1989 NBA playoffs


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 season|Detroit Pistons] defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers season|Los Angeles Lakers] 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals. Joe Dumars was named Bill Russell [NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|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 season|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 , 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 season|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.
Former Utah Jazz season|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 season|Golden State Warriors] 3–0, the second time a seventh seed had beaten the second seed in the playoffs.

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) Detroit Pistons">1988–89 Detroit Pistons season">Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Boston Celtics">1988–89 Boston Celtics season">Boston Celtics

Detroit 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.
Boston leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series


(2) [1988–89 [New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers">1988–89 Philadelphia 76ers season">Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series


(3) Cleveland Cavaliers">1988–89 Cleveland Cavaliers season">Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) Chicago Bulls">1988–89 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls

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


(4) Atlanta Hawks">1988–89 Atlanta Hawks season">Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks">1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks season">Milwaukee Bucks

Atlanta 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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference first round

(1) Los Angeles Lakers">1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) [1988–89 [Portland Trail Blazers season|Portland Trail Blazers]]

Los 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.
Los Angeles leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


(2) Utah Jazz">1988–89 Utah Jazz season">Utah Jazz vs. (7) Golden State Warriors">1988–89 Golden State Warriors season">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.
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series


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


(3) Phoenix Suns">1988–89 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Denver Nuggets">1988–89 Denver Nuggets season">Denver Nuggets

Phoenix 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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


(4) Seattle SuperSonics">1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Houston Rockets">1988–89 Houston Rockets season">Houston Rockets

  • Derrick McKey hits the series-winning alley-oop layup at the buzzer.
Tied 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.
Seattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) Detroit Pistons">1988–89 Detroit Pistons season">Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks">1988–89 Milwaukee Bucks season">Milwaukee Bucks

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


(2) [New York Knicks] vs. (6) [Chicago Bulls]

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


Western Conference semifinals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers">1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Seattle SuperSonics">1988–89 Seattle SuperSonics season">Seattle SuperSonics

  • The Lakers posted the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history by overcoming a 29-point deficit, which has since been surpassed.
Los 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.
Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series


(3) Phoenix Suns">1988–89 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Golden State Warriors">1988–89 Golden State Warriors season">Golden State Warriors

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


Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) Detroit Pistons">1988–89 Detroit Pistons season">Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Chicago Bulls">1988–89 Chicago Bulls season">Chicago Bulls

Detroit 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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


Western Conference finals

(1) Los Angeles Lakers">1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season">Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Phoenix Suns">1988–89 Phoenix Suns season">Phoenix Suns

Tied 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.
Los Angeles leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series


NBA Finals: (E1) Detroit Pistons vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers

Detroit 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.
Los Angeles leads 9–1 in all-time playoff series