1997 western conference finals

The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season.The Western Conference champion Utah Jazz took on the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage.The series were played under a best-of-seven format, with … This was the first playoff meeting between the Rockets and the Timberwolves.This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first meeting. During the introductions of the Jazz's starting lineups, the Bulls players plugged their ears, due to the loud cheers and fireworks within the Delta Center. After losing in the Western Conference Finals, the The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

For the Knicks, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson left the bench. Jordan made a jumper to give the Bulls a 73–69 lead, but the Bulls would not score again. This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the Knicks.This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first two meetings. In the final minutes, Jordan's fadeaway jumper extended the Bulls lead to 3, before Bryon Russell hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 left to tie the game at 86. Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP for the fifth time.

Finals MVP: Michael Jordan (32.3 / 7.0 / 6.0) 1997 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Michael Jordan (590) TRB: Karl Malone (228) AST: John Stockton (191) WS: Michael Jordan (3.9) More playoffs info

The 1997 NBA Playoffs featured numerous clutch shots and other moments. All of the players involved were suspended. (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Portland Trail Blazers The Jazz expected Jordan to take the final shot. Malone finished the second half 1-for-6 from the field. After some Bulls misses, Karl Malone made two free throws with 17 seconds left to put the Jazz up by 3. The Jazz argued that this was due to Pippen grabbing the rim before the shot, causing the basketball standard to shake. However, the officials ruled that the ball had no chance of going in. Conference Semi-Finals. New York Rangers. The Bulls won the series 4 games to 2. 1997 NHL Western Conference Finals Detroit Red Wings defeat Colorado Avalanche 4-2 2. Utah's 31 points in the first half was only one point above an NBA low. Michael Jordan hadn't fully recovered from his illness, but he was feeling much better and led the Bulls with 39 points.

Late in the game, Michael Jordan made a fast break dunk to give the Bulls a 71–66 lead, but John Stockton made a momentum-shifting 3 at the top of the key to cut the deficit to 71–69. 4-0.

Philadelphia Flyers. Until For the Chicago Bulls, the campaign was almost identical to their record-breaking 1995–96 season. This was the Bulls' second straight title, and fifth overall (They completed the 3-peat by beating Utah again in 1998). Brown body-slammed Knicks guard Charlie Ward causing both teams' benches to clear. 1997 Western Conference Finals – Game 6 John Stockton would ruin the NBA Finals hopes of the Rockets faithful as he led the way for the Jazz.

With the game tied at 82 with 9.2 seconds left, Jazz forward With most NBC viewers thinking Jordan would take the last shot with the game tied at 86, he instead passed to This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Jazz winning the first meeting. 1997 NBA Western Conference Finals Rockets vs. Jazz League Champion: Chicago Bulls. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for conference quarter-finals, semi-finals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Stanley Cup… This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first five meetings. This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning four of the first six meetings.