# 1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season

The 1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers season was the 43rd season of the franchise, 41st in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and 29th in Los Angeles. This would also be the final season for All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. During the off-season, the Lakers signed free agent Orlando Woolridge. The Lakers entered the season as the two-time defending NBA champions. The team won 15 of their first 18 games, held a 32–15 record at the All-Star break, and finished in first place in the Pacific Division with a 57–25 record, earning them the top playoff seed in the Western Conference.
Magic Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 12.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game, won the Most Valuable Player award, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, while James Worthy averaged 20.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and Byron Scott provided the team with 19.6 points and 1.5 steals per game. In addition, A.C. Green provided with 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, while being selected to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Abdul-Jabbar contributed 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Woolridge provided with 9.7 points per game, while Mychal Thompson averaged 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and defensive guard Michael Cooper contributed 7.3 points and 3.9 assists per game.
Johnson, Worthy and Abdul-Jabbar were all selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas, while head coach Pat Riley was selected to coach the Western Conference. However, Johnson did not participate due to a hamstring injury, as Abdul-Jabbar was selected as his replacement; it would also be the final All-Star appearance for Abdul-Jabbar.
After going undefeated by sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers, 3–0 in the Western Conference First Round of the playoffs, then sweeping the Seattle SuperSonics, 4–0 in the Western Conference Semi-finals, and sweeping the Phoenix Suns, 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers were seen as the favorites in the 1989 NBA Finals, in a rematch against the Detroit Pistons, who they defeated in last season's NBA Finals in a hard-fought seven games. However, after injuries to their starting backcourt of Johnson and Scott, the Lakers were swept by the Pistons in four straight games.
After the Finals concluded, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement at age 42, after twenty seasons in the NBA. Also following the season, Tony Campbell signed as a free agent with the newly expansion Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 1988–89 season marked an end to a run of eight consecutive Western Conference finals appearances for the Lakers, the most since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics, as in the following season, the Lakers would lose in the conference semifinals to the Phoenix Suns in five games.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 25 | David Rivers | PG | United States | Notre Dame |

## 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 |

### 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: 57–25 (home: 35–6; road: 22–19) :
November: 10–3 (home: 4–0; road: 6–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 4
@ Dallas
W 116-113
James Worthy (25)
Johnson & Worthy (6)
Magic Johnson (14)
Reunion Arena 17,007
1–0
2
November 5
@ San Antonio
L 107-122
Magic Johnson (21)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12)
Magic Johnson (14)
HemisFair Arena 15,861
1-1
3
November 8
@ Golden State
W 114–102
Scott (23)
Green, Johnson, Thompson (7)
Johnson (18)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025
2–1
4
November 9
Denver
W 128-110
Byron Scott (33)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (19)
Great Western Forum 17,505
3–1
5
November 11
Seattle
W 114–103
Scott (29)
Johnson (9)
Johnson (16)
The Forum 17,505
4–1
6
November 15
@ Denver
W 148-146 (2OT)
James Worthy (33)
Mychal Thompson (10)
Magic Johnson (13)
McNichols Sports Arena 15,198
5–1
7
November 17
@ Seattle
L 98–101
Johnson (28)
Johnson, Thompson (10)
Jhnson (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,576
5–2
8
November 18
Portland
W 106-105
Magic Johnson (26)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (8)
Magic Johnson (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
6–2
9
November 22
@ New York
W 110–98
Worthy (29)
Johnson (12)
Johnson (13)
Madison Square Garden 19,591
7–2
10
November 23
@ Miami
W 138-91
Orlando Woolridge (22)
Tony Campbell (9)
Magic Johnson (17)
Miami Arena 15,008
8–2
11
November 26
@ Detroit
L 99–102
Scott (20)
Green (14)
Johnson (8)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
8–3
12
November 28
@ Philadelphia
W 109-104
Magic Johnson (32)
Magic Johnson (11)
Magic Johnson (20)
The Spectrum 18,168
9–3
13
November 30
Seattle
W 110–106
Johnson (40)
Thompson (11)
Johnson (10)
The Forum 17,505
10–3 :
December: 9–7 (home: 6–0; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
14
December 2
Utah
W 113-92
Byron Scott (32)
Magic Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (15)
Great Western Forum 17,505
11–3
15
December 4
Washington
W 119-112 (OT)
Magic Johnson (29)
Mychal Thompson (9)
Magic Johnson (17)
Great Western Forum 17,505
12–3
16
December 6
@ L.A. Clippers
W 111-102
Magic Johnson (25)
Mychal Thompson (11)
Magic Johnson (21)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352
13–3
17
December 7
Phoenix
W 125–111
Scott (27)
Johnson (12)
Johnson (18)
Great Western Forum 17,353
14–3
18
December 10
@ Indiana
W 112-105
Magic Johnson (32)
Green & Johnson (11)
Magic Johnson (13)
Market Square Arena 16,912
15–3
19
December 11
@ Milwaukee
L 94–95
Worthy (21)
Green (6)
Johnson (12)
Bradley Center 18,633
15–4
20
December 13
@ Cleveland
W 111-102
Magic Johnson (31)
Magic Johnson (12)
Magic Johnson (13)
Richfield Coliseum 20,041
16–4
21
December 14
@ New Jersey
L 113-118 (OT)
Magic Johnson (35)
A.C. Green (10)
Magic Johnson (9)
Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049
16–5
22
December 16
@ Boston
L 96-110
Magic Johnson (31)
A.C. Green (16)
Magic Johnson (7)
Boston Garden 14,890
16–6
23
December 18
@ Washington
L 110-115
James Worthy (31)
James Worthy (7)
Magic Johnson (8)
Capital Centre 18,643
16–7
24
December 20
@ Chicago
L 103–116
Johnson (31)
Thompson (9)
Johnson (12)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
16–8
25
December 23
Sacramento
W 120-102
Magic Johnson (27)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (15)
Great Western Forum 17,505
17–8
26
December 25
@ Utah
L 87-101
Johnson & Worthy (18)
Mychal Thompson (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
Salt Palace 12,444
17–9
27
December 26
@ Phoenix
L 96–111
Scott (24)
Green (11)
Johnson (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471
17–10
28
December 28
Philadelphia
W 128-123
Johnson & Worthy (26)
Magic Johnson (10)
Magic Johnson (18)
Great Western Forum 17,505
18–10
29
December 30
L.A. Clippers
W 124-109
Magic Johnson (34)
James Worthy (11)
Magic Johnson (14)
Great Western Forum 17,505
19–10 :
January: 11–3 (home: 8–1; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 3
@ Seattle
L 106–116
Green (27)
Green (11)
Johnson (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,645
19–11
31
January 4
Portland
W 133-120
Mychal Thompson (27)
Green & Thompson (11)
Magic Johnson (15)
Great Western Forum 17,505
20–11
32
January 6
Miami
W 118-86
Orlando Woolridge (29)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
21–11
33
January 8
San Antonio
W 126-96
3 players tied (17)
3 players tied (8)
Magic Johnson (17)
Great Western Forum 17,505
22–11
34
January 10
@ Sacramento
L 97-106
Johnson & Worthy (22)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (12)
ARCO Arena 16,517
22–12
35
January 13
Cleveland
W 116-95
Magic Johnson (26)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
23–12
36
January 15
@ L.A. Clippers
W 116-95
Byron Scott (28)
Green & Johnson (9)
Magic Johnson (12)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352
24–12
37
January 16
Houston
W 124-113
James Worthy (26)
Magic Johnson (13)
Magic Johnson (18)
Great Western Forum 17,505
25–12
38
January 18
L.A. Clippers
W 111-90
Magic Johnson (19)
James Worthy (15)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 17,301
26–12
39
January 20
Dallas
W 115-99
Magic Johnson (30)
James Worthy (10)
Magic Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
27–12
40
January 24
New York
L 117–122
Johnson, Worthy (26)
Worthy (14)
Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
27–13
41
January 27
Charlotte
W 114-97
A.C. Green (24)
A.C. Green (11)
Cooper & Johnson (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
28–13
42
January 29
@ Dallas
W 118-93
A.C. Green (25)
James Worthy (12)
Magic Johnson (9)
Reunion Arena 17,007
29–13
43
January 31
@ Houston
W 125-114
A.C. Green (24)
Magic Johnson (11)
Magic Johnson (10)
The Summit 16,611
30–13 :
February: 7–4 (home: 5–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 1
@ Phoenix
L 97–114
Johnson (17)
Johnson (12)
Johnson (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471
30–14
45
February 3
Portland
W 140-129
Magic Johnson (29)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
31–14
46
February 5
New Jersey
W 134-116
Magic Johnson (27)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (9)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
32–14
47
February 8
Golden State
L 118–121
Worthy (30)
Johnson, Woolridge (8)
Johnson (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
32–15
All-Star Break
48
February 14
Detroit
L 103–111
Worthy (33)
Green (11)
Cooper (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
32–16
49
February 16
@ Portland
W 110-101
James Worthy (28)
Mychal Thompson (12)
Michael Cooper (7)
Memorial Coliseum 12,848
33–16
50
February 19
Boston
W 119-110
Byron Scott (35)
A.C. Green (11)
Michael Cooper (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
34–16
51
February 20
@ Sacramento
W 100-97
Byron Scott (33)
A.C. Green (10)
Cooper & Worthy (7)
ARCO Arena 16,517
35–16
52
February 22
@ Utah
L 79-105
Byron Scott (14)
A.C. Green (9)
Michael Cooper (7)
Salt Palace 12,444
35–17
53
February 24
Sacramento
W 115-103
Byron Scott (31)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
36–17
54
February 26
Phoenix
W 134–122
Scott (29)
Green (11)
Johnson (19)
Great Western Forum 17,505
37–17 :
March: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
March 1
Golden State
W 142–121
Johnson (35)
Johnspn (14)
Johnson (8)
Great Western Forum 17,505
38–17
56
March 3
Indiana
W 139-117
A.C. Green (24)
A.C. Green (11)
Magic Johnson (16)
Great Western Forum 17,505
39–17
57
March 5
@ Houston
L 83-88
James Worthy (19)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (15)
The Summit 16,611
39–18
58
March 7
@ Atlanta
W 106-97
James Worthy (24)
A.C. Green (13)
Magic Johnson (15)
Omni Coliseum 16,371
40–18
59
March 8
@ Miami
W 127-87
Tony Campbell (19)
Mark McNamara (13)
Magic Johnson (10)
Miami Arena 15,008
41–18
60
March 10
@ Charlotte
W 123-90
Byron Scott (25)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (14)
Charlotte Coliseum 23,388
42–18
61
March 12
@ Golden State
W 126–115
Scott (32)
Abdul-Jabbar (11)
Johnson (10)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025
43–18
62
March 13
Houston
W 97-96
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (21)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Magic Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
44–18
63
March 17
Dallas
W 106-103
Magic Johnson (31)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
45–18
64
March 19
Atlanta
L 111-113
Magic Johnson (29)
A.C. Green (14)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
45–19
65
March 21
Chicago
L 103–104
Johnson (20)
Johnson (8)
Johnson (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
45–20
66
March 23
@ Sacramento
W 115-92
Magic Johnson (25)
A.C. Green (15)
Magic Johnson (14)
ARCO Arena 16,517
46–20
67
March 26
Phoenix
W 118–116
Johnson (34)
Green (12)
Johnson (18)
Great Western Forum 17,505
47–20
68
March 28
@ Phoenix
L 104–127
Worthy (24)
Worthy (11)
Johnson (14)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471
47–21
69
March 30
San Antonio
W 138-98
Byron Scott (35)
Magic Johnson (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
48–21 :
April: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
70
April 1
@ Denver
L 108-114 (OT)
James Worthy (25)
Magic Johnson (17)
Magic Johnson (15)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
48–22
71
April 2
Milwaukee
W 118–117
Scott (32)
Green (10)
Johnson (11)
Great Western Forum 17,505
49–22
72
April 4
@ Seattle
W 115–97
Green (33)
Green (10)
Johnson (18)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,810
50–22
73
April 7
Utah
L 97-99
Johnson & Worthy (24)
James Worthy (9)
Magic Johnson (10)
Great Western Forum 17,505
50–23
74
April 8
@ Golden State
L 116-122
Johnson (24)
Johnson (9)
Johnson (12)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025
50–24
75
April 10
L.A. Clippers
W 133-116
Magic Johnson (24)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
51–24
76
April 12
@ San Antonio
W 107-100
Magic Johnson (24)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (7)
HemisFair Arena 15,861
52–24
77
April 15
@ L.A. Clippers
L 107-119
Magic Johnson (26)
A.C. Green (8)
Magic Johnson (13)
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 15,352
52–25
78
April 16
Miami
W 121-108
Magic Johnson (24)
Mychal Thompson (9)
Magic Johnson (7)
Great Western Forum 17,505
53–25
79
April 18
Denver
W 142-118
James Worthy (26)
Magic Johnson (17)
Magic Johnson (17)
Great Western Forum 17,505
54–25
80
April 20
Sacramento
W 118-115
James Worthy (38)
A.C. Green (9)
Magic Johnson (16)
Great Western Forum 17,505
55–25
81
April 21
@ Portland
W 121-114
Magic Johnson (23)
A.C. Green (12)
Magic Johnson (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,880
56–25
82
April 23
Seattle
W 121–117
Johnson (29)
Green (10)
Johnson (21)
Great Western Forum 17,505
57–25 :
1988–89 schedule :

### Playoffs

1989 playoff game log Total: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2) :
Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 27
Portland
W 128–108
Magic Johnson (30)
Abdul-Jabbar & Scott (8)
Magic Johnson (16)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–0
2
April 30
Portland
W 113–105
Magic Johnson (35)
A.C. Green (13)
Magic Johnson (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
2–0
3
May 3
@ Portland
W 116–108
Byron Scott (25)
A.C. Green (13)
Magic Johnson (7)
Memorial Coliseum 12,880
3–0 :
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 7
Seattle
W 113–102
Worthy (28)
Worthy (12)
Johnson (14)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–0
2
May 10
Seattle
W 130–108
Worthy (30)
Green (8)
Johnson (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
2–0
3
May 12
@ Seattle
W 91–86
Worthy (20)
Johnson (9)
Johnson (14)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,541
3–0
4
May 14
@ Seattle
W 97–95
Worthy (33)
Green (10)
Johnson (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,006
4–0 :
Western Conference Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 20
Phoenix
W 127–119
Worthy (32)
Green (10)
Johnson (12)
Great Western Forum 17,505
1–0
2
May 23
Phoenix
W 101–95
Scott (30)
Johnson (9)
Johnson (14)
Great Western Forum 17,505
2–0
3
May 26
@ Phoenix
W 110–107
Worthy (29)
Worthy (12)
Johnson (11)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471
3–0
4
May 28
@ Phoenix
W 122–117
Scott (35)
Green (11)
Johnson (20)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,471
4–0 :
NBA Finals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
June 6
@ Detroit
L 97–109
Johnson, Worthy (17)
Green (8)
Johnson (14)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
0–1
2
June 8
@ Detroit
L 105–108
Cooper, Worthy (19)
Green (9)
Johnson (9)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454
0–2
3
June 11
Detroit
L 110–114
Worthy (26)
Abdul-Jabbar (13)
Cooper (13)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–3
4
June 13
Detroit
L 97–105
Worthy (40)
Green (12)
Cooper (9)
Great Western Forum 17,505
0–4 :
1989 schedule :
* On June 28, 1989, after twenty professional seasons, Abdul-Jabbar announced his retirement. On his "retirement tour" he received standing ovations at all the games, home and away.

## Game officials
### Regular season

| Game | Date | Opponent | Officials |
| 11 | 11–26–1988 | @ Detroit | No. 30 Gary Benson, No. 43 Dan Crawford, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 48 | 2–14–1989 | Detroit | No. 21 Bill Oakes, No. 24 Bill Saar, No. 56 Don Vaden |

### Playoffs

| Game | Round | Date | Opponent | Officials |
| 1 | NBA Finals | 6–6–1989 | @ Detroit | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 11 Jake O'Donnell |
| 2 | NBA Finals | 6–8–1989 | @ Detroit | No. 17 Joe Crawford, No. 10 Darell Garretson, No. 42 Hue Hollins |
| 3 | NBA Finals | 6–11–1989 | Detroit | No. 25 Hugh Evans, No. 13 Mike Mathis, No. 4 Ed T. Rush |
| 4 | NBA Finals | 6–13–1989 | Detroit | No. 20 Jess Kersey, No. 14 Jack Madden, No. 12 Earl Strom |

## Awards and honors

* A.C. Green, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Magic Johnson, NBA Most Valuable Player
* Magic Johnson, NBA All-First Team