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 defeating the Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. Isiah Thomas was named NBA Finals MVP.

1990 NBA playoffs
DatesApril 26–June 14, 1990
Season1989–90
Teams16
ChampionsDetroit Pistons (2nd title)
Runners-upPortland Trail Blazers (2nd finals appearance)
Semifinalists
← 1989 1991 →

It was the Blazers' first trip to the NBA Finals since their 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 5 121-114 in Boston Garden. Prior to this, the Celtics had beaten the Knicks 26 straight at the Boston Garden. This deciding game featured a missed dunk by Larry Bird late in the fourth with the Celtics trailing by four (103-99) and a clinching 3-point basket by Patrick Ewing on a play where he chased down an errant pass by Charles Oakley on the sideline in front of the Knicks' bench and hurled up a desperation shot as the shot clock was reaching zero. The basket put the Knicks up 113-101 and essentially clinched the game and the series.

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.

It was the first NBA Finals to not feature the Lakers or Celtics since 1979.

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.

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 LA Lakers 3  
8 Houston 1  
  1 LA 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

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Rockets winning the first two meetings.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Denver Nuggets: Spurs win series 3–0

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece.

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks: Blazers win series 3–0

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

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Phoenix Suns: Suns win series 3–2

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

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 (Michael Cooper's final NBA game)

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

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Blazers win series 4–3

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

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.

Eastern Conference

Champion: Detroit Pistons

1st Round

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Indiana Pacers: Pistons win series 3–0

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

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

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

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3–2

This was the 13th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first 12 meetings.

Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) New York Knicks: Pistons win series 4–1

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

(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

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

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

NBA Finals
Main article: 1990 NBA Finals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Pistons win series 4–1

  • Game 3 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (June 10): Detroit 121, Portland 106 (This was Detroit's first win in Portland since October 19, 1974, the second game of Bill Walton's career)
  • 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 0.7 seconds left, capping off a 9-0 run in the final two minutes)

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Trail Blazers.[15]

References
  1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  4. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Phoenix Suns (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Portland Trail Blazers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
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