Mission Possible? Sonics Send Series Back To Chicago

What a crowd. What defense. What a game. What in the world is going on here?

The Chicago Bulls must be wondering as much after the SuperSonics posted another surprising victory, 89-78, in Game 5 of the NBA Finals Friday night at a rocking KeyArena.

The team that was about to be swept three days ago now trails 3-2 in what could turn out to be a seven-game series. At the very worst for the Sonics, this might amount to a six-gone conclusion, because they forced another game in Chicago on Sunday.

And the unthinkable even exists. Destiny had a date with the Bulls but is now flirting with the Sonics. One of the best teams in history is struggling with current events and looking like yesterday’s news in the process. So much for the Air-rogance the Bulls brought to Seattle.

Friday night they appeared disheveled when they normally have everything in place, in the fourth quarter when opponents are worn down and games are won. That’s what happened at KeyArena, but this time the Sonics had the efficient unit, and the Bulls were scattered, in their approach and with their shots.

Even the supreme basketball being, Michael Jordan, was flailing in the final minute, throwing up 3-pointers that drew nothing but iron and cheers.

The boisterous fans were as annoying to the Bulls as the Sonics’ defense, and Chicago lost its poise and the game amid the loudest racket in Seattle since the Mariners’ playoff run last year.

The Key sounded like the Kingdome, and the Sonics were quick to applaud the fans for their impact on the game. The players saluted the crowd for its support before leaving the court after the last game of the year here.

“The crowd was the most important thing,” said Frank Brickowski. “They were phenomenal. We wanted to let them know we appreciated it.”

Added Chicago’s Scottie Pippen: “The crowd has been a big momentum-lifter to (the Sonics). It is very loud in here. When the pressure is on, we’re not executing.”

But as much as the noise, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp were unstoppable, too. And in a late-breaking development, the Bulls couldn’t get a handle on Hersey Hawkins either.

Payton provided his usual smothering defense on Jordan along with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists, committing just one turnover in 46 minutes. Kemp was sensational inside again, throwing 22 points and 10 rebounds at the Bulls this time.

Hawkins’ production was more surprising. The shooting guard went off for 21 points, giving the Sonics another dimension the Bulls were missing.

Jordan scored 26 points but had only one basket in the fourth quarter and got little assistance from his supporting cast. Pippen had 14 points, making just 5 of 20 from the field and finished at 14 for 51 in his three games in Seattle.

The team that couldn’t hit a perimeter shot Friday night was the Bulls, going 3 for 26, including 20 misses in a row. They wouldn’t have been able to hit Puget Sound, let alone the hoop.

“We had good looks. Either we were rushing or we didn’t knock the shots down,” Jordan said.

In the second half, the Sonics frequently double-teamed Jordan, and the Bulls could not adjust.

“I had to move the ball around and trust my teammates to make the shot, and they had a tough time shooting the ball,” Jordan said.

In the fourth quarter, those killer eyes that Jordan had in Game 3 were filled with despair as the Bulls went 7 for 25, collapsing as the Sonics scored 11 straight, inflating a 71-69 lead to 82-69 and sending the series back to Chicago.

The Bulls’ defense, two timeouts - nothing could deter the Sonics. The crowd erupted when Payton hit a 3-pointer and exploded again when Payton found Hawkins for a break-away layin that capped the flurry.

“Go figure,” Brickowski said of the 11-0 run. “Who would have called that?”

“Tonight’s game was the biggest test we’ve ever had as a basketball team,” said coach George Karl, whose 90-year-old father was in attendance. “Our men showed up.”

Particularly Kemp, who is averaging 21.8 points in the series.

“He wasn’t going to go down unless they cut his heart out,” Karl said.

The questions about character are now being directed toward the Bulls, who appear to be backpedaling to Chicago.

“They thought they were on a roll, and we couldn’t hang with them,” Payton said.

With one more victory, the Sonics can stand side by side with the Bulls. Although it is still unrealistic to suggest that the Sonics will win the NBA championship, Steve Scheffler promoted the idea.

“We were the first team to lose to a No. 8 seed (in the first round to Denver two years ago), so why can’t we be the first team to win a series after trailing 3-0?” Scheffler wondered. “We were known as chokers. Now we can be known as the comeback kids.”

This was the first time the Bulls did not avenge a loss to a team this season and only the second time they dropped two straight. They have not lost three in a row all season.

SuperSonics 89, Bulls 78

FG FT Reb CHICAGO Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Pippen 44 5-20 3-4 5-8 5 4 14 Rodman 37 2-5 2-2 5-12 2 5 6 Longley 34 3-3 5-7 0-5 4 4 11 Jordan 43 11-22 4-5 2-4 1 3 26 Kukoc 37 5-13 0-0 2-9 3 3 11 Wennington 6 1-2 1-2 0-0 0 2 3 Harper 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Kerr 24 2-8 2-3 0-1 2 3 7 Brown 10 0-2 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 Salley 1 0-1 0-0 1-1 0 0 0 Buechler 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 29-77 17-23 15-40 18 27 78 Percentages: FG .377, FT .739.

3-Point Goals: 3-26, .115 (Kukoc 1-5, Kerr 1-7, Pippen 1-8, Buechler 0-1, Brown 0-1, Jordan 0-4).

Team Rebounds: 11.

Blocked shots: 2 (Pippen, Longley).

Turnovers: 13 (Pippen 2, Rodman 2, Longley 2, Jordan 2, Kukoc 2, Wennington 2, Kerr).

Steals: 3 (Pippen, Jordan, Kukoc).

Technical fouls: illegal defense, 11:01 second; delay of game, 5:55 third.

Illegal defense: 1.

FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 46 8-16 6-8 3-10 3 4 22 Schrempf 39 5-12 2-2 1-5 1 2 13 Brickowski 17 0-1 0-0 0-2 2 3 0 Hawkins 38 7-14 5-5 3-5 1 3 21 Payton 46 7-18 7-8 2-9 6 3 23 Perkins 28 1-6 5-6 0-4 2 3 7 McMillan 21 1-1 0-0 0-6 2 4 3 Wingate 3 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 Scheffler 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Snow 1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Totals 240 29-69 25-29 9-41 17 23 89 Percentages: FG .420, FT .862.

3-Point Goals: 6-14, .429 (Hawkins 2-4, Payton 2-6, Schrempf 1-1, McMillan 1-1, Brickowski 0-1, Wingate 0-1).

Team Rebounds: 6.

Blocked shots: 2 (Schrempf, Hawkins).

Turnovers: 11 (Kemp 4, Schrempf 2, Hawkins 2, Payton, McMillan, team).

Steals: 4 (Hawkins, Payton, Perkins, McMillan).

Technical fouls: McMillan, 8:13 second.

Illegal defense: None.

Chicago 18 24 18 18 - 78

Seattle 18 25 19 27 - 89

A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:36.

Officials-Ed T. Rush, Jess Kersey, Hue Hollins.