Michael Jordan's greatest games: Christmast rematch against the bad boys of Pistons
How the Airmen led Chicago to deliver a Christmas gift to fans with a win over Detroit
Many people consider Michael Jordan to be the greatest basketball player of all time. And the reasons are really very many. The Airman's NBA career isn't just about 10 or 20 great games. He played, perhaps, hundreds of games, almost every one of which he could say was the greatest in his NBA history.
Jordan is also known for his individual records that have shot him high in more than one association rankings, but what has always stood out is his determination and dedication in the most crucial moments. And we're not just talking about playoff games and NBA Finals, or battles against direct rivals. We're also talking about matchups where his Chicago Bulls needed something magical to win. In the following lines, we'll go back to Christmas 1990 to remember what Jordan did with the Detroit Pistons to bring the Bulls another famous regular season success.
Christmas is a truly special time in the NBA and, perhaps, the most exciting day on the regular season calendar. On top of the biggest Christian holiday, Chicago faces Detroit. The Bulls also lost the first game between the two teams, despite an incredible performance by a margin of 21 points, which reminded them of the defeat in game number 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last season 1989/90. Now they had to give a gift to their fans. A gift in the form of a rematch against the Pistons.
With 37 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, Jordan helped make that happen. Chicago won 98:86 at home and delighted the fans. "The Airman" made 14 of his 23 attempts, giving him a 60.9 percentage, and missed just 2 of the 10 shots he had from the penalty line. A performance that will be remembered mostly for the valuable success and the date the game was played, but also for Jordan's dominance. Although John Paxton, Bill Cartwright and Scottie Pippen also scored in double figures, no one can argue with the performance of the Airman, which this time also led to the victory.
The match will also be remembered for a magical serve by Jordan, which, however, is not included in the statistics because of a defensive violation by Detroit. A basket that doesn't make an impact anyway, and only the "bulls" and their leader celebrate Christmas.
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