Chicago, IL (April 17, 2020) – NBC Sports Chicago has announced additional primetime pro game replacement programming as the network will be re-airing every 1998 Chicago Bulls NBA Playoff game (21 total) featuring one of the greatest lineups in NBA history, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Toni Kukoc and Steve Kerr.
Beginning Monday, April 20 at 7:00 PM CT, NBC Sports Chicago will tip off its 1998 Bulls “Classics” with TWO games featuring the Bulls taking on their NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference First Round opponent, the New Jersey Nets. Starting Tuesday, April 21, the network will then carry a 1998 Bulls “Classic” game telecast every weeknight at 7:00 PM CT, culminating on Friday, May 15, featuring Jordan’s unforgettable NBA Finals Game 6 heroics, which helped the Bulls secure their sixth NBA title. (NOTES: “White Sox Rewind” replays from the 2005 championship season will continue to air at 4:00 PM daily through May 15; authenticated NBC Sports Chicago subscribers can also stream every “Classic” match-up online via NBCSportsChicago.com/WatchLive; game replays will only be made available to viewers within NBC Sports Chicago’s designated viewing territory; schedule subject to change).
Please note NBC Sports Chicago’s 1998 Bulls “Classics” 7:00 PM weeknight game schedule beginning Mon, April 20:
Monday, April 20
News
Round 1-Game 1: New Jersey at Bulls – 7:00 PM (From 4/24/98 -- 96-93 Bulls OT win; strong 4th quarter effort by Nets sends Gm 1 to OT; Jordan gets the ’98 championship run in motion with 39 points)
Round 1-Game 2: New Jersey at Bulls – 9:30 PM (From 4/26/98 – 96-91 Bulls win; Solid efforts by MJ-35 points, Kukoc-19 pts and Pippen-17 pts sends series to NJ)
Tuesday, April 21
Round 1-Game 3: Bulls at New Jersey (From 4/29/98 -- 116-101 Bulls win; Jordan cruises with 38 pts in series sweep, but Scott Burrell’s impressive 23 pts off-the-bench steals the headlines)
Wednesday, April 22
Eastern Conf Semifinals-Game 1: Charlotte at Bulls (From 5/3/98 -- 83-70 Bulls win; Jordan & Pippen combine for 60 of the team’s 83 total points)
Thursday, April 23
Eastern Conf Semifinals-Game 2: Charlotte at Bulls (From 5/6/98 -- 76-78 Bulls loss; a bad night at UC as the Bulls shoot a dismal 37% from the field for their first playoff loss)
Friday, April 24
Eastern Conf Semifinals-Game 3: Bulls at Charlotte (From 5/8/98 -- 103-89 Bulls win; MJ gets team back on track with 27 pts, Rodman with 17 boards)
Monday, April 27
Eastern Conf Semifinals-Game 4: Bulls at Charlotte (From 5/10/98 -- 94-80 Bulls win; Jordan and Rodman continue to have a good time in Charlotte w/31 pts and 17 rebounds respectively)
Tuesday, April 28
Eastern Conf Semifinals-Game 5: Charlotte at Bulls (From 5/13/98 -- 93-84 Bulls win; Jordan’s 33 pt. effort is only eclipsed by Rodman’s 21 boards, nine on the offensive end, in Round 2 series clincher)
Wednesday, April 29
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 1: Indiana at Bulls (From 5/17/98 -- 85-79 Bulls win; Jordan paces Bulls to Gm 1 victory w/31 points and 5 steals)
Thursday, April 30
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 2: Indiana at Bulls (From 5/19/98 -- 104-98 Bulls win; MJ helps Bulls take 2-0 Conf Finals lead and simply dominates with 41 points, 5 assists and 4 steals)
Friday, May 1
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 3: Bulls at Indiana (From 5/23/98 -- 105-107 Bulls loss; MJ’s 30-point effort wasn’t enough as Reggie Miller’s 28 pts and strong bench play earn Pacers a must win)
Monday, May 4
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 4: Bulls at Indiana (From 5/25/98 -- 94-96 Bulls loss; Pacers outscore the Bulls 27-17 in 4th quarter to tie series at 2-2; Jordan w/28 pts)
Tuesday, May 5
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 5: Indiana at Bulls (From 5/27/98 -- 106-87 Bulls win; Jordan-29 pts, Pippen-20 pts and Kukoc-19 pts lead Bulls to pivotal Gm 5 victory)
Wednesday, May 6
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 6: Bulls at Indiana (From 5/29/98 -- 89-92 Bulls loss; a solid 35-point effort from MJ wasn’t enough as Rik Smits-25 pts and Pacers force a Game 7)
Thursday, May 7
Eastern Conf Finals-Game 7: Indiana at Bulls (From 5/31/98 -- 88-83 Bulls win; Jordan’s outstanding 28-points/9 rebounds/8 assists performance was supported by Kukoc’s 21-points, inc. three clutch 3-pointers, sending Bulls back to NBA Finals)
Friday, May 8
NBA Finals-Game 1: Bulls at Utah (From 6/3/98 -- 85-88 Bulls OT loss; The power duos of Jordan-Pippen vs. Malone-Stockton proved to be in Utah’s favor in this Gm 1 OT shocker)
Monday, May 11
NBA Finals-Game 2: Bulls at Utah (From 6/5/98 -- 93-88 Bulls win; MJ gets the Bulls in the Finals win column with a standout 37-point performance)
Tuesday, May 12
NBA Finals-Game 3: Utah at Bulls (From 6/7/98 -- 96-54 Bulls win; a poor 30% FG shooting output by the Jazz enable Bulls and Jordan-24 pts to take series lead)
Wednesday, May 13
NBA Finals-Game 4: Utah at Bulls (From 6/10/98 -- 86-82 Bulls win; Jordan & Pippen were unstoppable, combining for 62 points, to put Bulls on brink of yet another NBA title)
Thursday, May 14
NBA Finals-Game 5: Utah at Bulls (From 6/12/98 -- 81-83 Bulls loss; Kukoc’s team-leading 30 points, coupled with MJ’s 28 pts, weren’t enough as Malone-39 pts and Jazz play spoilers to send series back to Utah)
Friday, May 15
NBA Finals-Game 6: Bulls at Utah (From 6/14/98 -- 87-86 Bulls win; Jordan cements his legacy with “The Last Shot” in an epic 45-point performance earning him his sixth Finals MVP Award and the Bulls their sixth NBA Championship)
DIGITAL COVERAGE -- NBCSportsChicago.com & “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app
- Led by NBC Sports Chicago’s Bulls “Insider” K.C. Johnson, along with the network’s multi-platform Bulls contributors Mark Schanowski and Rob Schaefer, fans can look forward to massive 1998 Bulls digital coverage 24/7 via NBCSportsChicago.com and the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app (NOTE: Fans located anywhere in the U.S. can download MyTeams for free on iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store). Among the digital-exclusive highlights include:
- Linear/Digital “Bulls Postgame Live” shows for select Bulls “Classics” featuring Jason Goff, Kendall Gill and Will Perdue.
- Web Gallery Blitz: Best games of the 1997-98 season, Best MJ moments, craziest Rodman moments, MJ’s best tricks, crazy stats/facts, ranking MJ’s Bulls teammates throughout his career and more.
- K.C. Johnson’s deep dives on top 1997-98 season moments, along with personal reflections on covering the ‘98 team and the entire Bulls second three-peat era and more.
- ‘What we Learned…’ “Last Dance” episode recaps
- 1998 Bulls Trivia Contests: Fan interactive quizzes based on a different player each week
- 1998 Bulls roster personality quiz: Are you a Jordan or a Pippen…or maybe a Rusty LaRue?
PODCASTS & SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE --
- PODCASTS: Every Monday morning starting April 20 through May 18, fans can look forward to “Last Dance” recap editions of NBC Sports Chicago’s popular “BULLS TALK” Podcast featuring Jason Goff, K.C. Johnson, Kendall Gill, Will Perdue, along with special guests from the 1998 Bulls and those who covered the team. An additional podcast will also be available for download each week featuring an interview with a member of the ’98 Bulls organization and/or local/national NBA journalists with a focus on the specific ’98 “Classic” games airing on NBC Sports Chicago that week. Fans can download all of NBC Sports Chicago’s podcasts at NBCSportsChicago.com/podcasts and simply subscribe to them via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.
- SOCIAL MEDIA: NBC Sports Chicago’s social media portals on Facebook (Facebook.com/NBCSChicago), Twitter (@NBCSBulls) and Instagram (‘NBCSChicago’) will also provide fans with additional ’98 Jordan/Bulls content including the following highlights:
- Fan interactive Facebook Live “Watch Parties” for select games featuring NBC Sports Chicago’s Bulls coverage team.
- Live Twitter commentary from the network’s expert Bulls content team during every weeknight Bulls “Classic” telecast and during Sunday night “Last Dance” weekly episode premieres.
- “Bulls Outsiders” Matt Peck, David Watson and John Sabine will be featured on Facebook Live and Instagram Live with their instant reactions to “Classic” telecasts and “Last Dance” episodes.
- In addition, Bulls fans will be treated to ‘celebrity/player reaction’ posts to “Last Dance” episodes, ’98 Bulls photo galleries and accompanying team/’90s era facts, along with ’98 Bulls/MJ trivia and much more.
NOTE: For the latest news, analysis, team/league updates and team-specific podcasts, fans are urged to visit NBCSportsChicago.com or download the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app.
NBC Sports Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year. In addition, NBC Sports Chicago delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs multi-platform coverage, plus - local sports discussion programs that includes SportsTalk Live, and massive cross-platform coverage provided by the network’s growing digital platform, NBCSportsChicago.com, the “MyTeams by NBC Sports” app, and its variety of fan-focused social media outlets. Fans can follow the network on Twitter via @NBCSChicago.
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