John Stockton talks about the missed opportunity Jazz had in the 1997 Finals against the Bulls: “That game was winnable”

In 1997, the Utah Jazz had a good shot at winning their first NBA championship. But they had to overcome Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. That series got off to a bad start for the Jazz. Aware that they had a golden chance to take the first game, that went up in smoke after MJ made mincemeat of the defense put up by Bryon Russel, sinking a buzzer-beating shot to lift the Bulls to an 84-82 win over the Jazz.

Setting the tone from Game 1

It was a lost opportunity for Utah, but the chance of winning the title was still very much alive. However, the Bulls got some mental leverage from that play, although it hardly deterred Jazz players. One of them was John Stockton who admitted that while the loss hurt, they had to get past that heartbreaker and move on.

"I don't know if we let one get away, but certainly that game was winnable," Stockton said via the New York Times . " Whether it slipped away or they took it or whatever, that's still a loss and you have to go on."

That game set the tone for the series, as the Bulls and the Jazz slugged it out. The games were close, and both squads made it a point to win their games at home and not give the other any kind of advantage.

Turning point in the series

However, the tide changed by Game 5, with the series knotted at 2-2. Just when it appeared Utah could take the upper hand in the 1997 NBA Finals, considering Jordan was also not at 100% for that game, odds favored Utah.

The origins of Jordan's illness remain unclear . Some claimed it was because of the elevation, while others pointed to food poisoning. Regardless, it took more than that to keep MJ from playing—even if he was not his usual self.

Game 5, also known as 'The Flu Game,' saw Jordan willed his way to perform, racking up 38 points. However, it was his key plays in the final quarter that mattered. That was the three-point shot he converted after a missed free throw that lifted Chicago over the Jazz and to a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6 also went down to the wire, with Jordan figuring prominently. His assist to Steve Kerr for the go-ahead basket nailed it for Chicago. Scottie Pippen secured the win for the Bulls, setting up Toni Kukoc for the final points and handing the franchise its fifth NBA crown.

Hence, Game 1 may have set the tone for the 1997 NBA Finals. However, no one figured it would also determine the title winner, as we saw from how Games 5 and 6 went.

Related: John Stockton never felt an aura about Michael Jordan when he faced the Chicago Bulls in two straight NBA Finals: "We were there to win"