Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks 1988-11-12 (ticket)

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Hawks' 40th season in the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

and 21st season in Atlanta. After falling into the second round of the playoffs for three straight seasons, the Hawks signed free agent and All-Star forward Moses Malone, and acquired Reggie Theus from the Sacramento Kings during the off-season. However, Kevin Willis was out with a broken foot suffered during the preseason, and was later on suspended indefinitely for missing functions and rehabilitation therapy. The Hawks held a 28–19 record at the All-Star break, posted a nine-game winning streak in April, and reached 50 wins for the fourth consecutive season, finishing third in the Central Division with a 52–30 record. Dominique Wilkins averaged 26.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Malone averaged 20.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, and Theus provided the team with 15.8 points, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In addition, Doc Rivers provided with 13.6 points, 6.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game, while John Battle contributed 9.5 points per game off the bench, Cliff Levingston averaged 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, and Jon Koncak contributed 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. Wilkins and Malone were both selected for the

1989 NBA All-Star Game The 39th National Basketball Association All-Star Game was held at Houston on February 12, 1989. Karl Malone was named the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP). The east was composed of Mark Jackson, Kevin McHale, Michael Jordan, Patric ...

, which was Malone's final All-Star appearance. In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 5th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks for the second consecutive year. However, after winning Game 1 at home, 100–92, the Hawks would lose to the Bucks in five games. Following the season, Theus left in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft.

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

* Power forward Kevin Willis was suspended indefinitely for missing functions and rehabilitation therapy. Willis was out with a broken foot sustained during the preseason.

Regular season

Season standings

:z - clinched division title :y - clinched division title :x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, -

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , April 27 , Milwaukee
W 100–92
, Dominique Wilkins (28) , Moses Malone (13) , Doc Rivers (10) ,

Omni Coliseum Omni Coliseum (often called The Omni) was an indoor arena in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. Completed in 1972, the arena seated 16,378 for basketball and 15,278 for ice hockey, hockey. It was part of the CNN Center, Omni ...

14,541 , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , April 29 , Milwaukee
L 98–108
, Dominique Wilkins (32) , Moses Malone (8) , Doc Rivers (8) ,

15,742 , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 3 , May 2 , @ Milwaukee
L 113–117 (OT)
, Dominique Wilkins (30) , Jon Koncak (11) , Reggie Theus (5) ,

Bradley Center The Bradley Center (also known as the BMO Harris Bradley Center under sponsorship agreements) was a multi-purpose arena located on the northwest corner of North Vel R. Phillips Ave. and West State Streets in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United ...

18,469 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 4 , May 5 , @ Milwaukee
W 113–106 (OT)
, Malone, Wilkins (24) , Moses Malone (17) , Spud Webb (7) ,

18,633 , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 5 , May 7 , Milwaukee
L 92–96
, Moses Malone (25) , Moses Malone (16) ,

Rivers A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Playoffs

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Transactions

References

See also