March 4 1987: Mike + The Mechanics beat Pistons in OT thanks to Jordan's 61pts. This was before the Pistons became known as the "Bad Boys" and before their rivalry with the Bulls. It was Michael Jordan's 3rd season, a season he became the 2nd player in NBA history to surpass 3,000 points. His 37.1ppg scoring average secured him his first scoring title, which he'd go on to win the next 6 seasons. Jordan's career high at that point had been 63pts in a double OT playoff loss to the Celtics the previous season. The offseason evidently didn't cool Jordan off. This became his new regular season high mark for points in a game, and it was one of his five careee games with 60+. Doug Collins replaced Stan Albeck as Bulls head coach. Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant wouldn't join Jordan until they were drafted by Chicago before next season. Chuck Daly and the Pistons would respond to Jordan's explosiveness in the form of the Jordan Rules, which, while mysterious at the time, was nothing more than a defensive strategy to force Jordan to the middle of the floor so they could rough him up and overpower him. The Pistons beat the Bulls in the '88 playoffs 4-1 en route to a Game 7 Finals loss to the Lakers, in the '89 playoffs 4-2 en route to their first title, and in the '90 playoffs 4-3 en route to their 2nd title. The Bulls finally got revenge in the 1991 playoffs by sweeping Detroit en route to their first of 3 titles in a row.
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Jordan: 61pts (22-39) 7reb 3ast 3stl 3blk
Thomas: 31pts (14-24) 5reb 18ast 2stl
🎶: "All I Need is a Miracle" by Mike + The Mechanics was released in 1986.