Here we go. Part 10 starts with 1:11 left. Jordan makes the free throw to give #Bulls a one-point lead. On the edge of my seat! #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
That rebound must have been the first time Shaq touched the ball. Fouls were a concern, but have to feed the beast. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Shaq makes them when they count. Makes them both. 45 seconds left, #Magic up one. Pippen alley oop. Yuck. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Stupid pass Dennis. Throwing it right into traffic. Bulls get a timeout with 18.1 seconds left. #Bulls up 1.
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
He stole the ball! #WhyNotUs https://t.co/fetavCcOWI
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
"Magic play-by-play announcer David Steele: The confidence really mushroomed after winning Game 1 against Chicago, when Nick Anderson stole the ball against Michael Jordan late in the game. That’s probably one of the great victories in franchise history."
"Magic head coach Brian Hill: As [Jordan] was coming over half court, Nick kind of got a little piece of it and it got away from him a little bit, and then [Anderson] got a little piece of it again and we ended up with a steal and a fast-break layup by Horace."
"Nick Anderson: I remember in that first game when we beat them, reporters made it seem like I said that 45 is not like 23. And then the next game, he came out wearing no. 23. He was sending a message that he was still no. 23."
Abrams notes the actual quote was: “Here is the actual postgame quote from Anderson: “Number 23, he could just blow right by you. Number 45, he revs up, but doesn’t really take off.'”
Jordan definitely was not the same. Whether that was because of the wrist or him still getting into basketball shape, we will never know.
Today, we know it's coming. I can't imagine/remember how crazy that moment was in 1995 live. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Jordan missed two free throws, had the ball stolen and then turned it over passing to Pippen in the final 2 minutes. Unbelievable. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
And Pippen was wide open cutting to the basket. Could have easily won the game for the #Bulls with less than a second left. #WhyNotUs #Magic
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Penny puts the #Magic up three with 0.8 left. No missing free throws late. Shaq made his too. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
#Bulls cannot get a shot off an the #Magic TAKE GAME ONE 94-91! Now to Jurassic Park! #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Really the #Bulls had to feel like they let that game go. Jordan and Pippen had awful games. #Magic really stole that one. #WhyNotUs
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) May 8, 2015
Seriously, the Magic had control for most of the game. But the Bulls did not play their best game either. They were a bit out of sync and still trying to figure out how to play together against a solid defensive team.
Orlando definitely had some of that youth streak in it though. The team had a chance to put the clamps down up eight early in the fourth quarter, but turned the ball over and struggled to shoot.
This was going to be a great series.
But the moment at the end of Game One was the one that would define the series and become legendary to Magic fans.
Next: What we learned from the oral history of the 1995 Magic