Positioning for a jumper that could give the Bulls a near-insurmountable six-point cushion, Jordan attempted a spin move on Bryon Russell. But he didn't anticipate John Stockton coming over from the weakside, and the Jazz point guard picked Jordan and started sprinting toward the other end.

"He picked me clean," Jordan said. "I didn't feel like he was there. I turned around, he got the ball and knocked it away. I had no choice but to chase him down."

It appeared Jordan might be able to save some face by catching Stockton from behind. But when MJ blocked the ensuing layup attempt against the glass, he was whistled for a two-shot foul.

"I thought I got it clean," Jordan said. "Whoever made the call said I got him with the body, but for the most part, I thought I got him clean."

Chicago was 4 for 19 from 3-point range. Toni Kukoc (7) was the only Bull who had success, going 3 for 4 from beyond the arc.

After Jordan missed a 17-footer with the Bulls clinging to a one-point lead, Stockton grabbed the rebound and threw a football-like pass to a sprinting Karl Malone. Jordan appeared to be in position to deflect the ball. But the guy who has built his reputation on flying just missed on his leaping attempt.

"I saw the pass from when (Stockton) threw it," Jordan said. "I just didn't really feel that I had the rhythm to jump, leap and grab the pass."

Malone caught the ball and laid it in to put the Jazz up 74-73 with 47.9 seconds left.

After a Bulls' miss and two Malone free throws put the Jazz ahead 76-73, Chicago called on Jordan to take the potential game-tying 3-pointer. MJ never really got a good look from the right arc, and Malone corralled the rebound and threw an outlet to Russell.

Jordan tried to retreat and intentionally foul Russell -- but even that failed.

Such was the night for best basketball player in the world.

"I have to accept that," Jordan said philosophically. "I have to look at it as a motivational situation for the next game."

The Bulls also were buzzing about:

Bulls coach Phil Jackson was stunned by the development.

Q&A WITH THE BULLS

Question from Joel Porch of Forreston, Ill.: What kind of mindset will you try to have for Game 5 in order to avoid going down in the series? Answer from Luc Longley: "What this means is we're going to have come out and play harder in the next game, and (then) do it again. It's a three-game series now." Answer from Michael Jordan: "We just have to bounce back, be very resilient in this situation and not get complacent and not let them come in and take what we feel we own. "I anticipate us coming out and still winning the championship. I don't think we can give it away that easily. I think we're very confident that we can still win, even though we're 2-2 now. ... I don't plan on losing."

"It's always a surprise to us that that can happen," said Jackson, who went on to point out a few plays in the closing minutes when Jordan lost the ball after apparent contact. "Those are the things we look for, with Michael having the ball in his hands, that usually create the opportunities to get to the free-throw line."

Jordan said he couldn't recall the last playoff game when had no chances at the line. "It wasn't my night to get free throws," he said. "(But) this isn't Chicago. I'm sure I would have there, but tonight I didn't get any."

"Our spacing was incorrect in the first half, and as a consequence, guys that had the ball didn't have the spacing necessary," Jackson said.

Added Scottie Pippen, "I don't think we're getting the right rotation, as far as moving the ball, when they are coming and double-teaming the post. We aren't taking advantage of it."

"Very rarely have we been in a 2-2 situation," Jordan said. "But we also haven't lost in the Finals either, since I've been playing. So I anticipate this team to realize this is crunch time, and somehow they have to find ways to win."

Guard Steve Kerr says the Bulls are still in control of the series -- regardless of what happens in the pivotal Game 5.

"We would love to win (Wednesday). But the fact is that they still have to win on our home floor if they are going to win the championship," Kerr said. "We would love to have two shots at home to beat them, but if they handle us (in Game 5), we still like our chances at home."

Still, the Bulls were a little shellshocked after losing as many games this weekend in Utah than they had lost in the previous five weeks of the playoffs.

"It doesn't feel like us," center Luc Longley said. "We were very quiet in the locker room. It's stunning for us."