1987–88 Chicago Bulls season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 22nd season for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association. The Bulls received the eighth overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected center Olden Polynice from the University of Virginia, but soon traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics in exchange for rookie small forward, and top draft pick Scottie Pippen from the University of Central Arkansas; the team also had the tenth overall pick, and selected power forward Horace Grant out of Clemson University.^[1][2][3]

1987–88 Chicago Bulls season
Head coach	Doug Collins
General manager	Jerry Krause
Owner(s)	Jerry Reinsdorf
Arena	Chicago Stadium
Results
Record	50–32 (.610)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Conference semifinals (lost to Pistons 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WFLD Sportsvision (Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
Radio	WMAQ (Jim Durham, Johnny “Red” Kerr)
< 1986–87 1988–89 >

The Bulls won their first four games of the regular season, but posted a five-game losing streak after a 15–7 start, and held a 27–18 record at the All-Star break.^[4] At mid-season, the team traded Sedale Threatt to the SuperSonics in exchange for Sam Vincent.^[5][6][7] The Bulls posted a six-game winning streak in April, and finished in second place in the Central Division with a 50–32 record, earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference.^[8]

Michael Jordan led the league in scoring averaging 35.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game, shot .535 in field-goal percentage, and was named the NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year,^[9][10][11] and also named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year;^[12][13][14] he was also named to the All-NBA First Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Charles Oakley averaged 12.4 points and 13.0 rebounds per game, while Vincent contributed 13.0 points and 8.4 assists per game in 29 games with the Bulls after the trade, Dave Corzine provided the team with 10.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, and Brad Sellers contributed 9.5 points per game. Off the bench, Pippen averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, while Grant provided with 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, John Paxson contributed 7.9 points and 3.7 assists per game, and Mike Brown averaged 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.^[15]

During the NBA All-Star weekend, which was hosted in Chicago, Illinois, Jordan was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, in which he was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, and also won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest for the second consecutive year.^[16][17][18] Head coach Doug Collins finished tied in third place in Coach of the Year voting.^[19][20]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games,^[21] but lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.^[22] The Pistons would reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose in seven games to the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.^[23][24][25]

Following the season, Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks,^[26][27][28] and Brown was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets expansion team, who then traded him to the Utah Jazz.^[29][30][31] The Bulls had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.

NBA draft

Main article: 1987 NBA draft

Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and notable post-first-round picks.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	8	Olden Polynice (traded to Seattle)	C	Haiti	Virginia
1	10	Horace Grant	PF	United States	Clemson
2	28	Rickie Winslow	F	United States	Houston
4	79	Jack Haley	C	United States	UCLA

Roster

1987–88 Chicago Bulls roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From C 17 Mike Brown 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 257 lb (117 kg) 1963–07–19 George Washington C 40 Dave Corzine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1956–04–25 DePaul F 54 Horace Grant 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1965–07–04 Clemson G 23 Michael Jordan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 216 lb (98 kg) 1963–02–17 North Carolina F 34 Charles Oakley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1963–12–18 Virginia Union G 5 John Paxson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–09–29 Notre Dame F 33 Scottie Pippen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1965–09–25 Central Arkansas F 6 Brad Sellers 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–12–17 Ohio State G 2 Rory Sparrow 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–06–12 Villanova F 21 Elston Turner 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1959–06–10 Mississippi G 11 Sam Vincent 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1963–05–18 Michigan State C 31 Granville Waiters 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1961–01–08 Ohio State

Head coach Doug Collins Assistant(s) Johnny Bach Phil Jackson Tex Winter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: February 25, 1988

Regular season

Jordan was indisputably great, and Oakley, who led the league in total rebounds (1,066), was outstanding. Still, the Bulls lacked a quality supporting cast. They took a major step toward alleviating that problem at the 1987 NBA draft, when Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause acquired two players who would be vital cogs in Chicago's future championship machine. With two picks in the top 10, Krause selected Olden Polynice at No. 8 and Horace Grant at No. 10. He then traded Polynice and draft considerations to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen, whom the Sonics had grabbed with the fifth pick.

With Grant and Pippen on board the Bulls began to show their stuff in 1987–88, forging a 50–32 record, their best mark since 1973-74. Chicago finished in a second-place tie with Atlanta in a competitive Central Division won by the surging Detroit Pistons. The Bulls made some noise in the playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game first-round series, but then fell to Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Oakley and the Los Angeles Clippers' Michael Cage engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league's rebounding title, which came down to the last day of the regular season. On April 22 against Cleveland, Oakley put the pressure on Cage by pulling down 35 rebounds, the second-highest total in Bulls history behind Tom Boerwinkle's 37 in 1970. Two days later, however, Cage grabbed 30 boards in a game against Seattle, just enough to edge Oakley by the slimmest of margins, 13.03 per game to 13.00. Cage played in 10 fewer games than Oakley, however, so Oakley led the NBA in total rebounds for the second consecutive year, with 1,066.

Jordan led the league in scoring (35.0 ppg) and steals (3.16 per game). He won almost every major award, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team Honors and NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors. However, the finals and most important prizes eluded him until the 1990–1991 season.

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	–	34–7	20–21	20–10
x-Chicago Bulls	50	32	.610	4	30–11	20–21	16–13
x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	4	30-11	20-21	16–13
x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	12	30–11	12–29	13–17
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	12	31–10	11–30	11–19
Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	16	25–16	13–28	13–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	c-Boston Celtics	57	25	.695	–
2	y-Detroit Pistons	54	28	.659	3
3	x-Chicago Bulls	50	32	.610	7
4	x-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	7
5	x-Milwaukee Bucks	42	40	.512	15
6	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	42	40	.512	15
7	x-Washington Bullets	38	44	.463	19
8	x-New York Knicks	38	44	.463	19
9	Indiana Pacers	38	44	.463	19
10	Philadelphia 76ers	36	46	.439	21
11	New Jersey Nets	19	63	.232	38

Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	2–3	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–0	3–3	6–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	3–3	2–3	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	5–1
Chicago	3–2	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	5–1	3–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Cleveland	1–5	3–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	5–1	2–4	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	6–0
Dallas	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	1–1	4–1	4–2	2–0	5–0	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	5–1	5–1	3–2	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	—	1–1	4–1	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	2–3	4–2	5–1	4–1	2–4	2–0
Detroit	4–2	3–3	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–4	1–4	0–2	—	0–5	0–2	3–3	0–6	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–5	2–3	3–2	1–5	1–4	0–2
Houston	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	5–0	—	2–0	3–2	1–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	2–0
Indiana	2–4	0–5	3–3	2–4	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	6–0	2–3	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	0–5	1–1	3–3	2–3	1–1	—	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	0–6	3–2	0–5	1–5	1–4	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–3	2–0	6–0	4–1	1–1	5–1	—	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	3–3	4–1	5–0	4–2	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	1–5	4–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–0	0–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	—	3–2	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	1–5	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–6	2–0	0–2	2–3	—	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–6
New York	3–3	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	—	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	0–6	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	0–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	4–2	4–2	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	2–3	0–2	4–2	1–4	0–2	4–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	—	0–6	3–2	2–3	2–4	2–3	0–2
Portland	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	1–1	5–1	1–4	2–0	6–0	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	6–0	—	4–1	5–0	3–3	1–4	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	0–2	3–2	2–4	0–2	2–3	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	—	3–3	1–4	1–5	0–2
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–5	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	5–0	0–5	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	0–5	3–3	—	3–2	3–3	0–2
Seattle	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–1	2–3	—	1–4	2–0
Utah	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	4–1	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	4–1	5–1	3–3	4–1	—	2–0
Washington	3–3	1–5	3–3	0–6	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	4–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	6–0	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 50–32 (home: 30–11; road: 20–21)
November: 10–3 (home: 4–2; road: 6–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 7, 1987 Philadelphia W 104–94 Chicago Stadium 1–0 2 November 10, 1987 7:00 p.m. CST @ Atlanta W 105–95 Jordan (29) Oakley (15) Jordan (7) The Omni 16,451 2–0 3 November 11, 1987 @ New Jersey W 105–96 Brendan Byrne Arena 3–0 4 November 13, 1987 New Jersey W 117–103 Chicago Stadium 4–0 5 November 14, 1987 Indiana L 110–101 Chicago Stadium 4–1 6 November 17, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Washington W 105–101 Jordan (26) Oakley (21) Paxson (8) Chicago Stadium 17,081 5–1 7 November 18, 1987 6:30 p.m. CST @ Washington W 84–82 Jordan (30) Oakley (24) Jordan (8) Capital Centre 13,721 6–1 8 November 20, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Atlanta W 94–92 Jordan (33) Oakley (17) Jordan, Paxson (7) Chicago Stadium 18,423 7–1 9 November 21, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Detroit L 132–144 (OT) Jordan (49) Oakley (12) Jordan (8) Chicago Stadium 18,466 7–2 10 November 23, 1987 6:30 p.m. CST @ Boston (at Hartford) W 107–102 Jordan (31) Jordan (10) Paxson (6) Hartford Civic Center 15,134 8–2 11 November 25, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST @ Milwaukee W 103–101 Jordan (33) Oakley (14) Jordan (6) MECCA Arena 11,052 9–2 12 November 27, 1987 7:00 p.m. CST @ Dallas L 93–94 Jordan (26) Oakley (17) Jordan (9) Reunion Arena 17,007 9–3 13 November 28, 1987 @ Houston W 98–86 The Summit 10–3
December: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 December 1, 1987 @ Golden State W 98–97 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–3 15 December 2, 1987 8:30 p.m. CST @ Utah W 105–101 Jordan (47) Oakley (9) Jordan (9) Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,212 12–3 16 December 4, 1987 8:30 p.m. CST @ Denver L 89–105 Jordan (23) Oakley (18) Paxson (6) McNichols Sports Arena 17,022 12–4 17 December 5, 1987 @ San Antonio L 101–110 HemisFair Arena 12–5 18 December 8, 1987 Philadelphia L 96–109 Chicago Stadium 12–6 19 December 10, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Milwaukee W 111–105 Jordan (32) Oakley (13) Oakley (8) Chicago Stadium 17,820 13–6 20 December 12, 1987 Houston W 112–103 Chicago Stadium 14–6 21 December 15, 1987 7:00 p.m. CST @ Detroit L 123–127 (OT) Jordan (38) Oakley (17) Jordan (12) Pontiac Silverdome 23,729 14–7 22 December 17, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Cleveland W 111–100 Jordan (52) Corzine (9) Paxson (13) Chicago Stadium 17,650 15–7 23 December 19, 1987 6:30 p.m. CST @ Washington L 96–109 Jordan (30) Oakley (16) Jordan (7) Capital Centre 14,353 15–8 24 December 22, 1987 7:00 p.m. CST Dallas L 100–111 Jordan (28) Oakley (10) Paxson (9) Chicago Stadium 18,103 15–9 25 December 23, 1987 @ New York L 89–90 Madison Square Garden 15–10 26 December 26, 1987 @ Indiana L 92–106 Market Square Arena 15–11 27 December 29, 1987 7:30 p.m. CST Atlanta L 98–108 Jordan (39) Oakley (13) Jordan (6) Chicago Stadium 18,676 15–12
January: 11–4 (home: 10–1; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 28 January 2, 1988 New Jersey W 116–93 Chicago Stadium 16–12 29 January 5, 1988 Indiana W 93–77 Chicago Stadium 17–12 30 January 7, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Denver W 100–96 Jordan (28) Oakley (14) Sparrow (8) Chicago Stadium 17,590 18–12 31 January 9, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Utah W 113–91 Jordan (45) Oakley (15) Jordan (8) Chicago Stadium 17,877 19–12 32 January 12, 1988 7:00 p.m. CST Boston L 97–104 Jordan (42) Oakley (11) Oakley (8) Chicago Stadium 18,676 19–13 33 January 14, 1988 6:30 p.m. CST @ Cleveland L 88–91 (OT) Jordan (28) Oakley (17) Jordan (7) Richfield Coliseum 16,648 19–14 34 January 16, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Detroit W 115–99 Jordan (36) Jordan, Oakley (10) Jordan (10) Chicago Stadium 18,676 20–14 35 January 18, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Washington W 117–103 Jordan (33) Oakley (10) Jordan (7) Chicago Stadium 17,767 21–14 36 January 19, 1988 7:00 p.m. CST @ Atlanta L 94–106 Jordan (38) Corzine (11) Threatt (5) The Omni 16,451 21–15 37 January 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Phoenix W 118–108 Chicago Stadium 22–15 38 January 23, 1988 Golden State W 121–94 Chicago Stadium 23–15 39 January 26, 1988 @ Indiana L 93–97 Market Square Arena 23–16 40 January 27, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 119–109 (OT) The Spectrum 24–16 41 January 29, 1988 New Jersey W 120–93 Chicago Stadium 25–16 42 January 30, 1988 New York W 97–95 (OT) Chicago Stadium 26–16
February: 5–9 (home: 3–3; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 43 February 1, 1988 @ Sacramento L 95–97 ARCO Arena 26–17 44 February 2, 1988 9:30 p.m. CST @ L.A. Lakers L 101–110 Jordan (39) Grant (8) Jordan, Pippen, Threatt (4) The Forum 17,505 26–18 45 February 4, 1988 @ Phoenix W 113–101 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 27–18 All-Star Break 46 February 9, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Detroit L 74–89 Jordan (20) Oakley (13) Jordan (9) Chicago Stadium 17,846 27–19 47 February 10, 1988 @ New Jersey L 84–93 Brendan Byrne Arena 27–20 48 February 12, 1988 8:00 p.m. CST @ Milwaukee W 95–93 Jordan (27) Oakley (14) Jordan (8) MECCA Arena 11,052 28–20 49 February 13, 1988 6:30 p.m. CST @ Detroit L 73–82 Jordan (27) Oakley (10) Oakley, Paxson, Sparrow, Threatt (4) Pontiac Silverdome 40,369 28–21 50 February 15, 1988 12:30 p.m. CST Atlanta W 126–107 Jordan (32) Jordan (13) Jordan, Sellers (8) Chicago Stadium 17,704 29–21 51 February 19, 1988 Sacramento W 116–101 Chicago Stadium 30–21 52 February 21, 1988 12 Noon CST @ Cleveland L 111–113 Jordan (46) Corzine (9) Jordan (9) Richfield Coliseum 20,089 30–22 53 February 23, 1988 Seattle W 104–97 (OT) Chicago Stadium 31–22 54 February 26, 1988 Portland L 96–104 Chicago Stadium 33–21 55 February 27, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Milwaukee L 91–94 Jordan (38) Oakley (12) Vincent (9) Chicago Stadium 18,243 33–22 56 February 29, 1988 @ Philadelphia L 101–102 The Spectrum 33–23
March: 10–4 (home: 7–0; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 57 March 3, 1988 Philadelphia W 97–93 Chicago Stadium 33–24 58 March 5, 1988 L.A. Clippers W 100–76 Chicago Stadium 34–24 59 March 7, 1988 @ New York L 98–110 Madison Square Garden 34–25 60 March 10, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST L.A. Lakers W 128–107 Jordan (38) Grant, Oakley (11) Vincent (11) Chicago Stadium 18,676 35–25 61 March 12, 1988 San Antonio W 112–92 Chicago Stadium 36–25 62 March 15, 1988 7:00 p.m. CST Cleveland W 108–89 Jordan (38) Oakley (14) Vincent (11) Chicago Stadium 17,752 37–25 63 March 16, 1988 6:30 p.m. CST @ Washington L 103–106 Jordan (25) Oakley (9) Vincent (7) Capital Centre 16,515 37–26 64 March 18, 1988 7:30 p.m. CST Boston W 113–103 Jordan (50) Oakley (12) Jordan (9) Chicago Stadium 18,676 38–26 65 March 20, 1988 12 Noon CST @ Boston L 107–137 Jordan (26) Oakley (9) Jordan (7) Boston Garden 14,890 38–27 66 March 23, 1988 @ Philadelphia W 118–102 The Spectrum 39–27 67 March 25, 1988 6:30 p.m. CST @ Cleveland W 111–110 (OT) Jordan (39) Oakley (19) Vincent (8) Richfield Coliseum 19,876 40–27 68 March 26, 1988 Indiana W 109–100 Chicago Stadium 41–27 69 March 29, 1988 @ Seattle L 103–106 Seattle Center Coliseum 41–28 70 March 30, 1988 @ L.A. Clippers W 111–94 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 41–29
April: 9–3 (home: 3–2; road: 6–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1, 1988 @ Portland W 116–101 Memorial Coliseum 42–29 72 April 3, 1988 12:30 p.m. CDT @ Detroit W 112–110 Jordan (59) Corzine (12) Vincent (13) Pontiac Silverdome 23,712 43–29 73 April 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. CDT Washington L 94–105 Jordan (29) Oakley (8) Vincent (9) Chicago Stadium 17,773 44–29 74 April 6, 1988 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Milwaukee W 119–110 Jordan (37) Oakley (12) Jordan (6) MECCA Arena 11,052 44–30 75 April 8, 1988 New York W 131–122 Chicago Stadium 45–30 76 April 14, 1988 @ Indiana W 116–110 Market Square Arena 46–30 77 April 15, 1988 @ New Jersey W 100–99 Brendan Byrne Arena 47–30 78 April 17, 1988 12:30 p.m. CDT Milwaukee W 105–97 Jordan (44) Oakley (14) Vincent (10) Chicago Stadium 18,551 48–30 79 April 19, 1988 @ New York W 121–118 Madison Square Garden 49–30 80 April 21, 1988 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Boston L 119–126 Jordan (39) Oakley (17) Vincent (9) Boston Garden 14,890 49–31 81 April 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. CDT Cleveland L 103–107 Jordan, Oakley (26) Oakley (35) Jordan, Vincent (7) Chicago Stadium 17,726 49–32 82 April 24, 1988 2:30 p.m. CDT Boston W 115–108 Jordan (46) Oakley (21) Jordan, Vincent (6) Chicago Stadium 18,636 50–32
1987–88 schedule

Playoffs

1988 playoff game log
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 28, 1988 7:00 p.m. CDT Cleveland W 104–93 Jordan (50) Oakley (15) Paxson (7) Chicago Stadium 18,676 1–0 2 May 1, 1988 2:30 p.m. CDT Cleveland W 106–101 Jordan (55) Oakley (12) Vincent (14) Chicago Stadium 18,645 2–0 3 May 3, 1988 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Cleveland L 102–110 Jordan (38) Oakley (9) Jordan (9) Richfield Coliseum 20,068 2–1 4 May 5, 1988 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Cleveland L 91–97 Jordan (44) Oakley (10) Vincent (5) Richfield Coliseum 20,026 2–2 5 May 8, 1988 12 Noon CDT Cleveland W 107–101 Jordan (39) Oakley (20) Sparrow (7) Chicago Stadium 18,008 3–2
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 10, 1988 7:30 p.m. CDT @ Detroit L 82–93 Jordan (29) Oakley (13) Jordan (6) Pontiac Silverdome 18,312 0–1 2 May 12, 1988 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Detroit W 105–95 Jordan (36) Oakley (12) Pippen, Vincent (5) Pontiac Silverdome 20,281 1–1 3 May 14, 1988 12 Noon CDT Detroit L 79–101 Jordan (24) Oakley (12) Vincent (6) Chicago Stadium 18,676 1–2 4 May 15, 1988 2:30 p.m. CDT Detroit L 77–96 Jordan (23) Oakley (10) Jordan (5) Chicago Stadium 18,676 1–3 5 May 18, 1988 7:00 p.m. CDT @ Detroit L 95–102 Jordan (25) Oakley (15) Jordan, Paxson (8) Pontiac Silverdome 21,371 1–4
1988 schedule

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Charles Oakley 14.3 ppg 15.6 reb 1.3 stl 2.4 blk 2.3 to

Awards and records

• Michael Jordan, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
• Michael Jordan, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
• Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest Winner
• Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award
• Jerry Krause, NBA Executive of the Year Award
• Michael Jordan, All-NBA First Team
• Michael Jordan, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Michael Jordan, NBA All-Star Game

Transactions

1st Round, 8th overall Center Olden Polynice was drafted by the Bulls, but traded that same night with draft picks to the Seattle SuperSonics and the rights to the 5th overall pick Forward Scottie Pippen and draft picks.

Forward Horace Grant was drafted in the 1st Round, 10th overall by the Bulls.