Chicago Bulls - New York Knicks | 1993 Playoffs | ECF Game 1: Welcome to the Jungle

Guarding Michael Jordan during a playoff game intimidates some players. It inspired John Starks.

Crushing Chicago's spirit with his 3-point shooting and giving Jordan fits with his defense, Starks led New York to a 98-90 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference championship series yesterday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.

It was a significant victory for the Knicks, who were determined not to lose the home-court advantage they had worked all season to attain. They won their 26th consecutive home game using the same formula that has worked all season -- suffocating defense, dominating rebounding and timely shooting. Jordan (27 points) shot a dismal 10 for 27 from the field, including 2 for 9 during the final period, the time when Jordan usually dominates. It was also a significant defeat for Chicago, which had won seven straight playoff games this season.

Starks (25 points) was magnificent, setting a Knick playoff record by making five 3-point shots. Three of them came during a five-minute fourth-quarter barrage that helped the Knicks build an 88-79 lead with four minutes to play, a lead they never lost. Everyone expected the Starks-versus-Jordan battle to be a major factor in the series. Round 1 went to Starks.

"I don't even remember when Starks was in the CBA, and I don't remember when he first came into the league," said Jordan, referring to the minor league Continental Basketball Association. "But I know he's here now."

And Starks had plenty of help. Patrick Ewing, playing the entire second half, grabbed a playoff-high 17 rebounds to go with his 25 points. Charles Smith (17 points) was aggressive, giving New York another low-post option. Charles Oakley (14 rebounds) was an inside force, as the Knicks whipped the Bulls, 48-28, off the boards.

Starks showed remarkable poise for an emotional player faced with the biggest challenge of his career. There was no trash-talking, no head-butting, no arguing with the officials. Starks was a man on a mission, and he never stopped working until it was accomplished. Starks suffered a dislocated left pinky finger late in the game, but it was put back into place by the Knicks' trainer, Mike Saunders, allowing Starks to continue playing. Starks said the injury would not hamper him for the next game.

"A lot of players say they're going to try and stop Michael Jordan, but there's no stopping him," Starks said. "I just tried to make him take tough shots. I want to do whatever I have to do to help the team win. If it requires me to make 3-pointers, I'll do that. If it requires me to play defense, I'll do that. This is no time for me to take a break."

Asked how much Starks's defense bothered him, Jordan said: "He played well defensively, really bodied me up. He got me in tough positions where I really couldn't get the shots where I wanted. A couple of them I forced, just because I was out of rhythm. You have to credit his defense."

And sparked by Starks's offense, New York took control by starting the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run, turning a 72-69 lead into an 83-73 edge with seven and a half minutes left. Starks's second 3-pointer of the quarter gave New York a 9-point lead, and then Ewing set a pick for Starks, freeing him for another 3-pointer that put Knicks ahead, 83-73. Starks's final 3-pointer of the period gave New York an 88-79 lead with 4:20 to play. The Bulls made a last-gasp rally led by Jordan, but Mason's three-point play with a minute left in the game sealed the deal.

Starks played with no fear. As a result, the Knicks didn't lose.