1989 NBA 1st-Rd. Playoffs Game 5 | Bulls 101, Cavs 100 | May 7, 1989
Jordan-Line: 44 points, 44 Minutes, 9 Rebounds, 6 Assist
Some may say Jordan’s first playoff performance that gained him recognition as a great was against the Boston Celtics in 86’ when he dropped 63-points against Larry Bird, but in our opinion his game winner here against the Cavs was the real start of his playoff career. Here, in a game-5 winner-take-all down by a point with only one last shot at winning the game, Jordan got the ball with 3-seconds left dribbled to the left off balanced and hit a game winner sending the Cavs home.