The 1988 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987–88 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. James Worthy was named NBA Finals MVP. The Lakers became the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1969 to repeat as champions, a feat that coach Pat Riley guaranteed the previous offseason.
This marked the first time since 1983 that the Celtics did not represent the East in the NBA Finals, but they did win one of the most memorable games of the 1988 playoffs, beating the Hawks 118–116 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Boston Garden. Larry Bird scored 20 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to help Boston overcome the 47 points scored by Dominique Wilkins.
The Dallas Mavericks made their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, losing in 7 to the Lakers. They would not advance that far again until 2003, and would not face the Lakers again until 2011.
The New York Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 1984. They remained regulars until 2001, which included NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999. On the other hand, the Washington Bullets did not return until 1997, and would not win a playoff game again until 2005 as the Wizards.
In the first round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Michael Jordan scored 50 or more points twice—50 points in Game 1, and 55 points in Game 2—becoming the first player to do so in the same series.
This was the first time in NBA history that a game other than a Finals game was played during the month of June.
The San Antonio Spurs became the most recent team to qualify for the playoffs despite losing 50 or more games, as they finished with a 31–51 record. Since then, only the Boston Celtics in have qualified for the playoffs while winning only 35 or less games in an 82-game regular season. Due to subsequent expansion from 23 teams in 1988 to 30 in 2004, it is unlikely any team would make the playoffs while losing 50 or more games in a season.
Game 4 of the Atlanta-Milwaukee series was the last NBA game played at The MECCA. The next season, the Bucks moved to the Bradley Center, where they would play for the next thirty seasons.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the last NBA game ever played at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Pistons moved full-time to the Palace of Auburn Hills in the fall and would play there until moving to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit in 2017.
This was the last NBA postseason to have back-to-backs in the conference finals (they would still occur in the conference semifinals until 2000).
These playoffs had four playoff series where the home team was undefeated in the series in a single year, an active NBA playoff record. Only 1990 has had more than two playoff series where the home team went undefeated in a single year.
Bracket
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) New York Knicks
+Regular-season seriesBoston won 5–1 in the regular-season series
This was the 12th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning six of the first 11 meetings. +Previous playoff seriesBoston leads 6–5 in all-time playoff series
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (7) Washington Bullets
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 3–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesDetroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers
+Regular-season seriesTied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Cavaliers.
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
+Regular-season seriesTied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesMilwaukee leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference first round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) San Antonio Spurs
+Regular-season seriesLos Angeles won 5–0 in the regular-season series
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics
+Regular-season seriesDenver won 4–1 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesSeattle leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Houston Rockets
Cedric Maxwell's final NBA game.
+Regular-season seriesDallas won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Rockets.
(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Utah Jazz
+Regular-season seriesUtah won 4–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Jazz.
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (4) Atlanta Hawks
+Regular-season seriesBoston won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first eight meetings. +Previous playoff seriesBoston leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Chicago Bulls
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesChicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Utah Jazz
Michael Cooper hits the game-winner with 7 seconds left; John Stockton ties the NBA playoff record for 24 assists.
+Regular-season seriesLos Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Jazz.
(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks
+Regular-season seriesTied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Nuggets.
Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (2) Detroit Pistons
Adrian Dantley hits a game-tying free throw with 10 seconds left in regulation to force OT; Kevin McHale hits the game-tying 3 pointer with 5 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.
Dennis Johnson hits a game-winning free throw with 8 seconds left.
Fred Roberts hits the game-tying jumper with 1:05 left in regulation to force OT.
Artis Gilmore's final NBA game.
+Regular-season seriesTied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first three meetings. +Previous playoff seriesBoston leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks
+Regular-season seriesLos Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E2) Detroit Pistons
Isiah Thomas scores a Finals record 25 points in the 3rd quarter, despite having a severely sprained ankle; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hits the game-winning free throws with 14 seconds left.
+Regular-season seriesLos Angeles won 2–0 in the regular-season series
This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning eight of the first nine meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 8–1 in all-time playoff series
Statistical leaders Category Game high Average Player Team High Player Team Avg. Points Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 55 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets 37.5 4 Rebounds Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets 26 Hakeem Olajuwon Houston Rockets 16.8 4 Assists John Stockton Utah Jazz 24 John Stockton Utah Jazz 14.8 11 Steals Michael JordanIsiah ThomasHorace GrantRon HarperPatrick EwingClyde DrexlerAlvin Robertson Chicago BullsDetroit PistonsChicago BullsCleveland CavaliersNew York KnicksPortland Trail BlazersSan Antonio Spurs 6 Alvin Robertson San Antonio Spurs 4.0 3 Blocks Mark Eaton Utah Jazz 7 Patrick Ewing New York Knicks 3.3 3
References
External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1988 NBA Playoffs page
fi:NBA-kausi 1987–1988#Pudotuspelit