FloaterDaily Brief
Wednesday, April 29, 1998Playoffs · 3 games
← Apr 28CalendarApr 30 →

3 games, none went to overtime. Biggest comeback: SAS trailed PHX by 3 after the first quarter and won 99–80.

Final · R1 · G3 · Box score
Jazz85
Rockets89
Q1 HOU +7; Q2 HOU +4; Q3 HOU +4; Q4 HOU +4
Final · R1 · G3 · Box score
Bulls116
Nets101
Q1 CHI +7; Q2 CHI +9; Q3 CHI +17; Q4 CHI +15
Final · R1 · G4 · Box score
Suns80
Spurs99
Q1 SAS -3; Q2 Spurs 0; Q3 SAS +7; Q4 SAS +19
On this day · 1996–97Apr 29, 1997: 4 games. Top scorer: Anfernee Hardaway (Magic-Heat), 42 points.
Apr 29 in other seasons202620252024202320222021201920182016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991996
The lead · First round · Game 4 · Suns-Spurs

San Antonio beats Phoenix, 99–80

Michael Jordan goes for 38 points

Game flow · SAS margin at each break
-25-15-5+5+15+25TipEnd Q1HalfEnd Q3Final0-30+7+19SAS AHEAD ↑PHX AHEAD ↓
By quarter
Q1Q2Q3Q4T
Suns2318142580
Spurs2021213799
Who led
Avery JohnsonPoints, last 10 games: 0, 9, 10, 6, 13, 3, 22, 20, 10, 30SAS30 PTS · 2 REB · 7 AST
Chuck PersonPoints, last 10 games: 14, 9, 0, 5, 3, 2, 0, 7, 9, 18SAS18 PTS · 5 REB · 1 AST
Kevin JohnsonPoints, last 10 games: 15, 4, 9, 10, 13, 2, 18, 4, 15, 18PHX18 PTS · 5 REB · 2 AST
Steve NashPoints, last 10 games: 7, 1, 11, 1, 24, 10, 0, 4, 5, 13PHX13 PTS · 7 REB · 5 AST
The night in charts
Bulls-Nets combined for 217, 38 more than any other game
Points by game
Bulls-NetsBulls 116, Nets 101
217
Suns-SpursSuns 80, Spurs 99
179
Jazz-RocketsJazz 85, Rockets 89
174
HOU won the closest game by 4
Closest finishes
Jazz-RocketsJazz 85, Rockets 89
+4 HOU
Bulls-NetsBulls 116, Nets 101
+15 CHI
Suns-SpursSuns 80, Spurs 99
+19 SAS
Burrell shot 9-of-11 for the night's hottest hand
Hottest shooting · min 10 FGA
BurrellCHI · 23 PTS, 3 REB, 1 STL
82% (9-11)
Avery JohnsonSAS · 30 PTS, 7 AST, 2 REB
73% (11-15)
MJCHI · 38 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL
73% (16-22)
RussellUTA · 19 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
70% (7-10)
Kevin JohnsonPHX · 18 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL
62% (8-13)
Final · Jazz-Rockets
Jazz 85Rockets 89
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Jazz1924261685
Rockets2621261689
The story
Hakeem Olajuwon's 28 points and 12 rebounds carried Houston past Utah, 89-85

For Utah, Karl Malone had 19 PTS, 14 REB 28 PTS, 12 REB, 3 AST · 10-26 FG, 0-1 3PT

The swing

The first quarter, 26-19, was where the Rockets built it.

HOU lead by quarter
200 +7+4+4+4 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Final · Bulls-Nets
Bulls 116Nets 101
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Bulls35263223116
Nets28242425101
The story
Chicago beat New Jersey 116-101 behind 17 rebounds and 11 points from Dennis Rodman

Sherman Douglas paced New Jersey: 19 PTS, 8 AST 17 REB, 11 PTS, 6 AST · 5-13 FG, 1-1 3PT

The swing

A 32-24 third quarter did the most damage for the Bulls.

CHI lead by quarter
200 +7+9+17+15 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Final · Suns-Spurs
Suns 80Spurs 99
TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4T
Suns2318142580
Spurs2021213799
The story
David Robinson had 21 rebounds and 15 points as San Antonio beat Phoenix 99-80

Kevin Johnson led Phoenix with 18 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST 21 REB, 15 PTS, 3 AST, 3 STL · 3-12 FG

The swing

The Spurs won the fourth 37-25, their biggest quarter edge.

SAS lead by quarter
200 −30+7+19 Q1Q2Q3Q4
Fantasy angle
Heating up
+10.3points, last 3 playoff games vs reg. season avg
Points per game
8.0Reg. season avg18.3Last 3 playoff games

18.3 points a game over his last three playoff games, against 8.0 in the regular season (80 games). Today: 19 points in 45 minutes.

Losing minutes
−26.4minutes, last 3 playoff games vs reg. season avg
Minutes per game
34.7Reg. season avg8.3Last 3 playoff games

8.3 minutes a game over his last three playoff games, against 34.7 in the regular season (75 games). Today: 2 points in 2 minutes.

Stepped-up role
+16.5minutes, today vs reg. season avg
Minutes per game
20.5Reg. season avg37Today

37 minutes today, against 20.5 a game in the regular season (63 games). Line: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists.

Second story · Jazz-Rockets · R1 · G3

Houston never trails at a break against Utah

Ahead after one, at the half and after three. Final: 89–85. Hakeem Olajuwon led Houston with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists.

Series tracker · Jazz-Rockets
G1 · @ UTAHOU103–90G2 · @ UTAUTA105–90G3 · @ HOUHOU89–85
Top performances

Michael Jordan leads the day with 38

Michael JordanPoints, last 10 games: 30, 29, 37, 27, 19, 24, 44, 39, 32, 38Bulls-Nets · W
36.3 PPG playoffs to date
38 PTS · 4 REB · 3 AST
Avery JohnsonPoints, last 10 games: 0, 9, 10, 6, 13, 3, 22, 20, 10, 30Spurs-Suns · W
20.5 PPG playoffs to date · +12.7 vs his playoff average before tonight
Season high30 PTS · 2 REB · 7 AST
Hakeem OlajuwonPoints, last 10 games: 16, 18, 10, 24, 13, 13, 20, 16, 16, 28Rockets-Jazz · W
20.0 PPG playoffs to date
28 PTS · 12 REB · 3 AST
Scott BurrellPoints, last 10 games: 5, 0, 4, 2, 16, 15, 6, 0, 4, 23Bulls-Nets · W
9.0 PPG playoffs to date
23 PTS · 3 REB · 0 AST
Clyde DrexlerPoints, last 10 games: 20, 19, 18, 25, 16, 21, 11, 22, 14, 22Rockets-Jazz · W
19.3 PPG playoffs to date
22 PTS · 9 REB · 5 AST
Karl MalonePoints, last 10 games: 56, 32, 37, 44, 21, 29, 27, 25, 29, 19Jazz-Rockets · L
24.3 PPG playoffs to date
19 PTS · 14 REB · 1 AST