How They Got Here
The series marked the first time since 1989 that the same two teams would meet in the Finals in consecutive years. The Jazz earned the league's best record by virtue of sweeping the two-game regular season series with the Bulls despite both teams finishing at 62 wins. In the playoffs, the Jazz were pushed to the brink by the Houston Rockets before winning Game 5 in Utah, then overcame Rookie of the Year Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs 4–1 before sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals. The Bulls would sweep the New Jersey Nets and then took out the Charlotte Hornets in five games, but it would take a seventh game before overcoming the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.
Read more about this topic: 1998 NBA Finals
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