The Chicago Bulls’ Historic Low-Scoring Game Against Miami Heat 25 Years Ago Today

The Chicago Bulls, once a dominant force in the NBA during the Michael Jordan era, faced a stark reality in the post-Jordan years. On April 10, 1999, they played a game that would go down in history as one of the lowest-scoring contests ever. Let’s delve into the details of this remarkable matchup.

The 1998-99 NBA season marked a significant transition for the Bulls. Michael Jordan had retired (for the second time), Scottie Pippen had moved on, and the championship core had disbanded. The Bulls were no longer the powerhouse they once were.

On that fateful night, the Chicago Bulls hosted the Miami Heat. The result? A jaw-dropping 82-49 victory for the Heat. Yes, you read that correctly—only 49 points scored by the Bulls. It was the lowest point total for an NBA team since the introduction of the shot clock back in the 1954-55 season.

Not only did the Bulls manage a mere 49 points, but they also set an NBA record-low for field goal percentage in a regular-season game: a paltry 23.4%. To put it bluntly, their offense was virtually nonexistent.

Kornel David, a relatively unknown player who spent just two years in the league, led the Bulls with 13 points. Toni Kukoc contributed 10 points but struggled, shooting 4-of-16 from the field.