The 1990 Western Conference Semifinals Game 7 vs Phoenix Suns

Lore & Background

During the off-season, the Trail Blazers acquired Danny Ainge from the Sacramento Kings, and later on traded second-year guard Dražen Petrović to the New Jersey Nets, and acquired former All-Star guard Walter Davis from the Denver Nuggets in a three-team mid-season trade. With the addition of Ainge, the Trail Blazers won their first eleven games of the regular season, posted an eight-game winning streak between November and December, and won five straight games in late December, which led to a franchise-best 27–3 start to the season. The team posted a seven-game winning streak in January, and later on held a 39–9 record at the All-Star break. The Trail Blazers posted a 16-game winning streak between March and April, and finished in first place in the Pacific Division with a league-best 63–19 record, setting a franchise-high win total that still stands today, earning the first seed in the Western Conference. It was their first Division title since the 1977–78 season, and ended the Los Angeles Lakers' streak of nine consecutive years as Pacific Division champions, and number-one seed in the Western Conference. The team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the ninth consecutive year. In the Western Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Trail Blazers faced off against the 8th–seeded Seattle SuperSonics, winning the series in five games. In the Western Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 5th–seeded Utah Jazz, winning the series in five games. In the Western Conference Finals, the Trail Blazers then faced off against the 3rd–seeded Lakers, losing the series in six games.

Reader's Guide

The 1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers set a franchise-high 63 wins, tied with the 1991–92 team. They won the Pacific Division and reached the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

Did You Know?

• Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Kevin Duckworth were all selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game.
• Danny Ainge contributed 11.1 points and 3.6 assists per game off the bench.
• Buck Williams was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.