The 1990-91 Atlanta Hawks finished the NBA regular season with a 43-39 record, securing a spot in the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed. Under the leadership of head coach Bob Weiss, the team showcased a balanced attack featuring dominant performances by Dominique Wilkins, who averaged 25.9 points per game, and Kevin Willis, who contributed significantly with his rebounding prowess.
Despite their solid regular season, the Hawks faced challenges in the playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. The series concluded with the Pistons winning 3-2, as Detroit’s defensive intensity proved too much for Atlanta to overcome. This playoff exit marked the end of the Hawks’ promising yet ultimately unfulfilling campaign, leading to further evaluations of their roster and strategies in the subsequent offseason.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-3
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1990-91 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dominique Wilkins | 81 | 25.9 | 9.0 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 34.1 | 5 | 20.8 | 6.4 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 13.3 |
| Doc Rivers | 79 | 15.2 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 33.6 | 5 | 15.6 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 9.1 |
| John Battle | 79 | 13.6 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 5 | 11.6 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Spud Webb | 75 | 13.4 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 32.1 | 5 | 13.2 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 41.7 |
| Kevin Willis | 80 | 13.1 | 8.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 40.0 | 5 | 15.4 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 66.7 |
| Moses Malone | 82 | 10.6 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Duane Ferrell | 78 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 66.5 | 5 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rumeal Robinson | 47 | 5.6 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 18.2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sidney Moncrief | 72 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 32.8 | 5 | 7.2 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Tim McCormick | 56 | 4.5 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jon Koncak | 77 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 12.5 | 5 | 2.0 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Trevor Wilson | 25 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Howard Wright | 4 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Leonard | 4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1991 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Detroit Pistons in the first round and were unable to advance, losing the series 3-0. Despite a strong performance from Dominique Wilkins, the Hawks struggled to contain the Pistons' tenacious defense and playoff experience. This series marked another early exit for the Hawks, as they could not overcome the physical and strategic prowess of the reigning back-to-back NBA champions.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 103-98 | |
| Apr 28, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 101-88 | |
| Apr 30, 1991 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 103-91 | |
| May 02, 1991 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-111 | |
| May 05, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-81 |
Atlanta Hawks 1990-91 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1990-91 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 115-111 | |
| Nov 03, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 121-120 | |
| Nov 06, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 102-85 | |
| Nov 09, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 143-128 | |
| Nov 10, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 112-94 | |
| Nov 13, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 121-104 | |
| Nov 14, 1990 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-104 | |
| Nov 16, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 119-109 | |
| Nov 17, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 91-83 | |
| Nov 20, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 128-121 | |
| Nov 21, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-93 | |
| Nov 24, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 124-121 | |
| Nov 27, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 120-97 | |
| Nov 30, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-93 | |
| Dec 04, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | W 113-110 | |
| Dec 05, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 110-108 | |
| Dec 07, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-103 | |
| Dec 08, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-86 | |
| Dec 12, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 118-93 | |
| Dec 13, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 106-97 | |
| Dec 15, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 125-113 | |
| Dec 17, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-98 | |
| Dec 20, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 105-87 | |
| Dec 21, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-87 | |
| Dec 23, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 132-104 | |
| Dec 26, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-111 | |
| Dec 28, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 131-114 | |
| Dec 29, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 134-130 | |
| Jan 02, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 120-107 | |
| Jan 04, 1991 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-96 | |
| Jan 05, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 117-112 | |
| Jan 08, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 109-98 | |
| Jan 11, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 99-96 | |
| Jan 12, 1991 | @ New York Knicks | L 99-92 | |
| Jan 14, 1991 | vs. New York Knicks | W 96-82 | |
| Jan 15, 1991 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 117-106 | |
| Jan 18, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-105 | |
| Jan 19, 1991 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 114-84 | |
| Jan 22, 1991 | vs. Miami Heat | W 118-107 | |
| Jan 23, 1991 | @ Washington Bullets | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 26, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-102 | |
| Jan 28, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-111 | |
| Jan 29, 1991 | @ Utah Jazz | L 116-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 116-103 | |
| Feb 02, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 126-125 | |
| Feb 05, 1991 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-114 | |
| Feb 07, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 127-114 | |
| Feb 12, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 122-113 | |
| Feb 13, 1991 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 140-106 | |
| Feb 16, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-113 | |
| Feb 19, 1991 | @ New York Knicks | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 20, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 97-89 | |
| Feb 22, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-102 | |
| Feb 23, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 122-107 | |
| Feb 25, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 96-88 | |
| Feb 27, 1991 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-103 | |
| Feb 28, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 117-109 | |
| Mar 03, 1991 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-106 | |
| Mar 05, 1991 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 139-127 | |
| Mar 07, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-104 | |
| Mar 08, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | W 102-96 | |
| Mar 10, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 122-87 | |
| Mar 12, 1991 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 133-129 | |
| Mar 15, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 127-117 | |
| Mar 16, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-116 | |
| Mar 19, 1991 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 104-92 | |
| Mar 20, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 129-107 | |
| Mar 22, 1991 | @ Washington Bullets | L 121-116 | |
| Mar 23, 1991 | vs. Miami Heat | W 108-93 | |
| Mar 26, 1991 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 123-113 | |
| Mar 28, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 112-111 | |
| Mar 30, 1991 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-96 | |
| Apr 04, 1991 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 98-91 | |
| Apr 06, 1991 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 137-110 | |
| Apr 08, 1991 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 105-94 | |
| Apr 09, 1991 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-98 | |
| Apr 11, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 112-98 | |
| Apr 13, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-91 | |
| Apr 16, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | L 113-106 | |
| Apr 17, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 123-111 | |
| Apr 19, 1991 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 126-120 | |
| Apr 21, 1991 | @ Boston Celtics | W 117-105 |