The 1989 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1988–89 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Joe Dumars was named NBA Finals MVP. The Pistons had one of the most dominant playoff runs in NBA history, finishing 15–2 with their only losses to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. This NBA playoffs also holds the record for the most sweeps in an entire NBA playoffs with 9 out of 15 series being decided in just 3 or 4 games.
The Lakers won the Western Conference title without losing a game, and entered the NBA Finals as the heavy favorites. However, they were swept in the Finals by the Pistons, due in part to season-ending injuries suffered by Magic Johnson and Byron Scott. The Lakers became the first team in NBA history to open an NBA post-season with 11 straight victories and to sweep three series in an NBA post-season.
Chicago advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1975 (back when they were a member of the Western Conference) (and the first time in Michael Jordan's career), but their season was ended by Detroit for the second straight year. Two rounds earlier, Jordan hit "The Shot" over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer to beat the Cavs.
The Boston Celtics' first-round playoff sweep by the Pistons was the first time they failed to get past the round of 16. Boston's chances were hampered by the absence of Larry Bird during these playoffs due to a season-ending injury earlier in the season; the first and only time in Bird's NBA career he'd miss playing in the playoffs. It also marked the first time since 1956 that Boston failed to win a single playoff series in one season, snapping a record 28 consecutive postseason appearances with a series win.
Former Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan made the first of 19 playoff appearances in a 22-year tenure. The only time he missed the playoffs with Utah was 2004–2006. Prior to this, he had last appeared in the playoffs in 1981 with the Bulls. His Jazz were ousted by the Golden State Warriors 3–0, the second time a seventh seed had beaten the second seed in the playoffs.
Bracket
First round
Eastern Conference first round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Boston Celtics
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning three of the first four meetings. +Previous playoff seriesBoston leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
Gerald Wilkins hits the series-winning shot with 6 seconds left. This is the most recent playoff series between the Knicks & 76ers until 2024.
+Regular-season seriesPhiladelphia won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning six of the first eight meetings. +Previous playoff seriesPhiladelphia leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series
(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
Brad Daugherty hits the game-tying free throws with 4 second left in regulation to force OT.
Michael Jordan hits the series-winning shot at the buzzer.
+Regular-season seriesCleveland won 6–0 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
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
+Regular-season seriesAtlanta won 6–0 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. +Previous playoff seriesTied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference first round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
+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 two of the first three meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
(2) Utah Jazz vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
In the 16-team playoff format, this is the only time a top 2 seed has been swept in the First Round in NBA history. However, a top 2 seed has yet to be swept in the First Round in a best-of-seven series format.
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Warriors winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesGolden State leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Denver Nuggets
This is the most recent playoff series between the Suns & Nuggets until 2021.
+Regular-season seriesPhoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. +Previous playoff series Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
(4) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Houston Rockets
Derrick McKey hits the series-winning alley-oop layup at the buzzer.
+Regular-season seriesTied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings. +Previous playoff seriesSeattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
+Regular-season seriesMilwaukee won 4–2 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
(2) New York Knicks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan hits the game tying free throws with 1:15 left in regulation to force OT
Michael Jordan hits the series-winning free throws with 4 seconds left.
+Regular-season seriesChicago won 3–2 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. (4) Seattle SuperSonics
The Lakers posted the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history by overcoming a 29-point deficit (43–14), which has since been surpassed.
+Regular-season seriesLos Angeles won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece. +Previous playoff seriesTied 2–2 in all-time playoff series
(3) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Golden State Warriors
+Regular-season seriesPhoenix won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting. +Previous playoff seriesPhoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan hits the game-winner with 3 seconds left.
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 6–0 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. +Previous playoff seriesTied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Phoenix Suns
+Regular-season seriesTied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first five meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series
NBA Finals: (E1) Detroit Pistons vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers
Joe Dumars blocks David Rivers' potential game-tying 3 with 8 seconds left.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's final NBA game.
+Regular-season seriesDetroit won 2–0 in the regular-season series
This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning nine of the first ten meetings. +Previous playoff seriesLos Angeles leads 9–1 in all-time playoff series
Statistical leaders Category Game high Average Player Team High Player Team Avg. Points Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 50 Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 34.8 17 Rebounds Karl Malone Utah Jazz 22 Karl Malone Utah Jazz 16.3 3 Assists Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 20 John Stockton Utah Jazz 13.7 3 Steals Michael JordanByron ScottSedale ThreattJohn Stockton Chicago BullsLos Angeles LakersSeattle SuperSonicsUtah Jazz 6 John Stockton Utah Jazz 3.3 3 Blocks Alton Lister Seattle SuperSonics 8 Manute Bol Golden State Warriors 3.6 8
References
External links Basketball-Reference.com's 1989 NBA Playoffs page
fi:NBA-kausi 1988–1989#Pudotuspelit