{"id":1666,"date":"2026-06-13T16:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T16:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=1666"},"modified":"2026-06-13T16:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T16:37:21","slug":"deseret-news-archives-bulls-broke-jazz-fans-hearts-in-nba-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=1666","title":{"rendered":"Deseret News archives: Bulls broke Jazz fans\u2019 hearts in NBA Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story was originally published on June 13, 2024.<\/i><\/p>\n

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.<\/i><\/p>\n

It had been quite a ride for Utah Jazz fans in the mid-1990s.<\/p>\n

With Jerry Sloan, Karl Malone and John Stockton as the cornerstones, the Jazz were all that, and the fans loved it.<\/p>\n

Read more High school boys volleyball: Deseret News 2026 6A All-State team<\/a><\/p>\n

The NBA franchise moved into the Delta Center in 1991 and made it all the way to the Western Conference finals, hosted the NBA All-Star game in 1992, traded for Jeff Hornacek during the 1993-94 season and again made the West finals.<\/p>\n

The Jazz won 60 games in 1994-95 but injuries derailed their playoff push. In 1995-96, with rookie Greg Ostertag learning how to stay out of Sloan\u2019s doghouse, the Jazz made it as far as the conference finals again.<\/p>\n

In the 1996-97 season, Utah won 64 games and in dramatic fashion eliminated the Houston Rockets in the West to advance to the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

Besides Stockton, Malone, the league\u2019s MVP, Hornacek and Ostertag, the Jazz roster included Byron Russell, Antoine Carr, Howard Eisley and Shandon Anderson.<\/p>\n

Over the first 12 days of June 1997, the teams split the first four games, each winning at home. Fans at the Delta Center were so loud it became a national talking point in the series.<\/p>\n

Game 5, known as the \u201cJordan Flu game,\u201d was perhaps MJ\u2019s most memorable game. He was deemed too sick to play, but still made the opening tipoff in Salt Lake City. The Jazz built a 16-point lead early but the scoreboard tightened up in the second half.<\/p>\n

A late Jordan 3-pointer with 25 seconds left gave the Bulls an 88-85 lead, and despite an all-out effort in the final seconds, the Bulls prevailed in front of a stunned Delta Center crowd.<\/p>\n

Read more Opinion: USU extension is an investment in Utah\u2019s communities<\/a><\/p>\n

The Jazz would not give up though, and Game 6 on June 13 in Chicago was just as bitterly close<\/p>\n

Another back-and-forth game went to the final seconds. With the score tied and 28 seconds to play, the Bulls called timeout. The Jazz expected Jordan to take the final shot, but he passed to a wide-open Steve Kerr, who broke the Jazz kingdom\u2019s hearts. Final score after a final dunk, 90-88.<\/p>\n

\u201cChicago heartbreaker\u201d was the 1A headline in the Deseret News after the game. \u201cGoing down fighting; drive for title reaches end of the road\u201d was the top sports headline the next morning<\/p>\n

Here are some archived stories from Deseret News colleagues from that series:<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking back: How John Stockton sent the Utah Jazz to first NBA Finals… and this sports writer to a barstool in Chicago\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKarl Malone, Scottie Pippen and the trash talk that impacted the Utah Jazz\u2019s first trip to the NBA Finals\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 1996-97 Utah Jazz are champions after all. Here\u2019s how \u2014 and what \u2014 that legendary team won\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo Steve Kerr\u2019s shorts from 1997 NBA Finals are currently up for auction\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSloan, Johnson have fond memories of 1996-97 Jazz team that made NBA Finals\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman actually did go to Vegas during the NBA Finals against the Jazz\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more High school boys volleyball: Deseret News 2026 5A All-State team<\/a><\/p>\n

So while Jordan and the Jazz broke Utahns\u2019 hearts, there was always next year.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned.<\/p>\n

\n
Related<\/div>\n
Deseret News timeline<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today in history: Michael Jordan led Chicago to the title in 1997, but Steve Kerr\u2019s Game 6 shot was the final dagger. 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