[1] During the off-season, the SuperSonics acquired Michael Cage from the Los Angeles Clippers.
[5] However, the team lost seven straight games between March and April, but then posted an 8-game winning streak afterwards, and finished in third place in the Pacific Division with a 47–35 record.
[6] Dale Ellis averaged 27.5 points and 1.3 steals per game, finished second in the league with 162 three-point field goals, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game in Houston, Texas,[7][8][9][10][11] while Xavier McDaniel played a sixth man role,[12][13][14] averaging 20.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game off the bench, and finished in fifth place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[15][16][17] and second-year forward Derrick McKey became the team's starting small forward, averaging 15.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
[19][20][21][22] In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Houston Rockets in four games in the Western Conference First Round,[23][24][25][26] before being swept by Magic Johnson, and the 2-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games in the Western Conference Semi-finals.
[27][28][29][30] The Lakers would reach the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year, but would lose to the Detroit Pistons in four straight games.