The 1987âÂÂ88 Utah Jazz season was the 14th season for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association, and their ninth season in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz had the 15th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft, and selected center Jose Ortiz out of Oregon State University; however, Ortiz went to play overseas in Spain, and would not play for the Jazz until the next season. During the off-season, the team acquired Melvin Turpin from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Jazz played around .500 in winning percentage in the first half of the regular season, holding a 22âÂÂ22 record at the All-Star break, but then played above .500 for the remainder of the season, winning seven of their final eight games. The team finished in third place in the Midwest Division with a 47âÂÂ35 record, earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference, and qualified for the NBA playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.
Karl Malone averaged 27.7 points, 12.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In addition, sixth man Thurl Bailey averaged 19.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game off the bench, while John Stockton showed improvement, replacing Rickey Green as the team's starting point guard this season, averaging 14.7 points, 13.8 assists and 3.0 steals per game, and also being named to the All-NBA Second Team, and Darrell Griffith contributed 11.3 points per game also off the bench, but only played 52 games due to injury. Meanwhile, Bob Hansen provided the team with 9.6 points per game, Kelly Tripucka contributed 7.5 points per game, but only appeared in just 49 games, and Mark Eaton averaged 7.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game, and was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Off the bench, Turpin provided with 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game, while Green contributed 4.9 points and 3.7 assists per game, and starting small forward Marc Iavaroni averaged 4.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.
During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, Malone was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, as a member of the Western Conference All-Star team; it was his first ever All-Star appearance. Malone scored 22 points along with 10 rebounds and 2 steals, despite the Western Conference losing to the Eastern Conference, 138âÂÂ133. Malone also finished in eighth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Stockton finished in tenth place; Stockton also finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting, behind Kevin Duckworth of the Portland Trail Blazers, while Bailey finished in second place in Sixth Man of the Year voting, behind Roy Tarpley of the Dallas Mavericks, and Eaton finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, and with Stockton and Hansen both finishing tied in eighth place.
In the Western Conference First Round of the 1988 NBA playoffs, the Jazz faced off against the 4thâÂÂseeded Trail Blazers, who were led by All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, and Most Improved Player of the Year, Duckworth. The Jazz lost Game 1 to the Trail Blazers on the road, 108âÂÂ96 at the Memorial Coliseum. However, the team managed to win the next three games, which included a Game 4 win over the Trail Blazers at home, 111âÂÂ96 at the Salt Palace to win the series in four games.
In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the topâÂÂseeded, and defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, who won the Pacific Division title, and were led by the quartet of All-Star guard Magic Johnson, All-Star forward James Worthy, Byron Scott and All-Star center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Jazz lost Game 1 to the Lakers on the road, 110âÂÂ91 at the Great Western Forum, but managed to win the next two games, including a Game 3 home win over the Lakers at the Salt Palace, 96âÂÂ89 to take a 2âÂÂ1 series lead. The Jazz lost the next two games, but managed to win Game 6 over the Lakers at the Salt Palace, 108âÂÂ80 to even the series. However, the Jazz lost Game 7 to the Lakers at the Great Western Forum, 109âÂÂ98, thus losing in a hard-fought seven-game series. The Lakers would defeat the Detroit Pistons in a full seven-game series in the 1988 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive NBA championship.
The Jazz finished 13th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 503,969 at the Salt Palace during the regular season. Following the season, Green was left unprotected in the 1988 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets expansion team, while Tripucka was traded to the Hornets, and Turpin left to play overseas in Spain.
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | <br>6:30p.m. MST | @ Dallas | L 93âÂÂ95 | Malone (25) | Eaton (12) | Stockton (8) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | November 7 | Sacramento | W 121âÂÂ100 | | | | Salt Palace | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 10 | @ L.A. Clippers | L 88âÂÂ100 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 1âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Dallas | W 121âÂÂ92 | Malone (32) | Malone (10) | Stockton (14) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 2âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | November 13 | Phoenix | W 109âÂÂ92 | | | | Salt Palace | 3âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | November 14 | @ Houston | L 93âÂÂ101 | | | | The Summit | 3âÂÂ3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Denver | W 120âÂÂ110 | Malone (25) | Eaton (25) | Stockton (15) | Salt Palace<br>11,461 | 4âÂÂ3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 8 | November 18 | @ Phoenix | L 80âÂÂ90 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 4âÂÂ4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 20 | Indiana | W 112âÂÂ81 | | | | Salt Palace | 5âÂÂ4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 10 | November 21 | @ San Antonio | L 119âÂÂ120 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 5âÂÂ5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Washington | W 100âÂÂ83 | Malone (22) | Bailey,<br>Eaton (14) | Green (8) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 6âÂÂ5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 27 | Houston | W 118âÂÂ96 | | | | Salt Palace | 7âÂÂ5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 13 | November 30 | Philadelphia | L 100âÂÂ106 | | | | Salt Palace | 7âÂÂ6
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 14 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Chicago | L 101âÂÂ105 | Malone (33) | Malone (14) | Stockton (11) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 7âÂÂ7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 4 | New York | W 104âÂÂ92 | | | | Salt Palace | 8âÂÂ7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | December 5 | @ Sacramento | W 126âÂÂ117 | | | | ARCO Arena | 9âÂÂ7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 17 | December 8 | @ San Antonio | L 100âÂÂ105 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 9âÂÂ8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | December 10 | @ Houston | L 93âÂÂ98 | | | | The Summit | 9âÂÂ9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 12 | Golden State | W 127âÂÂ93 | | | | Salt Palace | 10âÂÂ9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | December 14 | Seattle | W 116âÂÂ95 | | | | Salt Palace | 11âÂÂ9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | <br>5:30p.m. MST | @ Boston | L 111âÂÂ121 | Malone (31) | Malone (12) | Stockton (11) | Boston Garden<br>14,890 | 11âÂÂ10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | December 18 | @ Indiana | L 97âÂÂ121 | | | | Market Square Arena | 11âÂÂ11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | <br>5:30p.m. MST | @ Atlanta | L 124âÂÂ130 (OT) | Griffith (32) | Malone (17) | Stockton (15) | The Omni<br>12,515 | 11âÂÂ12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 21 | @ New Jersey | L 95âÂÂ106 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 11âÂÂ13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | <br>5:30p.m. MST | @ Cleveland | W 91âÂÂ83 | Malone (26) | Eaton (16) | Green (6) | Richfield Coliseum<br>9,202 | 12âÂÂ13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | <br>2:00p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | L 109âÂÂ117 | Malone (26) | Malone (14) | Stockton (15) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 12âÂÂ14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | @ Denver | W 98âÂÂ97 | Malone (37) | Malone (13) | Stockton (8) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>10,621 | 13âÂÂ14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 30 | Golden State | W 104âÂÂ103 | | | | Salt Palace | 14âÂÂ14
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | January 2 | @ Sacramento | L 105âÂÂ107 | | | | ARCO Arena | 14âÂÂ15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Boston | L 99âÂÂ107 | Malone (25) | Malone (17) | Stockton (11) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 14âÂÂ16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 31 | January 6 | @ Philadelphia | L 93âÂÂ116 | | | | The Spectrum | 14âÂÂ17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | <br>7:00p.m. MST | @ Milwaukee | W 111âÂÂ107 | Malone (29) | Malone (11) | Stockton (18) | MECCA Arena<br>11,052 | 15âÂÂ17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 33 | <br>6:30p.m. MST | @ Chicago | L 91âÂÂ113 | Malone (25) | Malone (8) | Stockton (9) | Chicago Stadium<br>17,877 | 15âÂÂ18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | January 13 | Portland | W 116âÂÂ104 | | | | Salt Palace | 16âÂÂ18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 15 | @ Seattle | L 105âÂÂ124 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 16âÂÂ19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Detroit | L 117âÂÂ120 | Malone (39) | Malone (13) | Stockton (11) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 16âÂÂ20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 22 | San Antonio | W 119âÂÂ106 | | | | Salt Palace | 17âÂÂ20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Cleveland | W 119âÂÂ96 | Malone (36) | Malone (12) | Stockton (13) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 18âÂÂ20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | <br>8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 100âÂÂ111 | Malone,<br>Stockton (18) | Bailey,<br>Eaton,<br>Malone (9) | Stockton (11) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 18âÂÂ21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 29 | @ Golden State | L 100âÂÂ102 | | | | OaklandâÂÂAlameda County Coliseum Arena | 18âÂÂ22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Atlanta | W 115âÂÂ109 | Bailey (33) | Eaton (14) | Stockton (19) | Salt Palace<br>12,212 | 19âÂÂ22
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 1 | Seattle | W 105âÂÂ100 | | | | Salt Palace | 20âÂÂ22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 3 | Sacramento | W 123âÂÂ91 | | | | Salt Palace | 21âÂÂ22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | February 4 | @ Portland | W 126âÂÂ123 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 22âÂÂ22 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 45 | <br>6:00p.m. MST | @ Dallas | L 93âÂÂ124 | Malone (18) | Bailey (9) | Stockton (14) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 22âÂÂ23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Dallas | W 93âÂÂ80 | Bailey (24) | Malone (13) | Stockton (16) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 23âÂÂ23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | @ Denver | L 93âÂÂ107 | Malone (31) | Eaton (12) | Stockton (12) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>9,971 | 23âÂÂ24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | February 15 | Portland | W 112âÂÂ94 | | | | Salt Palace | 24âÂÂ24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | February 17 | Phoenix | W 108âÂÂ103 | | | | Salt Palace | 25âÂÂ24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 19 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 98âÂÂ88 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 26âÂÂ24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | February 20 | L.A. Clippers | W 120âÂÂ103 | | | | Salt Palace | 26âÂÂ25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Denver | L 120âÂÂ123 | Malone (38) | Malone (17) | Stockton (16) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 27âÂÂ25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | <br>8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 105âÂÂ112 | Malone (28) | Malone (16) | Stockton (15) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 27âÂÂ26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | February 29 | @ Sacramento | W 115âÂÂ110 | | | | ARCO Arena | 28âÂÂ26
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 1 | Houston | W 113âÂÂ112 | | | | Salt Palace | 29âÂÂ26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | March 4 | @ Seattle | W 125âÂÂ110 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 30âÂÂ26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 5 | San Antonio | W 125âÂÂ106 | | | | Salt Palace | 31âÂÂ26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 58 | March 7 | New Jersey | W 105âÂÂ81 | | | | Salt Palace | 32âÂÂ26 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | <br>5:30p.m. MST | @ Detroit | L 98âÂÂ103 | Malone (26) | Malone (18) | Stockton (11) | Pontiac Silverdome<br>20,623 | 32âÂÂ27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | <br>6:00p.m. MST | @ Washington | W 109âÂÂ107 | Malone (34) | Malone,<br>Turpin (8) | Stockton (16) | Capital Centre<br>10,775 | 33âÂÂ27 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 61 | March 12 | @ New York | L 105âÂÂ108 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 33âÂÂ28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | @ Denver | W 116âÂÂ115 | Bailey (31) | Eaton (12) | Stockton (20) | McNichols Sports Arena<br>10,172 | 34âÂÂ28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Dallas | W 120âÂÂ105 | Malone (29) | Malone (17) | Stockton (17) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 35âÂÂ28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Denver | W 118âÂÂ111 | Malone (30) | Eaton,<br>Malone (10) | Stockton (15) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 36âÂÂ28 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 65 | March 19 | @ San Antonio | L 110âÂÂ113 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 36âÂÂ29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 22 | Phoenix | W 103âÂÂ96 | | | | Salt Palace | 37âÂÂ29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 67 | March 24 | Sacramento | W 117âÂÂ97 | | | | Salt Palace | 38âÂÂ29 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | Milwaukee | L 105âÂÂ107 | Malone (33) | Malone (14) | Stockton (18) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 38âÂÂ30 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 69 | <br>8:30p.m. MST | @ L.A. Lakers | L 111âÂÂ122 | Malone (25) | Malone (12) | Stockton (18) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 38âÂÂ31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 31 | Golden State | W 115âÂÂ92 | | | | Salt Palace | 39âÂÂ31
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | <br>7:30p.m. MST | L.A. Lakers | W 106âÂÂ92 | Bailey (31) | Malone (15) | Stockton (16) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 40âÂÂ31 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | April 5 | @ Phoenix | L 106âÂÂ111 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum | 40âÂÂ32 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | April 7 | @ Houston | L 107âÂÂ113 | | | | The Summit | 40âÂÂ33 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | <br>6:30p.m. MDT | @ Dallas | L 95âÂÂ118 | Stockton (15) | Iavaroni (6) | Stockton (9) | Reunion Arena<br>17,007 | 40âÂÂ34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 11 | @ Golden State | W 113âÂÂ102 | | | | OaklandâÂÂAlameda County Coliseum Arena | 41âÂÂ34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 12 | L.A. Clippers | W 100âÂÂ93 | | | | Salt Palace | 42âÂÂ34 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 77 | April 14 | Portland | L 123âÂÂ128 | | | | Salt Palace | 42âÂÂ35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 16 | San Antonio | W 107âÂÂ82 | | | | Salt Palace | 43âÂÂ35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | April 19 | @ Portland | W 129âÂÂ122 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 44âÂÂ35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 20 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 112âÂÂ106 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 45âÂÂ35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 81 | April 22 | @ Seattle | W 110âÂÂ109 | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 46âÂÂ35 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 23 | Houston | W 125âÂÂ107 | | | | Salt Palace | 47âÂÂ35
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28 | @ Portland | L 96âÂÂ108 | Thurl Bailey (31) | Karl Malone (13) | John Stockton (9) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 30 | @ Portland | W 114âÂÂ105 | Karl Malone (37) | Karl Malone (16) | John Stockton (13) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | May 4 | Portland | W 113âÂÂ108 | Karl Malone (35) | Karl Malone (9) | John Stockton (16) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 6 | Portland | W 111âÂÂ96 | Karl Malone (38) | Mark Eaton (11) | John Stockton (10) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 3âÂÂ1 |-
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | <br>1:30p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 91âÂÂ110 | Malone (29) | Bailey (8) | Stockton (16) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 0âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | <br>9:00p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | W 101âÂÂ97 | Malone (29) | Eaton (12) | Stockton (13) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 1âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | <br>9:00p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | W 96âÂÂ89 | Malone (29) | Eaton (14) | Stockton (12) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 2âÂÂ1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | <br>1:30p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | L 100âÂÂ113 | Malone (29) | Malone (11) | Stockton (13) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 2âÂÂ2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | <br>8:30p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 109âÂÂ111 | Bailey (28) | Malone (16) | Stockton (24) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 2âÂÂ3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | <br>8:30p.m. MDT | L.A. Lakers | W 108âÂÂ80 | Malone (27) | Malone (11) | Stockton (17) | Salt Palace<br>12,444 | 3âÂÂ3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | <br>1:30p.m. MDT | @ L.A. Lakers | L 98âÂÂ109 | Malone (31) | Malone (15) | Stockton (20) | The Forum<br>17,505 | 3âÂÂ4 |-