When talking about “flu game,” the first thing – and perhaps the only thing – that comes to mind is Michael Jordan's performance in the 1997 NBA Finals. Despite suffering from flu-like symptoms back then, Jordan willed himself to 38 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a crucial Game 5 victory over the Utah Jazz.

However, for Milwaukee Bucks guard Jason Terry, there's another “flu game” performance that's worth remembering as much as Jordan's.

A former member of the Dallas Mavericks, Terry told Saad Yousuf of Dallas Morning News that Dirk Nowitzki's display in Game 4 of the 2011 NBA Finals against the Miami Heat was as impressive as His Airness' legendary feat.

“Dirk was in here with a 104 temperature,” Terry said. “He was sweating profusely. We didn't think he was going to suit up. When he showed up to shootaround, he didn't even shoot around and then he showed up to the game and had a phenomenal performance. I think that's one for me that I'll say goes down in history as one of the greatest performances.”

“Everybody talks about Jordan's flu game but Dirk's was just as bad and meant just as much.”

Dirk Nowitzki
Jerome Miron/USATSI

Terry undoubtedly has a good point even though it has been hotly debated which performance was more impressive between Nowitzki and MJ's. Many claimed that Dirk's stats didn't measure up with Jordan's, but the German big did come up clutch as well, scoring 10 of his 21 points in the final quarter of the match.

Not to mention that Nowitzki and the Mavs were considered underdogs against a Heat team that featured the “Big 3” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. A loss at that time would have also left Dallas in a 3-1 hole.

In contrast, Jordan and the Bulls were favorites to win against the Jazz, and a defeat would have only put them in a 3-2 deficit with two home games remaining.

Terry's comment isn't taking away the greatness of Jordan's iconic “flu game,” but the 40-year-old certainly doesn't want fans to forget what Nowitzki did to bring Dallas its first-ever NBA championship.