Utah
25 Years Ago: John Stockton Sends Utah Jazz To NBA Finals
John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz dribbles in Recreation 5 of the Western Convention Quarterfinals in opposition to the Sacramento Kings throughout the 2003 NBA Playoffs at Arco Area on April 30, 2003 in Sacramento, California. The Kings gained 111-91. (Photograph by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos)
(Photograph by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photos)
SALT LAKE CITY – A few of the sweetest phrases in Jazz historical past had been spoken by Greg Gumbel in Houston, Texas on at the present time 25 years in the past, “John Stockton sends the Utah Jazz to the NBA Finals.”
On Might 29, 1997, the Rockets hosted the Jazz for Recreation 6 of the Western Convention Finals. Utah entered the matchup with a 3-2 collection lead.
With lower than three seconds remaining on the sport clock and the sport tied at 100, Karl Malone set a display close to the highest of the three-point arc to create an open house for Stockton. Bryon Russell inbounded the ball to an open Stockton, who took one dribble in the direction of the ring and rose up for a shot over Rockets ahead Charles Barkley.
Stockton’s shot sailed by means of the cylinder as time expired to provide Utah a 103-100 victory and a 4-2 collection win.
After the shot, Stockton’s teammates and coaches ran to mid-court to have fun the franchise’s first journey to the NBA Finals.
Stockton completed the competition with 25 factors and 13 assists. Malone posted 24 factors and 11 rebounds. Jeff Hornacek chipped in 18 factors, whereas Greg Ostertag added 16 factors and 14 rebounds. Russell recorded 15 factors.
The Jazz went on to face the Chicago Bulls within the Finals. After dropping the opening two video games of the championship collection, the Jazz even issues up with victories in Video games 3 and 4. The Bulls bounced again with two consecutive wins to defeat the Jazz and win the NBA title.
A yr later, Utah and Chicago met up once more within the NBA Finals. As soon as once more, the Bulls took the title with a 4-2 collection win.
The 2 straight journeys to the Finals nonetheless stay as Utah’s solely appearances within the championship collection.