1988 NBA playoffs


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 season|Los Angeles Lakers] defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons season|Detroit Pistons] 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals. James Worthy was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|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.
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.

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) [Boston Celtics] vs. (8) [New York Knicks]

Boston 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.
Boston leads 6–5 in all-time playoff series


(2) [Detroit Pistons] vs. (7) [Washington Bullets]

Detroit 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.
Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


(3) [Chicago Bulls] vs. (6) [Cleveland Cavaliers]

Tied 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]

Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series


This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting.
Milwaukee leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference first round

(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (8) [San Antonio Spurs]

Los 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.
Los Angeles leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series


(2) [Denver Nuggets] vs. (7) [Seattle SuperSonics]

Denver 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.
Seattle leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


(3) [Dallas Mavericks] vs. (6) [Houston Rockets]

Dallas 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]

Utah 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]

Boston 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.
Boston leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series


(2) [Detroit Pistons] vs. (3) [Chicago Bulls]

Detroit 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.
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference semifinals

(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (5) [Utah Jazz]

Los 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]

Tied 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]

Tied 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.
Boston leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference finals

(1) [Los Angeles Lakers] vs. (3) [Dallas Mavericks]

Los 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.
Los Angeles leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E2) Detroit Pistons

Los 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.
Los Angeles leads 8–1 in all-time playoff series