The 1988-89 Atlanta Hawks finished the NBA regular season with a 52-30 record, securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Coached by Mike Fratello, the team was led by the legendary Dominique Wilkins, who averaged 26.2 points per game. The Hawks were a strong defensive unit, ranking fifth in the league in points allowed per game.
Despite their regular-season success, the Hawks’ playoff run was cut short. They faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, ultimately losing the series 3-2. The series was closely contested, showcasing the Hawks’ resilience, but they couldn’t overcome Milwaukee’s balanced attack. This season marked another chapter in the Hawks’ consistent playoff appearances during the 1980s, though they struggled to advance past the early rounds during this period.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Atlanta Hawks 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% |
| Dominique Wilkins | 80 | 26.2 | 6.9 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 27.6 | 5 | 27.2 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 29.4 |
| Moses Malone | 81 | 20.2 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 21.0 | 12.0 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 100.0 |
| Reggie Theus | 82 | 15.8 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 29.3 | 5 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 4.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Doc Rivers | 76 | 13.6 | 3.8 | 6.9 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 34.7 | 5 | 13.4 | 4.8 | 6.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 31.6 |
| John Battle | 82 | 9.5 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 32.3 | 5 | 9.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cliff Levingston | 80 | 9.2 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 20.0 | 5 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 100.0 |
| Antoine Carr | 78 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5 | 6.8 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Jon Koncak | 74 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 12.8 | 9.6 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Spud Webb | 81 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 4.5 | 5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Duane Ferrell | 41 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ray Tolbert | 50 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dudley Bradley | 38 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 25.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Pace Mannion | 5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1989 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the 1989 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, showcasing a fiercely competitive series. Despite Dominique Wilkins' efforts and the Hawks' tenacity, they ultimately fell to the Bucks in a decisive Game 5, losing the series 3-2. This exit marked a disappointing end to their campaign, highlighting the need for more consistent performances from their supporting cast.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-92 | |
| Apr 29, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 108-98 | |
| May 02, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-113 | |
| May 05, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-106 | |
| May 07, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 96-92 |
Atlanta Hawks 1988-89 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1988-89 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 04, 1988 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-105 | |
| Nov 05, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 107-94 | |
| Nov 08, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 112-107 | |
| Nov 09, 1988 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-95 | |
| Nov 11, 1988 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1988 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 132-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-95 | |
| Nov 18, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-112 | |
| Nov 19, 1988 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-92 | |
| Nov 21, 1988 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-113 | |
| Nov 23, 1988 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-109 | |
| Nov 25, 1988 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 100-95 | |
| Nov 26, 1988 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-91 | |
| Nov 29, 1988 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 120-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1988 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 127-115 | |
| Dec 03, 1988 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 115-97 | |
| Dec 06, 1988 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 123-113 | |
| Dec 07, 1988 | @ Boston Celtics | W 106-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1988 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 92-82 | |
| Dec 10, 1988 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 133-130 | |
| Dec 13, 1988 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-88 | |
| Dec 14, 1988 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 16, 1988 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 17, 1988 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 120-94 | |
| Dec 20, 1988 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-118 | |
| Dec 23, 1988 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 131-114 | |
| Dec 27, 1988 | vs. New York Knicks | W 128-126 | |
| Dec 30, 1988 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 117-113 | |
| Jan 03, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 116-113 | |
| Jan 06, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-88 | |
| Jan 07, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 103-93 | |
| Jan 10, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 104-101 | |
| Jan 13, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-101 | |
| Jan 14, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | L 132-122 | |
| Jan 16, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | W 117-106 | |
| Jan 17, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-98 | |
| Jan 21, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 137-113 | |
| Jan 24, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 121-105 | |
| Jan 27, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-112 | |
| Jan 28, 1989 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-94 | |
| Jan 30, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 130-101 | |
| Feb 01, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | W 94-93 | |
| Feb 02, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-103 | |
| Feb 04, 1989 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 118-116 | |
| Feb 08, 1989 | vs. New York Knicks | L 113-101 | |
| Feb 09, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 110-108 | |
| Feb 14, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-98 | |
| Feb 15, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 119-112 | |
| Feb 17, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-100 | |
| Feb 19, 1989 | @ Miami Heat | L 124-115 | |
| Feb 20, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-100 | |
| Feb 23, 1989 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 100-97 | |
| Feb 25, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 125-95 | |
| Feb 27, 1989 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-83 | |
| Mar 01, 1989 | @ Boston Celtics | L 104-90 | |
| Mar 03, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 133-109 | |
| Mar 05, 1989 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 85-83 | |
| Mar 07, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-97 | |
| Mar 08, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 119-111 | |
| Mar 11, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 111-78 | |
| Mar 14, 1989 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 114-112 | |
| Mar 16, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 119-103 | |
| Mar 17, 1989 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 127-118 | |
| Mar 19, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-111 | |
| Mar 21, 1989 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 110-95 | |
| Mar 25, 1989 | @ New York Knicks | W 115-108 | |
| Mar 28, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 111-108 | |
| Mar 29, 1989 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 120-102 | |
| Mar 31, 1989 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-99 | |
| Apr 02, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 132-109 | |
| Apr 04, 1989 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-91 | |
| Apr 05, 1989 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 135-93 | |
| Apr 07, 1989 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 120-112 | |
| Apr 09, 1989 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-100 | |
| Apr 10, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 112-105 | |
| Apr 13, 1989 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 132-118 | |
| Apr 15, 1989 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 125-100 | |
| Apr 18, 1989 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 121-114 | |
| Apr 19, 1989 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-92 | |
| Apr 21, 1989 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 92-89 | |
| Apr 23, 1989 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 99-81 |