# 1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1988–89 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 19th season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Trail Blazers were racked with dissension, and posted a 25–22 record before head coach Mike Schuler was fired in mid-February; assistant coach Rick Adelman was promoted to replace him on an interim basis. After the Blazers reached the 1989 NBA Playoffs, Adelman was made the head coach on a full-time basis.
At mid-season, the team traded Kiki Vandeweghe to the New York Knicks in exchange for a future first-round draft pick. After holding a 25–21 record at the All-Star break, the Trail Blazers played below .500 for the remainder of the regular season, and finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 39–43 record, eighth place in the Western Conference, and qualifying for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Clyde Drexler averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game, while last season's Most Improved Player Kevin Duckworth averaged 18.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and Terry Porter provided the team with 17.7 points, 9.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. In addition, Jerome Kersey contributed 17.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, while Steve Johnson provided with 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game off the bench, and Sam Bowie averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 rebounds per game also off the bench, in only just 20 games due to injury. Drexler and Duckworth were both selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas.
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Blazers were eliminated in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, losing three straight games to the eventual Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games.
Following the season, the oft-injured Bowie was traded to the New Jersey Nets, and Johnson was left unprotected in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 21 | Mark Bryant | PF | United States | Seton Hall |
| 2 | 26 | Rolando Ferreira | C | Brazil | Houston |
| 3 | 53 | Anthony Mason | PF | United States | Tennessee State |
| 3 | 71 | Craig Neal | G | United States | Georgia Tech |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 35–6 | 22–19 | 25–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 | 35–6 | 20–21 | 23–11 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 20–14 |
| x-Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 15–19 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 | 28–13 | 11–30 | 17–17 |
| Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 | 21–20 | 6–35 | 12–22 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 | 17–24 | 4–37 | 7–27 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 51 | 31 | .622 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Denver Nuggets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 13 |
| 7 | x-Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 |
| 8 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 |
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | – | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | – | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | – | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | – | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | – | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1988–89 game log Total: 39–43 (home: 28–13; road: 11–30) :
November: 7–7 (home: 6–1; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 4
Phoenix
W 120–105
Memorial Coliseum
1–0
2
November 5
Sacramento
W 121–103
Memorial Coliseum
2–0
3
November 10
@ Denver
L 115–135
McNichols Sports Arena
2–1
4
November 12
@ Golden State
L 100–107
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
2–2
5
November 13
Denver
L 132–143
Memorial Coliseum
2–3
6
November 15
L.A. Clippers
W 125–103
Memorial Coliseum
3–3
7
November 17
@ Utah
L 99–123
Salt Palace
3–4
8
November 18
@ L.A. Lakers
L 105–106
The Forum
3–5
9
November 20
New Jersey
W 117–106
Memorial Coliseum
4–5
10
November 22
@ Seattle
W 125–104
Seattle Center Coliseum
5–5
11
November 25
Houston
W 111–94
Memorial Coliseum
6–5
12
November 27
Golden State
W 109–94
Memorial Coliseum
7–5
13
November 29
@ Milwaukee
L 114–119
Bradley Center
7–6
14
November 30
@ Philadelphia
L 106–114
The Spectrum
7–7 :
December: 9–4 (home: 5–0; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 2
@ Miami
W 105–102
Miami Arena
8–7
16
December 3
@ Atlanta
L 97–115
The Omni
8–8
17
December 6
@ New Jersey
W 97–93
Brendan Byrne Arena
9–8
18
December 7
@ Indiana
L 120–129
Market Square Arena
9–9
19
December 9
Washington
W 93–90
Memorial Coliseum
10–9
20
December 11
San Antonio
W 128–123 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
11–9
21
December 13
L.A. Clippers
W 113–92
Memorial Coliseum
12–9
22
December 16
@ Phoenix
L 125–132
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12–10
23
December 17
Phoenix
W 115–97
Memorial Coliseum
13–10
24
December 20
@ Denver
W 127–124
McNichols Sports Arena
14–10
25
December 22
@ Golden State
W 117–109
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
15–10
26
December 23
Golden State
W 111–107
Memorial Coliseum
16–10
27
December 27
@ Sacramento
L 111–112
ARCO Arena
16–11 :
January: 6–8 (home: 5–4; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
28
January 3
Miami
W 119–95
Memorial Coliseum
17–11
29
January 4
@ L.A. Lakers
L 120–133
Great Western Forum
17–12
30
January 6
Sacramento
W 147–142 (2OT)
Memorial Coliseum
18–12
31
January 7
@ Seattle
L 123–129
Seattle Center Coliseum
18–13
32
January 10
Seattle
W 125–109
Memorial Coliseum
19–13
33
January 12
@ Houston
L 106–116
The Summit
19–14
34
January 14
@ San Antonio
W 103–99
HemisFair Arena
20–14
35
January 15
@ Dallas
L 108–111
Reunion Arena
20–15
36
January 17
Utah
L 110–111
Memorial Coliseum
20–16
37
January 22
New York
L 116–120
Memorial Coliseum
20–17
38
January 24
Seattle
L 100–103
Memorial Coliseum
20–18
39
January 26
Milwaukee
L 109–127
Memorial Coliseum
20–19
40
January 28
Atlanta
W 110–94
Memorial Coliseum
21–19
41
January 30
Charlotte
W 130–118
Memorial Coliseum
22–19 :
February: 5–7 (home: 3–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42
February 1
@ L.A. Clippers
W 108–107
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
23–19
43
February 3
@ L.A. Lakers
L 129–140
Great Western Forum
23–20
44
February 4
San Antonio
W 137–100
Memorial Coliseum
24–20
45
February 7
Dallas
W 134–125
Memorial Coliseum
25–20
46
February 9
Houston
L 110–113
Memorial Coliseum
25–21
47
February 16
L.A. Lakers
L 101–110
Memorial Coliseum
25–22
48
February 18
Seattle
L 115–116
Memorial Coliseum
25–23
49
February 20
@ Chicago
L 98–102
Chicago Stadium
25–24
50
February 22
@ Detroit
L 94–105
The Palace of Auburn Hills
25–25
51
February 24
@ Cleveland
L 91–128
Richfield Coliseum
25–26
52
February 26
@ Miami
W 124–102
Miami Arena
26–26
53
February 28
Phoenix
W 139–134
Memorial Coliseum
27–26 :
March: 5–12 (home: 3–3; road: 2–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
54
March 2
@ L.A. Clippers
W 119–113
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
28–26
55
March 3
Philadelphia
W 129–121
Memorial Coliseum
29–26
56
March 5
Indiana
L 118–121 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
29–27
57
March 7
@ San Antonio
W 116–103
HemisFair Arena
30–27
58
March 8
@ Dallas
L 92–99
Reunion Arena
31–27
59
March 12
Cleveland
L 110–122
Memorial Coliseum
31–28
60
March 14
Golden State
W 139–110
Memorial Coliseum
31–29
61
March 15
@ Utah
L 95–102
Salt Palace
31–30
62
March 17
@ Phoenix
L 124–129
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
31–31
63
March 18
@ Houston
L 113–127
The Summit
31–32
64
March 20
Dallas
W 112–91
Memorial Coliseum
32–32
65
March 21
@ Golden State
L 127–151
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
32–33
66
March 24
Chicago
L 113–128
Memorial Coliseum
32–34
67
March 25
@ Sacramento
L 105–106
ARCO Arena
32–35
68
March 28
@ New York
L 124–128
Madison Square Garden
32–36
69
March 29
@ Boston
L 97–106
Boston Garden
32–37
70
March 31
@ Washington
L 105–107
Capital Centre
32–38 :
April: 7–5 (home: 6–2; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71
April 1
@ Charlotte
W 125–121 (OT)
Charlotte Coliseum
33–38
72
April 4
Detroit
W 118–100
Memorial Coliseum
34–38
73
April 6
@ L.A. Clippers
L 123–133
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
34–39
74
April 7
Boston
W 113–100
Memorial Coliseum
35–39
75
April 9
Denver
W 120–114
Memorial Coliseum
36–39
76
April 11
L.A. Clippers
W 126–102
Memorial Coliseum
37–39
77
April 14
Miami
W 97–86
Memorial Coliseum
38–39
78
April 15
Utah
L 95–99
Memorial Coliseum
38–40
79
April 18
@ Sacramento
L 118–120
ARCO Arena
38–41
80
April 20
@ Seattle
L 118–124
Seattle Center Coliseum
38–42
81
April 21
L.A. Lakers
L 114–121
Memorial Coliseum
38–43
82
April 23
Sacramento
W 126–120 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
39–43 :
1988–89 schedule :

### Playoffs

1989 playoff game log :
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 27
@ L.A. Lakers
L 108–128
Clyde Drexler (30)
Kersey, Porter (9)
Terry Porter (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–1
2
April 30
@ L.A. Lakers
L 105–113
Clyde Drexler (28)
Jerome Kersey (11)
Clyde Drexler (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–2
3
May 3
L.A. Lakers
L 108–116
Terry Porter (29)
Clyde Drexler (8)
Terry Porter (9)
Memorial Coliseum 12,880
0–3 :
1989 schedule :

## Awards and honors

* Clyde Drexler, NBA All-Star
* Kevin Duckworth, NBA All-Star