<P> In the playoffs, the Bulls lost only three games in four series (Miami Heat 3--0, New York Knicks 4--1, Orlando Magic 4--0). They defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 4--2 in the NBA Finals to win their fourth championship . Jordan was named Finals MVP for a record fourth time, surpassing Magic Johnson's three Finals MVP awards . He also achieved only the second sweep of the MVP Awards in the All - Star Game, regular season and NBA Finals, Willis Reed having achieved the first, during the 1969--70 season . Because this was Jordan's first championship since his father's murder, and it was won on Father's Day, Jordan reacted very emotionally upon winning the title, including a memorable scene of him crying on the locker room floor with the game ball . </P> <P> In the 1996--97 season, the Bulls started out 69--11, but missed out on a second consecutive 70 - win season by losing their final two games to finish 69--13 . However, this year Jordan was beaten for the NBA MVP Award by Karl Malone . The Bulls again advanced to the Finals, where they faced Malone and the Utah Jazz . The series against the Jazz featured two of the more memorable clutch moments of Jordan's career . He won Game 1 for the Bulls with a buzzer - beating jump shot . In Game 5, with the series tied at 2, Jordan played despite being feverish and dehydrated from a stomach virus . In what is known as the "Flu Game", Jordan scored 38 points, including the game - deciding 3 - pointer with 25 seconds remaining . The Bulls won 90--88 and went on to win the series in six games . For the fifth time in as many Finals appearances, Jordan received the Finals MVP award . During the 1997 NBA All - Star Game, Jordan posted the first triple double in All - Star Game history in a victorious effort; however, he did not receive the MVP award . </P> <P> Jordan and the Bulls compiled a 62--20 record in the 1997--98 season . Jordan led the league with 28.7 points per game, securing his fifth regular - season MVP award, plus honors for All - NBA First Team, First Defensive Team and the All - Star Game MVP . The Bulls won the Eastern Conference Championship for a third straight season, including surviving a seven - game series with the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals; it was the first time Jordan had played in a Game 7 since the 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals with the Knicks . After winning, they moved on for a rematch with the Jazz in the Finals . </P> <P> The Bulls returned to the Delta Center for Game 6 on June 14, 1998, leading the series 3--2 . Jordan executed a series of plays, considered to be one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA Finals history . With the Bulls trailing 86--83 with 41.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Phil Jackson called a timeout . When play resumed, Jordan received the inbound pass, drove to the basket, and hit a shot over several Jazz defenders, cutting the Utah lead to 86--85 . The Jazz brought the ball upcourt and passed the ball to forward Karl Malone, who was set up in the low post and was being guarded by Rodman . Malone jostled with Rodman and caught the pass, but Jordan cut behind him and took the ball out of his hands for a steal . Jordan then dribbled down the court and paused, eyeing his defender, Jazz guard Bryon Russell . With 10 seconds remaining, Jordan started to dribble right, then crossed over to his left, possibly pushing off Russell, although the officials did not call a foul . With 5.2 seconds left, Jordan gave Chicago an 87--86 lead with a game - winning jumper, the climactic shot of his Bulls career . Afterwards, John Stockton missed a game - winning three - pointer . Jordan and the Bulls won their sixth NBA championship and second three - peat . Once again, Jordan was voted the Finals MVP, having led all scorers averaging 33.5 points per game, including 45 in the deciding Game 6 . Jordan's six Finals MVPs is a record; Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, LeBron James and Tim Duncan are tied for second place with three apiece . The 1998 Finals holds the highest television rating of any Finals series in history . Game 6 also holds the highest television rating of any game in NBA history . </P>

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