Bulls complete their drive for five

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Scottie Pippen only made two baskets in the first quarter, but they were the hoops that gave a boost to Chicago's offense. Pippen posted up on both buckets. Click here for complete shot charts of Game 6.

The eventual five-time champs shot a chilly 34 percent from the field and committed 10 turnovers in the first half as Utah jumped to a 44-37 lead in its bid to force Game 7.

The Bulls probably should have been down by more than seven at the break, but one key weapon had helped Chicago keep it close: the low-post game. When the outside shots weren't falling, the Bulls could always put Scottie Pippen or Michael Jordan on the block and let them go to work against smaller defenders.

The Jazz never really found an answer for those mismatches, and that's part of the reason the Windy City is preparing for another title rally at Grant Park.

Pippen set the tone midway through the opening quarter when he backed in the 6-foot-4 Jeff Hornacek on the left block. The 6-7 Pippen easily turned and sank a short jumper over Hornacek, who had his arms completely extended.

CHICAGO's next possession was a mirror image. This time on the right block, Pippen backed in Hornacek and spun to sink a turnaround jumper off the glass.

The two plays were an indicator of a long night to come for Hornacek, who committed five fouls in trying to stay with Pippen on the block. Pippen finished with eight of the Bulls' 17 points in the first quarter.

Scottie Pippen takes to the air as he drives against Greg Foster and Jeff Hornacek.

In the second period, Jordan manned the post for Chicago. Twice, Michael was able to shoot over either Jazz forward Bryon Russell or point guard John Stockton, producing two baskets and a foul.

In the third quarter, Pippen and Jordan shared the block. MJ scored twice in the post over Russell, including one move where he curled into the lane for a finger roll. Pippen also had a pair of hoops down low, including the move that drew Hornacek's fourth foul with 1:43 left in the period.

By the time Jordan scored his sixth hoop in the post on a turnaround over Russell with 3:39 left in the game, the Bulls had taken the lead and shaken their offensive doldrums.

Minutes later, Steve Kerr would sink his game-winner from just above the free-throw line, and the Bulls' awful start would be forgotten.