April 20, 1986. The playoffs have barely started. Their scent is felt throughout the United States, and on this Easter Sunday, it is downright “God” who will invite himself onto the field. A look back at the first NBA feat of Michael Jordanauthor of 63 points against the Celtics, future NBA champions.
The Celtics rule this season
That year, the big favorites were the Celtics, led by Larry Bird, accompanied by Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Bill Walton. They have only one goal: to recover the title lost in 1985 against Magic Johnson's Lakers. Everything started well for them: Bird was elected MVP of the season, Walton was the best sixth man and the C's won 67 games in the season, including 40 at home out of 41! Only Portland will knock them down at home, and that remains an NBA record, since the Spurs only equaled it in 2016.
The Celtics are therefore invincible or almost invincible on their home soil and have home field advantage throughout the postseason.
For the first round, they face the Bulls. The men of Stan Albeck, who died in 2021, won only 30 matches (and that was enough to go to the playoffs…), the fault of a serious foot injury to Michael Jordan, who withdrew after only three matches. In total, MJ will miss 64 matches for a small total of 18 matches played, before facing the invincible green armada in the playoffs.
That year, Michael Jordan only played the Celtics once, a meeting ending in a 126-105 defeat despite having 20 points on his score. The previous season, his first, the Brooklyn native averaged 32.5 points against the same Celtics, including a peak of 41 points.
A premonitory Game 1
The first match ended in a victory for the C's 123-104, despite the Bulls trailing 49 points! The late Dennis Johnson, although renowned for his defense, does not control him because Michael Jordan is too big, too fast, too fluid in his movements. He demonstrates that his mid-range shot can be formidable, he who was considered at that time only as a penetration player. His first-half fadeway on Dennis Johnson is the perfect example.
The Celtics decided to deny MJ access to the racket, because of his extraordinary athletic qualities, but he managed to get by with his long shots, without forgetting to reward us with a few dunks, including one on the counterattack. After that first game, Kevin McHale said of Jordan's performance: ” This will not happen again… “
Michael Jordan therefore arrives at the Garden, this Sunday, April 20, for Game 2 with the intention of bringing down his opponents. After his 49 points in Game 1, he knows he can score against them. But how many must he score to bring them down? Asked about this before Game 2, MJ confided: “I don't think that one (alone) player can beat the Celtics. »
From the start of the match, Michael Jordan continued to shoot on the outside, including a legendary shot on Larry Bird, after several dribbles between the legs. In the second half, it was the reigning MVP who reacted with more skill to increase the atmosphere in the Garden.
Boston forced to take three or four catches!
However, Boston is unable to stop him one-on-one. In fact, they almost systematically make mistakes on all their penetrations. Bird responds to Jordan, and the level of play increases, as evidenced by his 3-pointer from 8 meters! For his part, the Bulls star continues and causes the 5th foul from Dennis Johnson. He is already at 40 pts.
The Celtics then decide to defend as a team on number 23 of the Bulls. As soon as Jordan enters, two or three or even four of them are waiting for him in front of the basket!
Despite adversity, MJ scores his 50th point on a high post shot. As the end approaches, the match is still as close as ever. The C's are in the lead. There are a handful of seconds left to play. Michael Jordan lifts the ball, attempts a 3-pointer (but his foot is on the line), misses… but the referee calls a foul!
There is no more time to play, the Chicagoan must make his shots to win overtime. He achieved both in a boiling Boston Garden. Like Derrick Rose in 2009 against these same Celtics, he showed enormous composure and sent the two teams into overtime.
Two incandescent extensions
In extra time, the red Nike fullback scored 5 new points and increased his total to 59 units. A glance at the history books tells us that the playoff record belongs to the late Elgin Baylor with 61 pts, in 1962 against the… Celtics.
On an attempt from almost 10 meters, Larry Bird tries to snatch victory. His shot is too long, synonymous with a second overtime. Then, on yet another basket from 4 meters, Michael Jordan reached 61 points, an NBA record equaled. He will beat him on a shot in the axis, higher than Robert Parish, in order to equalize at 131 everywhere.
Unfortunately for the Bulls, they will not surpass this mark. Parish will finish the job and Boston will finally win 135-131 at the end of an anthology match.
A record and tears
This evening of April 20, 1986, a 23-year-old sophomore has just dusted off a 24-year-old record, against the best team in the league and one of the greatest in history, in the most impregnable fortress of the era, having played only 18 matches of the season!
Only defeat can tarnish the picture, Michael Jordan will not accept it and he will cry his eyes out on the bus taking him back to Chicago. In the end, his stat line is enormous: 53 minutes, 63 pts at 22/41 and 19/21 on free throws, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 interceptions and 2 blocks.
Even though Chicago would be eliminated in the following match (we were playing best of five matches at the time), the star showed the full extent of his offensive repertoire that evening in one of the most incredible individual performances of the NBA history.
“ I think it was God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
The praise will then rain down on the Bulls player after this unimaginable match.
–Danny Ainge: “Everyone knew Michael was a great player, but I think this is the first time everyone realized how great he is. »
–John Paxson: “Michael did so much and so well that I found myself just wanting to watch him, (and yet) I was playing… “
– Larry Bird: “I think no player is capable of doing what Michael did to us. He is currently the most incredible and spectacular player. »
Larry Bird ended his tribute with a declaration that remained for posterity : “I think it was God disguised as Michael Jordan. »
Thirty-seven years later, we can say that Larry Bird was perhaps not wrong…
