Meanwhile, the Celtics continued to rack up championships with Russell, John Havlicek and Dave Cowens leading the way. The two teams met in the 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Celtics ousted the younger Pistons in six games. Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics Box Score, May 30, 1987 | Basketball-Reference.com. This led to another scuffle between Bird and Rodman. After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics and Pistons renewed the rivalry as they met in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics and Pistons entered a period of rebuilding during the 1990s. For the Pistons, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Adrian Dantley and Dennis Rodman. Pistons vs. Celtics, 107-108, Box Score - 1987 Playoffs Stats from the NBA game played between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics on May 26, 1987 with result, scoring by period and players. But when they reengaged in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons were a vastly different team. Game from 1987 Playoffs Final. The layup gave the Celtics a 107-106 victory, the closest margin of any game in the series, and a 3-2 series lead. The one I have seen shows the Celtics actually winning was Game 7 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals vs. Detroit. Coming from an NBA Finals defeat to their rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, the Celtics finished first place in the Eastern Conference with 57 wins and 25 losses, with Larry Bird being selected to the All-NBA First Team. Boston Celtics Celtics BOS. I'm a proud graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. We provide the latest news from the world of basketball 24-hours-a-day and cover the major basketball events. The Celtics–Pistons rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. The 1987–88 NBA season was the 42nd season of the National Basketball Association.The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their second straight Championship, beating the Detroit Pistons in seven hard-fought games in the NBA Finals, becoming the NBA's first repeat champions since the Boston Celtics did it in the 1968–69 NBA season. Shopping. What was notable was the fact that Detroit, who entered the series with 21 straight losses at the Boston Garden, beat Boston by winning 2 of 3 there (Games 1 and 5). On May 26th in 1987, Larry Bird stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas and dished it to Dennis Johnson for a layup, which turned out to be the game-winner in Game 5 of the Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons at the Boston Garden.. He played all 48 minutes. Celtics vs. Pistons, 104-122, Box Score - 1987 Playoffs Stats from the NBA game played between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons on May 23, 1987 with result, scoring by period and players. Then in the 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pistons eliminated the Celtics in six games, but it proved to be the last hurrah for the two aging squads. The Celtics had the lead late in the fourth quarter and every time the Pistons made a push the Celtics responded and were able to hold them off. Get a summary of the Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics basketball game. The next two meetings proved to be anticlimactic. Larry Bird scored 37. The famous Larry Bird steal-pass to Dennis Johnson in game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. The Pistons and Celtics first opposed each other in postseason play in 1968, with the Celtics emerging victorious in six games of the Eastern Division Semifinals. Dennis Schroder was ‘in a lot of pain’ vs the Celtics,... Steph Curry wants to finish his career with the Warriors. When my dream of playing shortstop for the Yankees fell short, I started writing about sports instead. Bird finished with 37 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Game 7. The Celtics would win three NBA championships in the 1980s, while the Pistons gradually built a team that eventually became the Bad Boys. All Rights Reserved. Info. The Celtics and Pistons faced off anew in the 1988 Eastern Conference Finals. For the Celtics, Bird, Dennis Johnson, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale and Bill Walton. Laimbeer grabbed Bird by the neck and flung him to the ground. Boston would improve to two wins to Los Angeles’ three, a series the Celtics would eventually lose in six games. Though Detroit had a better regular season record, the Celtics surprisingly eliminated them in five games, reaching their first Conference Finals since 1988. ... Game 7. The Boston Celtics squeaked out a win over the Detroit Pistons, 117 to 114, in Game 7 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals on May 30, 1987. It was also in 1978 that the Pistons moved to the Eastern Conference, turning their matchups against the Celtics into an intra-conference affair. Bird's steal helped save the series for the Celtics, who lost Game 6 in Detroit but returned home to win Game 7 at the Boston Garden and advance to the 1987 NBA Finals. The Pistons found success in the early 1950s behind George Yardley, making two NBA Finals appearances, while the Celtics soon built a dynasty behind Bill Russell, winning 11 championships between 1957 and 1969. Download the MyTeams app for the latest Celtics news and analysis The two teams played each other in the NBA playoffs five times from 1985 to 1991, with Boston winning in 1985 and 1987, and Detroit winning en route to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 1988 to 1990. ... Game 7. Between 1948 and 1978, the Celtics and Pistons were on opposite divisions/conferences in all but three seasons. Bird punched Laimbeer and then threw the basketball at the Pistons. Giannis Antetokounmpo talks on his knee issue: “Obviously it’s a little... Donovan Mitchell to have MRI after suffering ankle injury vs the... NBA G League Elite Camp set to take place this summer, Cavaliers’ Larry Nance Jr., Jarrett Allen may return soon, per report. Boston Celtics (3-3) at Detroit Pistons (1-4) Sunday, January 3, 2021 3:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #7, Road Game #4 TV: NBCSB, FS Detroit, NBA … Watch later. In the 1978 NBA draft, the Celtics drafted Larry Bird who would soon resurrect the franchise's fortunes. The Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 117-114 in Game 7 to advance to the Finals. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. The Celtics ended the bitter series with a 117–114 win in Boston Garden over Detroit. On May 22, 1988, the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics came down to a seventh game … The game featured nine future Hall of Famers. Meanwhile, the Celtics endured a long dry spell, not reaching the playoffs for much of the decade. Get a summary of the Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics basketball game. Although the Pistons found a new star in Grant Hill, he was unable to lead the team back to championship contention. Meanwhile, the Celtics slid back to mediocrity, but was given a new lease in life during the 2007 offseason. Detroit endured a lengthy rebuild with only two playoff appearances, while Boston maintained its status as a playoff contender behind new stars such as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker. One of the Pistons' key players during that era was Chauncey Billups, who the Celtics drafted third overall in the 1997 NBA draft but would later emerge as a star in Detroit. On this day, in Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals, five Boston Celtics players scored 20 points or more (tying an NBA record at the time) as the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-108. This roused the ire of Boston's players and fans, and the teams' mutual hatred of each other often led to on-court fighting. It was a back and forth game. #NBATogetherLive: Larry Bird's iconic steal helps Celtics defeat Pistons in Game 5 of 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. Record: 57-25, Finished 1st in NBA Atlantic Division Coach: K.C. In addition, their rough play and intense defense made Bird's scoring drop to just 10 points per game on 35.1% shooting, forcing Boston to rely on McHale. The Bad Boys, as Detroit became known, used physical play to intimidate their way to victory. In 1976, the team won yet another championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games. No part of this website may be reproduced without the express consent of TalkBasket.net. June 14, 1987: Boston Celtics 93 @ LA Lakers 106 About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features © 2021 … Then in the 1981 NBA draft, the Pistons picked Isiah Thomas and along with head coach Chuck Daly he would also play a key role in his team's reemergence. Jones (57-25) Executive: Jan Volk PTS/G: 113.6 (3rd of 23) Opp PTS/G: 107.7 (14th of 23) SRS: 6.15 (1st of 23) Pace: 97.9 (17th of 23) . Even then, the broadcast was so one-sided and detracted from Boston’s … In 2002, the Celtics and Pistons met again in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, featuring new stars in Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Jerry Stackhouse and Ben Wallace, respectively. Johnson, Parish and McHale all recorded double doubles. Boston Celtics Celtics BOS. They chose Len Bias with the pick and had high hopes that the presence of the young Maryland Terrapins star would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale, and Parish retired. The Boston Celtics won Game 7 117-114 at home against the Detroit Pistons, thanks to an excellent performance by Larry Bird. © 2006-2021 TalkBasket.net. Enes Kanter sets franchise record for Blazers after monstrous 20-30 performance... Real Madrid targeting Nikola Kalinic, per report, Lakers plan to discuss re-signing Andre Drummond, per report, Frank Vogel on why Lakers didn’t stop Jaylen Brown. The two teams played each other in the NBA playoffs five times from 1985 to 1991, with Boston winning in 1985 and 1987, and Detroit winning en route to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 1988 to 1990. In Game 3, Bird and Laimbeer were ejected for fighting as the Pistons won 122–104. Share. Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge were all selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game… Detroit Pistons Pistons DET. On this date in May 30, 1987, 33 years ago today. The 2010s saw both teams head into opposite directions. Cowens was the hero in Game 7, scoring 28 points as the Celtics brought the title back to Boston for the first time in five years. The 1987 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1986–87 season. The Celtics emerged 108-107 to take a 3-2 series lead, thanks to Bird's heroics, setting the stage for a fourth-straight trip to the NBA Finals. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. The game featured nine future Hall of Famers. For the Pistons, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Adrian Dantley and Dennis Rodman. Detroit Pistons Pistons DET. However, the Pistons would go on to dominate the Eastern Conference, reaching six consecutive Conference Finals, two NBA Finals and winning the 2004 championship. Copy link. Learn how and when to remove this template message, National Basketball Association rivalries, NBA.com - Reliving the Pistons-Celtics Rivalry, ESPN.com - Celtics-Pistons rivalry: Top 10 games, Boston.com - Cities share series of hoop moments, NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Celtics–Pistons_rivalry&oldid=1006490136, Articles lacking sources from February 2014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs, Pistons were the eventual Western Division champions, Celtics were the eventual Eastern Conference champions, Pistons' final season at Pontiac Silverdome, Pistons were the eventual Eastern Conference champions, Pistons' final season at The Palace of Auburn Hills, This page was last edited on 13 February 2021, at 04:22. The rivalry peaked in the late 1980s, featuring players such as Larry … 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Pistons vs. Celtics League Champion: Los Angeles Lakers. The most famous moment of the rivalry occurred during Game 5. Pistons vs. Celtics, 91-104, Box Score - 1987 Playoffs Stats from the NBA game played between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics on May 19, 1987 with result, scoring by period and players. The Celtics defeated the Pistons in Game 7 of the ECF in... Steve Kerr remembers Michael Jordan fight differently from version MJ shared in his documentary, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown calls police brutality an ‘act of terrorism’, Magic Johnson makes case for Lakers legend to be inducted into Hall of Fame, Tristan Thompson on his return: “Had to look myself in the mirror”, JJ Redick of Pelicans in trade rumors; Nets, 76ers, Celtics and Knicks on list, per report, Kemba Walker back from injury (practice footage), Rajon Rondo on Celtics’ Big-4 run: “We had chemistry from day 1”. Off Rtg: 115.4 (1st of 23) Def Rtg: 109.4 (17th of 23) Net Rtg: +6.0 (1st of 23) Detroit's biggest antagonists were Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and Dennis Rodman. However, the Pistons were generally mediocre for a majority of the 1960s and 1970s, despite the presence of stars such as Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing and Bob Lanier. Playing the young, tough-as-nails Detroit Pistons in the 1987 Eastern Conference finals, the aging Celtics were in danger of losing Game 5, which would have given the Pistons a … Finals MVP: Magic Johnson (26.2 / 8.0 / 13.0) 1987 Playoff Leaders: PTS: Larry Bird (622) TRB: Larry Bird (231) AST: Magic Johnson (219) WS: Magic Johnson (3.7) More playoffs info Bird got his revenge on Laimbeer and the Pistons with his dominant Game 7 performance. Pistons vs. Celtics, 114-117, Box Score - 1987 Playoffs Stats from the NBA game played between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics on May 30, 1987 with result, scoring by period and players. The Boston Celtics won Game 7 117-114 at home against the Detroit Pistons, thanks to an excellent performance by Larry Bird. In Game 4, a fight broke out between Bird and and Laimbeer after a hard foul by Laimbeer, late in the game. 117. 117. The Pistons won Game 6, but lost Game 7, 117-114, after Dantley and Johnson slammed heads diving for a loose ball late in the third quarter, sending Boston to its fourth straight NBA Finals. The rivalry peaked in the late 1980s, featuring players such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer. * Box Score: Celtics 118, Hawks 116. Leading 107–106 with 5 seconds left, and Detroit threatening to take a 3–2 series lead, Isiah Thomas had his inbounds pass stolen by Bird, who dished it off to Dennis Johnson for the winning layup. The 1987–88 Boston Celtics season was the 42nd season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.