The 1989-90 Milwaukee Bucks finished their season with a 44-38 record, placing fourth in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. Under the guidance of head coach Del Harris, the team secured a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Veterans like Terry Cummings and Jack Sikma provided leadership, while Ricky Pierce emerged as a key scoring threat, earning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award with an impressive average off the bench.
Despite their solid regular-season performance, the Bucks faced a challenging first-round playoff matchup against the Chicago Bulls. Milwaukee struggled to contain the rising star Michael Jordan, resulting in a 3-1 series loss. This marked the end of an era for the Bucks, as it was their last playoff appearance until 1999. The 1989-90 season highlighted the team’s resilience and competitiveness, even as they began to transition into a new phase of roster development.
- Regular Season Record: 44-38
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ricky Pierce | 59 | 23.0 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 34.6 | 4 | 22.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Jay Humphries | 81 | 15.3 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 30.0 | 3 | 9.0 | 1.7 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Alvin Robertson | 81 | 14.2 | 6.9 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 15.4 | 4 | 23.5 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jack Sikma | 71 | 13.9 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 34.2 | 4 | 5.0 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 28.6 |
| Paul Pressey | 57 | 11.0 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 14.0 | 4 | 14.8 | 5.3 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Fred Roberts | 82 | 10.5 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 18.2 | 4 | 9.8 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Brad Lohaus | 52 | 10.0 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 38.0 | 4 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 37.5 |
| Greg Anderson | 60 | 8.8 | 6.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 4 | 8.3 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Grayer | 71 | 7.7 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 12.5 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Krystkowiak | 16 | 7.0 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Breuer | 30 | 6.8 | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ben Coleman | 22 | 5.7 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Brown | 61 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Mike Dunleavy | 5 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 22.2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jerry Sichting | 1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gerald Henderson | 11 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 42.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Kornet | 57 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tito Horford | 35 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the first round of the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks faced off against the Chicago Bulls in a challenging series. Despite strong performances from key players like Ricky Pierce and Terry Cummings, the Bucks struggled to contain Michael Jordan, ultimately falling to the Bulls in a hard-fought three-game series, 3-1. This series highlighted the Bucks' need for more defensive resilience against elite opponents.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 111-97 | |
| Apr 29, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 109-102 | |
| May 01, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 119-112 | |
| May 03, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 110-86 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 127-114 | |
| Nov 04, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-96 | |
| Nov 07, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 106-100 | |
| Nov 09, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 155-154 | |
| Nov 11, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-96 | |
| Nov 14, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 108-97 | |
| Nov 16, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 132-113 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 106-79 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 97-91 | |
| Nov 22, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-100 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-108 | |
| Nov 27, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 101-97 | |
| Nov 29, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-103 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 103-102 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 118-103 | |
| Dec 08, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 123-98 | |
| Dec 10, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-104 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 106-103 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-93 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 103-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | L 99-96 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 95-86 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 112-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 94-90 | |
| Dec 26, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 29, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 99-85 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 109-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 110-96 | |
| Jan 06, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 118-111 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 126-113 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-100 | |
| Jan 12, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 95-94 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 111-109 | |
| Jan 16, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-126 | |
| Jan 18, 1990 | @ Washington Bullets | W 115-112 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-102 | |
| Jan 21, 1990 | vs. Miami Heat | W 127-101 | |
| Jan 23, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-90 | |
| Jan 24, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-112 | |
| Jan 26, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-91 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 144-96 | |
| Jan 30, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 109-102 | |
| Feb 01, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 129-111 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-109 | |
| Feb 04, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-102 | |
| Feb 06, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | W 119-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 104-101 | |
| Feb 14, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 127-117 | |
| Feb 18, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-88 | |
| Feb 20, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 22, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 109-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 104-100 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 113-108 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-96 | |
| Mar 02, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 132-110 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | L 106-105 | |
| Mar 06, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 114-105 | |
| Mar 09, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 108-100 | |
| Mar 11, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-96 | |
| Mar 12, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-104 | |
| Mar 15, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 96-91 | |
| Mar 17, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-111 | |
| Mar 20, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 117-96 | |
| Mar 21, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 112-96 | |
| Mar 24, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 109-101 | |
| Mar 25, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | L 105-102 | |
| Mar 27, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 133-127 | |
| Mar 29, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-94 | |
| Mar 31, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 107-100 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 86-72 | |
| Apr 04, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 121-116 | |
| Apr 06, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 92-84 | |
| Apr 07, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 110-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 130-127 | |
| Apr 11, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-94 | |
| Apr 13, 1990 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 116-106 | |
| Apr 14, 1990 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 109-93 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-88 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-95 | |
| Apr 21, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 96-95 |