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1990 NBA playoffs

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1990 NBA playoffs
DatesApril 26–June 14, 1990

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.

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

Template:1990 NBA playoffs

First Round

Eastern Conference First Round

Pistons win series 3–0

This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Pacers.[1]

  • 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

76ers win series 3–2

This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the 76ers.[2]

Bulls win series 3–1

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

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.

Western Conference First Round

  • 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

Lakers win series 3–1

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

Spurs win series 3–0

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

Blazers win series 3–0

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

Suns win series 3–2

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

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference Semifinals

Pistons win series 4-1

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

  • 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

Bulls win series 4–1

This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the 76ers.[10]

Western Conference Semifinals

Suns win series 4–1

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

Blazers win series 4-3

This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs.[12]

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference Finals

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.

Western Conference Finals

Blazers win series 4–2

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

NBA Finals: (E1) Detroit Pistons vs. (W3) Portland Trail Blazers

Pistons win series 4–1

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

References

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