Full Game: The Finals Preview | Michael Jordan vs Clyde Drexler (November 29, 1991)

In a highly anticipated preview of the eventual 1992 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan and the defending champion Chicago Bulls delivered a decisive statement against Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trail Blazers. This nationally televised regular-season showdown was a tactical dismantling, showcasing the suffocating defense and offensive balance that defined the Bulls' second championship campaign and established a clear hierarchy between the league's two premier shooting guards.

The narrative entering the 1991-92 season was dominated by the comparison between Jordan and Drexler, a storyline that fueled Jordan’s competitive fire. "Me being compared to him, I took offense to that," Jordan would later state in The Last Dance (Episode 5). That sentiment was palpable from the opening tip. The Bulls, playing at the Chicago Stadium, started the game on a 13-0 run, setting a tone of defensive intensity from which the Blazers would never recover. Coach Phil Jackson's game plan focused on relentless pressure. "Our defense was very good," Jackson noted post-game. "We kept the pressure on."

Jordan methodically picked apart the Portland defense, finishing with a game-high 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. But the victory was a testament to the Bulls' evolution into a multi-faceted offensive unit. Scottie Pippen was brilliant, adding 25 points and 7 rebounds, while Horace Grant controlled the interior with 18 points and 12 rebounds. The performance exemplified the team's growth beyond Jordan's individual dominance. "I think we can go with three guys," Jordan said, referring to himself, Pippen, and Grant. "And Horace is having a great season." For the Blazers, Drexler finished with 25 points, but the 116-114 final score served as the first chapter in a season-long rivalry that would culminate on the NBA’s biggest stage.