NBA

‘The Last Dance’ Redux: Michael Jordan Came Nowhere Near the Last Shot as the Bulls Take a One-Point Loss to the Sonics

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Michael Jordan and Detlef Schrempf battle during a Bulls-Sonics matchup in November 1997

Coming off an easy win over the Sacramento Kings two days earlier, the Chicago Bulls continued their “Last Dance” campaign with a matchup against the Seattle Supersonics on November 25, 1997.

The Sonics came out hot and had an 11-point lead after the first quarter behind 10 points from Chicago native Hersey Hawkins, who made four of six shots in the frame but didn’t score another point over the final 36 minutes.

The Bulls trailed by nine at the half but outscored Seattle by a dozen in the third quarter as Toni Kukoc scored 12 of his game-high 30 points in the frame. The game stayed tight throughout the fourth quarter, and with three seconds remaining, Vin Baker hit a jumper from the right wing to give the Sonics a 91-90 lead.

Michael Jordan and Detlef Schrempf battle during a Bulls-Sonics matchup in November 1997
Michael Jordan and Detlef Schrempf battle for the basketball during the Chicago Bulls-Seattle Supersonics game on November 25, 1997 | Dan Levine/AFP via Getty Images

As Kukoc had the hot hand all night, making 11 of his 16 shots up to that point, he was given the opportunity to win the game for the Bulls instead of Michael Jordan, who connected on 11 of 25 attempts for 26 points. But Kukoc took a tough fadeaway three-pointer as time expired, which came nowhere close to the rim to give the Sonics the one-point win. And speaking of nowhere close, Jordan had zero involvement whatsoever in the final shot, which was interesting.

Gary Payton led the way for Seattle with 22 points and 12 assists. Obviously including his game-winner, Baker added 19 points and 12 boards, while Detlef Schrempf kicked in 17 points and nine rebounds.

Outside of Kukoc and Jordan, Randy Brown was the only other Bull in double figures, scoring a dozen points off the bench.

BullsPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Toni Kukoc307611
Dennis Rodman417100
Michael Jordan266550
Ron Harper67602
Luc Longley62513
Randy Brown120100
Bill Wennington22010
Scott Burrell21010
Jud Buechler00000
Rusty LaRue20000
SonicsPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Gary Payton2261200
Vin Baker1912522
Detlef Schrempf179111
Hersey Hawkins104211
Jim McIlvaine21105
Sam Perkins92101
Dale Ellis61000
David Wingate52110
Greg Anthony10100

Here’s a look at the NBA standings following all the action on November 25, 1997.

Eastern ConferenceWL
Atlanta Hawks112
Charlotte Hornets93
Miami Heat94
New York Knicks94
Orlando Magic94
New Jersey Nets84
Milwaukee Bucks75
Chicago Bulls86
Boston Celtics76
Cleveland Cavaliers66
Indiana Pacers56
Detroit Pistons510
Philadelphia 76ers37
Washington Wizards410
Toronto Raptors112
Western ConferenceWL
LA Lakers111
Seattle Supersonics113
Phoenix Suns72
Portland Trail Blazers94
San Antonio Spurs85
Houston Rockets65
Utah Jazz76
Minnesota Timberwolves66
Vancouver Grizzlies68
Sacramento Kings58
Dallas Mavericks310
Golden State Warriors111
LA Clippers112
Denver Nuggets012

Up next for the “Last Dance” Bulls was a matchup with Larry Bird’s Indiana Pacers in an Eastern Conference Finals preview.

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