When everyone thought that the fourth quarter would pit Gan Guoyang against Jordan as in their past clashes, the plot took an unexpected turn.
The Bulls maintained full-court pressing defense throughout the game, but it suddenly collapsed under the coherent offensive coordination of the Trail Blazers.
The fourth quarter began, and the Trail Blazers surged ahead with a 10:2 run, all ten points coming from Gan Guoyang's assists.
Porter hit a three-pointer, Sanders scored under the basket, Jerome Kossie got a score through a cut to the basket, and then Petrović nailed a three-pointer from the arc off Guoyang's assist—his third three-pointer of the night.
The Bulls' triangle offense, however, stagnated. Cartwright had yet to score in the game, completely baffled by Guoyang's defense.
The Trail Blazers double-teamed Jordan, starting their attack before half-court, and shots from Pippen, Grant, and BJ Armstrong just wouldn't fall.