By the fourth quarter, the Trail Blazers used rebounds to drag out the time, missing shots but slowly playing after grabbing the boards.
Jackson watched the time slipping away and had to call a timeout to let Jordan come on.
According to the original rotation plan, Jordan should have re-entered the game with about 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
But now, it's not feasible— there are more than 8 minutes left until the end, Jordan must play, or else there will be no chance.
On Bird's side, he also immediately substituted Gan Guoyang, and an eager Gan Guoyang asked Bird: "Can I still play the third position?"
"Get to the three-second zone and protect the rebounds," Bird scolded. Was this guy standing akimbo getting too comfortable?
All the key players from both sides came on, entering the final battle, or rather, the Bulls' final struggle.
The Trail Blazers have maintained suppression throughout, as they have done in all games earlier this season.
