1988 NBA Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks, January 19, 1988, Wilkins-Jordan Duel

CHI 94, ATL 106 - On January 19, 1988, just weeks before their legendary showdown in the 1988 Slam Dunk Competition, Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan faced off in a thrilling duel as the Chicago Bulls visited the Atlanta Hawks at The Omni. The game quickly turned into a scoring showcase, with both superstars lighting up the scoreboard. Wilkins set the tone early, electrifying the crowd with powerful drives to the basket, high-flying dunks, and smooth jumpers. Not to be outdone, Jordan responded with his own blend of midrange precision and acrobatic finishes at the rim, creating an exhilarating back-and-forth battle between the two. Player of the game: Dominique Wilkins: 41 PTS, 17-24 FGM, 50 FG%, 7-10 FTM, 3 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, GMSC 26.1 Notable performance: Michael Jordan: 38 PTS, 14-22 FGM, 64 FG%, 10-10 FTM, 3 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, GMSC 33.6 Dominique Wilkins emerged as the winner in this matchup, pouring in 41 points on 17-24 shooting, along with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, leading the Hawks to a 106-94 victory. Michael Jordan was equally impressive, scoring 38 points on 14-22 shooting, including a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line, while adding 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block. Despite Jordan’s outstanding performance, it was Wilkins and the Hawks who came out on top, setting the stage for their upcoming showdown in the dunk contest and adding another chapter to the rivalry between these two iconic players.