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How an early foul spurred Michael Jordan to drop 69 points on the Cleveland Cavaliers
It doesn't take much to get the great Michael Jordan going. It can be a single word from an opposing player, a menacing look from a defender, or even a questionable call from the referees.
On March 28th, 1990, Jordan's Chicago Bulls were playing against the Cleveland Cavaliers when he got hammered by Cleveland's defense. His reaction to the foul was as expected. He went on a tear and ended up scoring an incredible 69 points.
It's believed that this single incident sparked one of Jordan's greatest performances ever. He would finish with 69 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the highest-scoring game of his career.
Bitter rivalry with Cleveland
Jordan wasn't exactly popular in Cleveland. After all, the Cavs were just 11 months removed from being eliminated by the Bulls in the NBA Playoffs by Jordan's "The Shot."
Although Cleveland had a subpar record at the time, they came into the match against the Bulls at near full strength with the likes of Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and Larry Nance. With an axe to grind against their playoff tormentors, Cleveland's defense was particularly aggressive against Jordan all game, and it was only a matter of time before His Airness got heated.
69-point performance
Now playing under Phil Jackson, who in his first year immediately sought to democratize the Bulls' offense, Jordan was often asked to move the ball around rather than take his defender head-on. However, as with any great player, his competitive juices started running, and every time he got the ball, there was a sense of excitement in the stadium.
Following that early foul, Jordan exploded for an incredible 69 points on 23-of-37 from the floor and 21-of-23 from the free throw line in a thrilling 117-113 overtime victory over the Cavaliers.
This performance would be remembered as one of Jordan's most legendary games. It was a prime example of how just one incident can act as the spark to light up a night—a moment that will be remembered by basketball fans forever.
