The 1988 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1987–88 season.

The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.

The Lakers became the first team since the Boston Celtics in 1969 to repeat as champions, a feat that coach Pat Riley guaranteed the previous offseason.

This marked the first time since 1983 that the Celtics did not represent the East in the NBA Finals, but they did win one of the most memorable games of the 1988 playoffs, beating the Hawks 118–116 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Boston Garden.

[1] The Dallas Mavericks made their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, losing in 7 to the Lakers.

On the other hand, the Washington Bullets did not return until 1997, and would not win a playoff game again until 2005 as the Wizards.

Only 1990 has had more than two playoff series where the home team went undefeated in a single year.