The 1989-90 Dallas Mavericks experienced a challenging season, finishing with a 47-35 record. Despite their efforts, they ended up fourth in the Midwest Division of the Western Conference. The team was coached by John MacLeod, who took over mid-season after Richie Adubato was relieved of his duties. The Mavericks were led by standout players such as Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper, both of whom were pivotal in their offensive strategies.
In the playoffs, the Mavericks faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in a hard-fought series, losing 3-0. This marked a disappointing end to their season, as they failed to advance past the first round for the third consecutive year. The 1989-90 season highlighted the team’s resilience but also underscored the need for strategic changes to become more competitive in future campaigns.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 0-3
Dallas Mavericks Roster and Stats for 1989-90 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Rolando Blackman | 80 | 19.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 30.2 | 3 | 20.0 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 40.0 |
| Derek Harper | 82 | 18.0 | 3.0 | 7.4 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 37.1 | 3 | 19.3 | 2.7 | 7.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 31.3 |
| Roy Tarpley | 45 | 16.8 | 13.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 16.7 | 15.3 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Sam Perkins | 76 | 15.9 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 21.4 | 3 | 15.0 | 7.3 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Dantley | 45 | 14.7 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| James Donaldson | 73 | 9.1 | 8.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 7.3 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Herb Williams | 81 | 8.6 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 22.2 | 3 | 13.7 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Brad Davis | 73 | 6.4 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 33.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Wennington | 60 | 4.5 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Randy White | 55 | 4.3 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 7.2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Steve Alford | 41 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 31.8 | 3 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Anthony Jones | 66 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 30.8 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bob McCann | 10 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kelvin Upshaw | 3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Wade | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Dallas Mavericks in the 1990 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the 1990 NBA Playoffs, the Dallas Mavericks faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. The Mavericks, led by Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper, put up a strong fight but ultimately were overwhelmed by Portland's depth and firepower, losing the series 3-0. Despite their efforts, the series highlighted the Mavericks' need for more consistent defensive play and depth to compete with the elite teams in the Western Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-102 | |
| Apr 28, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 114-107 | |
| May 01, 1990 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-92 |
Dallas Mavericks 1989-90 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1989-90 season for the Dallas Mavericks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-94 | |
| Nov 07, 1989 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 96-94 | |
| Nov 08, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 123-99 | |
| Nov 10, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 99-91 | |
| Nov 12, 1989 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-98 | |
| Nov 14, 1989 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 113-109 | |
| Nov 17, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-105 | |
| Nov 18, 1989 | vs. Miami Heat | W 100-99 | |
| Nov 21, 1989 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 111-95 | |
| Nov 24, 1989 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-89 | |
| Nov 25, 1989 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-70 | |
| Nov 29, 1989 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-83 | |
| Nov 30, 1989 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 93-89 | |
| Dec 02, 1989 | @ Houston Rockets | W 106-103 | |
| Dec 05, 1989 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 107-88 | |
| Dec 07, 1989 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-97 | |
| Dec 08, 1989 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 99-93 | |
| Dec 12, 1989 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-97 | |
| Dec 13, 1989 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 90-87 | |
| Dec 15, 1989 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 95-88 | |
| Dec 16, 1989 | @ Washington Bullets | L 112-108 | |
| Dec 19, 1989 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 102-97 | |
| Dec 20, 1989 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 84-78 | |
| Dec 22, 1989 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 101-92 | |
| Dec 23, 1989 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-95 | |
| Dec 27, 1989 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 114-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1989 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 144-140 | |
| Dec 30, 1989 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 116-109 | |
| Jan 02, 1990 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 119-102 | |
| Jan 05, 1990 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 104-79 | |
| Jan 08, 1990 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-96 | |
| Jan 10, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 123-119 | |
| Jan 11, 1990 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 98-87 | |
| Jan 13, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 109-99 | |
| Jan 15, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 101-90 | |
| Jan 17, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 108-88 | |
| Jan 19, 1990 | vs. New York Knicks | W 117-103 | |
| Jan 20, 1990 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 23, 1990 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 129-105 | |
| Jan 26, 1990 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 106-93 | |
| Jan 27, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | W 99-92 | |
| Jan 29, 1990 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-88 | |
| Jan 31, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 98-91 | |
| Feb 02, 1990 | @ Utah Jazz | L 105-92 | |
| Feb 03, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 131-100 | |
| Feb 06, 1990 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 100-90 | |
| Feb 08, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 90-77 | |
| Feb 13, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 17, 1990 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 135-108 | |
| Feb 19, 1990 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-87 | |
| Feb 22, 1990 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-97 | |
| Feb 23, 1990 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-91 | |
| Feb 25, 1990 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 87-82 | |
| Feb 27, 1990 | @ New York Knicks | L 110-87 | |
| Feb 28, 1990 | @ Boston Celtics | L 111-98 | |
| Mar 02, 1990 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-102 | |
| Mar 03, 1990 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 106-89 | |
| Mar 07, 1990 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-91 | |
| Mar 10, 1990 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-95 | |
| Mar 14, 1990 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-102 | |
| Mar 16, 1990 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 104-97 | |
| Mar 18, 1990 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 114-84 | |
| Mar 19, 1990 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 117-110 | |
| Mar 22, 1990 | @ Orlando Magic | W 116-106 | |
| Mar 23, 1990 | @ Miami Heat | W 106-103 | |
| Mar 25, 1990 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 98-96 | |
| Mar 27, 1990 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-108 | |
| Mar 29, 1990 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 30, 1990 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 84-82 | |
| Apr 01, 1990 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 86-72 | |
| Apr 03, 1990 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-111 | |
| Apr 04, 1990 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 104-98 | |
| Apr 07, 1990 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 109-108 | |
| Apr 09, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-106 | |
| Apr 10, 1990 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 98-90 | |
| Apr 12, 1990 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 140-133 | |
| Apr 13, 1990 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 124-92 | |
| Apr 17, 1990 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 97-96 | |
| Apr 19, 1990 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 111-102 | |
| Apr 20, 1990 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-120 | |
| Apr 22, 1990 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 118-107 |