The 1987–88 NBA season was the 76ers 39th season in the NBA and 25th season in Philadelphia. This was the first season of the post-Julius Erving era, as the team was now led by Charles Barkley. As a result, the Sixers failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1975, going 36–46. Matt Goukas was fired in the middle of the season after going 20-23 and was replaced by Jim Lynam.
This was the final season for Andrew Toney, as the former All-Star guard was forced to retire due to foot injuries.
See main article: 1987 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 | C | Washington | |||
| 2 | 39 | G/F | Memphis | |||
| 2 | 43 | F | | Virginia | ||
| 3 | 57 | Alaska-Anchorage | ||||
| 3 | 62 | Rutgers | ||||
| 4 | 85 | Tulsa | ||||
| 5 | 108 | American | ||||
| 6 | 131 | Alabama-Birmingham | ||||
| 7 | 154 | West Virginia |
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
| 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 6| Indiana| W 108–95|||| The Spectrum| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| November 7| @ Chicago| L 94–104|||| Chicago Stadium| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| November 13, 1987
7:30 PM EST| Detroit| L 94–113|||| The Spectrum
12,302| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| November 14| @ Atlanta| L 83–104|||| The Omni| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| November 18, 1987
7:30 PM EST| @ Detroit| W 113–109|||| Pontiac Silverdome
17,445| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| November 20| Boston| W 116–85|||| The Spectrum| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| November 21| @ Cleveland| L 88–101|||| Richfield Coliseum| 3–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 8| November 24| Cleveland| W 108–104|||| The Spectrum| 4–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| November 27| @ Golden State| L 103–109|||| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 4–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 10| November 28| @ Sacramento| L 114–115 (OT)|||| ARCO Arena| 4–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| November 30| @ Utah| W 106–100|||| Salt Palace Acord Arena| 5–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 12| December 2| @ L.A. Clippers| L 85–88|||| Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena| 5–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| December 4| Seattle| W 118–105|||| The Spectrum| 6–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14| December 8| @ Chicago| W 109–96|||| Chicago Stadium| 7–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| December 9| Portland| W 94–86|||| The Spectrum| 8–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 16| December 12| Denver| L 121–131|||| The Spectrum| 8–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 17| December 16| San Antonio| W 114–102|||| The Spectrum| 9–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18| December 17| @ New York| W 110–106|||| Madison Square Garden| 10–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 19| December 19| Dallas| W 95–90|||| The Spectrum| 11–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| December 20| @ Boston| L 87–124|||| Boston Garden| 11–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| December 22| Boston| L 115–118|||| The Spectrum| 11–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| December 23| @ New Jersey| W 110–106|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 12–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 23| December 25| Atlanta| L 100–106|||| The Spectrum| 12–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| December 28| @ Phoenix| L 101–117|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 12–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 25| December 29, 1987
10:30 PM EST| @ L.A. Lakers| L 115–131|||| The Forum
17,505| 12–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 26| January 1| @ Portland| L 114–116|||| Memorial Coliseum| 12–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| January 2| @ Seattle| L 114–116|||| Seattle Center Coliseum| 12–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 28| January 4| Phoenix| W 122–114|||| The Spectrum| 13–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 29| January 6| Utah| W 116–93|||| The Spectrum| 14–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 30| January 8| L.A. Clippers| W 117–103|||| The Spectrum| 15–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 31| January 9| Cleveland| W 126–110|||| The Spectrum| 16–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| January 12| @ Milwaukee| L 103–106|||| MECCA Arena| 16–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 33| January 13| New Jersey| W 104–95|||| The Spectrum| 17–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 34| January 15| New York| W 119–104|||| The Spectrum| 18–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 35| January 16| @ New York| L 96–110|||| Madison Square Garden| 18–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36| January 20| Washington| L 98–110|||| The Spectrum| 18–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 37| January 24| @ Washington| L 99–131|||| Capital Centre| 18–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| January 25| @ Washington| L 117–118 (OT)|||| Capital Centre| 18–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| January 27| Chicago| L 109–119 (OT)|||| The Spectrum| 18–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| January 29| Indiana| W 94–89|||| The Spectrum| 19–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 41| January 31| @ Boston| L 85–100|||| Boston Garden| 19–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| February 3| Golden State| W 96–84|||| The Spectrum| 20–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| February 4| @ Indiana| L 95–109|||| Market Square Arena| 20–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 44| February 9| @ Atlanta| L 110–112|||| The Omni| 20–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 45| February 11| Milwaukee| W 119–113 (OT)|||| The Spectrum| 21–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 46| February 14| @ New Jersey| L 105–109|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 21–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 47| February 15, 1988
7:30 PM EST| @ Detroit| L 95–102|||| Pontiac Silverdome
21,530| 21–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| February 17| Cleveland| L 107–115|||| The Spectrum| 21–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 49| February 19| New Jersey| W 115–100|||| The Spectrum| 22–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 50| February 21| @ Milwaukee| L 115–120 (OT)|||| MECCA Arena| 22–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| February 22| @ Houston| L 106–119|||| The Summit| 22–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| February 24| @ San Antonio| L 121–123 (OT)|||| HemisFair Arena| 22–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| February 26| @ Denver| L 104–120|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 22–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 54| February 27| @ Dallas| L 91–100|||| Reunion Arena| 22–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| February 29| Chicago| W 102–101|||| The Spectrum| 23–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 56| March 3| @ Chicago| L 93–97|||| Chicago Stadium| 23–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57| March 4| @ New York| L 108–110 (OT)|||| Madison Square Garden| 23–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| March 6| @ Indiana| W 105–100|||| Market Square Arena| 24–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| March 7, 1988
7:30 PM EST| L.A. Lakers| L 104–110|||| The Spectrum
18,168| 24–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 60| March 11| Sacramento| W 124–118|||| The Spectrum| 25–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 61| March 13| Washington| W 104–96|||| The Spectrum| 26–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 62| March 15| @ Atlanta| L 90–104|||| The Omni| 26–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 63| March 16| New York| W 115–108|||| The Spectrum| 27–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64| March 18| Indiana| W 129–109|||| The Spectrum| 28–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| March 19| @ Washington| W 94–89|||| Capital Centre| 29–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| March 22| @ New Jersey| L 90–102|||| Brendan Byrne Arena| 29–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| March 23| Chicago| L 102–118|||| The Spectrum| 29–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| March 25| @ Boston| W 97–93|||| Boston Garden| 30–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 69| March 28| Houston| W 108–98|||| The Spectrum| 31–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| March 30| Milwaukee| W 134–109|||| The Spectrum| 32–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71| April 1| Atlanta| L 93–105|||| The Spectrum| 32–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 72| April 5| New York| L 119–136|||| The Spectrum| 32–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| April 8, 1988
7:30 PM EDT| Detroit| L 86–96|||| The Spectrum
15,164| 32–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| April 10| Boston| L 108–117|||| The Spectrum| 32–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| April 11| @ Milwaukee| W 115–102|||| MECCA Arena| 33–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| April 13| Washington| W 98–97 (OT)|||| The Spectrum| 34–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 77| April 15| Atlanta| L 101–103 (OT)|||| The Spectrum| 34–43|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 78| April 16| @ Indiana| L 92–126|||| Market Square Arena| 34–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 79| April 19| Milwaukee| W 115–102|||| The Spectrum| 35–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 80| April 21| New Jersey| W 104–101|||| The Spectrum| 36–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 81| April 23| @ Cleveland| L 99–104|||| Richfield Coliseum| 36–45|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82| April 24, 1988
7:00 PM EDT| @ Detroit| L 118–128|||| Pontiac Silverdome
27,854| 36–46