# 1987–88 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the 76ers 39th season in the NBA and 25th season in Philadelphia. This was the first season of the post-Julius Erving era, as the team was now led by Charles Barkley. As a result, the Sixers failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1975, going 36–46. Matt Goukas was fired in the middle of the season after going 20-23 and was replaced by Jim Lynam.
This was the final season for Andrew Toney, as the former All-Star guard was forced to retire due to foot injuries.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 16 | Chris Welp | C | Germany | Washington |
| 2 | 39 | Vincent Askew | G/F | United States | Memphis |
| 2 | 43 | Andrew Kennedy | F | Jamaica United States | Virginia |
| 3 | 57 | Hansi Gnad | | Germany | Alaska-Anchorage |
| 3 | 62 | Eric Higgins | | United States | Rutgers |
| 4 | 85 | Brian Rahilly | | United States | Tulsa |
| 5 | 108 | Frank Ross | | United States | American |
| 6 | 131 | Tracy Foster | | United States | Alabama-Birmingham |
| 7 | 154 | Eric Semisch | | United States | West Virginia |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 19–5 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 25–16 | 13–28 | 13–11 |
| x-New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 29–12 | 9–32 | 10–14 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | 27–14 | 9–32 | 12–12 |
| New Jersey Nets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 38 | 16–25 | 3–38 | 6–18 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | 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 |
    z - clinched division title
    y - clinched division title
    x - clinched playoff spot

### 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: 36–46 (Home: 27–14; Road: 9–32) :
November: 5–6 (home: 3–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 6
Indiana
W 108–95
The Spectrum
1–0
2
November 7
@ Chicago
L 94–104
Chicago Stadium
1–1
3
November 13, 1987 7:30 PM EST
Detroit
L 94–113
The Spectrum 12,302
1–2
4
November 14
@ Atlanta
L 83–104
The Omni
1–3
5
November 18, 1987 7:30 PM EST
@ Detroit
W 113–109
Pontiac Silverdome 17,445
2–3
6
November 20
Boston
W 116–85
The Spectrum
3–3
7
November 21
@ Cleveland
L 88–101
Richfield Coliseum
3–4
8
November 24
Cleveland
W 108–104
The Spectrum
4–4
9
November 27
@ Golden State
L 103–109
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
4–5
10
November 28
@ Sacramento
L 114–115 (OT)
ARCO Arena
4–6
11
November 30
@ Utah
W 106–100
Salt Palace Acord Arena
5–6 :
December
: 7–7 (home: 4–3; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
12
December 2
@ L.A. Clippers
L 85–88
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
5–7
13
December 4
Seattle
W 118–105
The Spectrum
6–7
14
December 8
@ Chicago
W 109–96
Chicago Stadium
7–7
15
December 9
Portland
W 94–86
The Spectrum
8–7
16
December 12
Denver
L 121–131
The Spectrum
8–8
17
December 16
San Antonio
W 114–102
The Spectrum
9–8
18
December 17
@ New York
W 110–106
Madison Square Garden
10–8
19
December 19
Dallas
W 95–90
The Spectrum
11–9
20
December 20
@ Boston
L 87–124
Boston Garden
11–9
21
December 22
Boston
L 115–118
The Spectrum
11–10
22
December 23
@ New Jersey
W 110–106
Brendan Byrne Arena
12–10
23
December 25
Atlanta
L 100–106
The Spectrum
12–11
24
December 28
@ Phoenix
L 101–117
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
12–12
25
December 29, 1987 10:30 PM EST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 115–131
The Forum 17,505
12–13 :
January
: 7–9 (home: 7–2; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
January 1
@ Portland
L 114–116
Memorial Coliseum
12–14
27
January 2
@ Seattle
L 114–116
Seattle Center Coliseum
12–15
28
January 4
Phoenix
W 122–114
The Spectrum
13–15
29
January 6
Utah
W 116–93
The Spectrum
14–15
30
January 8
L.A. Clippers
W 117–103
The Spectrum
15–15
31
January 9
Cleveland
W 126–110
The Spectrum
16–15
32
January 12
@ Milwaukee
L 103–106
MECCA Arena
16–16
33
January 13
New Jersey
W 104–95
The Spectrum
17–16
34
January 15
New York
W 119–104
The Spectrum
18–16
35
January 16
@ New York
L 96–110
Madison Square Garden
18–17
36
January 20
Washington
L 98–110
The Spectrum
18–18
37
January 24
@ Washington
L 99–131
Capital Centre
18–19
38
January 25
@ Washington
L 117–118 (OT)
Capital Centre
18–20
39
January 27
Chicago
L 109–119 (OT)
The Spectrum
18–21
40
January 29
Indiana
W 94–89
The Spectrum
19–21
41
January 31
@ Boston
L 85–100
Boston Garden
19–22 :
February
: 4–10 (home: 4–1; road: 0–9)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
42
February 3
Golden State
W 96–84
The Spectrum
20–22
43
February 4
@ Indiana
L 95–109
Market Square Arena
20–23
44
February 9
@ Atlanta
L 110–112
The Omni
20–24
45
February 11
Milwaukee
W 119–113 (OT)
The Spectrum
21–24
46
February 14
@ New Jersey
L 105–109
Brendan Byrne Arena
21–25
47
February 15, 1988 7:30 PM EST
@ Detroit
L 95–102
Pontiac Silverdome 21,530
21–26
48
February 17
Cleveland
L 107–115
The Spectrum
21–27
49
February 19
New Jersey
W 115–100
The Spectrum
22–27
50
February 21
@ Milwaukee
L 115–120 (OT)
MECCA Arena
22–28
51
February 22
@ Houston
L 106–119
The Summit
22–29
52
February 24
@ San Antonio
L 121–123 (OT)
HemisFair Arena
22–30
53
February 26
@ Denver
L 104–120
McNichols Sports Arena
22–31
54
February 27
@ Dallas
L 91–100
Reunion Arena
22–32
55
February 29
Chicago
W 102–101
The Spectrum
23–32 :
March
: 9–6 (home: 6–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
56
March 3
@ Chicago
L 93–97
Chicago Stadium
23–33
57
March 4
@ New York
L 108–110 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
23–34
58
March 6
@ Indiana
W 105–100
Market Square Arena
24–34
59
March 7, 1988 7:30 PM EST
L.A. Lakers
L 104–110
The Spectrum 18,168
24–35
60
March 11
Sacramento
W 124–118
The Spectrum
25–35
61
March 13
Washington
W 104–96
The Spectrum
26–35
62
March 15
@ Atlanta
L 90–104
The Omni
26–36
63
March 16
New York
W 115–108
The Spectrum
27–36
64
March 18
Indiana
W 129–109
The Spectrum
28–36
65
March 19
@ Washington
W 94–89
Capital Centre
29–36
66
March 22
@ New Jersey
L 90–102
Brendan Byrne Arena
29–37
67
March 23
Chicago
L 102–118
The Spectrum
29–38
68
March 25
@ Boston
W 97–93
Boston Garden
30–38
69
March 28
Houston
W 108–98
The Spectrum
31–38
70
March 30
Milwaukee
W 134–109
The Spectrum
32–38 :
April
: 4–8 (home: 3–5; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71
April 1
Atlanta
L 93–105
The Spectrum
32–39
72
April 5
New York
L 119–136
The Spectrum
32–40
73
April 8, 1988 7:30 PM EDT
Detroit
L 86–96
The Spectrum 15,164
32–41
74
April 10
Boston
L 108–117
The Spectrum
32–42
75
April 11
@ Milwaukee
W 115–102
MECCA Arena
33–42
76
April 13
Washington
W 98–97 (OT)
The Spectrum
34–42
77
April 15
Atlanta
L 101–103 (OT)
The Spectrum
34–43
78
April 16
@ Indiana
L 92–126
Market Square Arena
34–44
79
April 19
Milwaukee
W 115–102
The Spectrum
35–44
80
April 21
New Jersey
W 104–101
The Spectrum
36–44
81
April 23
@ Cleveland
L 99–104
Richfield Coliseum
36–45
82
April 24, 1988 7:00 PM EDT
@ Detroit
L 118–128
Pontiac Silverdome 27,854
36–46 :
1987–88 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Charles Barkley, All-NBA First Team