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Flashback #9: Bulls Win 1993 NBA Finals (1993)

As of 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary on January 3rd, the station has begun to reveal (in chronological order) the Top 100 Chicago Sports Stories that have occurred since they first went on the air 20 years ago. Once all 100 of these "flashbacks" have been revealed, fans will be able to vote for which stories they believe are the most significant in the 20 year history of The Score. To see all of the Flashbacks that The Score has posted so far, please visit 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary page.

June 16, 1993 - Chicago Bulls defeat the Phoenix Suns in 1993 NBA Finals

The Bulls were four wins away from claiming their first-ever NBA Championship three peat.

Standing in their way was the 6-foot-6-inch, 252-pound reigning NBA MVP in Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns.

The Suns had earned home-court advantage, but that didn't phase Michael Jordan and the Bulls, as Chicago took the first two games in Phoenix.

The Bulls won Game 1 easy behind 31 points from Jordan, but Game 2 presented a much different challenge when Barkley dropped 42 points. Luckily for Chicago, Jordan showed his skill by matching Barkley's 42, en route to a Bulls' win, 111-108.

The series then headed back to Chicago Stadium, where the Suns took Game 3, thanks in part to 28 points from Dan Majerle. Jordan's 44 points and Horace Grant's 17 boards went for naught, as Phoenix cut into the Bulls' series lead.

Jordan displayed a Hall of Fame performance in Game 4, posting 44 points, as the Bulls took the 3-1 series lead. Game 4 marked the only time in the six-game series where the home team won.

Despite Jordan's 41 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in Game 5, the Bulls fell 108-98, bringing the series back to Phoenix.

The Bulls started strong in Game 6 but struggled in the fourth quarter, wasting a double-digit lead to trail 98-94.  Jordan hit a layup to cut the deficit to two points, and Majerle's 30-foot three-point attempt fell short on the Suns' next possession. The Bulls then trailed 98-96 and faced a Game 7 on the road if they lost.

That's when John Paxon took a pass from Grant and buried a three pointer with 3.9 seconds left, giving the Bulls a 99-98 lead.

The Bulls held on and won their third-straight title. Coincidentally, Jordan won his third-straight Finals MVP behind an NBA Finals record of 41.0 points per game, while collecting 8.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists

The Score will continue to release a new Flashback each weekday until they reach 100. Check back tomorrow for a new one, or check out all of the previous Flashbacks: 670 The Score's 20th Anniversary »

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