Pippen Becomes the Hero

PORTLAND, Ore. —  All Scottie Pippen needed was a few feet of space between him and Bryon Russell. And just like that, the Utah Jazz’s season was over.

Pippen, dazed for several minutes after being inadvertently knocked down from behind by teammate Arvydas Sabonis, made a three-point shot with 7.3 seconds left Tuesday night, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers to an 81-79 victory. The loss eliminated the Jazz, 4-1, in the best-of-seven series.

“It was my opportunity to take the shot, and I made it,” Pippen said. “I was looking to go inside to Rasheed [Wallace] to try to get something quick.”

Even after that, Pippen’s work wasn’t done. Trailing 80-79, Utah had a chance to take the lead when Russell was fouled by Detlef Schrempf with three seconds left, but Russell missed both free throws.

After a Pippen free throw, Utah had one final chance, trailing, 81-79 with 1.4 seconds left, but Russell’s shot was way off as the Jazz and Coach Jerry Sloan heatedly called for a foul as time expired.