The 1987-88 Milwaukee Bucks, under coach Del Harris, finished the regular season with a 42-40 record. They secured the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team’s performance was characterized by solid contributions from key players like Terry Cummings, who led the team in scoring, and Paul Pressey, a versatile forward known for his defensive prowess and playmaking abilities. Sidney Moncrief also provided veteran leadership and scoring.
In the playoffs, the Bucks faced the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite showing resilience, Milwaukee was eliminated in a tightly contested five-game series, losing 3-2. The season marked the end of an era, as it was their last playoff appearance until 1990. The Bucks’ 1987-88 campaign reflected a transitional phase, balancing between the peak performances of the early ’80s and the rebuilding efforts of the late ’80s. Overall, the season was a testament to the team’s competitive spirit amidst evolving challenges.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1987-88 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Terry Cummings | 76 | 21.3 | 7.3 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 33.4 | 5 | 25.8 | 7.8 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Jack Sikma | 82 | 16.5 | 8.6 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 21.4 | 5 | 19.0 | 12.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Ricky Pierce | 37 | 16.4 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 21.4 | 5 | 11.8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 20.0 |
| Paul Pressey | 75 | 13.1 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 20.5 | 5 | 14.0 | 3.8 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 33.3 |
| Randy Breuer | 81 | 12.0 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 56 | 10.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 16.1 | 5 | 15.0 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 100.0 |
| Craig Hodges | 43 | 9.2 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 46.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Lucas | 81 | 9.2 | 2.0 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 33.8 | 5 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 23.1 |
| Jerry Reynolds | 62 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 42.9 | 3 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Krystkowiak | 50 | 7.2 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Mokeski | 60 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Dave Hoppen | 3 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pace Mannion | 35 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jay Humphries | 18 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Charles Davis | 5 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Conner Henry | 14 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Stroeder | 41 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Andre Moore | 3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rickie Winslow | 7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dudley Bradley | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks faced a challenging first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. The series went the full five games, with the Bucks narrowly emerging victorious, 3-2. Key performances from players like Terry Cummings and Sidney Moncrief helped Milwaukee secure the win, showcasing their resilience and depth.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-107 | |
| May 01, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 104-97 | |
| May 04, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 123-115 | |
| May 06, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 105-99 | |
| May 08, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 121-111 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 125-108 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-100 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-101 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 93-89 | |
| Nov 15, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 112-103 | |
| Nov 17, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-108 | |
| Nov 19, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 117-113 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-97 | |
| Nov 22, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 103-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-97 | |
| Nov 30, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 104-94 | |
| Dec 02, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 115-105 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 85-83 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 10, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-105 | |
| Dec 11, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-112 | |
| Dec 13, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 113-99 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 94-87 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-105 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 102-97 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-88 | |
| Dec 30, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 102-93 | |
| Jan 02, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 99-97 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 98-82 | |
| Jan 07, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 111-107 | |
| Jan 10, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-87 | |
| Jan 12, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 106-103 | |
| Jan 14, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 136-107 | |
| Jan 17, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-93 | |
| Jan 19, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-104 | |
| Jan 21, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-103 | |
| Jan 23, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-97 | |
| Jan 25, 1988 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 108-105 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 112-106 | |
| Jan 28, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 122-113 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-88 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 111-101 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-113 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 95-93 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | W 114-110 | |
| Feb 17, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-93 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-108 | |
| Feb 21, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-115 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-87 | |
| Feb 24, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 97-94 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 132-96 | |
| Feb 27, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 94-91 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-116 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 104-101 | |
| Mar 06, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-99 | |
| Mar 08, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 119-101 | |
| Mar 09, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-91 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 132-93 | |
| Mar 13, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 15, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 83-79 | |
| Mar 19, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-100 | |
| Mar 21, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-105 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 111-98 | |
| Mar 24, 1988 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-114 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | W 107-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 134-109 | |
| Mar 31, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | L 113-103 | |
| Apr 02, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-111 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 121-110 | |
| Apr 06, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 119-110 | |
| Apr 08, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 104-85 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 105-100 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-102 | |
| Apr 13, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 123-104 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 92-91 | |
| Apr 17, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-97 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 115-102 | |
| Apr 20, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 132-94 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-109 | |
| Apr 23, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 118-105 |