Michael Jordan's "The Shot" (Game winner against Cavaliers, 1989)
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The Shot is a game-winning basket made by Michael Jordan in the fifth game of the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, on May 7, 1989, on Cleveland's home floor in Richfield, Ohio.
Cleveland led the entire game until Jordan hit a jumper with six seconds left to give the Bulls their first lead at 99-98. Following a Cleveland timeout, Craig Ehlo inbounded the ball, received a return pass, and scored on a driving layup to retake the lead with three point two seconds left, 100-99. Chicago then called a timeout.
The ball was inbounded to Jordan, now being guarded by Ehlo. Jim Durham, calling the game on the Bulls' Radio Network, narrates what happened next:
- The inbounds pass comes in to Jordan. Here's Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo...good! The Bulls win! They win! Superman was Superman and no one is going to talk about that missed free throw in Game 4 now!
The lasting image of this moment is Jordan's wild and emphatic celebration: a leap into the air and multiple fist pumps while shouting at the visiting crowd, as Ehlo fell in agony a short distance away. This scene has become part of many fans' recollection of The Shot, but it was not shown to viewers of the televised game (which was broadcast on CBS with Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown as well as sideline reporter, James Brown calling the action). CBS never aired this replay during the game telecast, nor was Jordan's celebration caught by the sideline pressbox camera used for most game action. Instead, fans saw the celebration of Bulls coach Doug Collins.
