The 1988-89 Milwaukee Bucks finished the regular season with a 49-33 record, securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Under head coach Del Harris, the team displayed a balanced performance, maintaining a strong defensive presence while executing efficiently on offense. Key players included Terry Cummings, who led the team in scoring, and Paul Pressey, known for his playmaking and defensive skills.
The Bucks made it to the NBA Playoffs, facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Milwaukee managed to edge out the Hawks in a tightly contested five-game series, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, their playoff run ended there as they encountered the Detroit Pistons, a formidable opponent who would go on to win the championship that year. The Bucks were swept in four games, highlighting the gap between them and the league’s elite teams during that era.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 0-4
Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats for 1988-89 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Terry Cummings | 80 | 22.9 | 8.1 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 46.7 | 5 | 12.8 | 6.6 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ricky Pierce | 75 | 17.6 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 22.2 | 9 | 22.3 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 75.0 |
| Jack Sikma | 80 | 13.4 | 7.8 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 38.0 | 9 | 11.7 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 28.6 |
| Larry Krystkowiak | 80 | 12.7 | 7.6 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 8 | 10.6 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Paul Pressey | 67 | 12.1 | 3.9 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 21.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 62 | 12.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 34.2 | 9 | 6.1 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 28.6 |
| Jay Humphries | 73 | 11.6 | 2.6 | 5.5 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 26.6 | 9 | 14.6 | 3.0 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Jeff Grayer | 11 | 7.4 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fred Roberts | 71 | 5.9 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 21.5 | 9 | 14.7 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Green | 30 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.4 | 8 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Randy Breuer | 48 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Mark Davis | 31 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Brown | 29 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 6 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Paul Mokeski | 74 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 26.9 | 5 | 4.6 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Tito Horford | 25 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Dunleavy | 2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Andre Turner | 4 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Milwaukee Bucks in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks faced the Atlanta Hawks in a tightly contested five-game series. The Bucks, led by Terry Cummings and Ricky Pierce, showcased their resilience by overcoming Atlanta's star-studded lineup, including Dominique Wilkins. Milwaukee ultimately advanced to the next round by clinching the series 3-2, proving their mettle with a decisive Game 5 victory on the road.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 100-92 | |
| Apr 29, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 108-98 | |
| May 02, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-113 | |
| May 05, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-106 | |
| May 07, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 96-92 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they faced off against the Detroit Pistons. Despite a valiant effort, the Bucks were outmatched by the eventual NBA champions, losing the series in four straight games. The Pistons' u0022Bad Boysu0022 defense proved too formidable for the Bucks, underscoring the gap between Milwaukee and the league's elite at the time.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 85-80 | |
| May 12, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 112-92 | |
| May 14, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 110-90 | |
| May 15, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 96-94 |
Milwaukee Bucks 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Milwaukee Bucks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 117-103 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-94 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-103 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 108-100 | |
| Nov 17, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 105-96 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 106-99 | |
| Nov 22, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-91 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 124-102 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 115-96 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Miami Heat | W 103-93 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-114 | |
| Dec 01, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 99-96 | |
| Dec 02, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 109-84 | |
| Dec 08, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-109 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-100 | |
| Dec 11, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 95-94 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-91 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 119-110 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-112 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-93 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 125-115 | |
| Dec 21, 1988 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 112-100 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 113-101 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 120-107 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 117-113 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-102 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | W 128-121 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-89 | |
| Jan 11, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 123-106 | |
| Jan 13, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | W 107-101 | |
| Jan 15, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 17, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-98 | |
| Jan 18, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 118-106 | |
| Jan 20, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 98-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 114-110 | |
| Jan 26, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-109 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-84 | |
| Jan 29, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-106 | |
| Jan 31, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 117-104 | |
| Feb 03, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 109-91 | |
| Feb 04, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | W 113-102 | |
| Feb 07, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 115-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 107-96 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 132-91 | |
| Feb 16, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-116 | |
| Feb 19, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 108-106 | |
| Feb 21, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-90 | |
| Feb 24, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 125-112 | |
| Feb 25, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-105 | |
| Feb 27, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-96 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | W 121-111 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-96 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-98 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 121-101 | |
| Mar 10, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-90 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 100-93 | |
| Mar 13, 1989 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 111-95 | |
| Mar 15, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-108 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-104 | |
| Mar 18, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-100 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 128-104 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 98-86 | |
| Mar 23, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-88 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-105 | |
| Mar 27, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 121-109 | |
| Mar 29, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 106-102 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 122-104 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 118-117 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 124-118 | |
| Apr 06, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 112-99 | |
| Apr 08, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 113-103 | |
| Apr 09, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 100-91 | |
| Apr 11, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 125-93 | |
| Apr 12, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 111-107 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 125-100 | |
| Apr 16, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-96 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 124-102 | |
| Apr 19, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 100-92 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 117-110 | |
| Apr 22, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 117-110 |