Scottie Pippen stepped up for the Bulls in Game 3 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks, helping save the team’s quest for their first three-peat.
The Knicks finished the 1992-93 regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference. They went 60-22, which gave them home court advantage in the playoffs.
The Bulls, on the other hand, had a 57-25 record, which secured the second seed. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals after sweeping the Hawks and Cavaliers in the first two rounds. The Knicks eliminated the Pacers and Hornets before facing the Bulls.
1993 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 Recap
The Knicks were dominant in the first two games of the series against the Bulls. They made the most of their home court advantage by taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls were down 0-2 and NO team had ever come back from 0-3 to win a playoff series.
Game 3 was a must-win clash for the Bulls and it was Scottie Pippen who kept the Bulls in the series. He had a game-high 29 points with four rebounds and four assists on 10-of-12 shooting in 32 minutes as the Bulls beat the Knicks 103-83.
Michael Jordan finished with 36 points in the 96-91 Game 2 loss in New York, but he was 12-of-32 from the field. Jordan also struggled in Game 3. He scored 22 points, but 16 of them were at the free-throw line. Overall, Jordan was a dismal 3-of-18 from the field, although, he still made an impact with 11 assists, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Jordan then made a statement in the 105-95 win in Game 4, going off with 54 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals on 18-of-30 shooting. However, Pippen made sure the Bulls were back in the series before that. The Game 3 win changed the complexion of the Eastern Conference Finals and the Bulls rode that momentum and won the next three games to reach the NBA Finals against the Suns and secure the championship.
