Scottie Pippen knew how and when to be clutch during championship runs

Scottie Pippen led the way for the Bulls in a crucial Game 3 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks.

© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

While Michael Jordan will forever be rightfully remembered as the legend who turned the Chicago Bulls into a dynasty, he was not always the one who delivered in the clutch. An example of that was when Scottie Pippen stepped up in Game 3 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks and helped save the Bulls’ quest for their first three-peat.

The Knicks finished the 1992-93 regular season with a 60-22 record which gave them home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Bulls, on the other hand, went 57-25 to secure the East’s second seed, and they reached the Eastern Conference Finals after sweeping the Hawks and Cavaliers. The Knicks had to eliminate the Pacers and Hornets before clashing with the Bulls.

The 1993 Eastern Conference Finals Game 3 recap

The Knicks made the most of their home court advantage against the Bulls and took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago was trailing, and NO team ever came back from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.

This made Game 3 a must-win contest for the Bulls, and it was Scottie Pippen who stepped up for the Bulls with a game-high 29 points, four rebounds and four assists on 10-of-12 shooting in 32 minutes to lead the Bulls to an 103-83 win.

What about MJ?

Michael Jordan had 36 points in the 96-91 Game 2 loss in New York, but he was 12-of-32 from the field. He also struggled in Game 3, scoring 16 of his 22 points from the free-throw line. He had a poor 3-of-18 shooting night from the field, but he did contribute with 11 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

MJ would then make a statement in the 105-95 Game 4 win, going off for 54 points with six rebounds, two assists and two steals on 18-of-30 shooting. Still, Pippen made sure the Bulls were back in the series before that.

The Game 3 win changed the course of the series and the Bulls rode that momentum and won the next three games to reach the NBA Finals against the Suns.