwood PG 7001140000000000000♠14 Pack, Robert 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1969–02–03 Southern California PG 7001300000000000000♠30 Porter, Terry 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–04–08 UW-Stevens Point PF 7000300000000000000♠3 Robinson, Clifford 7000208279999999999♠6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–12–16 Connecticut SG 7001120000000000000♠12 Strothers, Lamont 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–10 Christopher Newport PG 7000800000000000000♠8 Whatley, Ennis 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 1962–08–11 Alabama PF 7001520000000000000♠52 Williams, Buck 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960–03–08 Maryland	Head coach Rick Adelman (Loyola Marymount) Assistant coach(es) Jack Schalow (Pacific) John Wetzel (Virginia Tech) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Game 1

Michael Jordan dominated from the beginning, breaking the record for most points in a first half in the playoffs once held by Elgin Baylor (Michael had 35, Baylor had 33). This included six first-half threes (also a record). It was after the sixth three-pointer that Jordan turned towards the broadcast table and famously shrugged to indicate his surprise. Jordan's shrug became a highlight reel mainstay. Portland held their final lead at 45–44 in the second quarter before Chicago went on a 22–6 run to grab a 66–51 halftime lead and take control. The Bulls finished with a 122–89 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Game 2

With the Blackhawks playing for the Stanley Cup when the Bulls reached the Finals, Game 2 would have had conflict with Game 6 of the Blackhawks' series, as both teams would have played on the same day at Chicago Stadium.^[5] However, the Blackhawks series ended in 4 games, so no rescheduling was needed.

Portland built an eight-point lead in the first quarter, and held a nine-point lead at the half. However, as in Game 1, their lead started to disappear as the Bulls made their run – Jordan would score 14 points while Paxson would score 9 points, taking a seven-point lead by the end of the third quarter. Chicago was looking to take a commanding 2–0 lead in the series when Clyde Drexler fouled out with 4:36 remaining. With the Bulls up by 10, Jordan started to lose his poise, committing a foul and then a technical foul. This would help Portland build a 15–5 run, pushing the game into overtime after Jordan narrowly missed at the buzzer. In overtime, Portland dominated, especially Ainge, who scored six points with one minute remaining as the Blazers won 115–104 – the Bulls' worst home defeat in an NBA Finals game.

Game 3

Chicago had lost home court advantage, but dominated Portland, holding them to numerous franchise playoff lows: 84 points in a game, 39 second-half points and 28 field goals. Chicago would go on a 30–13 run in the first half to gain a 44–30 lead which Portland would cut to three with 7:09 left in the third before the Bulls went to another 12–3 run. Portland would then go on a field goal drought, not scoring from the 4:33 mark in the third quarter until the 9:36 mark of the fourth, a 6:57 stretch.

Game 4

Portland was still playing as they were during Game 3, not scoring for four minutes and finding themselves down 10–0. The Bulls would be up 22–9 before the Blazers rallied and cut the deficit to three at the half, but found themselves down again in the third quarter. While Jordan scored 13 points in the third quarter, he would not score in the game's final 10:26. Portland would go on a 15–6 run to even the series at two games apiece.

Game 5

The Bulls jumped out to a 10–2 lead and never looked back, answering every Blazers comeback attempt with a run of their own. Chicago opened the second half on a 16–8 run to give the Bulls a 20-point lead. Portland didn't pull back within single digits until less than four minutes were left in the game, and ended up losing 119–106.

Michael Jordan, who briefly sat with a bad ankle, finished with 46 points on 14-of-23 from the field and 16-of-19 from the line. Scottie Pippen fell just short of a triple-double, with 24 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Clyde Drexler scored 30 points to lead six Portland players in double figures. However, Portland had 18 turnovers and shot just 43.8 percent from the field, compared to 54.8 percent for the Bulls.

Game 6

Portland started strongly as they held Michael Jordan scoreless for the game's first 11 minutes, and would take a 43–28 lead midway through the second quarter before Chicago went on a 16–7 run and cut the deficit to only six points. Portland also dominated the third quarter, building a 79–64 lead. Phil Jackson would go with four reserves and Scottie Pippen to start the fourth quarter, cutting Portland's lead to three after only three minutes. Jordan returned and had two steals and converted them to hoops to give Chicago a permanent lead. The Bulls' defense would hold Portland to only six points in the final four minutes, leading the Bulls to their second straight championship.