The 1987-88 Atlanta Hawks demonstrated strong performance in the NBA, finishing the regular season with a 50-32 record. Under the leadership of head coach Mike Fratello, the team secured a fourth-place finish in the Central Division. Dominique Wilkins, the team’s standout forward, was pivotal to their success, showcasing his scoring prowess with an average of 30.7 points per game, earning him an All-NBA First Team selection.
In the playoffs, the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 in the first round. However, their postseason run ended with a hard-fought seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, where they narrowly lost 4-3. Despite the playoff exit, the season cemented the Hawks’ reputation as a formidable team in the late 1980s, with Wilkins continuing to be a central figure in their competitive lineup.
- Regular Season Record: 50-32
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 3-4
Atlanta Hawks 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% |
| Dominique Wilkins | 78 | 30.7 | 6.4 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 29.5 | 12 | 31.2 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 22.2 |
| Doc Rivers | 80 | 14.2 | 4.6 | 9.3 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 27.3 | 12 | 15.7 | 4.9 | 9.6 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 31.8 |
| Kevin Willis | 75 | 11.6 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 12 | 16.2 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| John Battle | 67 | 10.6 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 39.0 | 12 | 6.8 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Wittman | 82 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 12 | 11.4 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Levingston | 82 | 10.0 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 50.0 | 12 | 5.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Antoine Carr | 80 | 8.8 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 25.0 | 12 | 6.8 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Spud Webb | 82 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.3 | 12 | 8.8 | 1.7 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Jon Koncak | 49 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike McGee | 11 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 26.3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tree Rollins | 76 | 4.4 | 6.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 12 | 4.4 | 5.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Leon Wood | 14 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 47.4 | 4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Ennis Whatley | 5 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Hastings | 55 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 41.7 | 11 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Chris Washburn | 29 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1988 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the first round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks, led by Dominique Wilkins, faced the Milwaukee Bucks in a best-of-five series. The Hawks clinched the series 3-2, with Wilkins showcasing his scoring prowess, particularly in the decisive Game 5 where he dropped 33 points. Atlanta's victory advanced them to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, highlighting their resilience and depth in a tightly contested series.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-107 | |
| May 01, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 104-97 | |
| May 04, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 123-115 | |
| May 06, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-99 | |
| May 08, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 121-111 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks advanced to the second round where they faced the Boston Celtics. Despite a valiant effort led by Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks ultimately fell in a thrilling seven-game series. The showdown featured a memorable Game 7 duel between Wilkins and Larry Bird, with Bird's Celtics narrowly edging out the Hawks, 118-116, to advance.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-101 | |
| May 13, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 108-97 | |
| May 15, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 110-92 | |
| May 16, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 118-109 | |
| May 18, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 112-104 | |
| May 20, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-100 | |
| May 22, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 118-116 |
Atlanta Hawks 1987-88 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1987-88 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 114-97 | |
| Nov 07, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-105 | |
| Nov 10, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 105-95 | |
| Nov 11, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 94-93 | |
| Nov 14, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-83 | |
| Nov 15, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 112-103 | |
| Nov 18, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 95-92 | |
| Nov 20, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 94-92 | |
| Nov 21, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 25, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-102 | |
| Nov 27, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 88-86 | |
| Nov 28, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-100 | |
| Dec 01, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-106 | |
| Dec 03, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | W 102-94 | |
| Dec 04, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 139-102 | |
| Dec 08, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 90-79 | |
| Dec 09, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-105 | |
| Dec 11, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 109-93 | |
| Dec 13, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 106-100 | |
| Dec 15, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 93-91 | |
| Dec 18, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 94-87 | |
| Dec 19, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 130-124 | |
| Dec 22, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 122-103 | |
| Dec 25, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 106-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 125-98 | |
| Dec 29, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-98 | |
| Dec 30, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-110 | |
| Jan 03, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-84 | |
| Jan 05, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 81-71 | |
| Jan 06, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 90-87 | |
| Jan 08, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-97 | |
| Jan 09, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 113-105 | |
| Jan 13, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 120-110 | |
| Jan 14, 1988 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-112 | |
| Jan 16, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 101-98 | |
| Jan 18, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-102 | |
| Jan 19, 1988 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-94 | |
| Jan 21, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 101-93 | |
| Jan 22, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 124-106 | |
| Jan 24, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 118-111 | |
| Jan 26, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-97 | |
| Jan 29, 1988 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1988 | @ Utah Jazz | L 115-109 | |
| Feb 02, 1988 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-118 | |
| Feb 04, 1988 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-109 | |
| Feb 09, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-110 | |
| Feb 12, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-92 | |
| Feb 13, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 105-103 | |
| Feb 15, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 126-107 | |
| Feb 16, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 118-115 | |
| Feb 19, 1988 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-119 | |
| Feb 21, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 129-113 | |
| Feb 23, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 131-111 | |
| Feb 26, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 116-101 | |
| Feb 27, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 123-120 | |
| Mar 01, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 117-104 | |
| Mar 05, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-101 | |
| Mar 08, 1988 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 143-113 | |
| Mar 11, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 122-115 | |
| Mar 13, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | L 117-100 | |
| Mar 15, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-90 | |
| Mar 18, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 106-104 | |
| Mar 19, 1988 | @ New York Knicks | L 116-110 | |
| Mar 21, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-105 | |
| Mar 22, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-98 | |
| Mar 24, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 94-91 | |
| Mar 26, 1988 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-102 | |
| Mar 29, 1988 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 120-106 | |
| Mar 30, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 103-102 | |
| Apr 01, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-93 | |
| Apr 03, 1988 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-100 | |
| Apr 05, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 121-110 | |
| Apr 07, 1988 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-94 | |
| Apr 09, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-102 | |
| Apr 11, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 86-85 | |
| Apr 12, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 116-103 | |
| Apr 15, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-101 | |
| Apr 16, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | L 95-93 | |
| Apr 19, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-109 | |
| Apr 20, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 116-98 | |
| Apr 22, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 133-106 | |
| Apr 23, 1988 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-96 |