By Phil Green
ESPNET SportsZone

Jordan jukes Jazz in Game 1

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Jordan describes what Phil Jackson said during the final timeout.
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Jackson details the last play. (Courtesy: NBA/NBC Sports)
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The possibility of missing never crossed MJ's mind.
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John Stockton knew who would take the final shot. (Courtesy: NBA/NBC Sports)
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Jordan amazes even himself. (Courtesy: NBA/NBC Sports)
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Malone won't dwell on his missed free throws. (Courtesy: NBA/NBC Sports)
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Michael Jordan tries to loft a shot over Karl Malone.

But then the MVPs took over.

For the final eight minutes of the Bulls' 84-82 victory Sunday, reigning NBA MVP Karl Malone and runner-up Michael Jordan, a four-time winner of the award, practically went shot for shot.

For each Malone jumper buried from the wing, there was a Jordan answer -- either a hoop of his own or a pass to an open teammate. For the quarter, each player tallied nine points, and Jordan added three assists.

But even with their heroics over those final eight minutes, Sunday's game will be remembered for their performance during the final 9.2 seconds.

With the score tied 82-82, Dennis Rodman fouled Malone in a scramble for a loose ball. Malone, who has hit 73 percent of his career postseason free throws, stepped to the line to put the Jazz ahead.

"I would love to take that any time," Jazz rookie swingman Shandon Anderson said of having Malone on the line at crunch time. "I would take it next game in the same situation."

"I thought we would be up two and try to play hard-nosed defense from there," Jazz forward Antoine Carr said.

Michael Jordan (23) and Scottie Pippen (33) combined to go 7 for 11 in the final quarter. Click here for complete shot charts of Game 1.

Malone, who had hit three of his previous four free throws in the quarter, calmly stepped to the line. With the raucous United Center crowd in a frenzied state, Malone went through his methodical foul-shooting routine. He bounced the ball once and mouthed his mystery message to himself before hoisted up his first attempt.

The ball hit the inside of the right side of the rim and bounded out to the left.

After the crowd's deafening roar of enthusiasm, Malone regrouped and went through his ritual again. Another miss and the ball bounced into Jordan's outstretched arms.

"It is agonizing, but I never dwell on them," said Malone, a 12-year veteran who missed two crucial free throws during the closing seconds of Game 7 of last year's Western Conference finals in Seattle.

"I didn't make the free throws," he said. "It was just me up there and I didn't. They felt good. I just didn't make them."

With those misses, the game quickly ended up in the hands of the deadliest clutch player in the history of the game, who had missed his own free throw 25 seconds earlier.

"I didn't think I would get another opportunity after seeing Malone go to the free-throw line," Jordan said. "I thought he would make at least one. I was hoping he would miss both. When he missed both, I was given another opportunity to redeem myself."

Karl Malone was just 3 for 11 in the first quarter (above), but he went 7 for 11 the rest of the game (below).

And the Jazz knew that would be trouble.

"I was just hoping he had played a little golf or something, that his legs were tired, anything," Carr said. "You're just praying he'll miss the shot and you'll get a second chance at it."

"I'm sure his mouth was watering," Utah center Greg Foster said of Jordan.

Following a Bulls timeout, with Bryon Russell guarding him, Jordan was isolated just inside the 3-point arc on the left side of the court. As he calmly dribbled down the game's closing seconds, Jordan showed Russell a crossover.

Russell reached quickly with his right hand. And it was over.

Jordan stepped to his left, pulled up and drained the 19-footer right in Russell's face. The crowd erupted, the Bulls bench emptied and Jordan celebrated with just a quick pump of his right fist.

"I (was) looking at the clock and watching the defense at the same time," Jordan explained. "I just felt I may have a double team. I was looking to see if the double team was going to come, and the double team never came. And I knew I was in a one-on-one situation.

"So, I was dribbling, getting ready to crossover. Once I did, he went for the steal. He lunged forward, which I thought was my opportunity to take one dribble to the left and pull up and shoot."

Though Jordan seemed to easily free himself from Russell, the Jazz forward was proud of his effort.

"I thought I did a pretty good job, but that's what Mike is known for," Russell said with a slight smile. "He hit a good shot. There was a hand in his face and everything. He just hit a good shot.

"I almost (got it); that's why he stepped back," Russell said. "I was close, but no cigar."

That could be said for Malone and the rest of the Jazz.