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 stunning 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 5 124–117 in Boston Garden.
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.
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.
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
Game 1 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 26): San Antonio 119, Denver 103
Game 2 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (April 28): San Antonio 129, Denver 120
Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 1): San Antonio 131, Denver 120
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
Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 26): Portland 109, Dallas 102
Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (April 28): Portland 114, Dallas 107
Game 3 @ Reunion Arena, Dallas (May 1): Portland 106, Dallas 92
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
Game 1 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 27): Utah 113, Phoenix 96
Game 2 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (April 29): Phoenix 105, Utah 87
Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 2): Phoenix 120, Utah 105
Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 4): Utah 105, Phoenix 94
Game 5 @ Salt Palace, Salt Lake City (May 6): Phoenix 104, Utah 102 (Kevin Johnson hits the series-winning shot with 8 tenths left)
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
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
Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 5): Portland 107, San Antonio 94
Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 8): Portland 122, San Antonio 112
Game 3 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 10): San Antonio 121, Portland 98
Game 4 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 12): San Antonio 115, Portland 105
Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 15): Portland 138, San Antonio 132 (2OT)
Game 6 @ HemisFair Arena, San Antonio (May 17): San Antonio 112, Portland 97
Game 7 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 19): Portland 108, San Antonio 105 (OT)
This was the first playoff meeting between the Trail Blazers and the Spurs.
Conference Finals
(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Phoenix Suns: Blazers win series 4–2
Game 1 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 21): Portland 100, Phoenix 98 (Kevin Duckworth hits the game-winner with 17.3 seconds left)
Game 2 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 23): Portland 108, Phoenix 107
Game 3 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 25): Phoenix 123, Portland 89
Game 4 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 27): Phoenix 119, Portland 107
Game 5 @ Memorial Coliseum, Portland (May 29): Portland 120, Phoenix 114
Game 6 @ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix (May 31): Portland 112, Phoenix 109
This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Suns winning the first two meetings.
Champion: Detroit Pistons
1st Round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Indiana Pacers: Pistons win series 3–0
Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 26): Detroit 104, Indiana 92
Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 28): Detroit 100, Indiana 87
Game 3 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis (May 1): Detroit 108, Indiana 96
This was the first playoff meeting between the Pistons and the Pacers.
(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.
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks: Bulls win series 3–1
Game 1 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 27): Chicago 111, Milwaukee 97
Game 2 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (April 29): Chicago 109, Milwaukee 102
Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 1): Milwaukee 119, Chicago 112
Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 3): Chicago 110, Milwaukee 86
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
Game 1 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 26): Boston 116, New York 105
Game 2 @ Boston Garden, Boston (April 28): Boston 157, New York 128
Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 2): New York 102, Boston 99
Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 4): New York 135, Boston 108
Game 5 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 6): New York 121, Boston 114 (Dennis Johnson's final NBA game)
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
Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 8): Detroit 112, New York 77
Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 10): Detroit 104, New York 97
Game 3 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 12): New York 111, Detroit 103
Game 4 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 13): Detroit 102, New York 90
Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 15): Detroit 95, New York 84
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.
Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4–3
Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 20): Detroit 86, Chicago 77
Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 22): Detroit 102, Chicago 93
Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 26): Chicago 107, Detroit 102
Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 28): Chicago 108, Detroit 101
Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 30): Detroit 97, Chicago 83
Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 1): Chicago 109, Detroit 91
Game 7 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 3): Detroit 93, Chicago 74
This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Pistons winning two of the first three meetings.
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (3) Portland Trail Blazers: Pistons win series 4–1
Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 5): Detroit 105, Portland 99
Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (June 7): Portland 106, Detroit 105
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 7 tenths 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.
