Nearly 37 Years Later, Jordan’s 1989 Buzzer-Beater Still Stings for Lifelong Cavaliers Fan
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Richfield, Ohio – May 7, 1989 remains an open wound for at least one longtime Cleveland Cavaliers supporter, who vividly recalls watching Michael Jordan’s series-clinching jumper—now simply called “The Shot”—sail through the net with three seconds left in Game 5 of the first round against the Chicago Bulls.
The decisive matchup at Richfield Coliseum capped a back-and-forth series tied 2-2. Cleveland entered the postseason with a 57-25 record after an unexpected 24-6 start that earned praise from Magic Johnson, who labeled the club “the team of the ’90s.” The Cavaliers had also swept all six regular-season meetings with Chicago by an average of 12 points.
In Game 1, guard Mark Price sat out with a sore hamstring and the Bulls escaped with a 95-88 win. Price returned for Game 2, evening the series, but Chicago edged Cleveland in Game 3. The Cavaliers answered in Game 4, prevailing 108-105 in overtime behind Price, Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance to force the finale in Ohio.
With six seconds remaining in Game 5, Craig Ehlo inbounded to Nance, then cut to the basket for a go-ahead layup that put Cleveland ahead by one. After a Bulls timeout, Brad Sellers delivered the ball to Jordan, who dribbled to the foul line, elevated over Ehlo and hit the winning jumper as time expired, giving Chicago the 101-100 victory and the series.
For the Cavs devotee, the memories are still sharp—from the confidence built on a dominant regular season to the frustration of seeing Jordan rise “and just keep rising” before releasing the shot that altered the trajectories of both franchises.
Source: Hoops Wire
