# 1985–86 Detroit Pistons season

The 1985–86 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 38th season in the NBA and 29th season in Detroit. The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan.
The year got off to an excellent start as the Pistons drafted future Hall of Famer Joe Dumars with the 18th pick in the first-round of the 1985 NBA draft. The team's steady rise in recent years stalled during the 1985–86 season as the Pistons finished 46–36 (.561), 3rd in the Central Division. The team advanced to the playoffs but were beaten 3–1 by Dominique Wilkins and the rising Atlanta Hawks. When the series ended, Piston guard and team leader Isiah Thomas said, “All I know is something has to change next year.”
The Pistons were led by guard Thomas (20.9 ppg, 10.8 apg, NBA All-Star), center Bill Laimbeer (16.6 ppg, 13.1 rpg), and guard Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson (13.9 ppg). Dumars (9.4 ppg) was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Before the 1986-87 Detroit Pistons season began, driven by Thomas, the Pistons would trade away several key players, including forward Kelly Tripucka, center Kent Benson and guard John Long.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 18 | Joe Dumars | G | United States | McNeese State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 33–8 | 24–17 | 21–9 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 | 34–7 | 16–25 | 21–9 |
| x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 18–12 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 27 | 22–19 | 8–33 | 10–20 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 28 | 16–25 | 13–28 | 10–19 |
| Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 31 | 19–22 | 7–34 | 9–20 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | .817 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 17 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 21 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 7 | x-New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 37 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 41 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | .280 | 44 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985–86 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1985–86 game log Total: 46–36 (home: 31–10; road: 15–26) :
October: 2–2 (home: 2–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 25, 1985
Milwaukee
W 118–116
Pontiac Silverdome
1–0
2
October 26, 1985
@ Chicago
L 118–121
Chicago Stadium
1–1
3
October 29, 1985
New Jersey
W 124–107
Pontiac Silverdome
2–1
4
October 30, 1985
@ Philadelphia
L 125–132 (OT)
The Spectrum
2–2 :
November: 10–5 (home: 7–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
5
November 1, 1985
Indiana
W 124–116
Pontiac Silverdome
3–2
6
November 2, 1985
@ Indiana
W 128–117
Market Square Arena
4–2
7
November 6, 1985
Chicago
W 122–105
Pontiac Silverdome
5–2
8
November 8, 1985
@ Washington
W 117–110
Capital Centre
6–2
9
November 9, 1985
Boston
L 105–124
Pontiac Silverdome
6–3
10
November 12, 1985
Washington
W 124–122 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
7–3
11
November 13, 1985
@ Milwaukee
L 118–137
MECCA Arena
7–4
12
November 15, 1985 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 118–122
Thomas (26)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (14)
The Omni 12,924
7–5
13
November 20, 1985
New York
W 109–98
Pontiac Silverdome
8–5
14
November 22, 1985
Golden State
W 115–96
Pontiac Silverdome
9–5
15
November 23, 1985
@ Philadelphia
W 119–114
The Spectrum
10–5
16
November 26, 1985
Cleveland
W 113–98
Pontiac Silverdome
11–5
17
November 27, 1985
@ Boston
L 124–132
Boston Garden
11–6
18
November 29, 1985
Milwaukee
W 111–102
Pontiac Silverdome
12–6
19
November 30, 1985
@ Washington
L 119–133
Capital Centre
12–7 :
December: 3–10 (home: 1–5; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
20
December 3, 1985
Philadelphia
L 107–127
Pontiac Silverdome
12–8
21
December 5, 1985
New Jersey
W 113–111
Pontiac Silverdome
13–8
22
December 7, 1985
Sacramento
L 112–122
Pontiac Silverdome
13–9
23
December 10, 1985
@ Cleveland
W 130–120
Richfield Coliseum
14–9
24
December 11, 1985
Washington
L 100–108
Pontiac Silverdome
14–10
25
December 13, 1985
San Antonio
L 113–119
Pontiac Silverdome
14–11
26
December 15, 1985
@ L.A. Lakers
L 119–132
The Forum
14–12
27
December 17, 1985
@ Sacramento
L 121–132
ARCO Arena
14–13
28
December 19, 1985
@ Seattle
W 99–97
Seattle Center Coliseum
15–13
29
December 21, 1985
@ New York
L 110–112
Madison Square Garden
15–14
30
December 26, 1985
@ New Jersey
L 116–124
Brendan Byrne Arena
15–15
31
December 27, 1985
Cleveland
L 105–119
Pontiac Silverdome
15–16
32
December 30, 1985
@ Milwaukee
L 110–121
MECCA Arena
15–17 :
January: 8–7 (home: 5–2; road: 3–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
33
January 2, 1986
@ Chicago
L 122–131
Chicago Stadium
15–18
34
January 3, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 101–111
Tripucka (26)
Laimbeer (17)
Thomas (5)
The Omni 15,817
15–19
35
January 7, 1986
Boston
W 113–109
Pontiac Silverdome
16–19
36
January 9, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
L 99–110
Dumars (21)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 9,400
16–20
37
January 11, 1986
Philadelphia
L 101–102
Pontiac Silverdome
16–21
38
January 15, 1986
Chicago
W 123–115
Pontiac Silverdome
17–21
39
January 17, 1986
Denver
W 129–113
Pontiac Silverdome
18–21
40
January 19, 1986
L.A. Lakers
W 118–115
Pontiac Silverdome
19–21
41
January 20, 1986
@ Indiana
L 99–105
Market Square Arena
19–22
42
January 22, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 107–104
Richfield Coliseum
20–22
43
January 24, 1986
@ Dallas
W 129–120
Reunion Arena
21–22
44
January 25, 1986
@ Houston
L 112–117
The Summit
21–23
45
January 27, 1986
@ San Antonio
W 118–117
HemisFair Arena
22–23
46
January 29, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 107–94
Johnson (24)
Laimbeer (10)
Thomas (13)
Pontiac Silverdome 12,386
23–23
47
January 31, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 103–116
Dumars (22)
Laimbeer (16)
Thomas (9)
The Omni 12,624
23–24 :
February: 13–1 (home: 10–0; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
February 1, 1986
Washington
W 116–101
Pontiac Silverdome
24–24
49
February 4, 1986
@ Chicago
W 117–115
Chicago Stadium
25–24
50
February 6, 1986
@ Washington
W 111–109 (OT)
Capital Centre
26–24
All-Star Break
51
February 11, 1986
@ New Jersey
L 122–130
Brendan Byrne Arena
26–25
52
February 12, 1986
New York
W 113–99
Pontiac Silverdome
27–25
53
February 14, 1986
Dallas
W 119–110
Pontiac Silverdome
28–25
54
February 15, 1986
Philadelphia
W 134–133 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
29–25
55
February 17, 1986
Utah
W 117–96
Pontiac Silverdome
30–25
56
February 19, 1986
Seattle
W 118–113
Pontiac Silverdome
31–25
57
February 20, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 109–107
Richfield Coliseum
32–25
58
February 22, 1986
Portland
W 113–106
Pontiac Silverdome
33–25
59
February 24, 1986
Chicago
W 110–100
Pontiac Silverdome
34–25
60
February 26, 1986
L.A. Clippers
W 111–104
Pontiac Silverdome
35–25
61
February 28, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 115–103
Thomas (30)
Laimbeer (11)
Dumars, Thomas (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 25,888
36–25 :
March: 6–8 (home: 4–1; road: 2–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
62
March 2, 1986
@ Boston
L 109–129
Boston Garden
36–26
63
March 4, 1986
New Jersey
W 120–103
Pontiac Silverdome
37–26
64
March 7, 1986
@ New Jersey
W 104–102
Brendan Byrne Arena
38–26
65
March 10, 1986
Phoenix
L 109–120
Pontiac Silverdome
38–27
66
March 12, 1986
Indiana
W 111–101
Pontiac Silverdome
39–27
67
March 14, 1986
New York
W 112–89
Pontiac Silverdome
40–27
68
March 16, 1986
@ Portland
L 109–119
Memorial Coliseum
40–28
69
March 17, 1986
@ Utah
L 106–107
Salt Palace Acord Arena
40–29
70
March 19, 1986
@ Denver
L 98–114
McNichols Sports Arena
40–30
71
March 21, 1986
@ Phoenix
L 103–105
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
40–31
72
March 22, 1986
@ L.A. Clippers
W 119–99
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
41–31
73
March 25, 1986
@ Golden State
L 121–125
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
41–32
74
March 28, 1986
Houston
W 116–107
Pontiac Silverdome
42–32
75
March 29, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 121–130
MECCA Arena
42–33 :
April: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 1, 1986
Indiana
W 116–108
Pontiac Silverdome
43–33
77
April 2, 1986
@ Boston
L 106–122
Boston Garden
43–34
78
April 4, 1986
Milwaukee
L 108–115
Pontiac Silverdome
43–35
79
April 5, 1986
@ Indiana
W 115–106
Market Square Arena
44–35
80
April 7, 1986
Cleveland
W 128–104
Pontiac Silverdome
45–35
81
April 8, 1986
@ Philadelphia
L 112–116
The Spectrum
45–36
82
April 11, 1986
@ New York
W 108–95
Madison Square Garden
46–36 :
1985–86 schedule :

### Playoffs

1986 playoff game log :
First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17, 1986 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 122–140
Laimbeer (26)
Laimbeer (17)
Thomas (16)
The Omni 12,538
0–1
2
April 19, 1986 3:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 125–137
Thomas (36)
Laimbeer (12)
Thomas (9)
The Omni 12,964
0–2
3
April 22, 1986 8:00 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 106–97
Tripucka (33)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (11)
Pontiac Silverdome 13,312
1–2
4
April 25, 1986 8:00 p.m. EST
Atlanta
L 113–114 (2OT)
Thomas (30)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (12)
Pontiac Silverdome 15,288
1–3 :
1986 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Isiah Thomas, All-NBA First Team
* Joe Dumars, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team