Michael Jordan stole so much from Karl Malone at the Delta Center Sunday night.
Jordan stole what was perhaps Malone's best chance for a championship with his 45-point performance in Chicago's 87-86 victory in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Jordan stole the only basketball dream Malone has left and added a sixth championship ring to his already burgeoning collection.And when Malone had the ball in his hands with a chance to ensure a Utah win, Jordan stole that, too.
With 20 seconds to play and the Jazz up by a point, Malone backed into the low block and picked up his dribble to turn and shoot. From the Jazz player's blind side, Jordan came behind Malone and batted the ball away.
Malone fell to the court and, for a moment, was completely still. He knew that he had been robbed of more than the basketball.
His final turnover was an unfortunate end to another standout performance by Malone as Jordan came down and buried the game-winning jumper with 5.2 seconds to play.
Malone's 31 points came on 11-for-19 shooting, and he led the Jazz with 11 rebounds. He was even 9-for-11 from the free throw line.
Malone picked up exactly where he left off in his heroic 39-point performance in Game 5. He made his first four shots of the game, each tougher than the last, and carried that momentum throughout the game.
Malone often scored at will against Dennis Rodman, Luc Longley and Bill Wennington. In the second quarter, Jordan and Malone played a high-stakes game of H-O-R-S-E, each draining shot after shot. Jordan finished the quarter with 17 points, two more than Malone.
But Malone's last points of the season came with 2:32 to play. The battle continued into the final minute, when Jordan took over the game and Malone made the last of his five turnovers.
Jordan accepted the MVP trophy shortly after the game, and a teary-eyed Malone could only watch. Robbed again.
Meanwhile, Scottie Pippen was in pain. And then he was in tears.
Encircled by his teammates for perhaps the final time, Pippen broke down and cried on the floor of the Delta Center as the Chicago Bulls celebrated their sixth title of the 1990s.
Pippen's back was hurting so badly that he twice had to leave the game and go the locker room for treatment. And Chicago's second best player couldn't contribute much - eight points in 26 minutes.
He was in the lineup, then out. Back in to start the second half and then out again. And then finally in the game in the fourth quarter.