Pippen Ain't Easy
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How Did the Bulls Win Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals?

By Michael Whitlow

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In Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals 22 years ago today, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns, 99-98, and won the organization’s third consecutive championship. But, after scoring just 12 points in the final frame, how did the Bulls even survive?

Everything was going according to plan for the Chicago Bulls.

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In Game 6 of the 1993 NBA Finals, the Bulls led the Phoenix Suns after three quarters, 87-79. Michael Jordan led all scorers with 24 points, while the Bulls were just 12 minutes from history.

With a win in Game 6, the Bulls would be the first team in the NBA since the Boston Celtics during their dominance of the 1960s to win three straight NBA titles.

Then, the lights went out on the Bulls offense.

In the first 6:09 of the fourth quarter, the Bulls didn’t score. They committed three shot-clock violations in that span and American West Arena was rocking, as the Suns home crowd (and defense) sparked them right back into the ballgame.

Of course, Jordan would end the scoreless drought with a made free throw with 5:51 left in the game, and would score the next eight points, as the Bulls trailed 98-96 with 14.1 seconds left, but had possession after a Dan Majerle airball, which was rare in the series.

The final defensive play was simple for Phoenix: don’t let Michael Jordan beat you.

They succeed, as Jordan was seemingly a decoy on the Bulls’ final offensive possession after a Phoenix double team in the backcourt, but they forgot about the best shooter on the floor.

Jordan pushed the ball up to Scottie Pippen, who attempted to drive the lane and was cut off by Suns big man Mark West. After Pippen’s lane was shut, he dished to Horace Grant in the post, who had a quick look at the basket with just under seven seconds left. Grant made a tremendous pass to a wide-open John Paxson on the left wing, and Paxson drilled the triple with 03.9 left in the game to give the Bulls a 99-98 lead.

After a Phoenix timeout, the Suns had one last chance that was snuffed out by, who else? The guy who made the right pass on the other end just a possession ago, sealed one of the wildest wins in Bulls history.

Jordan had a famous quote after the Bulls did the unthinkable and not only win their road game of the series, but their third straight title. “Once Paxson got the ball, I knew it was over,” Jordan said.

Despite only taking three prior attempts shot attempts in the game, Paxson was locked and loaded when his number was called.

"There was no one around me, and it felt good when it left. I just caught the ball and shot it, as I have my whole life. I’ve been playing basketball since I was 8 years old, and I’ve shot like that in my driveway hundreds of thousands of times. It was just reaction.”-John Paxson"

In one of the improbable situations in the history of the organization, the Bulls simply found a way and further etched their names in the history books.

Next: Chicago Bulls: Greatest Finals victories in the organization's history

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