Michael Jordan’s double-nickel game at Madison Square Garden in his 5th masterpiece game back in 1995. The game was an awesome comeback for Jordan from his first retirement. Watch the final episodes of The Last Dance Sunday, May 17 at 9 PM ET on ESPN.
Jordan’s legendary fax had been sent 10 days earlier, triggering “incoming” beeps at the Berto Center with a landmark announcement crawling out on Falk Associates Management Enterprises letterhead.
I’m back.
By the time the Bulls made it to the Big Apple a week and a half later, Jordan had played four games in his return, four games in that unfamiliar new jersey number: 45. The hype built with his first game back against the Pacers, then another road test in Boston plus his first contest ever played at the United Center.
Heck, three nights earlier Jordan had been Jordan in Atlanta, rising for a pull-up 17-foot jumper at the buzzer and burying it for a 99-98 Bulls win.
Still, make no mistake, this gem on Broadway? This was the true “I’m back” moment, the reminder of Jordan’s scoring prowess, of his big-stage allure, of his remarkable competitiveness.
For the 34th time in his career, Jordan scored at least 50 points. He broke his own record for points scored by a Knicks opponent at Madison Square Garden.
Perhaps most remarkable, he broke a 111-111 tie in the closing seconds with — what —an assist, an absolute dime around a Knicks double-team. To Bill Wennington. For a dunk.
Ballgame.
4️⃣5️⃣ drops 5️⃣5️⃣
Michael Jordan's double-nickel game at MSG in his 5th game back in 1995.
Watch the final episodes of The Last Dance Sunday, May 17 at 9 PM ET on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/5lCp7Azx2V
— NBA (@NBA) May 12, 2020
