1986–87 Seattle SuperSonics season

The 1986–87 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 20th season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association. Bernie Bickerstaff returned for his second season as head coach of the franchise and, despite a modest improvement over their previous season's 31–51 record, managed to clinch a spot in the playoffs, where they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in four games in the First Round, and then the Houston Rockets in six games in the Semi-finals, reaching the Western Conference Finals, only to be swept in four games to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. The 39-43 Sonics remain the last team to date in the NBA to win a playoff series with a losing regular season record.

It is also their first year without team captain Jack Sikma as he was traded in the offseason.

Game log

 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 1 || October 31 || vs Portland Trail Blazers || 110-127 || Tom Chambers (27) || Memorial Coliseum 12,666 || 1–0


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 * 2 || November 1 || Sacramento Kings || 103-114 || Xavier McDaniel (27) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,296 || 2–0
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 * 3 || November 4 || Los Angeles Lakers || 110-96 || Tom Chambers (21) || Seattle Center Coliseum 10,426 || 2–1
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 * 4 || November 6 || Dallas Mavericks || 147-124 || Xavier McDaniel (28) || Seattle Center Coliseum 8,363 || 2–2
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 * 5 || November 8 || New York Knicks || 102-105 || Dale Ellis (29) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,280 || 3–2
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 * 6 || November 11 || Philadelphia 76ers || 121-114 || Tom Chambers (33) || Seattle Center Coliseum 12,600 || 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 7 || November 12 || vs Los Angeles Lakers || 122-97 || Xavier McDaniel (17) || The Forum 13,694 || 3–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 8 || November 15 || vs Golden State Warriors || 121-127 || Tom Chambers (38) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,655 || 4–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 9 || November 18 || Sacramento Kings || 105-119 || Dale Ellis (28) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,411 || 5–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 10 || November 20 || Milwaukee Bucks || 116-105 || Tom Chambers (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 8,790 || 5–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 11 || November 22 || Indiana Pacers || 111-121 || Tom Chambers (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,399 || 6–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 12 || November 25 || Los Angeles Clippers || 103-113 || Dale Ellis (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 4,702 || 7–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 13 || November 26 || vs Utah Jazz || 127-91 || Tom Chambers (22) || Salt Palace 10,512 || 7–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 14 || November 28 || vs Phoenix Suns || 104-117 || Dale Ellis (34) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,462 || 8–6


 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 15 || December 2 || Chicago Bulls || 115-109 (OT) || Xavier McDaniel Tom Chambers (29) || Seattle Center Coliseum 13,438 || 8–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 16 || December 4 || vs San Antonio Spurs || 102-109 || Tom Chambers (36) || HemisFair Arena 5,893 || 9–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 17 || December 6 || vs Houston Rockets || 80-136 || Tom Chambers (29) || The Summit 16,016 || 10–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 18 || December 10 || vs Los Angeles Clippers || 101-94 || Tom Chambers (28) || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 5,573 || 10–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 19 || December 11 || San Antonio Spurs || 107-113 || Xavier McDaniel (33) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,056 || 11–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 20 || December 13 || Dallas Mavericks || 126-109 || Tom Chambers Dale Ellis (24) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,789 || 11–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 21 || December 16 || vs Portland Trail Blazers || 126-118 || Dale Ellis (34) || Memorial Coliseum 12,666 || 11–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 22 || December 18 || Houston Rockets || 100-114 || Dale Ellis (33) || Seattle Center Coliseum 7,696 || 12–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 23 || December 19 || vs Phoenix Suns || 106-108 || Dale Ellis (28) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,433 || 13–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 24 || December 21 || Golden State Warriors || 121-112 || Tom Chambers (25) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,228 || 13–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 25 || December 23 || Denver Nuggets || 116-127 || Tom Chambers (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 7,459 || 14–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 26 || December 26 || Los Angeles Clippers || 107-113 || Tom Chambers (27) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,353 || 15–11
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 * 27 || December 28 || Portland Trail Blazers || 127-118 || Xavier McDaniel (30) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,365 || 15–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 28 || December 30 || Boston Celtics || 104-102 || Xavier McDaniel (25) || Seattle Center Coliseum 14,600 || 15–13


 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 29 || January 2 || vs Dallas Mavericks || 117-107 || Dale Ellis (28) || Reunion Arena 17,007 || 15–14
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 * 30 || January 3 || vs Houston Rockets || 138-114 || Xavier McDaniel Dale Ellis (21) || The Summit 16,016 || 15–15
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 * 31 || January 6 || Phoenix Suns || 108-138 || Tom Chambers (29) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,764 || 16–15
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 * 32 || January 8 || vs Golden State Warriors || 108-115 || Dale Ellis (35) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,790 || 17–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 33 || January 11 || Utah Jazz || 111-127 || Tom Chambers (31) || Seattle Center Coliseum 7,594 || 18–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 34 || January 13 || vs Denver Nuggets || 117-109 || Tom Chambers (30) || McNichols Sports Arena 8,981 || 18–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 35 || January 14 || San Antonio Spurs || 104-130 || Dale Ellis (32) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,068 || 19–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 36 || January 16 || Denver Nuggets || 100-134 || Xavier McDaniel (30) || Seattle Center Coliseum 8,544 || 20–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 37 || January 17 || vs Sacramento Kings || 125-115 || Xavier McDaniel (37) || ARCO Arena (I) 10,333 || 20–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 38 || January 21 || vs Philadelphia 76ers || 129-123 (OT) || Dale Ellis (40) || The Spectrum 11,891 || 20–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 39 || January 23 || vs New Jersey Nets || 120-125 || Xavier McDaniel (32) || Brendan Byrne Arena 9,182 || 21–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 40 || January 24 || vs Atlanta Hawks || 97-87 || Dale Ellis (27) || Omni Coliseum 13,842 || 21–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 41 || January 26 || vs Utah Jazz || 95-108 || Dale Ellis (34) || Salt Palace 12,212 || 22–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 42 || January 28 || Los Angeles Lakers || 101-125 || Tom Chambers (37) || Seattle Center Coliseum 14,634 || 23–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 43 || January 30 || vs Golden State Warriors || 127-119 || Tom Chambers (36) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 9,276 || 23–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 44 || January 31 || Phoenix Suns || 112-118 (OT) || Dale Ellis (24) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,344 || 24–20


 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 45 || February 2 || New Jersey Nets || 100-108 || Xavier McDaniel (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,132 || 25–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 46 || February 4 || vs Dallas Mavericks || 124-94 || Tom Chambers (19) || Reunion Arena 17,007 || 25–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 47 || February 5 || vs San Antonio Spurs || 117-111 || Xavier McDaniel (26) || HemisFair Arena 7,548 || 25–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 48 || February 10 || Atlanta Hawks || 125-113 || Tom Chambers (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 12,004 || 25–23
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 49 || February 12 || vs Milwaukee Bucks || 106-104 || Tom Chambers (32) || MECCA Arena 11,052 || 25–24
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 50 || February 13 || vs Chicago Bulls || 106-98 || Xavier McDaniel (27) || Chicago Stadium 16,251 || 25–25
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 51 || February 16 || vs Cleveland Cavaliers || 105-94 || Dale Ellis (17) || Coliseum at Richfield 12,163 || 25–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 52 || February 18 || vs Indiana Pacers || 105-88 || Dale Ellis (24) || Market Square Arena 9,077 || 25–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 53 || February 19 || vs Detroit Pistons || 117-105 || Dale Ellis (31) || Pontiac Silverdome 14,482 || 25–28
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 * 54 || February 21 || Washington Bullets || 93-110 || Tom Chambers (31) || Seattle Center Coliseum 11,637 || 26–28
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 * 55 || February 23 || Los Angeles Clippers || 112-124 || Dale Ellis (29) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,528 || 27–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 56 || February 24 || vs Utah Jazz || 133-103 || Dale Ellis (26) || Salt Palace 12,212 || 27–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 57 || February 26 || Denver Nuggets || 100-106 || Xavier McDaniel (30) || Seattle Center Coliseum 7,691 || 28–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 58 || February 28 || vs Phoenix Suns || 105-112 || Dale Ellis (40) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 13,338 || 29–29


 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 59 || March 2 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 107-123 || Tom Chambers (36) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,488 || 30–29
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 60 || March 4 || vs Los Angeles Lakers || 138-124 || Dale Ellis (32) || The Forum 17,505 || 30–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 61 || March 5 || Portland Trail Blazers || 122-127 || Dale Ellis (38) || Seattle Center Coliseum 10,205 || 31–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 62 || March 7 || Houston Rockets || 115-118 || Tom Chambers (29) || Seattle Center Coliseum 14,474 || 32–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 63 || March 10 || vs Houston Rockets || 127-136 (2OT) || Tom Chambers (42) || The Summit 16,279 || 33–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 64 || March 11 || vs Dallas Mavericks || 130-117 || Tom Chambers Dale Ellis Xavier McDaniel (21) || Reunion Arena 17,007 || 33–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 65 || March 13 || vs Los Angeles Clippers || 108-104 || Tom Chambers (31) || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6,522 || 33–32
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 66 || March 15 || vs Sacramento Kings || 107-106 || Dale Ellis (40) || ARCO Arena (I) 10,333 || 33–33
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 67 || March 16 || San Antonio Spurs || 111-122 || Dale Ellis (33) || Seattle Center Coliseum 5,934 || 34–33
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 68 || March 19 || vs Washington Bullets || 110-106 || Xavier McDaniel (20) || Capital Centre 5,987 || 34–34
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 69 || March 20 || vs Boston Celtics || 112-108 || Dale Ellis (31) || Boston Garden 14,890 || 34–35
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 70 || March 23 || vs New York Knicks || 121-126 (OT) || Xavier McDaniel (40) || Madison Square Garden (IV) 9,038 || 35–35
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 71 || March 26 || vs Denver Nuggets || 123-113 || Xavier McDaniel (33) || McNichols Sports Arena 10,183 || 35–36
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 72 || March 27 || Golden State Warriors || 106-105 || Xavier McDaniel (31) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,091 || 35–37
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 73 || March 29 || Detroit Pistons || 108-107 || Xavier McDaniel (27) || Seattle Center Coliseum 8,717 || 35–38
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 74 || March 31 || Sacramento Kings || 129-132 || Tom Chambers (36) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,095 || 36–38


 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 75 || April 2 || Los Angeles Lakers || 117-114 || Xavier McDaniel (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 14,739 || 36–39
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 76 || April 4 || Portland Trail Blazers || 126-123 || Tom Chambers (34) || Seattle Center Coliseum 12,227 || 36–40
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 77 || April 7 || Phoenix Suns || 127-125 (OT) || Dale Ellis (35) || Seattle Center Coliseum 6,585 || 36–41
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 78 || April 10 || vs Portland Trail Blazers || 121-115 || Tom Chambers (27) || Memorial Coliseum 12,666 || 36–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 79 || April 14 || Utah Jazz || 102-103 || Tom Chambers (30) || Seattle Center Coliseum 7,178 || 37–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 80 || April 16 || vs Los Angeles Clippers || 87-118 || Dale Ellis (41) || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 6,517 || 38–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb"
 * 81 || April 18 || Golden State Warriors || 132-127 || Tom Chambers (31) || Seattle Center Coliseum 9,428 || 38–43
 * - align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb"
 * 82 || April 19 || vs Los Angeles Lakers || 104-110 || Xavier McDaniel (39) || The Forum 17,505 || 39–43


 * Green background indicates win.
 * Red background indicates loss.

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 23
 * @ Dallas
 * L 129–151
 * Tom Chambers (35)
 * Xavier McDaniel (13)
 * Xavier McDaniel (7)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 25
 * @ Dallas
 * W 112–110
 * Dale Ellis (32)
 * Xavier McDaniel (9)
 * Nate McMillan (8)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 28
 * Dallas
 * W 117–107
 * Dale Ellis (43)
 * Dale Ellis (14)
 * Nate McMillan (9)
 * Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,150
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * April 30
 * Dallas
 * W 124–98
 * Tom Chambers (31)
 * Chambers, Ellis (9)
 * Nate McMillan (9)
 * Hec Edmundson Pavilion 8,150
 * 3–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 2
 * @ Houston
 * W 111–106 (OT)
 * Dale Ellis (34)
 * Tom Chambers (9)
 * Nate McMillan (8)
 * The Summit 16,279
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 5
 * @ Houston
 * W 99–97
 * Dale Ellis (30)
 * Dale Ellis (9)
 * Eddie Johnson (8)
 * The Summit 16,279
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * May 7
 * Houston
 * L 84–102
 * Tom Chambers (24)
 * Dale Ellis (10)
 * McMillan, Young (4)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,587
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 9
 * Houston
 * W 117–102
 * Tom Chambers (38)
 * Alton Lister (17)
 * Nate McMillan (10)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,559
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 12
 * @ Houston
 * L 107–112
 * Dale Ellis (27)
 * Tom Chambers (9)
 * Eddie Johnson (6)
 * The Summit 16,279
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * May 14
 * Houston
 * W 128–125 (2OT)
 * Tom Chambers (37)
 * Xavier McDaniel (12)
 * Nate McMillan (16)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,751
 * 4–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * May 16
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 82–87
 * Tom Chambers (28)
 * McDaniel, Lister (10)
 * Nate McMillan (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * May 19
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 104–112
 * Dale Ellis (22)
 * Xavier McDaniel (8)
 * Nate McMillan (7)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * May 23
 * L.A. Lakers
 * L 121–122
 * Xavier McDaniel (42)
 * Xavier McDaniel (10)
 * Nate McMillan (15)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,657
 * 0–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 25
 * L.A. Lakers
 * L 102–133
 * Tom Chambers (20)
 * Alton Lister (20)
 * Kevin Williams (5)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,477
 * 0–4

Season

 * 1. Statistics with the SuperSonics.

Awards

 * Dale Ellis won the Most Improved Player Award at the end of the season.
 * Tom Chambers participated in the 1987 NBA All-Star Game and won the game's Most Valuable Player Award. He also was named Player of the Week between December 1 and December 7.