This Date in NBA Finals History: Michael Jordan Scores 38 with the Flu in Game 5

Photo credit: Andrew D. Bernstein, NBE, Getty Images

In 1997, Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz won his first of two Most Valuable Player awards. Malone in the regular season averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 55% shooting in 82 games. Jerry Sloan’s Jazz won a West-best 64 games. In Chicago, Michael Jordan averaged 29.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists on 48.6% shooting in 82 games. Phil Jackson’s Bulls won an NBA-best 69 games. 

The Jazz swept the Los Angeles Clippers in three games in the first round, beat the Los Angeles Lakers in five in the second round, and defeated the Houston Rockets in six in the Western Conference Finals. The Jazz were making their first ever NBA Finals appearance. 

The Bulls swept the Washington Bullets in three games in the first round, and beat the Atlanta Hawks in five games and the Miami Heat in five games to reach their second consecutive Final and fifth in seven years. 

June 11, 1997. Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City was pivotal. Crucial. A must-win. Whatever worn out cliche you want to use, it was. The Bulls won games one and two in Chicago - Game 1 thanks to a Jordan game-winning jump shot over Byron Russell at the left elbow. Jordan scored 31 in Game 1’s 84-82 win and 38 in Game 2’s 97-85 victory. The Jazz took games three and four. In the 2-3-2 format, the team without home court advantage hosted the fifth game. Crucial. 

So crucial in fact that, according to Jordan’s trainer Tim Grover and close friend George Koehler, local pizza delivery guys wanted to make things as hard as possible for Jordan in the high-stakes affair.

Hungry the night before the game, Jordan and his crew summoned a local pizza shop for delivery. Multiple delivery guys showed up. Odd, indeed. Jordan ate the pizza. 

No sleep. Curled up in a ball. Sweating profusely. Vomiting. 

If the delivery guys’ intent was to render Jordan in less than ideal condition for Game 5, they accomplished that. Jordan was in no condition to clock in for a nine-to-five, let alone an NBA Finals game. 

“Michael Jordan, suffering from flu-symptoms,” said NBC’s play-by-play man Marv Albert on the Game 5 broadcast. How bad? Fans were unsure. How impactful MJ would be? Fans were unsure. 

But on an evening that followed up a night where Jordan was delivered some questionable pizza, he delivered an unquestionable performance. Undeniable. Special. 

38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals were presented by Jordan on 13-for-27 shooting, 2-for-5 from 3-point range and 10-for-12 from the line. 44 minutes. The Bulls won 98-90 and subsequently won Game 6 back at the United Center 90-86. In the four-point clincher, Jordan shot 15-of-35 for 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

But back to Game 5. The Flu Game, as it has become known, sounds a lot better than The Food Poisoning Game. Ironic thing is, Jordan’s 48% fluency from the field was better than Malone’s 41%. Scottie Pippen shot 5-for-17. 

After every make, Jordan looked exhausted. A fast-break finger roll in which he turned John Stockton from one side to the other with a crossover dribble was a thing of beauty. His mid-range game was on point, a right to left cross on Russell and rise at the elbow was money. 

A leaping steal, a behind-the-back dribble and a crossover on Russell to set up a pass ahead to Pippen. Pippen’s layup missed off the rim. Jordan followed up and dunked the ball. A slow jog back down court. 

With nine minutes to go and the score tied at 77, time is called. Jordan is seen on the bench, ice bag on the back of his neck. He is slumped, his breaths quick. He has 30 points at this stage in the game. He ran off 17 in the second quarter. Back on the court, hands are on his knees, bent over. Then hands on his hips. Exhausted. 

Shakes Russell with a few jab steps and rises. Money. 

Stockton hits a triple with one on the shot clock. Jordan gives a one-handed ball fake at the 3-point line to Russell, drives inside the paint near the right elbow. He elevates leaning left.

“Jordan…yes!”, calls Albert. Bulls trail by one. Methodical jog up the floor. Head moving side to side. Exhausted. 

Jordan makes one free-throw with the Bulls down 85-84. He misses the second. 85-85. Grabs the ball off the miss, retreats to the 3-point line on the right side of the floor. 44.1 on the clock. Gives the ball to Pippen up top near the Jazz center court logo. 

Jordan moves left as Pippen passes to Toni Kukoc, who is situated to the right. Pippen posts at the left elbow and Jordan, now at the top of the arc, receives the ball from Kukoc. 

Jordan passes to Pippen. Two dribbles from No. 33. Russell doubles. 27.9 on the game clock, eight on the shot clock. Pippen passes and Jordan catches. 27.1 remaining. Rises as Stockton sprints to contest. Money. 25.2 seconds on the clock. 

“Yes! Michael Jordan from straight-away. Looks like he’s a boxer, just hanging on, along the ropes,” is Albert’s call.

Bulls up 88-85. Stockton drives and delivers a wrap-around pass to Greg Ostertag for a dunk. The Bulls move the ball swiftly up the floor. Kukoc along the sideline finds Luc Longley underneath for a two-hand dunk. 90-87. After Stockton makes a free-throw with 0.2 on the clock, all the Bulls need to do is inbound. As the clock hits zero, Jordan, face to the baseline crowd, raises his arms in triumph. Exhausted. 90-88 Bulls.

“A courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan,” says Albert.

In 2025, the special black and red Air Jordan XII’s, known as The Jordan XII Flu Game, are still released to the public. The XII’s have many different colorways, but the black upper with the red bottom and the red jumpman logo on the tongue is the most iconic version of the shoe. 

The Flu Game. A much better ring to it than The Food Poisoning Game. 

28 years ago today, an iconic performance from Michael Jordan that added to his legend.