Full Game: The Personal Challenge vs. Robertson | Michael Jordan 1990 ECR1 Game 1 (April 27, 1990)

This is the complete broadcast of Game 1 of the 1990 Eastern Conference First Round between the Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks. In his first playoff game as head coach, Phil Jackson leads a Bulls team determined to overcome the physical defensive schemes that had thwarted them in previous postseasons. Michael Jordan delivers a masterful 38-point, 8-assist performance to set a commanding tone for the series.

Entering the 1990 playoffs, the Bulls were still haunted by the specter of the Detroit Pistons and their bruising "Jordan Rules" defense. Division rivals like the Milwaukee Bucks, coached by Del Harris, adopted a similar philosophy. As noted by author Roland Lazenby, the Bucks "presented just the sort of physical test that had undone the Bulls in the past." The Bucks assigned 1986 Defensive Player of the Year Alvin Robertson to guard Jordan, with a clear mandate to be aggressive.

The game's narrative crystalized in a key moment of confrontation. After absorbing what he considered an unnecessary shove from Robertson, Jordan elevated his play. "He gave me a cheap shot and that kind of woke me up," Jordan stated after the game. "From that point on, it was a personal challenge." He proceeded to dominate the matchup, scoring repeatedly on one of the league's most respected defenders.

While Jordan answered the physical challenge, the game also showcased the continuing evolution of the Bulls under Phil Jackson. The offense relied on more than just Jordan's singular brilliance, with Scottie Pippen contributing a powerful 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Horace Grant controlling the paint with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Chicago outscored Milwaukee 66-45 in the second half to secure the 111-97 victory. "It seems to get more physical every time we play them," Jackson observed, acknowledging the new benchmark for toughness his team would need to meet on their path toward a championship.