Michael Jordan scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the 1997 NBA Finals “Flu Game.”
The performance came in Game 5 on June 11, 1997, when the Chicago Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Jordan was visibly ill before and during the game, yet finished with 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in a 90–88 Chicago victory.
His fourth-quarter scoring included a crucial three-pointer with about 25 seconds remaining. That shot put Chicago ahead 88–85, and the Bulls held on after Karl Malone missed a late attempt. Jordan’s 15-point closing period turned a difficult night into one of the most celebrated performances in NBA history.
“Flu Game” is a common nickname, but the exact illness has long been debated. Jordan later said he believed he suffered food poisoning, while the original reports described flu-like symptoms or a stomach virus. The uncontested quiz fact is the fourth-quarter total: 15 points.