The 1986-87 Atlanta Hawks season was marked by strong performances and a solid playoff run. Under the guidance of head coach Mike Fratello, the Hawks finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, securing second place in the Central Division. This impressive performance was largely fueled by Dominique Wilkins, who averaged 29.0 points per game, showcasing his scoring prowess. The team also benefited from the contributions of Kevin Willis and Doc Rivers, who provided crucial support both offensively and defensively.
In the playoffs, the Hawks advanced past the first round by defeating the Indiana Pacers 3-1. However, their journey was halted in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they faced the Detroit Pistons. Despite a hard-fought series, the Hawks fell 4-1 to the Pistons, who were on the rise in the NBA. The 1986-87 season remains notable for Atlanta’s strong regular-season performance and the development of a core group of players who would continue to impact the league.
- Regular Season Record: 57-25
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-1, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Atlanta Hawks 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% |
| Dominique Wilkins | 79 | 29.0 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 29.0 | 9 | 26.8 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 30.0 |
| Kevin Willis | 81 | 16.1 | 10.5 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 24.9 | 9 | 15.7 | 9.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Doc Rivers | 82 | 12.8 | 3.6 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 19.1 | 8 | 7.8 | 3.4 | 11.3 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Randy Wittman | 71 | 12.7 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 9 | 16.4 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Mike McGee | 76 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 37.6 | 8 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Cliff Levingston | 82 | 8.0 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 9 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Spud Webb | 33 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 8 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Battle | 64 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.6 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Jon Koncak | 82 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 8 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Tree Rollins | 75 | 5.4 | 6.5 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| Antoine Carr | 65 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 33.3 | 9 | 11.6 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Gus Williams | 33 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 29.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Hastings | 40 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Cedric Henderson | 6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Michael Wilson | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Indiana Pacers
In the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced a formidable challenge against the Indiana Pacers. The Hawks, led by superstar Dominique Wilkins, showcased their offensive prowess and athleticism, ultimately winning the series 3-1. Wilkins' high-flying performances and the team's balanced scoring secured their advance to the conference semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-94 | |
| Apr 26, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 94-93 | |
| Apr 29, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 96-87 | |
| May 01, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 101-97 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a strong performance from Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks were eliminated in five games, losing the series 4-1. The Pistons' balanced attack and tenacious defense, led by Isiah Thomas, proved too formidable for the Hawks, who struggled to match Detroit's depth and intensity.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 03, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 112-111 | |
| May 05, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-102 | |
| May 08, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-99 | |
| May 10, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 89-88 | |
| May 13, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 104-96 |
Atlanta Hawks 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 131-111 | |
| Nov 02, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 122-113 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-98 | |
| Nov 07, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 106-86 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 110-91 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 112-110 | |
| Nov 14, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 105-100 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 109-90 | |
| Nov 19, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-107 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-89 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 97-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-107 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 120-106 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | W 97-88 | |
| Nov 30, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 113-109 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-100 | |
| Dec 04, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | W 109-93 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 119-113 | |
| Dec 09, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 122-98 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-95 | |
| Dec 12, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 130-120 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-110 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 111-100 | |
| Dec 18, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-95 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 111-96 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 119-108 | |
| Dec 29, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-106 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 118-101 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 114-92 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 118-86 | |
| Jan 07, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-102 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 129-104 | |
| Jan 12, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 125-115 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-93 | |
| Jan 15, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 130-91 | |
| Jan 18, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-91 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-98 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-109 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 126-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-87 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-98 | |
| Jan 29, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-91 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 106-98 | |
| Feb 01, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 106-104 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 126-123 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-113 | |
| Feb 11, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 109-82 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 103-96 | |
| Feb 15, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-93 | |
| Feb 17, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 107-103 | |
| Feb 20, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 107-105 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-103 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 113-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 115-105 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 123-102 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 121-99 | |
| Mar 03, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 109-108 | |
| Mar 06, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-83 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 122-97 | |
| Mar 09, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-103 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 113-106 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 113-105 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 104-100 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 118-98 | |
| Mar 18, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-107 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 114-97 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 97-85 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 96-87 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 120-112 | |
| Mar 28, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 120-114 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-92 | |
| Apr 03, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 126-89 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-97 | |
| Apr 06, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-105 | |
| Apr 08, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-92 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 101-99 | |
| Apr 12, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 115-88 | |
| Apr 13, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-101 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 136-116 | |
| Apr 16, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-114 | |
| Apr 19, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-107 |