The 1990-91 Utah Jazz season was a notable campaign, marking the franchise’s 17th season in the NBA. The team, coached by Jerry Sloan, finished with a solid 54-28 record, securing third place in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. This performance was an improvement over their previous season and highlighted their growing consistency as a competitive team in the league.
Utah’s success was largely driven by the stellar performances of their star duo, Karl Malone and John Stockton. Malone, the power forward, was a dominant force, averaging 29.0 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, earning him an All-NBA First Team selection. Meanwhile, Stockton continued to orchestrate the offense with precision, leading the league in assists with an average of 14.2 per game, further solidifying his reputation as one of the best point guards in the league.
In the playoffs, the Jazz faced the Phoenix Suns in the first round. They advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals after defeating the Suns 3-1 in the series. However, their postseason run ended in the semifinals, where they were eliminated by the Portland Trail Blazers in a hard-fought five-game series (4-1). Despite the playoff exit, the season was a testament to the Jazz’s growing stature in the NBA, setting the stage for future successes in the decade.
- Regular Season Record: 54-28
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Utah Jazz 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% |
| Karl Malone | 82 | 29.0 | 11.8 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 28.6 | 9 | 29.7 | 13.3 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Malone | 69 | 18.6 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 16.7 | 9 | 20.7 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| John Stockton | 82 | 17.2 | 2.9 | 14.2 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 34.5 | 9 | 18.2 | 4.7 | 13.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 40.7 |
| Thurl Bailey | 82 | 12.4 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 9 | 7.6 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Blue Edwards | 62 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 25.0 | 9 | 10.1 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Darrell Griffith | 75 | 5.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 34.8 | 3 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Eaton | 80 | 5.1 | 8.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Mike Brown | 82 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.6 | 7.3 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Delaney Rudd | 82 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 27.9 | 9 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Pat Cummings | 4 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Tony Brown | 23 | 3.4 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 18.2 | 4 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Andy Toolson | 47 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 37.5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walter Palmer | 28 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Munk | 11 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Dan O'Sullivan | 21 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Utah Jazz in the 1991 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Phoenix Suns
In the first round of the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced off against the Phoenix Suns. The series was a tightly contested battle, ultimately stretching to five games, with the Jazz emerging victorious 3-2. Behind the stellar performances of Karl Malone and John Stockton, Utah showcased resilience and skill, advancing past the Suns to reach the conference semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 129-90 | |
| Apr 27, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 102-92 | |
| Apr 30, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-98 | |
| May 02, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 101-93 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Despite a strong performance from Karl Malone and John Stockton, the Jazz were overpowered by the top-seeded Blazers, losing the series in five games. Portland's dynamic play and depth proved too much for Utah, ending their playoff run in the second round.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 07, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-97 | |
| May 09, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 118-116 | |
| May 11, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-101 | |
| May 12, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 104-101 | |
| May 14, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-96 |
Utah Jazz 1990-91 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1990-91 season for the Utah Jazz.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 119-96 | |
| Nov 03, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 102-101 | |
| Nov 08, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 103-94 | |
| Nov 11, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 110-90 | |
| Nov 13, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 84-82 | |
| Nov 15, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | L 102-99 | |
| Nov 16, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-89 | |
| Nov 18, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-94 | |
| Nov 19, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 114-104 | |
| Nov 21, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 106-91 | |
| Nov 23, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-96 | |
| Nov 24, 1990 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 85-74 | |
| Nov 28, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 103-92 | |
| Nov 30, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 96-79 | |
| Dec 02, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 101-97 | |
| Dec 03, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 135-101 | |
| Dec 05, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-85 | |
| Dec 07, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-79 | |
| Dec 08, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-95 | |
| Dec 11, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 135-117 | |
| Dec 13, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 141-126 | |
| Dec 15, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 124-116 | |
| Dec 17, 1990 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 100-98 | |
| Dec 18, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 105-100 | |
| Dec 20, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-87 | |
| Dec 22, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 104-96 | |
| Dec 23, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | L 99-93 | |
| Dec 27, 1990 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-102 | |
| Dec 29, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 131-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1991 | vs. Miami Heat | W 112-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1991 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-99 | |
| Jan 05, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 106-98 | |
| Jan 08, 1991 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-88 | |
| Jan 09, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-85 | |
| Jan 11, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 110-99 | |
| Jan 12, 1991 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 112-92 | |
| Jan 15, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 124-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1991 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1991 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 117-104 | |
| Jan 23, 1991 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-94 | |
| Jan 25, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-93 | |
| Jan 26, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 120-115 | |
| Jan 29, 1991 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 116-105 | |
| Jan 31, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 105-91 | |
| Feb 02, 1991 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 111-103 | |
| Feb 05, 1991 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-93 | |
| Feb 06, 1991 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-99 | |
| Feb 12, 1991 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 113-92 | |
| Feb 15, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-105 | |
| Feb 16, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 115-107 | |
| Feb 18, 1991 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 104-81 | |
| Feb 22, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 109-104 | |
| Feb 24, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-91 | |
| Feb 27, 1991 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1991 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 03, 1991 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-92 | |
| Mar 04, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | W 106-88 | |
| Mar 06, 1991 | @ Washington Bullets | W 104-93 | |
| Mar 08, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 99-89 | |
| Mar 09, 1991 | @ New York Knicks | L 101-92 | |
| Mar 11, 1991 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 105-96 | |
| Mar 13, 1991 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 112-109 | |
| Mar 15, 1991 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-96 | |
| Mar 16, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-98 | |
| Mar 20, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 106-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 100-94 | |
| Mar 23, 1991 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 95-89 | |
| Mar 25, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-98 | |
| Mar 27, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 95-89 | |
| Mar 28, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 116-96 | |
| Apr 02, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 131-117 | |
| Apr 03, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-97 | |
| Apr 05, 1991 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 93-87 | |
| Apr 06, 1991 | @ Houston Rockets | L 97-88 | |
| Apr 08, 1991 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 111-95 | |
| Apr 10, 1991 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 97-91 | |
| Apr 11, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-95 | |
| Apr 13, 1991 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 121-110 | |
| Apr 16, 1991 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 111-101 | |
| Apr 18, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 130-103 | |
| Apr 20, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-93 | |
| Apr 21, 1991 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 125-106 |