Friday, February 7, 2025

Throwback: Bulls lose first-game of the 1997-98 season

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By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher

As ESPN features the Chicago Bulls in their 10-part “The Last Dance” documentary, we’ll look back on every game of the final season of the Bulls dynasty — the 1997-1998 NBA Season. In this particular season, Chicago won their sixth NBA Championship with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

Chicago lost its first game of the season. The Boston Celtics defeated the Bulls, 92-85, on October 31, 1997.

Boston Celtics player Antoine Walker attempts to get a rebound past Michael Jordan against the Chicago Bulls
Antoine Walker attempts to get a rebound past Michael Jordan against the Chicago Bulls (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Bulls played this game without Pippen.

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During the third quarter, the game was tied at 49 as Luc Longley tied the game with a two-point tip-in. Antoine Walker then scored a three-point basket for a 52-49 for the Celtics.

A short time later, Walker made a 26-foot three-pointer, as Boston went up six points. Jordan made one of two three throws to make it 55-50.

Chauncey Billups put the Celtics up eight points, 58-50 with his three-point basket. Dennis Rodman cut the lead to two points before Billups scored with his four-foot basket for the 60-52 lead.

The Bulls scored four straight points to cut the lead to 60-56. The Celtics responded with an 8-0 run, before Rodman scored to stop the run with a 12-foot jump shot to cut the lead to 68-58.

Chicago trailed throughout the entire fourth quarter. Jordan cut the lead to 86-83 with 1:21 left in the contest.

Boston then went on a 4-0 lead for a 90-83 lead. Jason Caffey made a 22-foot two-point basket to make it 90-85. Billups scored the final two points of the game, as he made two free throws with 0:04 seconds left in the contest.

Walker led the Celtics with 31 points. He also had eight rebounds, two assists, five steals, and two blocks in 39 minutes.

He was one of three Boston players, who scored double digits in the contest. Billups added 15 and Ron Mercer had 11.

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The Celtics had 27 bench points. Billups led the bench with his aforementioned 15 points.

Jordan led the Bulls with 30 points. He also had six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in 42 minutes.

He was one of four Chicago players, who scored in double-figures. Caffey scored 13 points, while Toni Kukoč had 12 and Rodman had 10.

The Bulls had 21 bench points. Rodman led the bench with his 10 points.

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    Anthony Caruso III
    Anthony Caruso IIIhttps://thecapitalsportsreport.com
    Anthony Caruso III is the Publisher of The Capital Sports Report. He has been in the Journalism field since August 2002. Since that time, Mr. Caruso has covered many marquee events. This includes 13 Heisman Trophy ceremonies, 2 Little World Series events, and one Army-Navy College Football game.
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