1989 NBA playoffs
Basketball tournament
A ticket for Game 1 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks .
The 1989 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1988–89 season . The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals . Joe Dumars was named NBA Finals MVP . The Pistons had one of the most dominant playoff runs in NBA history, finishing 15–2 with their only losses to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals. This NBA playoffs also holds the record for the most sweeps in an entire NBA playoffs with 9 out of 15 series being decided in just 3 or 4 games.
The Lakers won the Western Conference title without losing a game, and entered the NBA Finals as the heavy favorites.[ 1] However, they were swept in the Finals by the Pistons, due in part to season-ending injuries suffered by Magic Johnson and Byron Scott .[ 2] The Lakers became the first team in NBA history to open an NBA post-season with 11 straight victories and to sweep three series in an NBA post-season.
Chicago advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1975 (back when they were a member of the Western Conference) (and the first time in Michael Jordan 's career), but their season was ended by Detroit for the second straight year. Two rounds earlier, Jordan hit "The Shot " over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer to beat the Cavs .
The Boston Celtics ' first-round playoff sweep by the Pistons was the first time they failed to get past the round of 16. Boston's chances were hampered by the absence of Larry Bird during these playoffs due to a season-ending injury earlier in the season; the first and only time in Bird's NBA career he'd miss playing in the playoffs.
Former Utah Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan made the first of 19 playoff appearances in a 22-year tenure. The only time he missed the playoffs with Utah was 2004 –2006 . Prior to this, he had last appeared in the playoffs in 1981 with the Bulls. His Jazz were ousted by the Golden State Warriors 3–0, the second time a seventh seed had beaten the second seed in the playoffs.
Bracket
* Division winner Bold Series winnerItalic Team with home-court advantage
First round
Eastern Conference first round
Regular-season series
Detroit won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning three of the first four meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 3]
Boston leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Philadelphia won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning six of the first eight meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 4]
Philadelphia leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series
Brad Daugherty hits the game-tying free throws with 4 second left in regulation to force OT.
Regular-season series
Cleveland won 6–0 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[ 5]
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Atlanta won 6–0 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Previous playoff series[ 6]
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference first round
Regular-season series
Los Angeles won 5–0 in the regular-season series
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning two of the first three meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 7]
Los Angeles leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
In the 16-team playoff format, this is the only time a top 2 seed has been swept in the First Round in NBA history. However, a top 2 seed has yet to be swept in the First Round in a best-of-seven series format.
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Warriors winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[ 8]
Golden State leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Phoenix won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Previous playoff series[ 9]
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Derrick McKey hits the series-winning alley-oop layup at the buzzer.
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning the first two meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 10]
Seattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
Regular-season series
Milwaukee won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[ 11]
Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Michael Jordan hits the game tying free throws with 1:15 left in regulation to force OT
Michael Jordan hits the series-winning free throws with 4 seconds left.
Regular-season series
Chicago won 3–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[ 12]
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference semifinals
The Lakers posted the greatest comeback in NBA playoff history by overcoming a 29-point deficit (43–14), which has since been surpassed.
Regular-season series
Los Angeles won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece.
Previous playoff series[ 13]
Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Phoenix won 4–2 in the regular-season series
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first meeting.
Previous playoff series[ 14]
Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals
Regular-season series
Detroit won 6–0 in the regular-season series
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.
Previous playoff series[ 15]
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference finals
Regular-season series
Tied 3–3 in the regular-season series
This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first five meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 16]
Los Angeles leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series
NBA Finals: (E1) Detroit Pistons vs. (W1) Los Angeles Lakers
Regular-season series
Detroit won 2–0 in the regular-season series
This was the 11th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning nine of the first ten meetings.
Previous playoff series[ 17]
Los Angeles leads 9–1 in all-time playoff series
Statistical leaders
See also
References
^ "Can Lakers sweep Pistons in Finals?" . Vidette-Messenger of Porter County . Valparaiso, Indiana. June 6, 1989. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "If Magic rests, Rivers must get into flow" . Detroit Free Press . Detroit, Michigan. June 11, 1989. p. 54 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — New York Knicks versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Atlanta Hawks versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Oklahoma City Thunder (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Golden State Warriors versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
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