The 1986-87 Seattle SuperSonics season was a pivotal year for the franchise, highlighted by their unexpected playoff success. Under the guidance of head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, the team finished the regular season with a 39-43 record, which was enough to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Key players included Tom Chambers, who led the team in scoring, and Dale Ellis, who provided crucial perimeter shooting.
Despite their sub-.500 regular season record, the SuperSonics made a remarkable playoff run. They first faced the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round. The series went to the full five games, but Seattle emerged victorious, led by Chambers’ scoring and Ellis’ sharpshooting. In the Western Conference Semifinals, the SuperSonics pulled off a major upset by defeating the Houston Rockets, who were the second seed, in six games. This victory propelled them to the Western Conference Finals.
In the Western Conference Finals, the SuperSonics faced the Los Angeles Lakers, a powerhouse team led by Magic Johnson. The series was challenging for Seattle, as they were ultimately outmatched by the Lakers’ depth and talent, leading to a series loss in four games. Despite the defeat, the 1986-87 season was considered a success for Seattle, as their playoff performance exceeded expectations and laid the groundwork for future competitiveness in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 39-43
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Western Conference Finals: 0-4
Seattle SuperSonics Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dale Ellis | 82 | 24.9 | 5.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 35.8 | 14 | 25.2 | 6.4 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 36.1 |
| Tom Chambers | 82 | 23.3 | 6.6 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 37.5 | 14 | 23.0 | 6.4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 33.3 |
| Xavier McDaniel | 82 | 23.0 | 8.6 | 2.5 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 23.1 | 14 | 20.3 | 8.4 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 20.0 |
| Alton Lister | 75 | 11.6 | 9.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 9 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Gerald Henderson | 6 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Eddie Johnson | 24 | 9.0 | 1.9 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 30.8 | 14 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Maurice Lucas | 63 | 7.9 | 4.9 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 14 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Nate McMillan | 71 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 8.2 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 14 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Williams | 65 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 14 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Danny Young | 73 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 36.7 | 14 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 31.2 |
| Terence Stansbury | 44 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 37.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Clemon Johnson | 78 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 33.2 | 14 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Michael Phelps | 60 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Russ Schoene | 63 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 15.4 | 14 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33.3 |
| Curtis Kitchen | 6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
Seattle SuperSonics in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Dallas Mavericks
In the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics, led by standout performances from Tom Chambers and Dale Ellis, pulled off a stunning upset against the Dallas Mavericks. Seattle, the seventh seed, displayed tenacity and resilience, overcoming the odds to win the series 3-1 against the second-seeded Mavericks. This victory marked a significant moment in the Sonics' playoff history, showcasing their ability to compete against higher-seeded teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 151-129 | |
| Apr 25, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 112-110 | |
| Apr 28, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-107 | |
| Apr 30, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-98 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics made a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals, starting with an impressive performance in the second round against the Houston Rockets. Despite being underdogs, the Sonics, led by players like Tom Chambers and Xavier McDaniel, managed to upset the Rockets in a closely contested series, winning it 4-2. This victory was a testament to their resilience and teamwork, showcasing their ability to compete with the league's top teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 111-106 | |
| May 05, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 99-97 | |
| May 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-84 | |
| May 09, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-102 | |
| May 12, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 112-107 | |
| May 14, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-125 |
1987 Conference Championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Seattle SuperSonics made a surprising run to the Western Conference Finals, despite being the seventh seed. Led by the dynamic duo of Dale Ellis and Tom Chambers, the Sonics overcame the Dallas Mavericks and the formidable Houston Rockets before facing the Los Angeles Lakers. Ultimately, their Cinderella story ended there, as the Lakers, on their way to an NBA Championship, proved too strong and swept Seattle in four games.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 92-87 | |
| May 19, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-104 | |
| May 23, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 122-121 | |
| May 25, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 133-102 |
Seattle SuperSonics 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 127-110 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-103 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-96 | |
| Nov 06, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 147-124 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-102 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-114 | |
| Nov 12, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-97 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 127-121 | |
| Nov 18, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-105 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-105 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 121-111 | |
| Nov 25, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-103 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 127-91 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-104 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-109 | |
| Dec 04, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 109-102 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | W 136-80 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 101-94 | |
| Dec 11, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-107 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-109 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 126-118 | |
| Dec 18, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-100 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 108-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 121-112 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-116 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 113-107 | |
| Dec 28, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-118 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | L 138-114 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 138-108 | |
| Jan 08, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 115-108 | |
| Jan 11, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-111 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 117-109 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 130-104 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 134-100 | |
| Jan 17, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 125-115 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 129-123 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 125-120 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-87 | |
| Jan 26, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | W 108-95 | |
| Jan 28, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 125-101 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 127-119 | |
| Jan 31, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-112 | |
| Feb 02, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-100 | |
| Feb 04, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 124-94 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 117-111 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-113 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-104 | |
| Feb 13, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-98 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 105-94 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-88 | |
| Feb 19, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 117-105 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 110-93 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 124-112 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 133-103 | |
| Feb 26, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 106-100 | |
| Feb 28, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 112-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 123-107 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 138-124 | |
| Mar 05, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 127-122 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 136-127 | |
| Mar 11, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 130-117 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 108-104 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 107-106 | |
| Mar 16, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 122-111 | |
| Mar 19, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 110-106 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 112-108 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-121 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 123-113 | |
| Mar 27, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-105 | |
| Mar 29, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 108-107 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 132-129 | |
| Apr 02, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-114 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-123 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 127-125 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 121-115 | |
| Apr 14, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-102 | |
| Apr 16, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 118-87 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 132-127 | |
| Apr 19, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-104 |