VERY BUCKET from Michael Jordan's 42 points vs. rival Knicks on Christmas Day

It's Christmas with the NBA, New York, and Chicago. Gets the scoring underway. Now Jordan from long range. Game is tied at two. Well, no question that that paid off. Michael coming out stroking it right from the beginning. Armstrong and Jordan in the backcourt. Grant caught right. Pippen up front. Here is Jordan. Yes. And it's six. The Bulls four. And six and a half remaining in this first quarter. As Blackman, met by Jordan as the Bulls isolate. Jordan swings in and hits. And through the foul. What a move by Michael Jordan. Jordan changed the routine up that time on Blackman. And a little scuffle breaking out on the court. But Michael shows it. You think he's coming back. And instead he winds up coming into the lane. Now after that play took place, few of the players, little contact after the whistle. And almost a near scuffle down on the baseline. Another technical, they would be ejected. Yeah, many people are sure as Michael knocks down. Why don't you just let it go since they kind of know. Now going with Blackman as a small player. Enables Snarks to come in, get warmed up. And then he can substitute in the backcourt. Michael Jordan with nine points. The next lead, 22-16. Only eight of 25 for 32%. While the Knicks shot well in particular, the latter stage of the quarter. Jordan getting inside. The Knicks now lead by the score of 29-21. They're shooting 49% and holding Chicago to around 35% shooting. Triple team effort by the Knicks leading to the foul called. Michael Jordan now three of three from the line. He has 15 points. The final weekend in the National Football League. That's how I have it on my chart. 16 for Jordan, but only six of 18 from the floor. The Knicks 49, the Bulls 39. The strip is supplied depending on what the result is as Jordan draws the foul. They had off. He gave them the first two days off, and he's playing in game condition. Knicks 49, Bulls 41. And here's the pressure again by Chicago. Smith in trouble. Ball was knocked away, recovered by Blackman. And he gets it down, avoiding the 10-second violation. But Oakley's pass off the bar. Chicago comes out that time with excellent pressure. Jordan putting the moves on Blackman. Here are the Bulls. Although they have not played well by Grant. A 20. Jordan 23 points. The rest of the Bulls have 22. The Knicks lead by four. Jordan guarded by Blackman. Back to psyching himself. Had a little conversation with himself at midcourt. It's a two-point Knick lead. An 8-0 run by the Bulls. They don't have a chance to look across the floor on the other side. Jordan feels it, elevates, knocks it down, and then he knows it. So he talks to himself a little bit to let himself know that I'm back, I'm ready. Knicks cannot hit. Michael Jordan. Michael has turned it around from the 6 of 18 in the first half. A 10-0 spurt. They outscore the Knicks 14-2 at the start. And then the Knicks able to get back into it. Ewing jumping out on a switch. Naga with the ball, down by one. The Knicks have missed their previous 10 field goal attempts. We're talking about answering the call. The Knicks certainly needed that basket. They bring Blackman off the bench and he answers. And when you think about the fact that he's not really worn yet. Michael Jordan right back. Providing the Bulls with a 70-64 advantage. With a four-point lead. Blackman coming off a season high of 23 against Miami last Saturday. Jordan. Oh, he feels it. Did it in front of the Knicks bench as he took some grief from someone on the bench. And had something to say after he hit the jumper. This regular season between the Knicks and the Bulls. Knicks winning in New York back in November by 37. Pippen off the steal. Knicks trailing by seven. The steal by Jordan. And it was pushed by Ewing who lands up in the lap of Santa Claus. How nice. Well, Jordan anticipates, backs off and gets a hand in the passing lane. There was a little help from Patrick Ewing. Michael gets the chance to meet Santa himself today. Ewing called for the foul. Extracurricular activity for Santa. You think he's tired at this point. He spent a busy night last night. And here he is helping out Michael. He's had a very long 24 hours prior to this. He's entitled to have the night off. And what's he want to do? He wants to come and watch an NBA basketball game. Michael Jordan. Seven for nine. Obviously rattled by going face-to-face with Santa. He has 33 points but has not shot well. Jordan checking the clock. Ten on the 24. Jordan bottled up and fouled. Jordan eight of ten from the line. He is an 86% free throw shooter. Time off that clock now. That's time remaining. Fifty seconds to go. Fourth quarter. Jordan. Yes. Ball's 82. The Knicks 75. Jordan has 37. Five-point Chicago lead. And Jordan fouled by Rivers. Jordan unusually having some problems at the line. He's missed four. He's nine for 13. And a timeout is called. Mason could not find anyone. He did not have any timeouts remaining. Here's Rivers. That's a two-point attempt. And Jordan clutches the rebound and then is fouled. Michael Jordan back to the free throw line. He's ten for 14 from the line. Came up strong in the second half. Although, as we discussed earlier, under the best possible conditions. Bill Cartwright sitting down. Phil Jackson does not want Michael Jordan to take as many shots as he did tonight. He's taken 33 out of the 79 shots that the Bulls have. Scott Williams with the intercept, and he's fouled by Patrick Ewing. Last encounter between these two teams when New York beat them so soundly. Questions still remain as Michael Jordan goes down and finishes it off. How good are these Knicks? Because they still were struggling on the road. Four and six away from home. Again, they come in here and cannot beat Chicago in the stadium. Yes, a message delivered by the defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan, the high man, with 42 on 15 of 34.