1988 NBA playoffs#(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Cleveland Cavaliers
{{Short description|Postseason tournament}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{infobox basketball tournament season
|title=NBA playoffs
|year=1988
|image=1988NBAplayoffsofficiallogo.png
| season =1987–88
|dates=April 28–June 21, 1988
| num_teams =16
| winners =Los Angeles Lakers
| count =11
| second = Detroit Pistons
| semifinal1 =Dallas Mavericks
| semifinal2 =Boston Celtics
| prev_season =1987
| next_season =1989
}}
File:1988 NBA Finals - Game 1 - Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers 1988-06-07 (ticket).JPG
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/23/sports/hawks-cannot-contain-celtics-high-flying-bird.html |title=Hawks Cannot Contain Celtics' High-Flying Bird |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 23, 1988 }}
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/05/08/sports/jordan-hovers-above-the-rest.html |title=Jordan Hovers Above The Rest |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 8, 1988 }}
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 {{nbapy|1995}} have qualified for the playoffs while winning only 35 or less games in an 82-game regular 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
{{16TeamBracket
| RD1 = First Round
| RD2 = Conference Semifinals
| RD3 = Conference Finals
| RD4 = NBA Finals
| RD2-group1=Eastern Conference
| RD2-group2=Western Conference
| RD1-seed01=E1
| RD1-team01=Boston*
| RD1-score01=3
| RD1-seed02=E8
| RD1-team02=New York
| RD1-score02=1
| RD1-seed03=E4
| RD1-team03=Atlanta
| RD1-score03=3
| RD1-seed04=E5
| RD1-team04=Milwaukee
| RD1-score04=2
| RD1-seed05=E3
| RD1-team05=Chicago
| RD1-score05=3
| RD1-seed06=E6
| RD1-team06=Cleveland
| RD1-score06=2
| RD1-seed07=E2
| RD1-team07=Detroit*
| RD1-score07=3
| RD1-seed08=E7
| RD1-team08=Washington
| RD1-score08=2
| RD1-seed09=W1
| RD1-team09=LA Lakers*
| RD1-score09=3
| RD1-seed10=W8
| RD1-team10=San Antonio
| RD1-score10=0
| RD1-seed11=W4
| RD1-team11=Portland
| RD1-score11=1
| RD1-seed12=W5
| RD1-team12=Utah
| RD1-score12=3
| RD1-seed13=W3
| RD1-team13=Dallas
| RD1-score13=3
| RD1-seed14=W6
| RD1-team14=Houston
| RD1-score14=1
| RD1-seed15=W2
| RD1-team15=Denver*
| RD1-score15=3
| RD1-seed16=W7
| RD1-team16=Seattle
| RD1-score16=2
| RD2-seed01=E1
| RD2-team01=Boston*
| RD2-score01=4
| RD2-seed02=E4
| RD2-team02=Atlanta
| RD2-score02=3
| RD2-seed03=E3
| RD2-team03=Chicago
| RD2-score03=1
| RD2-seed04=E2
| RD2-team04=Detroit*
| RD2-score04=4
| RD2-seed05=W1
| RD2-team05=LA Lakers*
| RD2-score05=4
| RD2-seed06=W5
| RD2-team06=Utah
| RD2-score06=3
| RD2-seed07=W3
| RD2-team07=Dallas
| RD2-score07=4
| RD2-seed08=W2
| RD2-team08=Denver*
| RD2-score08=2
| RD3-seed01=E1
| RD3-team01=Boston*
| RD3-score01=2
| RD3-seed02=E2
| RD3-team02=Detroit*
| RD3-score02=4
| RD3-seed03=W1
| RD3-team03=LA Lakers*
| RD3-score03=4
| RD3-seed04=W3
| RD3-team04=Dallas
| RD3-score04=3
| RD4-seed01=E2
| RD4-team01=Detroit*
| RD4-score01=3
| RD4-seed02=W1
| RD4-team02=LA Lakers*
| RD4-score02=4
}}{{ubl
|
|Bold Series winner
|Italic Team with home-court advantage}}
First round
=Eastern Conference first round=
==(1) [[Boston Celtics]] vs. (8) [[New York Knicks]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804290BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 92
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 112
| Q1 = 29–26 | Q2 = 22–27 | Q3 = 24–29 | Q4 = 17–30
| points1 = Gerald Wilkins 24 | rebounds1 = Ewing, Green 11 each | assist1 = Mark Jackson 9
| points2 = McHale, Bird 29 each | rebounds2 = Robert Parish 13 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 9
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Earl Strom, Paul Mihalak | series = Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805010BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = New York Knicks | score1 = 102
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 128
| Q1 = 25–29 | Q2 = 23–34 | Q3 = 24–28 | Q4 = 30–37
| points1 = Gerald Wilkins 24 | rebounds1 = Patrick Ewing 10 | assist1 = Mark Jackson 7
| points2 = Larry Bird 36 | rebounds2 = Kevin McHale 12 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 9
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Hue Hollins, Ed Rush | series = Boston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805040NYK.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 100
| team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 109
| Q1 = 21–22 | Q2 = 24–23 | Q3 = 25–28 | Q4 = 30–36
| points1 = Kevin McHale 24 | rebounds1 = Robert Parish 11 | assist1 = Larry Bird 12
| points2 = Johnny Newman 34 | rebounds2 = Patrick Ewing 10 | assist2 = Mark Jackson 14
| place = Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York | attendance = 19,591
| referee = Mike Mathis, Hugh Evans | series = Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 6 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805060NYK.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 102
| team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 94
| Q1 = 28–21 | Q2 = 24–25 | Q3 = 19–24 | Q4 = 31–24
| points1 = Larry Bird 28 | rebounds1 = Robert Parish 12 | assist1 = Dennis Johnson 12
| points2 = Mark Jackson 28 | rebounds2 = Patrick Ewing 20 | assist2 = Mark Jackson 9
| place = Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York | attendance = 19,591
| referee = Jess Kersey, Joe Crawford | series = Boston wins series, 3–1
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Boston won 5–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 9, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11090|id=NYK}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 96 | team2 = New York Knicks |score2 = 87 | place = Madison Square Garden, New York City }} {{basketballbox | date = November 18, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11180|id=BOS}} | team1 = New York Knicks |score1 = 109 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 111 |overtime=2OT | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 6, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01060|id=BOS}} | team1 = New York Knicks |score1 = 108 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 117 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | date = January 9, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01090|id=NYK}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 98 | team2 = New York Knicks |score2 = 106 | place = Madison Square Garden, New York City }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 22, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02220|id=BOS}} | team1 = New York Knicks |score1 = 93 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 95 | place = Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut }} {{basketballbox | date = March 26, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03260|id=NYK}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 118 | team2 = New York Knicks |score2 = 106 | place = Madison Square Garden, New York City }} |
This was the 12th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning six of the first 11 meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Boston leads 6–5 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1951 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 0 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 2 | place = 1951 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1952 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 2 | place = 1952 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 3 | place = 1953 Eastern Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1954 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 2 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 0 | place = 1954 Eastern Division Round Robin Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1955 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 2 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 1 | place = 1955 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1967 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 3 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 1 | place = 1967 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1969 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 2 | place = 1969 Eastern Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1972 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 1 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 4 | place = 1972 Eastern Conference Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1973 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 3 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 4 | place = 1973 Eastern Conference Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1974 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 1 | place = 1974 Eastern Conference Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1984 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = New York Knicks | score2 = 3 | place = 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals| }} |
==(2) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (7) [[Washington Bullets]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804280DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Washington Bullets | score1 = 87
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 96
| Q1 = 21–20 | Q2 = 21–18 | Q3 = 19–29 | Q4 = 26–29
| points1 = Jeff Malone 33 | rebounds1 = Moses Malone 13 | assist1 = John Williams 9
| points2 = Isiah Thomas 34 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 12 | assist2 = Joe Dumars 6
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 17,356
| referee = Darell Garretson, Terry Durham | series = Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 30 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804300DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Washington Bullets | score1 = 101
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 102
| Q1 = 23–28 | Q2 = 23–23 | Q3 = 36–25 | Q4 = 19–26
| points1 = Jeff Malone 31 | rebounds1 = Moses Malone 14 | assist1 = Jeff Malone 4
| points2 = Isiah Thomas 30 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 11 | assist2 = Joe Dumars 5
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 18,293
| referee = Hugh Evans, Bruce Alexander | series = Detroit leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 2 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805020WSB.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 106
| team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 114
| overtime = OT
| Q1 = 25–29 | Q2 = 26–23 | Q3 = 24–28 | Q4 = 23–18 | OT = 8–16
| points1 = Isiah Thomas 29 | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 8 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 8
| points2 = Jeff Malone 35 | rebounds2 = Moses Malone 9 | assist2 = Steve Colter 6
| place = Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland | attendance = 9,673
| referee = Jack Madden, Mike Mathis | series = Detroit leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805040WSB.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 103
| team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 106
| Q1 = 29–27 | Q2 = 21–26 | Q3 = 28–25 | Q4 = 25–28
| points1 = Dantley, Rodman 23 each | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 10 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 10
| points2 = Jeff Malone 25 | rebounds2 = Moses Malone 8 | assist2 = Darrell Walker 5
| place = Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland | attendance = 10,513
| referee = Earl Strom, Jess Kersey, Dick Bavetta | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805080DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Washington Bullets | score1 = 78
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 99
| Q1 = 22–27 | Q2 = 18–23 | Q3 = 20–23 | Q4 = 18–26
| points1 = Bernard King 18 | rebounds1 = Moses Malone 12 | assist1 = three players 3 each
| points2 = Joe Dumars 20 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 11 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 11
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 18,403
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Ed Rush | series = Detroit wins series, 3–2
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Detroit won 3–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 28, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11280|id=WSB}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 102 | team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 124 | place = Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland }} {{basketballbox | date = December 11, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12110|id=DET}} | team1 = Washington Bullets |score1 = 108 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 114 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 5, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03050|id=WSB}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 97 | team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 101 | place = Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland }} {{basketballbox | date = March 20, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03200|id=DET}} | team1 = Washington Bullets |score1 = 110 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 118 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 21, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04210|id=WSB}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 99 | team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 87 | place = Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland }} |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1987 | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 3 | team2 = Washington Bullets | score2 = 0 | place = 1987 Eastern Conference First Round| }} |
==(3) [[Chicago Bulls]] vs. (6) [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804280CHI.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers | score1 = 93
| team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 104
| Q1 = 29–23 | Q2 = 19–30 | Q3 = 28–20 | Q4 = 17–31
| points1 = Craig Ehlo 21 | rebounds1 = Larry Nance 8 | assist1 = Mark Price 12
| points2 = Michael Jordan 50 | rebounds2 = Charles Oakley 15 | assist2 = John Paxson 7
| place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | attendance = 18,676
| referee = Jack Madden, Hue Hollins, Bruce Alexander | series = Chicago leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805010CHI.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers | score1 = 101
| team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 106
| Q1 = 36–23 | Q2 = 19–28 | Q3 = 24–28 | Q4 = 22–27
| points1 = Larry Nance 27 | rebounds1 = Brad Daugherty 13 | assist1 = Larry Nance 8
| points2 = Michael Jordan 55 | rebounds2 = Charles Oakley 12 | assist2 = Sam Vincent 14
| place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | attendance = 18,645
| referee = Darell Garretson, Paul Mihalak | series = Chicago leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805030CLE.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 102
| team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers | score2 = 110
| Q1 = 22–35 | Q2 = 28–24 | Q3 = 24–30 | Q4 = 28–21
| points1 = Michael Jordan 38 | rebounds1 = Charles Oakley 9 | assist1 = Michael Jordan 9
| points2 = Mark Price 31 | rebounds2 = Brad Daugherty 10 | assist2 = Mark Price 6
| place = Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio | attendance = 20,068
| referee = Jess Kersey, Dick Bavetta | series = Chicago leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 5 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805050CLE.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 91
| team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers | score2 = 97
| Q1 = 19–27 | Q2 = 24–28 | Q3 = 25–21 | Q4 = 23–21
| points1 = Michael Jordan 44 | rebounds1 = Charles Oakley 10 | assist1 = Sam Vincent 5
| points2 = Ron Harper 30 | rebounds2 = Brad Daugherty 9 | assist2 = Mark Price 7
| place = Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio | attendance = 20,026
| referee = Joe Crawford, Mike Mathis | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805080CHI.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers | score1 = 101
| team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 107
| Q1 = 35–23 | Q2 = 21–28 | Q3 = 21–29 | Q4 = 24–27
| points1 = Mark Price 25 | rebounds1 = Brad Daugherty 10 | assist1 = Mark Price 7
| points2 = Michael Jordan 39 | rebounds2 = Charles Oakley 20 | assist2 = Rory Sparrow 7
| place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | attendance = 18,008
| referee = Hugh Evans, Earl Strom, Tommy Nunez (alternate) | series = Chicago wins series, 3–2
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = December 17, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12170|id=CHI}} | team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score1 = 100 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 111 | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} {{basketballbox | date = January 14, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01140|id=CLE}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 88 | team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score2 = 91 |overtime=OT | place = The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 21, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02210|id=CLE}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 111 | team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score2 = 113 | place = The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio }} {{basketballbox | date = March 15, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03150|id=CHI}} | team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score1 = 89 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 108 | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 25, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03250|id=CLE}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 111 | team2 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score2 = 110 |overtime=OT | place = The Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio }} {{basketballbox | date = April 22, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04220|id=CHI}} | team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers |score1 = 107 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 103 | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Cavaliers.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=CHI&opp_id=CLE&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 29, 2015}}
==(4) [[Atlanta Hawks]] vs. (5) [[Milwaukee Bucks]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804290ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 107
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 110
| Q1 = 28–25 | Q2 = 32–23 | Q3 = 16–36 | Q4 = 31–26
| points1 = Paul Pressey 21 | rebounds1 = Jack Sikma 12 | assist1 = Paul Pressey 7
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 26 | rebounds2 = Kevin Willis 9 | assist2 = Doc Rivers 6
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 11,517
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Hue Hollins, Terry Durham | series = Atlanta leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805010ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 97
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 104
| Q1 = 29–26 | Q2 = 25–28 | Q3 = 22–24 | Q4 = 21–26
| points1 = Sidney Moncrief 22 | rebounds1 = Jack Sikma 17 | assist1 = Paul Pressey 9
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 43 | rebounds2 = Kevin Willis 10 | assist2 = Doc Rivers 8
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 11,777
| referee = Hugh Evans, Dick Bavetta | series = Atlanta leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805040MIL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 115
| team2 = Milwaukee Bucks | score2 = 123
| Q1 = 29–31 | Q2 = 28–23 | Q3 = 27–35 | Q4 = 31–34
| points1 = Dominique Wilkins 22 | rebounds1 = Dominique Wilkins 14 | assist1 = Randy Wittman 8
| points2 = Terry Cummings 30 | rebounds2 = Jack Sikma 16 | assist2 = Paul Pressey 6
| place = MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | attendance = 11,052
| referee = Bill Saar, Joe Crawford | series = Atlanta leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 6 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805060MIL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 99
| team2 = Milwaukee Bucks | score2 = 105
| Q1 = 27–20 | Q2 = 20–28 | Q3 = 28–28 | Q4 = 24–29
| points1 = Dominique Wilkins 31 | rebounds1 = Kevin Willis 8 | assist1 = Doc Rivers 9
| points2 = Terry Cummings 30 | rebounds2 = Jack Sikma 9 | assist2 = Sidney Moncrief 7
| place = MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin | attendance = 11,052
| referee = Earl Strom, Bill Oakes | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805080ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 111
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 121
| Q1 = 22–26 | Q2 = 25–32 | Q3 = 23–31 | Q4 = 41–32
| points1 = Terry Cummings 28 | rebounds1 = Larry Krystkowiak 10 | assist1 = Moncrief, Pressey 6 each
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 33 | rebounds2 = Dominique Wilkins 10 | assist2 = Doc Rivers 15
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 12,190
| referee = Darell Garretson, Jess Kersey | series = Atlanta wins series, 3–2
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 15, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11150|id=MIL}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 103 | team2 = Milwaukee Bucks |score2 = 112 | place = MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin }} {{basketballbox | date = December 18, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12180|id=MIL}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 94 | team2 = Milwaukee Bucks |score2 = 87 | place = MECCA Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 5, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03050|id=ATL}} | team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 104 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 101 }} {{basketballbox | date = March 21, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03210|id=ATL}} | team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 105 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 115 }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 22, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03220|id=MIL}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 98 | team2 = Milwaukee Bucks |score2 = 111 | place = MECCA Arena, Milwaukee }} {{basketballbox | date = April 5, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04050|id=ATL}} | team1 = Milwaukee Bucks | score1 = 110 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 121 }} |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Milwaukee leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1984 | team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 2 | team2 = Milwaukee Bucks | score2 = 3 | place = 1984 Eastern Conference First Round| }} |
=Western Conference first round=
==(1) [[Los Angeles Lakers]] vs. (8) [[San Antonio Spurs]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804290LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = San Antonio Spurs | score1 = 110
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 122
| Q1 = 28–26 | Q2 = 21–34 | Q3 = 31–30 | Q4 = 30–32
| points1 = Alvin Robertson 34 | rebounds1 = Anderson, Berry 8 each | assist1 = Robertson, Brickowski 5 each
| points2 = James Worthy 22 | rebounds2 = Mychal Thompson 14 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 18
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Jess Kersey, Mike Mathis, Blane Reichelt | series = LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805010LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = San Antonio Spurs | score1 = 112
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 130
| Q1 = 32–25 | Q2 = 26–35 | Q3 = 23–33 | Q4 = 31–37
| points1 = Alvin Robertson 28 | rebounds1 = Frank Brickowski 12 | assist1 = Alvin Robertson 12
| points2 = Mychal Thompson 29 | rebounds2 = Mychal Thompson 16 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 15
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Jack Nies | series = LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805030SAS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 109
| team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 107
| Q1 = 39–36 | Q2 = 28–29 | Q3 = 22–26 | Q4 = 20–16
| points1 = Magic Johnson 25 | rebounds1 = James Worthy 11 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 11
| points2 = Frank Brickowski 27 | rebounds2 = Greg Anderson 8 | assist2 = Alvin Robertson 11
| place = HemisFair Arena, San Antonio, Texas | attendance = 11,542
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Tommy Nunez Sr. | series = LA Lakers win series, 3–0
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Los Angeles won 5–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 10, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11100|id=SAS}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 133 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 124 | place = HemisFair Arena, San Antonio }} {{basketballbox | date = November 15, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11150|id=LAL}} | team1 = San Antonio Spurs |score1 = 130 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 147 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 4, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01040|id=LAL}} | team1 = San Antonio Spurs |score1 = 115 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 133 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | date = February 12, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02120|id=SAS}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 133 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 132 | place = HemisFair Arena, San Antonio }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 19, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04190|id=SAS}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 133 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 126 | place = HemisFair Arena, San Antonio }} |
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Los Angeles leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1982 | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 4 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 0 | place = 1982 Western Conference Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1983 | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 4 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 2 | place = 1983 Western Conference Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1986 | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 3 | team2 = San Antonio Spurs | score2 = 0 | place = 1986 Western Conference First Round| }} |
==(2) [[Denver Nuggets]] vs. (7) [[Seattle SuperSonics]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804290DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 123
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 126
| Q1 = 27–28 | Q2 = 39–28 | Q3 = 28–28 | Q4 = 29–42
| points1 = Tom Chambers 29 | rebounds1 = Xavier McDaniel 10 | assist1 = McDaniel, McMillan 8 each
| points2 = Alex English 28 | rebounds2 = Fat Lever 11 | assist2 = Fat Lever 8
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 17,022
| referee = Jack Nies, Bill Oakes, Jake O'Donnell | series = Denver leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805010DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 111
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 91
| Q1 = 34–22 | Q2 = 32–19 | Q3 = 25–23 | Q4 = 20–27
| points1 = Dale Ellis 24 | rebounds1 = Xavier McDaniel 17 | assist1 = Nate McMillan 6
| points2 = English, Evans 16 each | rebounds2 = Fat Lever 12 | assist2 = Michael Adams 5
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 17,022
| referee = Tommy Nunez Sr., Earl Strom | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805030SEA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 124
| team2 = Seattle SuperSonics | score2 = 115
| Q1 = 39–34 | Q2 = 24–24 | Q3 = 35–30 | Q4 = 27–26
| points1 = Blair Rasmussen 28 | rebounds1 = Blair Rasmussen 12 | assist1 = Adams, Lever 7 each
| points2 = Tom Chambers 34 | rebounds2 = Xavier McDaniel 12 | assist2 = Nate McMillan 9
| place = Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington | attendance = 14,250
| referee = Darell Garretson, Paul Mihalak | series = Denver leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 5 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805050SEA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 117
| team2 = Seattle SuperSonics | score2 = 127
| Q1 = 36–35 | Q2 = 27–30 | Q3 = 30–32 | Q4 = 24–30
| points1 = Jay Vincent 28 | rebounds1 = Danny Schayes 8 | assist1 = English, Evans 5 each
| points2 = Xavier McDaniel 27 | rebounds2 = Derrick McKey 7 | assist2 = Danny Young 8
| place = Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington | attendance = 14,250
| referee = Ed F. Rush, Hue Hollins | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 7 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805070DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 96
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 115
| Q1 = 22–17 | Q2 = 26–37 | Q3 = 20–32 | Q4 = 28–29
| points1 = Tom Chambers 23 | rebounds1 = Alton Lister 8 | assist1 = Xavier McDaniel 5
| points2 = Alex English 23 | rebounds2 = Jay Vincent 7 | assist2 = Alex English 7
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 16,040
| referee = Jack Madden, Hugh Evans | series = Denver wins series, 3–2
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Denver won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = December 26, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12260|id=DEN}} | team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 111 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 115 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} {{basketballbox | date = December 28, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12280|id=SEA}} | team1 = Denver Nuggets |score1 = 100 | team2 = Seattle SuperSonics |score2 = 108 | place = Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 5, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03050|id=SEA}} | team1 = Denver Nuggets |score1 = 115 | team2 = Seattle SuperSonics |score2 = 102 | place = Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle }} {{basketballbox | date = March 20, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03200|id=DEN}} | team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 95 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 108 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 19, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04190|id=DEN}} | team1 = Seattle SuperSonics | score1 = 114 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 134 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Seattle leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1978 | team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 2 | team2 = Seattle SuperSonics | score2 = 4 | place = 1978 Western Conference Finals| }} |
==(3) [[Dallas Mavericks]] vs. (6) [[Houston Rockets]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804280DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Houston Rockets | score1 = 110
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 120
| Q1 = 29–29 | Q2 = 17–32 | Q3 = 27–16 | Q4 = 37–43
| points1 = Hakeem Olajuwon 34 | rebounds1 = Hakeem Olajuwon 14 | assist1 = Sleepy Floyd 11
| points2 = Roy Tarpley 24 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 9 | assist2 = Derek Harper 8
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Joe Crawford, Bill Saar | series = Dallas leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 30 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804300DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Houston Rockets | score1 = 119
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 32–28 | Q2 = 28–34 | Q3 = 29–27 | Q4 = 30–19
| points1 = Sleepy Floyd 42 | rebounds1 = Hakeem Olajuwon 26 | assist1 = Sleepy Floyd 9
| points2 = Roy Tarpley 23 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 13 | assist2 = Derek Harper 8
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Jack Madden, Dick Bavetta, Bennett Salvatore | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805030HOU.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 93
| team2 = Houston Rockets | score2 = 92
| Q1 = 25–23 | Q2 = 28–22 | Q3 = 20–32 | Q4 = 20–15
| points1 = Roy Tarpley 17 | rebounds1 = Roy Tarpley 13 | assist1 = Rolando Blackman 7
| points2 = Hakeem Olajuwon 35 | rebounds2 = Hakeem Olajuwon 12 | assist2 = Sleepy Floyd 5
| place = The Summit, Houston, Texas | attendance = 16,611
| referee = Bruce Alexander, Earl Strom | series = Dallas leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 5 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805050HOU.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 107
| team2 = Houston Rockets | score2 = 97
| Q1 = 14–23 | Q2 = 32–21 | Q3 = 37–32 | Q4 = 24–21
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 38 | rebounds1 = James Donaldson 10 | assist1 = Rolando Blackman 10
| points2 = Hakeem Olajuwon 40 | rebounds2 = Hakeem Olajuwon 15 | assist2 = Sleepy Floyd 9
| place = The Summit, Houston, Texas | attendance = 16,611
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Paul Mihalak | series = Dallas wins series, 3–1
}}
- Cedric Maxwell's final NBA game.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Dallas won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = December 26, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12260|id=DAL}} | team1 = Houston Rockets | score1 = 100 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 105 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | date = January 4, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01040|id=HOU}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 107 | team2 = Houston Rockets |score2 = 117 | place = The Summit, Houston }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 30, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01300|id=DAL}} | team1 = Houston Rockets | score1 = 108 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 92 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | date = February 25, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02250|id=HOU}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 108 | team2 = Houston Rockets |score2 = 106 | place = The Summit, Houston }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 4, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03040|id=DAL}} | team1 = Houston Rockets | score1 = 110 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 118 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | date = April 19, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04190|id=HOU}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 104 | team2 = Houston Rockets |score2 = 96 | place = The Summit, Houston }} |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Rockets.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DAL&opp_id=HOU&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Houston Rockets (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 29, 2015}}
==(4) [[Portland Trail Blazers]] vs. (5) [[Utah Jazz]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = April 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804280POR.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 96
| team2 = Portland Trail Blazers | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 30–33 | Q2 = 18–27 | Q3 = 24–26 | Q4 = 24–22
| points1 = Thurl Bailey 31 | rebounds1 = Karl Malone 13 | assist1 = John Stockton 9
| points2 = Clyde Drexler 26 | rebounds2 = Clyde Drexler 13 | assist2 = Terry Porter 12
| place = Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon | attendance = 12,666
| referee = Jess Kersey, Mike Mathis | series = Portland leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = April 30 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198804300POR.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 114
| team2 = Portland Trail Blazers | score2 = 105
| Q1 = 36–23 | Q2 = 22–30 | Q3 = 21–20 | Q4 = 35–32
| points1 = Karl Malone 37 | rebounds1 = Karl Malone 16 | assist1 = John Stockton 13
| points2 = Clyde Drexler 25 | rebounds2 = Maurice Lucas 14 | assist2 = Terry Porter 7
| place = Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon | attendance = 12,666
| referee = Bill Saar, Joe Crawford | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805040UTA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Portland Trail Blazers | score1 = 108
| team2 = Utah Jazz | score2 = 113
| Q1 = 17–25 | Q2 = 24–24 | Q3 = 34–32 | Q4 = 33–32
| points1 = Jerome Kersey 23 | rebounds1 = Kevin Duckworth 16 | assist1 = Drexler, Porter 4 each
| points2 = Karl Malone 35 | rebounds2 = Karl Malone 9 | assist2 = John Stockton 16
| place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah | attendance = 12,444
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Bill Oakes | series = Utah leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 6 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805060UTA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Portland Trail Blazers | score1 = 96
| team2 = Utah Jazz | score2 = 111
| Q1 = 22–25 | Q2 = 31–26 | Q3 = 27–31 | Q4 = 16–29
| points1 = Kevin Duckworth 33 | rebounds1 = Kersey, Duckworth 10 each | assist1 = Clyde Drexler 6
| points2 = Karl Malone 38 | rebounds2 = Mark Eaton 11 | assist2 = John Stockton 10
| place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah | attendance = 12,444
| referee = Darell Garretson, Hue Hollins | series = Utah wins series, 3–1
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Utah won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = January 13, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01130|id=UTA}} | team1 = Portland Trail Blazers |score1 = 104 | team2 = Utah Jazz |score2 = 116 | place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City }} {{basketballbox | date = February 4, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02040|id=POR}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 126 | team2 = Portland Trail Blazers | score2 = 123 | place = Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 15, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02150|id=UTA}} | team1 = Portland Trail Blazers |score1 = 94 | team2 = Utah Jazz |score2 = 112 | place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City }} {{basketballbox | date = April 14, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04140|id=UTA}} | team1 = Portland Trail Blazers |score1 = 128 | team2 = Utah Jazz |score2 = 123 | place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 19, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04190|id=POR}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 129 | team2 = Portland Trail Blazers | score2 = 122 | place = Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon }} |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Jazz.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=POR&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 29, 2015}}
Conference semifinals
=Eastern Conference semifinals=
==(1) [[Boston Celtics]] vs. (4) [[Atlanta Hawks]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 11 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805110BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 101
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 110
| Q1 = 23–38 | Q2 = 25–16 | Q3 = 20–28 | Q4 = 33–28
| points1 = Dominique Wilkins 25 | rebounds1 = Doc Rivers 9 | assist1 = three players 5 each
| points2 = Larry Bird 38 | rebounds2 = Robert Parish 14 | assist2 = Danny Ainge 12
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Dick Bavetta | series = Boston leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 13 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805130BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 97
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 9–25 | Q2 = 30–20 | Q3 = 32–30 | Q4 = 26–33
| points1 = Dominique Wilkins 22 | rebounds1 = Tree Rollins 9 | assist1 = Doc Rivers 6
| points2 = Kevin McHale 32 | rebounds2 = Robert Parish 14 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 9
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Jack Madden, Paul Mihalak | series = Boston leads series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805150ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 92
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 110
| Q1 = 22–24 | Q2 = 23–28 | Q3 = 23–30 | Q4 = 24–28
| points1 = Larry Bird 22 | rebounds1 = Robert Parish 13 | assist1 = Larry Bird 8
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 25 | rebounds2 = Kevin Willis 13 | assist2 = Spud Webb 13
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 16,451
| referee = Earl Strom, Mike Mathis | series = Boston leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 16 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805160ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 109
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 118
| Q1 = 38–32 | Q2 = 21–34 | Q3 = 24–29 | Q4 = 26–23
| points1 = Larry Bird 30 | rebounds1 = Kevin McHale 12 | assist1 = Dennis Johnson 10
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 40 | rebounds2 = Tree Rollins 12 | assist2 = Doc Rivers 22
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 16,451
| referee = Hugh Evans, Hue Hollins | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805180BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 112
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 104
| Q1 = 23–24 | Q2 = 20–24 | Q3 = 26–29 | Q4 = 43–27
| points1 = Kevin Willis 27 | rebounds1 = Kevin Willis 14 | assist1 = Doc Rivers 7
| points2 = Robert Parish 24 | rebounds2 = Robert Parish 13 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 10
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Jess Kersey | series = Atlanta leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 20 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805200ATL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 102
| team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 100
| Q1 = 32–30 | Q2 = 26–27 | Q3 = 25–21 | Q4 = 19–22
| points1 = Kevin McHale 26 | rebounds1 = Larry Bird 11 | assist1 = Danny Ainge 14
| points2 = Dominique Wilkins 35 | rebounds2 = Willis, Rollins 11 each | assist2 = Spud Webb 7
| place = Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia | attendance = 16,451
| referee = Darell Garretson, Joe Crawford | series = Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 22 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805220BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 116
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 118
| Q1 = 30–28 | Q2 = 28–31 | Q3 = 24–25 | Q4 = 34–34
| points1 = Dominique Wilkins 47 | rebounds1 = Kevin Willis 11 | assist1 = Doc Rivers 18
| points2 = Larry Bird 34 | rebounds2 = Kevin McHale 13 | assist2 = Danny Ainge 10
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Hugh Evans | series = Boston wins series, 4–3
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Boston won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 25, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11250|id=BOS}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 102 | team2 = Boston Celtics |score2 = 117 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | date = December 1, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12010|id=ATL}} | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 106 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 120 }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 22, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01220|id=BOS}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 106 | team2 = Boston Celtics |score2 = 124 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | date = January 26, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01260|id=ATL}} | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 102 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 97 }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 13, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03130|id=BOS}} | team1 = Atlanta Hawks |score1 = 100 | team2 = Boston Celtics |score2 = 117 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | date = April 22, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04220|id=ATL}} | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 106 | team2 = Atlanta Hawks | score2 = 133 }} |
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first eight meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Boston leads 7–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1957 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 3 | place = 1957 NBA Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1958 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 2 | team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 4 | place = 1958 NBA Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1960 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 3 | place = 1960 NBA Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1961 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = St. Louis Hawks | score2 = 1 | place = 1961 NBA Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1972 | team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 2 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 4 | place = 1972 Eastern Conference Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1973 | team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 2 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 4 | place = 1973 Eastern Conference Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1983 | team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 1 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 2 | place = 1983 Eastern Conference First Round| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1986 | team1 = Atlanta Hawks | score1 = 1 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 4 | place = 1986 Eastern Conference Semifinals| }} |
==(2) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (3) [[Chicago Bulls]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 10 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805100DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 82
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 93
| Q1 = 22–31 | Q2 = 24–25 | Q3 = 20–19 | Q4 = 16–18
| points1 = Michael Jordan 29 | rebounds1 = Charles Oakley 13 | assist1 = Michael Jordan 6
| points2 = Adrian Dantley 23 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 14 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 8
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 18,312
| referee = Darell Garretson, Hue Hollins | series = Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 12 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805120DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 105
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 95
| Q1 = 25–20 | Q2 = 30–20 | Q3 = 26–22 | Q4 = 24–33
| points1 = Michael Jordan 36 | rebounds1 = Charles Oakley 12 | assist1 = Vincent, Pippen 5 each
| points2 = Isiah Thomas 25 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 14 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 13
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 20,281
| referee = Jess Kersey, Mike Mathis | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 14 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805140CHI.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 101
| team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 79
| Q1 = 27–15 | Q2 = 25–23 | Q3 = 21–20 | Q4 = 28–21
| points1 = Vinnie Johnson 23 | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 10 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 11
| points2 = Michael Jordan 24 | rebounds2 = Charles Oakley 12 | assist2 = Sam Vincent 6
| place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | attendance = 18,676
| referee = Bill Saar, Earl Strom | series = Detroit leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805150CHI.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 96
| team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 77
| Q1 = 25–19 | Q2 = 21–15 | Q3 = 25–21 | Q4 = 25–22
| points1 = Adrian Dantley 24 | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 13 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 11
| points2 = Michael Jordan 23 | rebounds2 = Charles Oakley 10 | assist2 = Michael Jordan 5
| place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois | attendance = 18,676
| referee = Paul Mihalak, Ed C. Rush | series = Detroit leads series, 3–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 18 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805180DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 95
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 102
| Q1 = 26–30 | Q2 = 22–23 | Q3 = 23–20 | Q4 = 24–29
| points1 = Michael Jordan 25 | rebounds1 = Charles Oakley 15 | assist1 = Jordan, Paxson 8 each
| points2 = Isiah Thomas 25 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 13 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 9
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 21,371
| referee = Jack Madden, Joe Crawford | series = Detroit wins series, 4–1
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Detroit won 4–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 21, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11210|id=CHI}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 144 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 132 |overtime=OT | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} {{basketballbox | date = December 15, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12150|id=DET}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 123 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 127 |overtime=OT | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 16, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01160|id=CHI}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 99 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 115 | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} {{basketballbox | date = February 9, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02090|id=CHI}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 89 | team2 = Chicago Bulls | score2 = 74 | place = Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 13, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02130|id=DET}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 73 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 82 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | date = April 3, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04030|id=DET}} | team1 = Chicago Bulls |score1 = 112 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 110 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} |
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1974 | team1 = Chicago Bulls | score1 = 4 | team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 3 | place = 1974 Western Conference Semifinals| }} |
=Western Conference semifinals=
==(1) [[Los Angeles Lakers]] vs. (5) [[Utah Jazz]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 8 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805080LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 91
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 110
| Q1 = 8–24 | Q2 = 23–31 | Q3 = 31–30 | Q4 = 29–25
| points1 = Karl Malone 29 | rebounds1 = Thurl Bailey 8 | assist1 = John Stockton 16
| points2 = James Worthy 23 | rebounds2 = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 10 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 9
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Jack Madden, Paul Mihalak | series = LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 10 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805100LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 101
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 97
| Q1 = 24–22 | Q2 = 30–21 | Q3 = 20–23 | Q4 = 27–31
| points1 = Karl Malone 29 | rebounds1 = Mark Eaton 12 | assist1 = John Stockton 13
| points2 = Byron Scott 26 | rebounds2 = Mychal Thompson 12 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 10
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Bruce Alexander, Joe Crawford | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 13 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805130UTA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 89
| team2 = Utah Jazz | score2 = 96
| Q1 = 23–31 | Q2 = 19–25 | Q3 = 27–25 | Q4 = 20–15
| points1 = Byron Scott 29 | rebounds1 = Mychal Thompson 12 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 6
| points2 = Karl Malone 29 | rebounds2 = Mark Eaton 14 | assist2 = John Stockton 12
| place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah | attendance = 12,444
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Bill Oakes | series = Utah leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805150UTA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 113
| team2 = Utah Jazz | score2 = 100
| Q1 = 29–31 | Q2 = 24–23 | Q3 = 31–22 | Q4 = 29–24
| points1 = James Worthy 29 | rebounds1 = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 11 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 9
| points2 = Karl Malone 29 | rebounds2 = Karl Malone 11 | assist2 = John Stockton 13
| place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah | attendance = 12,444
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Dick Bavetta | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805170LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 109
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 111
| Q1 = 32–37 | Q2 = 27–22 | Q3 = 19–27 | Q4 = 31–25
| points1 = Thurl Bailey 28 | rebounds1 = Karl Malone 16 | assist1 = John Stockton 24
| points2 = James Worthy 27 | rebounds2 = Mychal Thompson 11 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 13
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Darell Garretson, Mike Mathis | series = LA Lakers lead series, 3–2
}}
- Michael Cooper hits the game-winner with 7 seconds left; John Stockton ties the NBA playoff record for 24 assists.
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805190UTA.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 80
| team2 = Utah Jazz | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 13–31 | Q2 = 29–25 | Q3 = 18–25 | Q4 = 20–27
| points1 = Byron Scott 16 | rebounds1 = Mychal Thompson 9 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 9
| points2 = Karl Malone 27 | rebounds2 = Karl Malone 11 | assist2 = John Stockton 17
| place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah | attendance = 12,444
| referee = Hugh Evans, Hue Hollins | series = Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805210LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 98
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 109
| Q1 = 27–32 | Q2 = 24–25 | Q3 = 24–30 | Q4 = 23–22
| points1 = Karl Malone 31 | rebounds1 = Karl Malone 15 | assist1 = John Stockton 20
| points2 = Byron Scott 29 | rebounds2 = Magic Johnson 9 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 16
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Earl Strom, Jess Kersey | series = LA Lakers win series, 4–3
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Los Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = December 26, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12260|id=UTA}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 117 | team2 = Utah Jazz |score2 = 109 | place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City }} {{basketballbox | date = January 26, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01260|id=LAL}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 100 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 111 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 26, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02260|id=LAL}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 105 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 112 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | date = March 29, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03290|id=LAL}} | team1 = Utah Jazz | score1 = 111 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 122 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 2, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04020|id=UTA}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers |score1 = 92 | team2 = Utah Jazz |score2 = 106 | place = Salt Palace, Salt Lake City }} |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Jazz.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=LAL&opp_id=UTA&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 29, 2015}}
==(2) [[Denver Nuggets]] vs. (3) [[Dallas Mavericks]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 10 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805100DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 115
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 126
| Q1 = 32–34 | Q2 = 15–25 | Q3 = 28–35 | Q4 = 40–32
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 26 | rebounds1 = James Donaldson 13 | assist1 = Derek Harper 5
| points2 = Fat Lever 30 | rebounds2 = Fat Lever 11 | assist2 = Lever, English 8 each
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 17,022
| referee = Jess Kersey, Mike Mathis | series = Denver leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 12 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805120DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 112
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 28–33 | Q2 = 22–18 | Q3 = 30–23 | Q4 = 32–34
| points1 = Rolando Blackman 31 | rebounds1 = James Donaldson 13 | assist1 = Derek Harper 8
| points2 = Lever, English 22 each | rebounds2 = Danny Schayes 12 | assist2 = Michael Adams 7
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 17,022
| referee = Bill Saar, Joe Crawford | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 14 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805140DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 107
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 105
| Q1 = 24–31 | Q2 = 29–30 | Q3 = 25–26 | Q4 = 29–18
| points1 = Alex English 23 | rebounds1 = Fat Lever 11 | assist1 = Fat Lever 12
| points2 = Sam Perkins 17 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 15 | assist2 = Mark Aguirre 6
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Darell Garretson, Hue Hollins | series = Denver leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 15 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805150DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 103
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 124
| Q1 = 24–29 | Q2 = 24–34 | Q3 = 23–32 | Q4 = 32–29
| points1 = Alex English 24 | rebounds1 = Wayne Cooper 10 | assist1 = Michael Adams 9
| points2 = Mark Aguirre 34 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 13 | assist2 = Derek Harper 10
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Hugh Evans, Bill Oakes | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 17 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805170DEN.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 110
| team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 106
| Q1 = 25–23 | Q2 = 30–28 | Q3 = 23–27 | Q4 = 32–28
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 25 | rebounds1 = Roy Tarpley 16 | assist1 = Derek Harper 6
| points2 = Danny Schayes 33 | rebounds2 = Danny Schayes 13 | assist2 = Adams, English 6 each
| place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | attendance = 17,022
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Dick Bavetta | series = Dallas leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805190DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Denver Nuggets | score1 = 95
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 27–25 | Q2 = 26–33 | Q3 = 27–24 | Q4 = 15–26
| points1 = Alex English 34 | rebounds1 = Danny Schayes 9 | assist1 = Michael Adams 8
| points2 = Perkins, Blackman 23 each | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 19 | assist2 = Derek Harper 9
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Earl Strom, Paul Mihalak, Bill Saar | series = Dallas wins series, 4–2
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 28, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11280|id=DEN}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 98 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 106 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} {{basketballbox | date = December 5, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12050|id=DAL}} | team1 = Denver Nuggets |score1 = 96 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 109 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = February 3, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02030|id=DEN}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 105 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 115 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} {{basketballbox | date = February 29, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02290|id=DAL}} | team1 = Denver Nuggets |score1 = 96 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 123 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 9, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04090|id=DAL}} | team1 = Denver Nuggets |score1 = 109 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 135 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | date = April 17, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04170|id=DEN}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 122 | team2 = Denver Nuggets | score2 = 133 | place = McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado }} |
This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Nuggets.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/rivals.cgi?request=1&team_id=DAL&opp_id=DEN&is_playoffs=Y|title=Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Denver Nuggets (Playoffs)|publisher=basketball-reference.com|access-date=May 29, 2015}}
Conference finals
=Eastern Conference finals=
==(1) [[Boston Celtics]] vs. (2) [[Detroit Pistons]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805250BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 104
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 96
| Q1 = 30–28 | Q2 = 22–25 | Q3 = 23–20 | Q4 = 29–23
| points1 = Isiah Thomas 35 | rebounds1 = Rick Mahorn 10 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 12
| points2 = Kevin McHale 31 | rebounds2 = Robert Parish 13 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 10
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Paul Mihalak, Earl Strom | series = Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 26 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805260BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 115
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 119
| overtime = 2OT
| Q1 = 29–28 | Q2 = 17–25 | Q3 = 32–28 | Q4 = 24–21 | OT = 7–7, 6–10
| points1 = Isiah Thomas 24 | rebounds1 = John Salley 12 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 11
| points2 = Robert Parish 26 | rebounds2 = Larry Bird 12 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 10
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Jack Madden, Mike Mathis | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
- 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.
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 28 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805280DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 94
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 98
| Q1 = 29–29 | Q2 = 21–29 | Q3 = 21–26 | Q4 = 23–14
| points1 = Kevin McHale 32 | rebounds1 = Larry Bird 11 | assist1 = Larry Bird 8
| points2 = Joe Dumars 29 | rebounds2 = John Salley 9 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 6
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 26,481
| referee = Jess Kersey, Joe Crawford | series = Detroit leads series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 30 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805300DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 79
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 78
| Q1 = 16–10 | Q2 = 30–26 | Q3 = 14–32 | Q4 = 19–10
| points1 = Larry Bird 20 | rebounds1 = Larry Bird 10 | assist1 = D. Johnson, Bird 6 each
| points2 = Bill Laimbeer 29 | rebounds2 = three players 8 each | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 7
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 26,625
| referee = Darell Garretson, Ed Rush | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 1 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806010BOS.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 102
| team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 96
| overtime = OT
| Q1 = 26–29 | Q2 = 14–25 | Q3 = 25–16 | Q4 = 27–22 | OT = 10–4
| points1 = Isiah Thomas 35 | rebounds1 = John Salley 9 | assist1 = Dumars, Thomas 5 each
| points2 = Larry Bird 27 | rebounds2 = Larry Bird 17 | assist2 = Dennis Johnson 8
| place = Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | attendance = 14,890
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Hue Hollins | series = Detroit leads series, 3–2
}}
- Fred Roberts hits the game-tying jumper with 1:05 left in regulation to force OT.
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = June 3 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806030DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 90
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 95
| Q1 = 25–21 | Q2 = 21–27 | Q3 = 17–27 | Q4 = 27–20
| points1 = Kevin McHale 33 | rebounds1 = Larry Bird 14 | assist1 = Dennis Johnson 9
| points2 = Vinnie Johnson 24 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 9 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 9
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 38,912
| referee = Earl Strom, Hugh Evans | series = Detroit wins series, 4–2
}}
- Artis Gilmore's final NBA game.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = December 4, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|12040|id=DET}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 105 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 128 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | date = January 13, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01130|id=BOS}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 105 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 143 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = January 29, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01290|id=DET}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 108 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 125 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | date = February 28, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02280|id=DET}} | team1 = Boston Celtics |score1 = 101 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2 = 106 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 1, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04010|id=BOS}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 110 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 121 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} {{basketballbox | date = April 19, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04190|id=BOS}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 110 | team2 = Boston Celtics | score2 = 121 | place = Boston Garden, Boston }} |
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first three meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Boston leads 3–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1968 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 2 | place = 1968 Eastern Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1985 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 2 | place = 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1987 | team1 = Boston Celtics | score1 = 4 | team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 3 | place = 1987 Eastern Conference Finals| }} |
=Western Conference finals=
==(1) [[Los Angeles Lakers]] vs. (3) [[Dallas Mavericks]]==
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 23 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805230LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 98
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 113
| Q1 = 28–33 | Q2 = 21–19 | Q3 = 20–28 | Q4 = 29–33
| points1 = three players 18 each | rebounds1 = Roy Tarpley 20 | assist1 = Derek Harper 7
| points2 = James Worthy 28 | rebounds2 = three players 6 each | assist2 = Magic Johnson 12
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Jack Madden, Joe Crawford | series = LA Lakers lead series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 25 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805250LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 101
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 123
| Q1 = 30–32 | Q2 = 18–27 | Q3 = 22–30 | Q4 = 31–34
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 28 | rebounds1 = Roy Tarpley 13 | assist1 = Derek Harper 8
| points2 = Byron Scott 30 | rebounds2 = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 19
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Bill Oakes | series = LA Lakers lead series, 2–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 27 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805270DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 94
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 106
| Q1 = 25–26 | Q2 = 26–26 | Q3 = 25–23 | Q4 = 18–31
| points1 = James Worthy 19 | rebounds1 = Magic Johnson 8 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 10
| points2 = Mark Aguirre 23 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 20 | assist2 = Brad Davis 6
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Darell Garretson, Hue Hollins | series = LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = May 29 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805290DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 104
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 118
| Q1 = 25–23 | Q2 = 32–33 | Q3 = 26–33 | Q4 = 21–29
| points1 = Magic Johnson 28 | rebounds1 = A.C. Green 12 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 12
| points2 = Derek Harper 35 | rebounds2 = Roy Tarpley 13 | assist2 = Rolando Blackman 11
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Dick Bavetta | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = May 31 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198805310LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 102
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 119
| Q1 = 27–33 | Q2 = 20–31 | Q3 = 24–28 | Q4 = 31–27
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 31 | rebounds1 = Roy Tarpley 11 | assist1 = Derek Harper 6
| points2 = James Worthy 28 | rebounds2 = A.C. Green 10 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 20
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Hugh Evans, Earl Strom | series = LA Lakers lead series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = June 2 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806020DAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 103
| team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 105
| Q1 = 26–25 | Q2 = 24–28 | Q3 = 30–29 | Q4 = 23–23
| points1 = Worthy, Scott 27 | rebounds1 = James Worthy 11 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 12
| points2 = Mark Aguirre 23 | rebounds2 = Mark Aguirre 13 | assist2 = Derek Harper 10
| place = Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas | attendance = 17,007
| referee = Jess Kersey, Ed T. Rush | series = Series tied, 3–3
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 4 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806040LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 102
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 117
| Q1 = 29–29 | Q2 = 24–25 | Q3 = 26–33 | Q4 = 23–30
| points1 = Mark Aguirre 24 | rebounds1 = James Donaldson 14 | assist1 = Derek Harper 11
| points2 = James Worthy 28 | rebounds2 = Magic Johnson 9 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 11
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Jack Madden | series = LA Lakers win series, 4–3
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Los Angeles won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = November 20, 1987 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1987|11200|id=LAL}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks |score1 = 116 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 119 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | date = January 6, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01060|id=LAL}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks |score1 = 89 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 103 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = March 6, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03060|id=DAL}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 108 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 97 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} {{basketballbox | date = March 12, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|03120|id=LAL}} | team1 = Dallas Mavericks |score1 = 110 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2 = 101 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = April 20, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|04200|id=DAL}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 114 | team2 = Dallas Mavericks | score2 = 107 | place = Reunion Arena, Dallas }} |
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first two meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Los Angeles leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1984 | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 1 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 4 | place = 1984 Western Conference Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1986 | team1 = Dallas Mavericks | score1 = 2 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 4 | place = 1986 Western Conference Semifinals| }} |
NBA Finals: (W1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (E2) Detroit Pistons
{{main|1988 NBA Finals}}
:
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 7 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806070LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 105
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 93
| Q1 = 22–21 | Q2 = 35–19 | Q3 = 23–28 | Q4 = 25–25
| points1 = Adrian Dantley 34 | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 7 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 12
| points2 = Magic Johnson 28 | rebounds2 = A.C. Green 12 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 10
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Darell Garretson, Joe Crawford | series = Detroit leads series, 1–0
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = June 9 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806090LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 96
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 20–25 | Q2 = 19–24 | Q3 = 30–27 | Q4 = 27–32
| points1 = Adrian Dantley 19 | rebounds1 = Laimbeer, Mahorn 9 each | assist1 = Thomas, Dumars 7 each
| points2 = James Worthy 26 | rebounds2 = A.C. Green 13 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 11
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Ed T. Rush, Jess Kersey | series = Series tied, 1–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 12 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806120DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 99
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 86
| Q1 = 23–21 | Q2 = 24–25 | Q3 = 31–18 | Q4 = 21–22
| points1 = James Worthy 24 | rebounds1 = James Worthy 9 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 14
| points2 = Isiah Thomas 28 | rebounds2 = Dennis Rodman 12 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 9
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 39,188
| referee = Earl Strom, Hugh Evans | series = LA Lakers lead series, 2–1
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = June 14 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806140DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 86
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 111
| Q1 = 29–32 | Q2 = 22–26 | Q3 = 14–25 | Q4 = 21–28
| points1 = Magic Johnson 23 | rebounds1 = A.C. Green 10 | assist1 = Magic Johnson 6
| points2 = Adrian Dantley 27 | rebounds2 = Isiah Thomas 9 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 12
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 34,297
| referee = Jake O'Donnell, Jack Madden | series = Series tied, 2–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 16 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806160DET.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Los Angeles Lakers | score1 = 94
| team2 = Detroit Pistons | score2 = 104
| Q1 = 30–27 | Q2 = 20–32 | Q3 = 25–22 | Q4 = 19–23
| points1 = Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26 | rebounds1 = three players 6 each | assist1 = Magic Johnson 17
| points2 = Adrian Dantley 25 | rebounds2 = Bill Laimbeer 11 | assist2 = Isiah Thomas 8
| place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan | attendance = 41,732
| referee = Darell Garretson, Joe Crawford | series = Detroit leads series, 3–2
}}
{{basketballbox
| bg = | date = June 19 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806190LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 102
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 103
| Q1 = 26–20 | Q2 = 20–33 | Q3 = 35–26 | Q4 = 21–24
| points1 = Isiah Thomas 43 | rebounds1 = Bill Laimbeer 9 | assist1 = Joe Dumars 10
| points2 = James Worthy 28 | rebounds2 = A.C. Green 10 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 19
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Ed Rush, Hugh Evans | series = Series tied, 3–3
}}
- 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.
{{basketballbox
| bg = #eee | date = June 21 | report = [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806210LAL.html Boxscore]
| team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 105
| team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 108
| Q1 = 23–21 | Q2 = 29–26 | Q3 = 21–36 | Q4 = 32–25
| points1 = Joe Dumars 25 | rebounds1 = John Salley 10 | assist1 = Isiah Thomas 7
| points2 = James Worthy 36 | rebounds2 = James Worthy 16 | assist2 = Magic Johnson 14
| place = The Forum, Inglewood, California | attendance = 17,505
| referee = Earl Strom, Jake O'Donnell | series = LA Lakers win series, 4–3
}}
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|+Regular-season series |
| Los Angeles won 2–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = January 8, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|01080|id=DET}} | team1 = Los Angeles Lakers |score1= 106 | team2 = Detroit Pistons |score2= 104 | place = Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan }} {{basketballbox | date = February 21, 1988 | report = {{Basketball-Reference NBA Recap|1988|02210|id=LAL}} | team1 = Detroit Pistons |score1= 110 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers |score2= 117 | place = The Forum, Inglewood, California }} |
This was the tenth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning eight of the first nine meetings.
| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" |
| Los Angeles leads 8–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
| {{basketballbox
| bg=#fff | date = 1950 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 2 | place = 1950 Central Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1953 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 2 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 3 | place = 1953 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1954 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 2 | place = 1954 Western Division Round Robin Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1955 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 3 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 1 | place = 1955 Western Division Finals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1957 | team1 = Fort Wayne Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 2 | place = 1957 Western Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1959 | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 1 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 2 | place = 1959 Western Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1960 | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 0 | team2 = Minneapolis Lakers | score2 = 2 | place = 1960 Western Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1961 | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 2 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 3 | place = 1961 Western Division Semifinals| }} {{basketballbox | bg=#fff | date = 1962 | team1 = Detroit Pistons | score1 = 2 | team2 = Los Angeles Lakers | score2 = 4 | place = 1962 Western Division Finals| }} |
Statistical leaders
| class=wikitable style="text-align:left;" | ||||||
| rowspan=2|Category | colspan=3|Game High | colspan=4|Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | High | Player | Team | Avg. | {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} |
| Points | Chicago Bulls | 55 | Houston Rockets | 37.5 | 4 | |
| Rebounds | Houston Rockets | 26 | Houston Rockets | 16.8 | 4 | |
| Assists | Utah Jazz | 24 | Utah Jazz | 14.8 | 11 | |
| Steals
| Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls Detroit Pistons Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers New York Knicks Portland Trail Blazers San Antonio Spurs | 6 | San Antonio Spurs | 4.0 | 3 | |
| Blocks | Utah Jazz | 7 | New York Knicks | 3.3 | 3 |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1988.html Basketball-Reference.com's 1988 NBA Playoffs page]
{{NBAPlayoffs}}
{{1987–88 NBA season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1988 Nba Playoffs}}