The 1987–88 Chicago Bulls season was the 22nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bulls finished second in the Central Division with a 50–32 record. Michael Jordan was named the league's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the All-Star Game MVP and Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend, which was held in Chicago. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, but lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games in the semifinals. Following the season, Charles Oakley was traded to the New York Knicks. The Bulls had the third best team defensive rating in the NBA.
See main article: 1987 NBA draft. Note: This is not an extensive list; it only covers the first round, and notable post-first-round picks.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Olden Polynice (traded to Seattle) | C | Virginia | ||
| 1 | 10 | Horace Grant | PF | Clemson | ||
| 2 | 28 | Rickie Winslow | F | Houston | ||
| 4 | 79 | Jack Haley | C | UCLA |
Jordan was indisputably great, and Oakley, who led the league in total rebounds (1,066), was outstanding. Still, the Bulls lacked a quality supporting cast. They took a major step toward alleviating that problem at the 1987 NBA draft, when Vice President of Basketball Operations Jerry Krause acquired two players who would be vital cogs in Chicago's future championship machine. With two picks in the top 10, Krause selected Olden Polynice at No. 8 and Horace Grant at No. 10. He then traded Polynice and draft considerations to the Seattle SuperSonics for Scottie Pippen, whom the Sonics had grabbed with the fifth pick.
With Grant and Pippen on board the Bulls began to show their stuff in 1987–88, forging a 50–32 record, their best mark since 1973-74. Chicago finished in a second-place tie with Atlanta in a competitive Central Division won by the surging Detroit Pistons. The Bulls made some noise in the playoffs, defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game first-round series, but then fell to Detroit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Oakley and the Los Angeles Clippers' Michael Cage engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle for the league's rebounding title, which came down to the last day of the regular season. On April 22 against Cleveland, Oakley put the pressure on Cage by pulling down 35 rebounds, the second-highest total in Bulls history behind Tom Boerwinkle's 37 in 1970. Two days later, however, Cage grabbed 30 boards in a game against Seattle, just enough to edge Oakley by the slimmest of margins, 13.03 per game to 13.00. Cage played in 10 fewer games than Oakley, however, so Oakley led the NBA in total rebounds for the second consecutive year, with 1,066.
Jordan led the league in scoring (35.0 ppg) and steals (3.16 per game). He won almost every major award, including Most Valuable Player, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA First Team Honors and NBA All-Defensive First Team Honors. However, the finals and most important prizes eluded him until the 1990–1991 season.
| 1987-88 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 | |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| November 7, 1987| Philadelphia| W 104–94|||| Chicago Stadium| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| November 10, 1987
7:00p.m. CST| @ Atlanta| W 105–95| Jordan (29)| Oakley (15)| Jordan (7)| The Omni
16,451| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| November 11, 1987| @ New Jersey| W 105–96|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 3–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| November 13, 1987| New Jersey| W 117–103|||| Chicago Stadium| 4–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| November 14, 1987| Indiana| L 110–101|||| Chicago Stadium| 4–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| November 17, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Washington| W 105–101| Jordan (26)| Oakley (21)| Paxson (8)| Chicago Stadium
17,081| 5–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| November 18, 1987
6:30p.m. CST| @ Washington| W 84–82| Jordan (30)| Oakley (24)| Jordan (8)| Capital Centre
13,721| 6–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| November 20, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Atlanta| W 94–92| Jordan (33)| Oakley (17)| Jordan,
Paxson (7)| Chicago Stadium
18,423| 7–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| November 21, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Detroit| L 132–144 (OT)| Jordan (49)| Oakley (12)| Jordan (8)| Chicago Stadium
18,466| 7–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| November 23, 1987
6:30p.m. CST| @ Boston
| W 107–102| Jordan (31)| Jordan (10)| Paxson (6)| Hartford Civic Center
15,134| 8–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| November 25, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| @ Milwaukee| W 103–101| Jordan (33)| Oakley (14)| Jordan (6)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 9–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 12| November 27, 1987
7:00p.m. CST| @ Dallas| L 93–94| Jordan (26)| Oakley (17)| Jordan (9)| Reunion Arena
17,007| 9–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| November 28, 1987| @ Houston| W 98–86|||| The Summit| 10–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14| December 1, 1987| @ Golden State| W 98–97|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 11–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| December 2, 1987
8:30p.m. CST| @ Utah| W 105–101| Jordan (47)| Oakley (9)| Jordan (9)| Salt Palace Acord Arena
12,212| 12–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 16| December 4, 1987
8:30p.m. CST| @ Denver| L 89–105| Jordan (23)| Oakley (18)| Paxson (6)| McNichols Sports Arena
17,022| 12–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| December 5, 1987| @ San Antonio| L 101–110|||| HemisFair Arena| 12–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| December 8, 1987| Philadelphia| L 96–109|||| Chicago Stadium| 12–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| December 10, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Milwaukee| W 111–105| Jordan (32)| Oakley (13)| Oakley (8)| Chicago Stadium
17,820| 13–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 20| December 12, 1987| Houston| W 112–103|||| Chicago Stadium| 14–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| December 15, 1987
7:00p.m. CST| @ Detroit| L 123–127 (OT)| Jordan (38)| Oakley (17)| Jordan (12)| Pontiac Silverdome
23,729| 14–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| December 17, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Cleveland| W 111–100| Jordan (52)| Corzine (9)| Paxson (13)| Chicago Stadium
17,650| 15–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| December 19, 1987
6:30p.m. CST| @ Washington| L 96–109| Jordan (30)| Oakley (16)| Jordan (7)| Capital Centre
14,353| 15–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| December 22, 1987
7:00p.m. CST| Dallas| L 100–111| Jordan (28)| Oakley (10)| Paxson (9)| Chicago Stadium
18,103| 15–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 25| December 23, 1987| @ New York| L 89–90|||| Madison Square Garden| 15–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| December 26, 1987| @ Indiana| L 92–106|||| Market Square Arena| 15–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| December 29, 1987
7:30p.m. CST| Atlanta| L 98–108| Jordan (39)| Oakley (13)| Jordan (6)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 15–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 28| January 2, 1988| New Jersey| W 116–93|||| Chicago Stadium| 16–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29| January 5, 1988| Indiana| W 93–77|||| Chicago Stadium| 17–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30| January 7, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Denver| W 100–96| Jordan (28)| Oakley (14)| Sparrow (8)| Chicago Stadium
17,590| 18–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| January 9, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Utah| W 113–91| Jordan (45)| Oakley (15)| Jordan (8)| Chicago Stadium
17,877| 19–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| January 12, 1988
7:00p.m. CST| Boston| L 97–104| Jordan (42)| Oakley (11)| Oakley (8)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 19–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| January 14, 1988
6:30p.m. CST| @ Cleveland| L 88–91 (OT)| Jordan (28)| Oakley (17)| Jordan (7)| Richfield Coliseum
16,648| 19–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34| January 16, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Detroit| W 115–99| Jordan (36)| Jordan,
Oakley (10)| Jordan (10)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 20–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| January 18, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Washington| W 117–103| Jordan (33)| Oakley (10)| Jordan (7)| Chicago Stadium
17,767| 21–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36| January 19, 1988
7:00p.m. CST| @ Atlanta| L 94–106| Jordan (38)| Corzine (11)| Threatt (5)| The Omni
16,451| 21–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37| January 22, 1988| Phoenix| W 118–108|||| Chicago Stadium| 22–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 38| January 23, 1988| Golden State| W 121–94|||| Chicago Stadium| 23–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| January 26, 1988| @ Indiana| L 93–97|||| Market Square Arena| 23–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| January 27, 1988| @ Philadelphia| W 119–109 (OT)|||| The Spectrum| 24–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| January 29, 1988| New Jersey| W 120–93|||| Chicago Stadium| 25–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| January 30, 1988| New York| W 97–95 (OT)|||| Chicago Stadium| 26–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| February 1, 1988| @ Sacramento| L 95–97|||| ARCO Arena| 26–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| February 2, 1988
9:30p.m. CST| @ L.A. Lakers| L 101–110| Jordan (39)| Grant (8)| Jordan,
Pippen,
Threatt (4)| The Forum
17,505| 26–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 45| February 4, 1988| @ Phoenix| W 113–101|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 27–18|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| February 9, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Detroit| L 74–89| Jordan (20)| Oakley (13)| Jordan (9)| Chicago Stadium
17,846| 27–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 47| February 10, 1988| @ New Jersey| L 84–93|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 27–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 48| February 12, 1988
8:00p.m. CST| @ Milwaukee| W 95–93| Jordan (27)| Oakley (14)| Jordan (8)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 28–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 49| February 13, 1988
6:30p.m. CST| @ Detroit| L 73–82| Jordan (27)| Oakley (10)| Oakley,
Paxson,
Sparrow,
Threatt (4)| Pontiac Silverdome
40,369| 28–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| February 15, 1988
12:30p.m. CST| Atlanta| W 126–107| Jordan (32)| Jordan (13)| Jordan,
Sellers (8)| Chicago Stadium
17,704| 29–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 51| February 19, 1988| Sacramento| W 116–101|||| Chicago Stadium| 30–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| February 21, 1988
12Noon CST| @ Cleveland| L 111–113| Jordan (46)| Corzine (9)| Jordan (9)| Richfield Coliseum
20,089| 30–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 53| February 23, 1988| Seattle| W 104–97 (OT)|||| Chicago Stadium| 31–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 54| February 26, 1988| Portland| L 96–104|||| Chicago Stadium| 33–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 55| February 27, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Milwaukee| L 91–94| Jordan (38)| Oakley (12)| Vincent (9)| Chicago Stadium
18,243| 33–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| February 29, 1988| @ Philadelphia| L 101–102|||| The Spectrum| 33–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| March 3, 1988| Philadelphia| W 97–93|||| Chicago Stadium| 33–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| March 5, 1988| L.A. Clippers| W 100–76|||| Chicago Stadium| 34–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| March 7, 1988| @ New York| L 98–110|||| Madison Square Garden| 34–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| March 10, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| L.A. Lakers| W 128–107| Jordan (38)| Grant,
Oakley (11)| Vincent (11)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 35–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| March 12, 1988| San Antonio| W 112–92|||| Chicago Stadium| 36–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| March 15, 1988
7:00p.m. CST| Cleveland| W 108–89| Jordan (38)| Oakley (14)| Vincent (11)| Chicago Stadium
17,752| 37–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| March 16, 1988
6:30p.m. CST| @ Washington| L 103–106| Jordan (25)| Oakley (9)| Vincent (7)| Capital Centre
16,515| 37–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64| March 18, 1988
7:30p.m. CST| Boston| W 113–103| Jordan (50)| Oakley (12)| Jordan (9)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 38–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65| March 20, 1988
12Noon CST| @ Boston| L 107–137| Jordan (26)| Oakley (9)| Jordan (7)| Boston Garden
14,890| 38–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 66| March 23, 1988| @ Philadelphia| W 118–102|||| The Spectrum| 39–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 67| March 25, 1988
6:30p.m. CST| @ Cleveland| W 111–110 (OT)| Jordan (39)| Oakley (19)| Vincent (8)| Richfield Coliseum
19,876| 40–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| March 26, 1988| Indiana| W 109–100|||| Chicago Stadium| 41–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 69| March 29, 1988| @ Seattle| L 103–106|||| Seattle Center Coliseum| 41–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| March 30, 1988| @ L.A. Clippers| W 111–94|||| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena| 41–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 71| April 1, 1988| @ Portland| W 116–101|||| Memorial Coliseum| 42–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| April 3, 1988
12:30p.m. CDT| @ Detroit| W 112–110| Jordan (59)| Corzine (12)| Vincent (13)| Pontiac Silverdome
23,712| 43–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| April 5, 1988
7:30p.m. CDT| Washington| L 94–105| Jordan (29)| Oakley (8)| Vincent (9)| Chicago Stadium
17,773| 44–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 74| April 6, 1988
7:30p.m. CDT| @ Milwaukee| W 119–110| Jordan (37)| Oakley (12)| Jordan (6)| MECCA Arena
11,052| 44–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| April 8, 1988| New York| W 131–122|||| Chicago Stadium| 45–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| April 14, 1988| @ Indiana| W 116–110|||| Market Square Arena| 46–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 77| April 15, 1988| @ New Jersey| W 100–99|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 47–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| April 17, 1988
12:30p.m. CDT| Milwaukee| W 105–97| Jordan (44)| Oakley (14)| Vincent (10)| Chicago Stadium
18,551| 48–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79| April 19, 1988| @ New York| W 121–118|||| Madison Square Garden| 49–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 80| April 21, 1988
6:30p.m. CDT| @ Boston| L 119–126| Jordan (39)| Oakley (17)| Vincent (9)| Boston Garden
14,890| 49–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 81| April 22, 1988
7:30p.m. CDT| Cleveland| L 103–107| Jordan,
Oakley (26)| Oakley (35)| Jordan,
Vincent (7)| Chicago Stadium
17,726| 49–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| April 24, 1988
2:30p.m. CDT| Boston| W 115–108| Jordan (46)| Oakley (21)| Jordan,
Vincent (6)| Chicago Stadium
18,636| 50–32
|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 28, 1988
7:00p.m. CDT| Cleveland| W 104–93| Jordan (50)| Oakley (15)| Paxson (7)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 1, 1988
2:30p.m. CDT| Cleveland| W 106–101| Jordan (55)| Oakley (12)| Vincent (14)| Chicago Stadium
18,645| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 3, 1988
7:00p.m. CDT| @ Cleveland| L 102–110| Jordan (38)| Oakley (9)| Jordan (9)| Richfield Coliseum
20,068| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 5, 1988
7:00p.m. CDT| @ Cleveland| L 91–97| Jordan (44)| Oakley (10)| Vincent (5)| Richfield Coliseum
20,026| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 8, 1988
12Noon CDT| Cleveland| W 107–101| Jordan (39)| Oakley (20)| Sparrow (7)| Chicago Stadium
18,008| 3–2|-|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| May 10, 1988
7:30p.m. CDT| @ Detroit| L 82–93| Jordan (29)| Oakley (13)| Jordan (6)| Pontiac Silverdome
18,312| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| May 12, 1988
7:00p.m. CDT| @ Detroit| W 105–95| Jordan (36)| Oakley (12)| Pippen,
Vincent (5)| Pontiac Silverdome
20,281| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| May 14, 1988
12Noon CDT| Detroit| L 79–101| Jordan (24)| Oakley (12)| Vincent (6)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 15, 1988
2:30p.m. CDT| Detroit| L 77–96| Jordan (23)| Oakley (10)| Jordan (5)| Chicago Stadium
18,676| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 18, 1988
7:00p.m. CDT| @ Detroit| L 95–102| Jordan (25)| Oakley (15)| Jordan,
Paxson (8)| Pontiac Silverdome
21,371| 1–4|-
Charles Oakley 14.3 ppg 15.6 reb 1.3 stl 2.4 blk 2.3 to
1st Round, 8th overall Center Olden Polynice was drafted by the Bulls, but traded that same night with draft picks to the Seattle SuperSonics and the rights to the 5th overall pick Forward Scottie Pippen and draft picks.
Forward Horace Grant was drafted in the 1st Round, 10th overall by the Bulls.