The 1986-87 Dallas Mavericks season marked a significant step forward for the franchise. Under the guidance of head coach Dick Motta, the Mavericks finished the regular season with a 55-27 record, which was the best in the team’s seven-year history at that time. This performance earned them the second seed in the Western Conference.
Key players like Mark Aguirre, Rolando Blackman, and Derek Harper played pivotal roles, with Aguirre averaging 25.7 points per game. The team excelled on both ends of the court, showcasing a balanced offense and solid defense. In the playoffs, the Mavericks defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in a 3-1 series win in the first round but fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals, losing 4-1. Despite the playoff exit, the season laid the foundation for future successes and established the Mavericks as a competitive force in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Mark Aguirre | 80 | 25.7 | 5.3 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 35.3 | 4 | 21.3 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rolando Blackman | 80 | 20.9 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 4 | 23.5 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Derek Harper | 77 | 16.0 | 2.6 | 7.9 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 35.8 | 4 | 16.5 | 3.0 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 22.2 |
| Sam Perkins | 80 | 14.8 | 7.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 35.2 | 4 | 17.0 | 8.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| James Donaldson | 82 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 3 | 5.3 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Detlef Schrempf | 81 | 9.3 | 3.7 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 47.8 | 4 | 7.8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Roy Tarpley | 75 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 33.3 | 4 | 13.3 | 10.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 82 | 7.1 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 31.1 | 4 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Al Wood | 54 | 6.6 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 28.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Wennington | 58 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Nutt | 25 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 29.4 | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Uwe Blab | 30 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Myron Jackson | 8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. The Mavericks, led by the dynamic duo of Mark Aguirre and Rolando Blackman, showcased their offensive prowess, winning the series 3-1. This victory marked a significant step for the franchise, highlighting their increasing competitiveness in the Western Conference during the late 1980s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 151-129 | |
| Apr 25, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-110 | |
| Apr 28, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-107 | |
| Apr 30, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-98 |
Dallas Mavericks 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 103-77 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 108-105 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-86 | |
| Nov 06, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 147-124 | |
| Nov 07, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 120-113 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-103 | |
| Nov 12, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 114-85 | |
| Nov 14, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 142-138 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-96 | |
| Nov 18, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-110 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-108 | |
| Nov 21, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 130-122 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 129-117 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 119-94 | |
| Nov 29, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 118-107 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 127-124 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-104 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 109-104 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 130-129 | |
| Dec 11, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-99 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-109 | |
| Dec 14, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 134-100 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 101-98 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 141-118 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 130-119 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-119 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 123-121 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 123-97 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 106-89 | |
| Jan 05, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 144-135 | |
| Jan 07, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 09, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 116-113 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 106-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 108-103 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-108 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 124-122 | |
| Jan 17, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 119-115 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-93 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 132-117 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 118-113 | |
| Jan 29, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 132-102 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 133-117 | |
| Feb 01, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 133-117 | |
| Feb 02, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-99 | |
| Feb 04, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-94 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 135-115 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 129-125 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 138-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-100 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 113-96 | |
| Feb 20, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 122-107 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 122-111 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 121-95 | |
| Feb 25, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-101 | |
| Feb 27, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-110 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-98 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 135-112 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 115-107 | |
| Mar 06, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 125-115 | |
| Mar 08, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-105 | |
| Mar 11, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-117 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-109 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-96 | |
| Mar 19, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 105-104 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 122-118 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-100 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-107 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 120-112 | |
| Mar 28, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-107 | |
| Mar 29, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-98 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-102 | |
| Apr 03, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 136-116 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 121-107 | |
| Apr 06, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 118-110 | |
| Apr 08, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-90 | |
| Apr 09, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 125-100 | |
| Apr 11, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 129-100 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 113-107 | |
| Apr 17, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 121-99 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 125-121 |