1990 NBA playoffs
Postseason tournament
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 93–76 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
* Division winner Bold Series winnerItalic Team with home-court advantage
First round
Eastern Conference first round
Regular-season series
Detroit won 4–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Pacers.[1]
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Cavaliers and the 76ers.[2]
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[3]
Milwaukee leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[4]
Boston leads 7–5 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference first round
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[5]
Houston leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[6]
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[7]
Portland leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[8]
Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Conference semifinals
Eastern Conference semifinals
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[9]
New York leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Bulls and the 76ers.[10]
Western Conference semifinals
This was Phoenix's first win at Great Western Forum in 22 attempts, dating back to Game 5 of the 1984 Western Conference Finals on May 23 of that year.
Michael Cooper's final NBA game.
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[11]
Los Angeles leads 6–0 in all-time playoff series
Regular-season series
Portland won 3–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs.[12]
Conference finals
Eastern Conference finals
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[13]
Detroit leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series
Western Conference finals
Regular-season series
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.
Previous playoff series[14]
Phoenix leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series
NBA Finals: (E1) Detroit Pistons vs. (W3) Portland Trail Blazers
Terry Porter hits the game-tying free throws with 10.2 seconds left in regulation to force OT; Clyde Drexler hits the game-winning free throws with 2.1 seconds left in OT.
This was Detroit's first win in Portland since October 19, 1974, the second game of Bill Walton 's career.
Danny Young 's buzzer beater is, correctly, disqualified by Earl Strom.
Final NBA game officiated by Earl Strom.
Vinnie Johnson hits the title-winning shot with 0.7 seconds left, capping off a 9–0 run in the final two minutes.
Final NBA game aired on CBS.
Regular-season series
Tied 1–1 in the regular-season series
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Trail Blazers.[15]
Statistical leaders
See also
References
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Cleveland Cavaliers versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Houston Rockets versus Los Angeles Lakers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Denver Nuggets versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus New York Knicks (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Chicago Bulls versus Philadelphia 76ers (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 — Portland Trail Blazers versus San Antonio Spurs (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 — Phoenix Suns versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
^ "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2015 .
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