1989–90 Detroit Pistons season
The 1989–90 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 42nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 33rd season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at the Palace of Auburn Hills in suburban Auburn Hills, Michigan. As the defending champions, the Pistons had another successful season winning 13 consecutive games around January and February,[2] holding a 35–14 record at the All-Star break,[3] then posting a 12-game winning streak in March,[4][5] as they finished first place in the Eastern Conference with a 59–23 record.[6]
1989–90 Detroit Pistons season | |
---|---|
NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
Head coach | Chuck Daly |
General manager | Jack McCloskey |
Owners | William Davidson |
Arena | The Palace of Auburn Hills |
Results | |
Record | 59–23 (.720) |
Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | NBA Champions (Defeated Trail Blazers 4–1) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WKBD-TV PASS Sports |
Radio | WWJ |
Isiah Thomas led the team with 18.4 points, 9.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game, while last year's Finals MVP Joe Dumars averaged 17.8 points and 4.9 assists per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and Dennis Rodman provided the team with 8.8 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year.[7][8][9][10] In addition, James Edwards provided with 14.5 points per game, while Mark Aguirre contributed 14.1 points per game, and Bill Laimbeer averaged 12.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Off the bench, Vinnie Johnson contributed 9.8 points per game, and John Salley led the team with 1.9 blocks per game.[11] Thomas, Dumars and Rodman were all selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, with head coach Chuck Daly coaching the Eastern Conference.[12][13] Dumars and Rodman were both named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons swept the Indiana Pacers in three straight games,[14][15][16][17] then defeated the 5th-seeded New York Knicks four games to one in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.[18][19][20][21] In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls in seven games to advance to the NBA Finals for the third straight year.[22][23][24][25]
In the Finals, the Pistons faced the Portland Trail Blazers, who were led by Clyde Drexler. The Pistons won Game 1 at home, 105–99,[26][27][28] but lost Game 2 in overtime, 106–105 as the Blazers tied the series at one game a piece,[29][30][31] the Pistons defeated the Blazers in five hard-fought games to win their second consecutive NBA championship. Thomas was named NBA Finals MVP.[32][33][34][35][36] The Pistons would not reach the NBA Finals again until 2004, in which they won the Finals in five games against their heavily favored rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers to win their third NBA championship.[37]
Draft picks
Roster
1989–90 Detroit Pistons roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Detroit Pistons | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 35–6 | 24–17 | 22–8 |
x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4 | 36–5 | 19–22 | 20–10 |
x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 | 27–14 | 17–24 | 14–16 |
x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 14–16 |
x-Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | 28–13 | 14–27 | 16–14 |
Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 | 25–16 | 16–25 | 15–15 |
Orlando Magic | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 | 12–29 | 6–35 | 4–26 |
# | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | c-Detroit Pistons | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
2 | y-Philadelphia 76ers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 6 |
3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 55 | 27 | .671 | 4 |
4 | x-Boston Celtics | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
5 | x-New York Knicks | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
6 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 |
7 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
8 | x-Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
9 | Atlanta Hawks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
10 | Washington Bullets | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
11 | Miami Heat | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
12 | Orlando Magic | 18 | 64 | .220 | 41 |
13 | New Jersey Nets | 17 | 65 | .207 | 42 |
Record vs. opponents
1989-90 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | — | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
Boston | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
Charlotte | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 |
Chicago | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
Cleveland | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–5 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
Dallas | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | — | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
Detroit | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Houston | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Indiana | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | — | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Miami | 0–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
Milwaukee | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
Minnesota | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 |
New Jersey | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | — | 1–4 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
New York | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 |
Orlando | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 |
Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 5–0 | 0–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
Portland | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–0 |
Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 |
Washington | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Game log
1989–90 game log Total: 59–23 (Home: 35–6; Road: 24–17) | |||||||||
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November: 9–5 (home: 5–1; road: 4–4)
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December: 9–6 (home: 5–1; road: 4–5)
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January: 12–3 (home: 8–1; road: 4–2)
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February: 10–1 (home: 6–0; road: 4–1)
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March: 11–4 (home: 6–0; road: 5–4)
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April: 7–4 (home: 4–3; road: 3–1)
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1989–90 schedule |
Playoffs
Player statistics
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Aguirre | 78 | 40 | 25.7 | .488 | .333 | .756 | 3.9 | 1.9 | .44 | .24 | 14.1 |
William Bedford | 42 | 0 | 5.9 | .432 | .167 | .409 | 1.4 | .1 | .07 | .40 | 2.8 |
Joe Dumars | 75 | 71 | 34.4 | .480 | .400 | .900 | 2.8 | 4.9 | .84 | .03 | 17.8 |
James Edwards | 82 | 70 | 27.8 | .498 | .000 | .749 | 4.2 | .8 | .28 | .45 | 14.5 |
Dave Greenwood | 37 | 0 | 5.5 | .423 | .000 | .552 | 2.1 | .3 | .11 | .24 | 1.6 |
Scott Hastings | 40 | 0 | 4.2 | .303 | .250 | .864 | .8 | .2 | .08 | .08 | 1.0 |
Gerald Henderson | 46 | 0 | 7.3 | .506 | .452 | .769 | .7 | 1.3 | .17 | .04 | 2.3 |
Vinnie Johnson | 82 | 12 | 24.0 | .431 | .147 | .668 | 3.1 | 3.1 | .87 | .16 | 9.8 |
Stan Kimbrough | 10 | 0 | 5.0 | .438 | .000 | 1.000 | .7 | .5 | .40 | .00 | 1.6 |
Bill Laimbeer | 81 | 81 | 33.0 | .484 | .361 | .854 | 9.6 | 2.1 | .70 | 1.04 | 12.1 |
Ralph Lewis | 4 | 0 | 1.5 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .00 | .00 | .0 |
Dennis Rodman | 82 | 43 | 29.0 | .581 | .111 | .654 | 9.7 | .9 | .63 | .73 | 8.8 |
John Salley | 82 | 12 | 23.3 | .512 | .250 | .713 | 5.4 | .8 | .62 | 1.87 | 7.2 |
Isiah Thomas | 81 | 81 | 37.0 | .438 | .309 | .775 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 1.72 | .23 | 18.4 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark Aguirre | 20 | 3 | 22.0 | .467 | .333 | .750 | 4.6 | 1.4 | .50 | .15 | 11.0 |
William Bedford | 5 | 0 | 3.8 | .167 | .000 | 1.000 | .4 | .0 | .00 | .20 | .8 |
Joe Dumars | 20 | 20 | 37.7 | .458 | .263 | .876 | 2.2 | 4.8 | 1.10 | .00 | 18.2 |
James Edwards | 20 | 20 | 26.8 | .494 | .000 | .604 | 3.6 | .6 | .25 | .55 | 14.3 |
Dave Greenwood | 5 | 0 | 9.4 | .500 | .000 | .250 | 1.8 | .0 | .40 | .00 | 1.0 |
Scott Hastings | 5 | 0 | 3.2 | .250 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .20 | .00 | .4 |
Gerald Henderson | 8 | 0 | 2.4 | .200 | .000 | .000 | .4 | .5 | .25 | .00 | .2 |
Vinnie Johnson | 20 | 0 | 23.2 | .462 | .286 | .791 | 2.8 | 2.7 | .40 | .20 | 10.3 |
Bill Laimbeer | 20 | 20 | 33.4 | .457 | .349 | .862 | 10.6 | 1.4 | 1.15 | .90 | 11.1 |
Dennis Rodman | 19 | 17 | 29.5 | .568 | .000 | .514 | 8.5 | .9 | .47 | .68 | 6.6 |
John Salley | 20 | 0 | 27.4 | .475 | .000 | .755 | 5.8 | 1.0 | .45 | 1.65 | 9.5 |
Isiah Thomas | 20 | 20 | 37.9 | .463 | .471 | .794 | 5.4 | 8.2 | 2.15 | .35 | 20.4 |
Awards and records
References
- 1989-90 Detroit Pistons
- Hafner, Dan (February 22, 1990). "NBA ROUNDUP: Pistons Don't Let Up on Magic, 140-109". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1990". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- DiGiovanni, Joe (March 20, 1990). "Pistons 117, Bucks 96". United Press International. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- Aldridge, David (March 25, 1990). "Pistons Frightening Everybody". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- "1989–90 Detroit Pistons Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- "Dennis Rodman NBA Defensive Player of Year". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 7, 1990. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- Shook, Richard L. (May 7, 1990). "Pistons' Rodman Voted Defensive Player of Year". United Press International. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- Brown, Clifton (May 8, 1990). "Rodman Is the Key to Piston Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- "NBA & ABA Defensive Player of the Year Award Winners". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- "1989–90 Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 11, 1990). "NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Entire Family Is Back Together--Almost". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- "1990 NBA All-Star Game: East 130, West 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
- Slater, Jim (May 1, 1990). "Pistons 108, Pacers 96". United Press International. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- "Pistons Sweep the Pacers to Start Defense of Title". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 2, 1990. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- Albom, Mitch (May 2, 1990). "Pistons Hush Pacers in Rite of Champions". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- "1990 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pacers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- Goldaper, Sam (May 16, 1990). "Pistons' Defense Leaves Knicks Out in Cold". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- "Detroit Eliminates New York, 95-84: Eastern Conference: Mark Aguirre Comes Off the Bench to Scores 25 Points. Pistons Make Their Fourth Consecutive Trip to the Conference Finals". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1990. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- "Pistons Play Textbook Defense to Eliminate Knicks from Playoffs". Deseret News. Associated Press. May 16, 1990. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- Goldaper, Sam (June 4, 1990). "Piston Defense Reigns Supreme". The New York Times. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 4, 1990). "Pistons: Job Still to Be Done: Pro Basketball: Detroit Finishes Chicago, 93-74, But the Celebration Is Muted, Because NBA Final Series with Portland Is Ahead". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- Harris, John (June 4, 1990). "Pistons Bury Bulls with Early Flurry in 93-74 Victory". Deseret News. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- "1990 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Bulls vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- Brown, Clifton (June 6, 1990). "Portland Tries to Swallow a Bitter Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- McManis, Sam (June 6, 1990). "Daly Simply Puts Trust in Thomas as Pistons Rally: NBA Finals: Detroit Guard Scores 14 of His 33 Points During a 19-4 Piston Run That Beats Portland, 105-99". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- Aldridge, David (June 6, 1990). "Thomas Leads, Pistons Follow to 105-99 Game 1 Victory". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- Brown, Clifton (June 8, 1990). "BASKETBALL; Drexler Is Confident as Blazers Go Home". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
- Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 8, 1990). "Trail Blazers Get Even for Game 1 Collapse, 106-105: NBA Finals: Drexler's Free Throws Finally Defuse Laimbeer's Bombs in Overtime. The Next Three Games Are in Portland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
- Aldridge, David (June 8, 1990). "Blazers Win in Overtime". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- Barnes, Mike (June 14, 1990). "Pistons 92, Trail Blazers 90". United Press International. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1990). "Pistons Rally to Repeat as N.B.A. Champions". The New York Times. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
- McManis, Sam (June 15, 1990). "Vinnie, Vidi, Vici: Pistons Repeat Feat: NBA Finals: Johnson Hits Game-Winner in Last Second as Detroit Rallies from Seven-Point Deficit for a 92-90 Victory. Thomas Is the Unanimous Choice as MVP". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
- Aldridge, David (June 15, 1990). "In Final Second, Pistons Win Second Finals". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
- "1990 NBA Finals: Trail Blazers vs. Pistons". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- "PRO BASKETBALL; Teamwork Thumps Star Power". The New York Times. June 16, 2004. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- 1989-90 NBA Season Summary - Basketball-Reference.com