1989 NBA playoffs


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.
The Lakers won the Western Conference title without losing a game, and entered the NBA Finals as the heavy favorites. However, they were swept in the Finals by the Pistons, due in part to season-ending injuries suffered by Magic Johnson and Byron Scott. 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, 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. Under Don Nelson, the Warriors became famous for their up-tempo game that made up for an undersized lineup, as well as their ability to create mismatches. The Warriors made history as the only team to beat either of the top two seeds three times in the NBA Playoffs; they beat the second-seed San Antonio Spurs in 1991 and top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

Bracket

Western Conference

Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
;1st Round
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Lakers win series 3–0
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.
Los Angeles leads 2–1 in all-time playoff series


Utah Jazz vs. Golden State Warriors: Warriors win series 3–0
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.
Golden State leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets: Suns win series 3–0
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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


Seattle SuperSonics vs. Houston Rockets: Sonics win series 3–1
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.
Seattle leads 2–0 in all-time playoff series


;Conference Semifinals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Seattle SuperSonics: Lakers win series 4–0
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.
Tied 2–2 in all-time playoff series


Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors: Suns win series 4–1
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.
Phoenix leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


;Conference Finals
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: Lakers win series 4–0
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.
Los Angeles leads 5–0 in all-time playoff series

Eastern Conference

Champion: Detroit Pistons
;1st Round
Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics: Pistons win series 3–0
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.
Boston leads 3–1 in all-time playoff series


New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers: Knicks win series 3–0
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.
Philadelphia leads 6–2 in all-time playoff series


Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 3–2
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.
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks win series 3–2
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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series


;Conference Semifinals
Detroit Pistons vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Pistons win series 4–0
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.
Detroit leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


New York Knicks vs. Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4–2
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.
Chicago leads 1–0 in all-time playoff series


;Conference Finals
Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4–2
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.
Tied 1–1 in all-time playoff series

NBA Finals

Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers: Pistons win series 4–0
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.
Los Angeles leads 9–1 in all-time playoff series