1988 NBA playoffs

Tournament details
Dates	April 28–June 21, 1988
Season	1987–88
Teams	16
Final positions
Champions	Los Angeles Lakers(11th title)
Runners-up	Detroit Pistons
Semifinalists	Dallas Mavericks Boston Celtics
← 1987 1989 →

The1988 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of theNational Basketball Association's1987–88 season. The tournament concluded with theWestern Conference championLos Angeles Lakers defeating theEastern Conference championDetroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in theNBA Finals.James Worthy was namedNBA Finals MVP.The Lakers became the first team since theBoston Celtics in1969 to repeat as champions, a feat that coachPat 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 theHawks 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 byDominique Wilkins.^[1]

TheDallas Mavericks made their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, losing in 7 to the Lakers. They would not advance that far again until2003, and would not face the Lakers again until2011.

TheNew York Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since1984. They remained regulars until2001, which included NBA Finals appearances in1994 and1999. On the other hand, theWashington Bullets did not return until1997, and would not win a playoff game again until2005 as the Wizards.

In the first round against theCleveland Cavaliers,Michael Jordan scored50 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.^[2]

This was the first time in NBA history that a game other than a Finals game was played during the month of June.

TheSan 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 theBoston Celtics in1995 have qualified for the playoffs while winning only 35 or less games in an 82-game regular season. Due tosubsequent expansion from 23 teams in 1988 to 30 in 2004, it is unlikely any team would make the playoffs while losing 50 or more games in a season.

Game 4 of the Atlanta-Milwaukee series was the last NBA game played atThe MECCA. The next season, the Bucks moved to theBradley Center, where they would play for the next thirty seasons.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the last NBA game ever played at thePontiac Silverdome. The Pistons moved full-time to thePalace of Auburn Hills in the fall and would play there until moving toLittle Caesars Arena indowntown 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 until2000).

These playoffs had four playoff series where the home team was undefeated in the series in a single year, an active NBA playoff record. Only1990 has had more than two playoff series where the home team went undefeated in a single year.

This was the 12th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning six of the first 11 meetings.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the Cavaliers.^[5]

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first meeting.

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first meeting.

• Cedric Maxwell's final NBA game.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Rockets.^[9]

This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Jazz.^[10]

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first eight meetings.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.

• Michael Cooper hits the game-winner with 7 seconds left;John Stockton ties the NBA playoff record for 24 assists.

This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Jazz.^[13]

This was the first playoff meeting between the Mavericks and the Nuggets.^[14]

• Adrian Dantley hits a game-tying free throw with 10 seconds left in regulation to force OT;Kevin McHale hits the game-tying 3 pointer with 5 seconds left in the first OT to force the second OT.

• Dennis Johnson hits a game-winning free throw with 8 seconds left.