Eastern Conference
Champion: Detroit Pistons
1st Round
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Boston Celtics: Pistons win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 28): Detroit 101, Boston 91
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (April 30): Detroit 102, Boston 95
- Game 3 @ Boston Garden, Boston (May 2): Detroit 100, Boston 85
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit won 4-2)
(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers: Knicks win series 3-0
- Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (April 27): New York 102, Philadelphia 96
- Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (April 29): New York 107, Philadelphia 106
- Game 3 @ The Spectrum, Philadelphia (May 2): New York 116, Philadelphia 115 (Gerald Wilkins hits the series-winning shot)
Last Playoff Meeting: 1983 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Philadelphia won 4-0)
(3) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (April 28): Chicago 95, Cleveland 88
- Game 2 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (April 30): Cleveland 96, Chicago 88
- Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 3): Chicago 101, Cleveland 94
- Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 5): Cleveland 108, Chicago 105
- Game 5 @ The Coliseum, Richfield (May 7): Chicago 101, Cleveland 100 (Michael Jordan hits The Shot at the buzzer)
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 3-2)
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks: Bucks win series 3-2
- Game 1 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 27): Atlanta 100, Milwaukee 92
- Game 2 @ The Omni, Atlanta (April 29): Milwaukee 108, Atlanta 98
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 2): Milwaukee 117, Atlanta 113
- Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 5): Atlanta 113, Milwaukee 106
- Game 5 @ The Omni, Atlanta (May 7): Milwaukee 96, Atlanta 92
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference First Round (Atlanta won 3-2)
Conference Semifinals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks: Pistons win series 4-0
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 10): Detroit 85, Milwaukee 80
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 12): Detroit 112, Milwaukee 92
- Game 3 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 14): Detroit 110, Milwaukee 90
- Game 4 @ Bradley Center, Milwaukee (May 15): Detroit 96, Milwaukee 94
Last Playoff Meeting: 1976 Western Conference First Round (Detroit won 2-1)
(2) New York Knicks vs. (6) Chicago Bulls: Bulls win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 9): Chicago 120, New York 109
- Game 2 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 11): New York 114, Chicago 97
- Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 13): Chicago 111, New York 88
- Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 14): Chicago 106, New York 93
- Game 5 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City (May 16): New York 121, Chicago 114
- Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 19): Chicago 113, New York 111 (Michael Jordan hits the series-winning free throws with 4 seconds left)
Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Eastern Conference First Round (Chicago won 2-0)
Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (6) Chicago Bulls: Pistons win series 4-2
- Game 1 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 21): Chicago 94, Detroit 88
- Game 2 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 23): Detroit 100, Chicago 91
- Game 3 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 27): Chicago 99, Detroit 97 (Michael Jordan hits the game-winner with 3 seconds left)
- Game 4 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (May 29): Detroit 86, Chicago 80
- Game 5 @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills (May 31): Detroit 94, Chicago 85
- Game 6 @ Chicago Stadium, Chicago (June 2): Detroit 103, Chicago 94
Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Detroit won 4-1)
Read more about this topic: 1989 NBA Playoffs
Famous quotes containing the words eastern and/or conference:
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I with the morning’s love have oft made sport,
And like a forester the groves may tread
Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red,
Opening on Neptune with fair blessèd beams,
Turns unto yellow gold his salt green streams.”
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“For 350 years we have been taught that reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man and writing an exact man. Football’s place is to add a patina of character, a deference to the rules and a respect for authority.”
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