Wasn’t that the game where Bird and Dominique Wilkins each took the ball every possession down the stretch, each unstoppable in their own way, with Bird finally outlasting him as Wilkins moves were more physically demanding and wore him out? What a showdown.
No. The game you referenced was in Boston and in the playoffs. It was a close battle.
This was a neutral site regular season game though Atlanta played home games in New Orleans that season. Boston won easily by comparison to the PO game which is why the reactions were more dramatic.