# 1987–88 Utah Jazz season

The 1987–88 Utah Jazz season was the team's 14th in the NBA. The Jazz finished third in the Midwest Division with a record of 47–35, and qualified for the playoffs for the fifth straight season. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in four games, but then lost in seven games to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals. Karl Malone was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 15 | Jose Ortiz | C | Puerto Rico | Oregon State |
| 3 | 61 | Clarence Martin | | United States | Western Kentucky |
| 3 | 68 | Billy Donovan | G | United States | Providence |
| 4 | 84 | Reuben Holmes | | United States | Alabama State |
| 5 | 107 | Bart Kofoed | PG | United States | Nebraska-Kearney |
| 6 | 130 | Art Sabb | | United States | Bloomfield |
| 7 | 153 | Keith Webster | | United States | Harvard |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | – | 35–6 | 19–22 | 18–12 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1 | 33–8 | 20–21 | 20–10 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 | 33–8 | 14–27 | 18–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 13–17 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 23 | 23–18 | 8–33 | 12–18 |
| Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | 19–22 | 5–36 | 9–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |

### 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: 47–35 (home: 33–8; road: 14–27) :
November: 7–6 (home: 7–1; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 6 6:30 p.m. MST
@ Dallas
L 93–95
Malone (25)
Eaton (12)
Stockton (8)
Reunion Arena 17,007
0–1
2
November 7
Sacramento
W 121–100
Salt Palace
1–1
3
November 10
@ L.A. Clippers
L 88–100
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
1–2
4
November 11 7:30 p.m. MST
Dallas
W 121–92
Malone (32)
Malone (10)
Stockton (14)
Salt Palace 12,212
2–2
5
November 13
Phoenix
W 109–92
Salt Palace
3–2
6
November 14
@ Houston
L 93–101
The Summit
3–3
7
November 17 7:30 p.m. MST
Denver
W 120–110
Malone (25)
Eaton (25)
Stockton (15)
Salt Palace 11,461
4–3
8
November 18
@ Phoenix
L 80–90
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
4–4
9
November 20
Indiana
W 112–81
Salt Palace
5–4
10
November 21
@ San Antonio
L 119–120
HemisFair Arena
5–5
11
November 24 7:30 p.m. MST
Washington
W 100–83
Malone (22)
Bailey, Eaton (14)
Green (8)
Salt Palace 12,212
6–5
12
November 27
Houston
W 118–96
Salt Palace
7–5
13
November 30
Philadelphia
L 100–106
Salt Palace
7–6 :
December: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
14
December 2 7:30 p.m. MST
Chicago
L 101–105
Malone (33)
Malone (14)
Stockton (11)
Salt Palace 12,212
7–7
15
December 4
New York
W 104–92
Salt Palace
8–7
16
December 5
@ Sacramento
W 126–117
ARCO Arena
9–7
17
December 8
@ San Antonio
L 100–105
HemisFair Arena
9–8
18
December 10
@ Houston
L 93–98
The Summit
9–9
19
December 12
Golden State
W 127–93
Salt Palace
10–9
20
December 14
Seattle
W 116–95
Salt Palace
11–9
21
December 16 5:30 p.m. MST
@ Boston
L 111–121
Malone (31)
Malone (12)
Stockton (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
11–10
22
December 18
@ Indiana
L 97–121
Market Square Arena
11–11
23
December 19 5:30 p.m. MST
@ Atlanta
L 124–130 (OT)
Griffith (32)
Malone (17)
Stockton (15)
The Omni 12,515
11–12
24
December 21
@ New Jersey
L 95–106
Brendan Byrne Arena
11–13
25
December 23 5:30 p.m. MST
@ Cleveland
W 91–83
Malone (26)
Eaton (16)
Green (6)
Richfield Coliseum 9,202
12–13
26
December 26 2:00 p.m. MST
L.A. Lakers
L 109–117
Malone (26)
Malone (14)
Stockton (15)
Salt Palace 12,212
12–14
27
December 29 7:30 p.m. MST
@ Denver
W 98–97
Malone (37)
Malone (13)
Stockton (8)
McNichols Sports Arena 10,621
13–14
28
December 30
Golden State
W 104–103
Salt Palace
14–14 :
January: 5–8 (home: 4–2; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29
January 2
@ Sacramento
L 105–107
ARCO Arena
14–15
30
January 4 7:30 p.m. MST
Boston
L 99–107
Malone (25)
Malone (17)
Stockton (11)
Salt Palace 12,212
14–16
31
January 6
@ Philadelphia
L 93–116
The Spectrum
14–17
32
January 8 7:00 p.m. MST
@ Milwaukee
W 111–107
Malone (29)
Malone (11)
Stockton (18)
MECCA Arena 11,052
15–17
33
January 9 6:30 p.m. MST
@ Chicago
L 91–113
Malone (25)
Malone (8)
Stockton (9)
Chicago Stadium 17,877
15–18
34
January 13
Portland
W 116–104
Salt Palace
16–18
35
January 15
@ Seattle
L 105–124
Seattle Center Coliseum
16–19
36
January 20 7:30 p.m. MST
Detroit
L 117–120
Malone (39)
Malone (13)
Stockton (11)
Salt Palace 12,212
16–20
37
January 22
San Antonio
W 119–106
Salt Palace
17–20
38
January 25 7:30 p.m. MST
Cleveland
W 119–96
Malone (36)
Malone (12)
Stockton (13)
Salt Palace 12,212
18–20
39
January 26 8:30 p.m. MST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 100–111
Malone, Stockton (18)
Bailey, Eaton, Malone (9)
Stockton (11)
The Forum 17,505
18–21
40
January 29
@ Golden State
L 100–102
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
18–22
41
January 30 7:30 p.m. MST
Atlanta
W 115–109
Bailey (33)
Eaton (14)
Stockton (19)
Salt Palace 12,212
19–22 :
February: 9–4 (home: 6–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42
February 1
Seattle
W 105–100
Salt Palace
20–22
43
February 3
Sacramento
W 123–91
Salt Palace
21–22
44
February 4
@ Portland
W 126–123
Memorial Coliseum
22–22
All-Star Break
45
February 9 6:00 p.m. MST
@ Dallas
L 93–124
Malone (18)
Bailey (9)
Stockton (14)
Reunion Arena 17,007
22–23
46
February 10 7:30 p.m. MST
Dallas
W 93–80
Bailey (24)
Malone (13)
Stockton (16)
Salt Palace 12,444
23–23
47
February 14 7:30 p.m. MST
@ Denver
L 93–107
Malone (31)
Eaton (12)
Stockton (12)
McNichols Sports Arena 9,971
23–24
48
February 15
Portland
W 112–94
Salt Palace
24–24
49
February 17
Phoenix
W 108–103
Salt Palace
25–24
50
February 19
@ L.A. Clippers
W 98–88
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
26–24
51
February 20
L.A. Clippers
W 120–103
Salt Palace
26–25
52
February 24 7:30 p.m. MST
Denver
L 120–123
Malone (38)
Malone (17)
Stockton (16)
Salt Palace 12,444
27–25
53
February 26 8:30 p.m. MST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 105–112
Malone (28)
Malone (16)
Stockton (15)
The Forum 17,505
27–26
54
February 29
@ Sacramento
W 115–110
ARCO Arena
28–26 :
March: 11–5 (home: 8–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
March 1
Houston
W 113–112
Salt Palace
29–26
56
March 4
@ Seattle
W 125–110
Seattle Center Coliseum
30–26
57
March 5
San Antonio
W 125–106
Salt Palace
31–26
58
March 7
New Jersey
W 105–81
Salt Palace
32–26
59
March 9 5:30 p.m. MST
@ Detroit
L 98–103
Malone (26)
Malone (18)
Stockton (11)
Pontiac Silverdome 20,623
32–27
60
March 11 6:00 p.m. MST
@ Washington
W 109–107
Malone (34)
Malone, Turpin (8)
Stockton (16)
Capital Centre 10,775
33–27
61
March 12
@ New York
L 105–108
Madison Square Garden
33–28
62
March 14 7:30 p.m. MST
@ Denver
W 116–115
Bailey (31)
Eaton (12)
Stockton (20)
McNichols Sports Arena 10,172
34–28
63
March 16 7:30 p.m. MST
Dallas
W 120–105
Malone (29)
Malone (17)
Stockton (17)
Salt Palace 12,444
35–28
64
March 18 7:30 p.m. MST
Denver
W 118–111
Malone (30)
Eaton, Malone (10)
Stockton (15)
Salt Palace 12,444
36–28
65
March 19
@ San Antonio
L 110–113
HemisFair Arena
36–29
66
March 22
Phoenix
W 103–96
Salt Palace
37–29
67
March 24
Sacramento
W 117–97
Salt Palace
38–29
68
March 26 7:30 p.m. MST
Milwaukee
L 105–107
Malone (33)
Malone (14)
Stockton (18)
Salt Palace 12,444
38–30
69
March 29 8:30 p.m. MST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 111–122
Malone (25)
Malone (12)
Stockton (18)
The Forum 17,505
38–31
70
March 31
Golden State
W 115–92
Salt Palace
39–31 :
April: 8–4 (home: 4–1; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71
April 2 7:30 p.m. MST
L.A. Lakers
W 106–92
Bailey (31)
Malone (15)
Stockton (16)
Salt Palace 12,444
40–31
72
April 5
@ Phoenix
L 106–111
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
40–32
73
April 7
@ Houston
L 107–113
The Summit
40–33
74
April 8 6:30 p.m. MDT
@ Dallas
L 95–118
Stockton (15)
Iavaroni (6)
Stockton (9)
Reunion Arena 17,007
40–34
75
April 11
@ Golden State
W 113–102
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
41–34
76
April 12
L.A. Clippers
W 100–93
Salt Palace
42–34
77
April 14
Portland
L 123–128
Salt Palace
42–35
78
April 16
San Antonio
W 107–82
Salt Palace
43–35
79
April 19
@ Portland
W 129–122
Memorial Coliseum
44–35
80
April 20
@ L.A. Clippers
W 112–106
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
45–35
81
April 22
@ Seattle
W 110–109
Seattle Center Coliseum
46–35
82
April 23
Houston
W 125–107
Salt Palace
47–35 :
1987–88 schedule :

## Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
@ Portland
L 96–108
Thurl Bailey (31)
Karl Malone (13)
John Stockton (9)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
0–1
2
April 30
@ Portland
W 114–105
Karl Malone (37)
Karl Malone (16)
John Stockton (13)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–1
3
May 4
Portland
W 113–108
Karl Malone (35)
Karl Malone (9)
John Stockton (16)
Salt Palace 12,444
2–1
4
May 6
Portland
W 111–96
Karl Malone (38)
Mark Eaton (11)
John Stockton (10)
Salt Palace 12,444
3–1 :
Western Conference Semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 8 1:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 91–110
Malone (29)
Bailey (8)
Stockton (16)
The Forum 17,505
0–1
2
May 10 9:00 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. Lakers
W 101–97
Malone (29)
Eaton (12)
Stockton (13)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
May 13 9:00 p.m. MDT
L.A. Lakers
W 96–89
Malone (29)
Eaton (14)
Stockton (12)
Salt Palace 12,444
2–1
4
May 15 1:30 p.m. MDT
L.A. Lakers
L 100–113
Malone (29)
Malone (11)
Stockton (13)
Salt Palace 12,444
2–2
5
May 17 8:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 109–111
Bailey (28)
Malone (16)
Stockton (24)
The Forum 17,505
2–3
6
May 19 8:30 p.m. MDT
L.A. Lakers
W 108–80
Malone (27)
Malone (11)
Stockton (17)
Salt Palace 12,444
3–3
7
May 21 1:30 p.m. MDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 98–109
Malone (31)
Malone (15)
Stockton (20)
The Forum 17,505
3–4 :
1988 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

* Player
* Thurl Bailey
* Darryl Dawkins
* Mark Eaton
* Rickey Green
* Darrell Griffith
* Bob Hansen
* Eddie Hughes
* Marc Iavaroni
* Bart Kofoed
* Karl Malone
* Scott Roth
* Carey Scurry
* John Stockton
* Kelly Tripucka
* Melvin Turpin

### Playoffs

* Player
* Thurl Bailey
* Mark Eaton
* Rickey Green
* Bob Hansen
* Eddie Hughes
* Marc Iavaroni
* Bart Kofoed
* Karl Malone
* Scott Roth
* John Stockton
* Kelly Tripucka
* Melvin Turpin

## Awards and records

* Karl Malone, All-NBA Second Team
* John Stockton, All-NBA Second Team
* Mark Eaton, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
* Karl Malone, NBA All-Defensive Second Team