NBA

‘The Last Dance’ Redux: Michael Jordan and the Bulls Took One of Their Worst Losses of the Year on Veterans Day to the Cavaliers

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Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers November 11, 1997

Coming off a three-day break following a victory over the previously undefeated New Jersey Nets, a triumph in which Michael Jordan finally got a little help from his teammates, the Chicago Bulls continued their “Last Dance” season with a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 11, 1997.

The Cavs came into this Veterans Day clash at just 2-3 but had played a tough schedule to open the season. Three nights earlier, they nearly became the first team to defeat the undefeated Atlanta Hawks but came up just short, falling 99-97 in overtime. They wouldn’t have nearly as much trouble with Chicago.

The Bulls kept things close in the first quarter behind a solid 12 minutes from Jordan, who scored 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting. But he only scored nine points the rest of the way as he and the majority of his Bulls teammates struggled shooting the basketball.

Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers November 11, 1997
Chicago Bulls center Joe Kleine battles for the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Shawn Kemp in the first half on November 11, 1997, at Gund Arena | Kimberly Barth/AFP via Getty Images

They made just four field goals as a team in the second quarter, shooting a woeful 25%. Meanwhile, Cleveland hit 64.3% of its shots and outscored Chicago by 10 to take a 14-point lead into halftime. And the Cavs coasted from there to take a 101-80 victory.

Four of Cleveland’s five starters scored in double figures, led by Shawn Kemp, who scored 21 points and added nine rebounds. Wesley Person chipped in with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Despite scoring just 19 points, Jordan still nearly outscored his fellow Bulls starters as the other four combined for only 21 — and 14 of those came from Luc Longley. Chicago shot just 36.9% from the floor. The 21-point defeat would turn out to be the Bulls’ third-worst loss of the year.

BullsPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Michael Jordan196110
Ron Harper14220
Luc Longley144310
Randy Brown63500
Dennis Rodman05100
Steve Kerr92510
Jason Caffey148100
Joe Kleine65110
Toni Kukoc32310
Scott Burrell25000
Jud Buechler20000
Keith Booth42000
CavaliersPTSREBASTSTLBLK
Wesley Person176330
Shawn Kemp219111
Brevin Knight107740
Zydrunas Ilgauskas115001
Derek Anderson61200
Bob Sura62701
Mitchell Butler111140
Vitaly Potapenko23001
Cedric Henderson102200
Danny Ferry51000
Shawnelle Scott21100
Henry James00000

Here’s a look at the NBA standings following all the action on November 11, 1997.

Eastern ConferenceWL
Atlanta Hawks70
Milwaukee Bucks41
New Jersey Nets41
Miami Heat52
Charlotte Hornets42
Chicago Bulls43
New York Knicks43
Cleveland Cavaliers33
Orlando Magic33
Indiana Pacers24
Washington Wizards24
Detroit Pistons25
Boston Celtics15
Toronto Raptors15
Philadelphia 76ers05
Western ConferenceWL
LA Lakers50
San Antonio Spurs61
Portland Trail Blazers51
Phoenix Suns31
Seattle Supersonics52
Minnesota Timberwolves42
Houston Rockets32
Dallas Mavericks33
Vancouver Grizzlies34
Utah Jazz24
LA Clippers15
Sacramento Kings15
Denver Nuggets05
Golden State Warriors06

Up next for the “Last Dance” Bulls was a matchup with Jordan’s future team, the Washington Wizards.

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