Orlando Retires Chicago With Shocking Comeback

NBA playoffs

OK, Mike, it’s … baseball season!

Michael Jordan’s eight-week comeback gasped and died Thursday night. Jordan, weakened by a flu bug, had all he could do to stay on his feet, and the Chicago Bulls succumbed to a bad case of the Orlando Magic, blowing an eight-point lead in the last 2:46 and losing, 108-102.

The Magic scored the last 14 points to win this series 4-2 and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

Magic players celebrated by hoisting ex-Bull Horace Grant to their shoulders.

“I felt 10 feet tall,” Grant said. “I was looking for Jerry Krause (the Bulls’ GM who didn’t resign him) in the stands. Is he in here?”

Grant then pretended to peer around the interview room for Krause.

“I had to do that,” Grant said, laughing.

Jordan had one of those games mortals envy - 24 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, four steals, four blocked shots - but for him, it was an off night. He missed 11 of 19 shots and in the final minute, when the game was on the line, shot an airball and threw the ball away.

“I just didn’t have the energy I wanted to,” Jordan said.

The Bulls, trailing by nine points in the third quarter, stormed back to take a 102-94 lead with 3:24 left in the fourth, but by then, Jordan was virtually a ghost.

Coach Phil Jackson had rested him for the last 2:02 of the third quarter. Jordan normally leaves the game only once each half, if that often, but after a steal and a dunk midway through the fourth quarter, he was so winded, Jackson had to take him out again.

Jordan waited for the substitution, squatting, gasping for breath.

“I was just trying to muster the energy to finish the game,” he said. “When we had that eight-point lead, I thought we could fight them off defensively.”

It didn’t turn out that way.

With 2:46 left, Shaquille O’Neal (27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists) made a jump hook.

With 2:01 left, Nick Anderson, the Chicago native, made a 3-pointer. With 1:20 left, Brian Shaw made two free throws.

With the Bulls’ lead down to 102-101, Jordan tried to take over. He got off one of his classic 15-foot turnaround jumpers over Anderson, but missed everything. With 42 seconds left, Anderson made an 18-footer over Toni Kukoc.

With the Bulls behind, 103-102, Jordan drew the defense and snapped a jump pass to Luc Longley, who put up an airball.

The Bulls took the loss hard. Jackson said later he didn’t know if he’d be back. Scottie Pippen said he didn’t think he’d be back.

Jordan was upbeat. “There’s no doubt,” he said. “I’m coming back. I have all intentions of coming back, going to training camp, playing an 82-game season.”

Of course, he has four full months before camp opens. Imagine the possibilities.

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