April 20, 2024
Sports

NBA lookback: Jordan Over Ehlo 'The Shot'

By SHAW MEDIA

FILE - In this Feb. 6, 1988, file photo, Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan dunks during the slam-dunk competition of the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago. Jordan left the old Chicago Stadium that night with the trophy. To this day, many believe Wilkins was the rightful winner. (AP Photo/John Swart) (JOHN SWART)

Sports around the world are mostly on pause because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With that, Shaw Media Illinois will take a look back at some iconic moments in sports.

Today: Jordan Over Ehlo 'The Shot'

Game 5 of the first round of the 1989 Eastern Conference playoffs between the Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers featured one of Michael Jordan's earliest entries into a long history of clutch playoff moments.

With the best-of-five series tied at 2 games apiece and the Bulls trailing by a point in the final seconds, Jordan took an in-bound pass from Brad Sellers, dribbled near the free throw line and sunk a jumper at the buzzer over Craig Ehlo to give the sixth-seeded Bulls a major upset and clinched the series.

Jordan finished the game with 44 points, and the Bulls made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons.

"The Shot" created the iconic image of Jordan leaping into the air, pumping his fist, while a dejected Ehlo seemingly collapsed to the floor in despair.

Four years later, Jordan would repeat the feat against the Cavs, on the same end of the floor, this time to sweep Cleveland out of the 1993 Eastern Conference finals.