1990 NBA playoffs
The 1990 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1989–90 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons deafeating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Isiah Thomas was named NBA Finals MVP.
It was the Blazers' first trip to the NBA Finals since their stunning victory in the 1977 NBA Finals.
The New York Knicks fell behind 2–0 to the Boston Celtics in their first round matchup, but took the series 3–2 by winning Game 5 124–117 in Boston Garden.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a playoff series for the first time ever. It also marked the first time since 1981 that the Lakers failed to reach the Western Conference Finals, ending the longest such run since the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics, who made the Eastern Conference Finals thirteen consecutive times between 1957 and 1969.
The Chicago Bulls lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals 93–74 in Detroit, making it the third straight year they were ousted in the playoffs by the Pistons.
The Indiana Pacers made only their third playoff appearance since their NBA debut in the 1976–77 season; they proceeded to make the playoffs 16 out of the next 17 years (missing only in 1997).
The Dallas Mavericks made their only playoff appearance of the decade. They did not return until 2001.
Game 5 of the NBA Finals was the last NBA game to be televised on CBS.
Contents
Bracket
| First Round | Conference Semifinals | Conference Finals | NBA Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Indiana | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New York | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Boston | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | New York | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Milwaukee | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Chicago | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Philadelphia | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Philadelphia | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Cleveland | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Portland | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | L.A. Lakers | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Houston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | L.A. Lakers | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Utah | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Phoenix | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Dallas | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Portland | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | San Antonio | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | San Antonio | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Denver | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Conference
Champion: Portland Trail Blazers
- 1st Round
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Houston Rockets: Lakers win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (April 27): Los Angeles 101, Houston 89
- Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (April 29): Los Angeles 104, Houston 100
- Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 1): Houston 114, Los Angeles 108
- Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 3): Los Angeles 109, Houston 88
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first two meetings.
| Houston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Denver Nuggets: Spurs win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 26): San Antonio 119, Denver 103
- Game 2 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 28): San Antonio 129, Denver 120
- Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 1): San Antonio 131, Denver 120
| San Antonio 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 |
|---|
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks: Blazers win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 26): Portland 109, Dallas 102
- Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 28): Portland 114, Dallas 107
- Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 1): Portland 106, Dallas 92
| Portland won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning the first meeting.
| Portland leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 27): Utah 113, Phoenix 96
- Game 2 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 29): Phoenix 105, Utah 87
- Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 2): Phoenix 120, Utah 105
- Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 4): Utah 105, Phoenix 94
- Game 5 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (May 6): Phoenix 104, Utah 102 (Kevin Johnson hits the series-winning shot with .8 seconds left)
| Phoenix won 3–1 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 Semifinals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 8): Phoenix 104, Los Angeles 102
- Game 2 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 10): Los Angeles 124, Phoenix 100
- Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 12): Phoenix 117, Los Angeles 103
- Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 13): Phoenix 114, Los Angeles 101
- Game 5 @ Great Western Forum, Los Angeles (May 15): Phoenix 106, Los Angeles 103
| Los Angeles won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the seventh playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first six meetings.
| Los Angeles leads 6–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 5): Portland 107, San Antonio 94
- Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 8): Portland 122, San Antonio 112
- Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 10): San Antonio 121, Portland 98
- Game 4 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 12): San Antonio 115, Portland 105
- Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 15): Portland 138, San Antonio 132 (2OT)
- Game 6 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 17): San Antonio 112, Portland 97
- Game 7 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 19): Portland 108, San Antonio 105 (OT)
| Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs.[6]
- Conference Finals
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns: Blazers win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 21): Portland 100, Phoenix 98 (Kevin Duckworth hits the game-winner with 17.3 seconds left)
- Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 23): Portland 108, Phoenix 107
- Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 25): Phoenix 123, Portland 89
- Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 27): Phoenix 119, Portland 107
- Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 29): Portland 120, Phoenix 114
- Game 6 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 31): Portland 112, Phoenix 109
| Portland won 3–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.
| Phoenix leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
Eastern Conference
Champion: Detroit Pistons
- 1st Round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Indiana Pacers: Pistons win series 3–0
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 26): Detroit 104, Indiana 92
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 28): Detroit 100, Indiana 87
- Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 1): Detroit 108, Indiana 96
| Detroit won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Pacers.[8]
(2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (7) Cleveland Cavaliers: 76ers win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 26): Philadelphia 111, Cleveland 106
- Game 2 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (April 29): Philadelphia 107, Cleveland 101
- Game 3 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 1): Cleveland 122, Philadelphia 95
- Game 4 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 3): Cleveland 108, Philadelphia 96
- Game 5 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 5): Philadelphia 113, Cleveland 97
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the 76ers.[9]
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks: Bulls win series 3–1
- Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 27): Chicago 111, Milwaukee 97
- Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 29): Chicago 109, Milwaukee 102
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 1): Milwaukee 119, Chicago 112
- Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 3): Chicago 110, Milwaukee 86
| Chicago won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bucks winning the first two meetings.
| Milwaukee leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3–2
- Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 26): Boston 116, New York 105
- Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 28): Boston 157, New York 128
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 2): New York 102, Boston 99
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 4): New York 135, Boston 108
- Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 6): New York 121, Boston 114 (Dennis Johnson's final NBA game)
| Boston won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first 12 meetings.
| Boston leads 7–5 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
- Conference Semifinals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) New York Knicks: Pistons win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 8): Detroit 112, New York 77
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 10): Detroit 104, New York 97
- Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 12): New York 111, Detroit 103
- Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 13): Detroit 102, New York 90
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 15): Detroit 95, New York 84
| Detroit won 4–0 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Knicks winning the first meeting.
| New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
(2) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 7): Chicago 96, Philadelphia 85
- Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 9): Chicago 101, Philadelphia 96
- Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 11): Philadelphia 118, Chicago 112
- Game 4 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 13): Chicago 111, Philadelphia 101
- Game 5 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 16): Chicago 117, Philadelphia 99
| Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the 76ers.[13]
- Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 20): Detroit 86, Chicago 77
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 22): Detroit 102, Chicago 93
- Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 26): Chicago 107, Detroit 102
- Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 28): Chicago 108, Detroit 101
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 30): Detroit 97, Chicago 83
- Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 1): Chicago 109, Detroit 91
- Game 7 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 3): Detroit 93, Chicago 74
| Detroit won 4–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings.
| Detroit leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series |
|---|
NBA Finals
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(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Pistons win series 4–1
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 5): Detroit 105, Portland 99
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 7): Portland 106, Detroit 105
- Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 10): Detroit 121, Portland 106
- Game 4 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 12): Detroit 112, Portland 109
- Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 14): Detroit 92, Portland 90 (Vinnie Johnson hits the title-winning shot with 7 tenths left)
| Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series |
|---|
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Trail Blazers.[15]
References
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