# 1987–88 Detroit Pistons season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 40th season in the NBA and 31st season in the city of Detroit. The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in suburban Pontiac, Michigan.
The Pistons finishing with a then franchise-best record of 54–28 (.659), 1st place in the NBA Central Division. the first division championship for the franchise since moving to Detroit in 1957. In the 1988 NBA Playoffs, they defeated the Washington Bullets 3–2 in the first round, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 4–1 in the semifinals, and then Larry Bird and the top-seeded Boston Celtics 4–2 in the conference finals. They would advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1956 when the team was based in Fort Wayne, only to lose to the defending and eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in a hard-fought 7-game series.
Game 6 saw a remarkable performance, as Pistons star Isiah Thomas went down with a gruesome ankle injury. On the sidelines, camera shots displayed the critical condition of Thomas's foot, as he could barely fit his shoe back on, but Thomas insisted on playing. Hobbling badly for the rest of the game, the Pistons guard put on a show, scoring 25 points in the third quarter, and 43 points in the game.
In the closing seconds, with the Pistons ahead, there was a controversial call on Pistons center Bill Laimbeer. Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar feinted over his right shoulder to the middle, then pivoted to his left for his classic sky hook along the baseline. Laimbeer raised his hands straight above his head to show he wasn't fouling and yet was called for what Laker coach Pat Riley would call a "phantom foul". The Pistons lost 103–102 as Abdul-Jabbar made both free throws, and then, with a very limited Thomas for game 7, the Lakers took the title with a 108–105 victory in Los Angeles. Pistons owner Bill Davidson said, "Well, the worst loss was out in LA when I was in the room with David Stern getting ready to accept the trophy, and they call a foul on Bill Laimbeer against Kareem. Bill pulled down a clean rebound, and Hugh Evans calls a foul. You know that he was set up, and you know … I don't say he had a bet on the game, but that was … that was unconscionable! And that cost us a championship, which we should have had. Which we had."
Detroit was led on the season by Thomas (19.5 ppg, 8.4 apg, NBA All-Star), forward Adrian Dantley (20.0 ppg), and guard Joe Dumars (14.2 ppg). As the season came to a close, Game 5 of Finals was the franchise's last game at the Pontiac Silverdome, as they would move to another Detroit-area suburban arena, the purpose-built Palace of Auburn Hills, the following season.

## Birth of the Bad Boys

The Pistons of this era became known as the Bad Boys. At the start of the 1987–88 season, Al Davis, owner of the Los Angeles Raiders of the NFL sent Raiders merchandise to the Pistons to acknowledge the shared view of the teams and their physical style of play. Dan Hauser, Pistons Vice-president of Marketing said, "Al sent us Raiders sweaters, and when we played Golden State in Oakland, Al had Raiders warm-ups for us with our names and numbers on them. The rough bad-boy fighting style of the Raiders fits our image. That`s why, at our home games at the Palace, you see a sea of black: black caps, black T-shirts, black sweatshirts".
The end of season video yearbook produced by the Pistons was titled Bad Boys, with a connection to the 1983 movie, and the Bad Boys name came into being. The Pistons players embraced the rough and tumble image, Nintendo released Bill Laimbeer's Combat Basketball, a futuristic basketball game without rules, without fouls, and weapons are permitted, the Pistons marketed around the Bad Boys identity, and Detroit fan embraced the blue-collar identity. Pistons guard Joe Dumars said, "You can't be great in this league and have zero identity".
The positive view of the team was not universal with Michael Jordan declaring "the Bad Boys are bad for basketball", later adding "I hated them. And that hate carries even to this day." David Stern, Commissioner of the NBA at the time, said, "If I had it to do over again, we would be more aggressive in regulating, shall we say, that style of play, because it led to our game becoming much more physical".
Jalen Rose, who later starred as a member of the Fab Five at Michigan, embraced the Bad Boys brand as a teenager growing up in Detroit, stating "I loved everything about the Bad Boys. I loved how they played and how they didn't back down. They just went out and kicked the other teams' butts." Pistons announcer George Blaha said, "I think the people of Detroit and all across Michigan loved the Pistons' don't-back-down-ever mentality. Detroit's a working person's town and that's the same type of fan that you have all across the state of Michigan from the big cities to the small towns. Never does a day go by that somebody that I talk to doesn't bring up the Bad Boys; they loved 'em".

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | – | 34–7 | 20–21 | 20–10 |
| x-Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4 | 30–11 | 20–21 | 16–13 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4 | 30-11 | 20-21 | 16–13 |
| x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 12 | 30–11 | 12–29 | 13–17 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 12 | 31–10 | 11–30 | 11–19 |
| Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 16 | 25–16 | 13–28 | 13–17 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Washington Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 8 | x-New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 38 |

### Record vs. opponents

1987–88 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 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

## Game logs
### Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 54–28 (home: 34–7; road: 20–21) :
November: 7–5 (home: 3–1; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1November 6, 1987 7:30 PM ESTNew York
W 110–99
Pontiac Silverdome 28,676
1–0
2
November 7, 1987 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 105–119
Dantley, Dumars (20)
Rodman (8)
Thomas (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–1
3November 10, 1987 7:30 PM EST@ Indiana
L 118–121
Market Square Arena 11,885
1–2
4November 13, 1987 7:30 PM EST@ Philadelphia
W 113–94
The Spectrum 12,302
2–2
5
November 14, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
W 128–113
Thomas (32)
Rodman (10)
Dumars, Thomas (9)
Richfield Coliseum 10,157
3–2
6November 18, 1987 7:30 PM ESTPhiladelphia
L 109–113
Pontiac Silverdome 17,445
3–3
7November 20, 1987 7:30 PM ESTGolden State
W 131–108
Pontiac Silverdome 20,362
4–3
8
November 21, 1987 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
W 144–132 (OT)
Dantley (45)
Mahorn, Rodman (8)
Thomas (10)
Chicago Stadium 18,466
5–3
9November 24, 1987 8:00 PM EST@ Houston
W 97–83
The Summit 16,611
6–3
10
November 25, 1987 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Dallas
L 107–113
Dumars (19)
Rodman (10)
Thomas (15)
Reunion Arena 17,007
6–4
11November 27, 1987 7:30 PM ESTSan Antonio
W 143–111
Pontiac Silverdome 30,743
7–4
12
November 28, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
L 102–124
Dantley, Thomas (22)
Mahorn (14)
Dumars (8)
Capital Centre 13,028
7–5 :
December: 11–1 (home: 8–1; road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13December 1, 1987 7:30 PM EST@ New Jersey
W 124–115 (OT)
Brendan Byrne Arena 8,232
8–5
14
December 2, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 115–105
Dantley (25)
Laimbeer (16)
Thomas (13)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,780
9–5
15
December 4, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Boston
W 128–105
Dantley (21)
Mahorn (14)
Thomas (12)
Pontiac Silverdome 34,523
10–5
16December 8, 1987 7:30 PM ESTPortland
W 127–117
Pontiac Silverdome 17,126
11–5
17
December 11, 1987 7:30 PM ESTWashington
W 114–108
Pontiac Silverdome 17,884
12–5
18December 12, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
New York
W 124–96
Dantley (29)
Laimbeer (11)
Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 21,368
13–5
19
December 15, 1987 8:00 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 127–123 (OT)
Laimbeer (29)
Mahorn (14)
Dantley (7)
Pontiac Silverdome 23,729
14–5
20
December 18, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Dallas
W 117–112
Dantley (28)
Laimbeer (15)
Johnson (11)
Pontiac Silverdome 19,426
15–5
21December 25, 1987 12 Noon EST@ New York
W 91–87
Madison Square Garden 14,549
16–5
22December 26, 1987 7:30 PM ESTNew Jersey
W 110–75
Pontiac Silverdome 23,330
17–5
23December 29, 1987 7:30 PM ESTHouston
L 91–101
Pontiac Silverdome 26,498
17–6
24December 30, 1987 7:30 PM EST@ Indiana
W 105–95
Market Square Arena 12,945
18–6 :
January: 6–8 (home: 4–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
25
January 2, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Denver
L 142–151
Thomas (40)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (17)
Pontiac Silverdome 23,746
18–7
26
January 5, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 71–81
Thomas (18)
Laimbeer (16)
Thomas (6)
The Omni 16,451
18–8
27
January 6, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 90–87
Thomas (18)
Rodman (16)
Thomas (7)
Pontiac Silverdome 25,749
19–8
28
January 8, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
L.A. Lakers
L 104–106
Dantley, Dumars (25)
Laimbeer, Mahorn (11)
Thomas (10)
Pontiac Silverdome 40,278
19–9
29
January 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 105–143
Dantley (24)
Mahorn (7)
Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
19–10
30
January 15, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 97–93
Dantley (38)
Dantley, Mahorn (10)
Thomas (11)
Pontiac Silverdome 19,622
20–10
31
January 16, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 99–115
Johnson (22)
Rodman (13)
Thomas (11)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
20–11
32
January 18, 1988 4:00 p.m. EST
@ Denver
W 123–116
Dantley (32)
Laimbeer (17)
Thomas (10)
McNichols Sports Arena 13,004
21–11
33
January 20, 1988 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Utah
W 120–117
Dantley, Thomas (28)
Laimbeer (15)
Thomas (12)
Salt Palace 12,212
22–11
34
January 22, 1988 10:30 p.m. EST
@ Seattle
L 106–109
Laimbeer (21)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (15)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,737
22–12
35January 24, 1988 10:00 PM EST@ Portland
L 111–119
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
22–13
36January 27, 1988 7:30 PM ESTIndiana
W 103–86
Pontiac Silverdome 19,801
23–13
37
January 29, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Boston
W 125–108
Dantley (22)
Laimbeer, Mahorn, Salley (11)
Thomas (12)
Pontiac Silverdome 61,983
24–13
38January 30, 1988 7:30 PM EST@ New Jersey
L 104–116
Brendan Byrne Arena 11,894
24–14 :
February: 11–4 (home: 7–0; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
39
February 1, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 83–94
Dantley (20)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (11)
Richfield Coliseum 10,636
24–15
40
February 2, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
W 99–97
Mahorn (28)
Laimbeer (13)
Dumars (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
25–15
41February 4, 1988 7:30 PM EST@ New York
L 93–100
Madison Square Garden 14,363
25–16
All-Star Break
42
February 9, 1988 8:30 PM EST
@ Chicago
W 89–74
Laimbeer (17)
Laimbeer (18)
Dumars, Johnson ,Laimbeer (6)
Chicago Stadium 17,846
26–16
43February 10, 1988 7:30 PM ESTNew York
W 98–87
Pontiac Silverdome 19,160
27–16
44
February 12, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 108–92
Thomas (25)
Laimbeer (12)
Johnson (10)
Pontiac Silverdome 35,884
28–16
45
February 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 82–73
Rodman (15)
Rodman (19)
Thomas (7)
Pontiac Silverdome 40,369
29–16
46February 15, 1988 7:30 PM ESTPhiladelphia
W 102–95
Pontiac Silverdome 21,530
30–16
47
February 18, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Seattle
W 108–95
Johnson (27)
Rodman (10)
Thomas (12)
Pontiac Silverdome 24,482
31–16
48
February 19, 1988 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 108–119
Thomas (32)
Mahorn, Rodman (11)
Thomas (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
31–17
49
February 21, 1988 3:30 p.m. EST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 110–117
Thomas (42)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (10)
The Forum 17,505
31–18
50February 23, 1988 10:30 PM EST@ Sacramento
W 121–105
ARCO Arena 10,333
32–18
51February 24, 1988 10:30 PM EST@ Golden State
W 107–93
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 14,340
33–18
52February 26, 1988 7:30 PM ESTNew Jersey
W 137–109
Pontiac Silverdome 25,334
34–18
53
February 28, 1988 12 Noon EST
Boston
W 106–101
Dantley (19)
Laimbeer, Mahorn (11)
Dumars (10)
Pontiac Silverdome 37,462
35–18 :
March: 11–5 (home: 8–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
54
March 1, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST@ Atlanta
W 117–104
Dumars (25)
Laimbeer, Rodman (9)
Dumars (9)
The Omni 16,451
36–18
55March 2, 1988 7:30 PM ESTL.A. Clippers
W 103–90
Pontiac Silverdome 16,554
37–18
56
March 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
L 97–101
Johnson, Thomas (17)
Mahorn (17)
Thomas (8)
Capital Centre 15,656
37–19
57
March 6, 1988 7:00 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 109–99
Laimbeer (22)
Rodman (11)
Thomas (10)
Pontiac Silverdome 24,751
38–19
58March 8, 1988 7:30 PM EST@ Indiana
L 104–117
Market Square Arena 13,220
38–20
59
March 9, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Utah
W 103–98
Laimbeer (27)
Rodman (13)
Thomas (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 20,623
39–20
60March 11, 1988 7:30 PM ESTPhoenix
W 116–88
Pontiac Silverdome 21,612
40–20
61
March 12, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 104–100
Dumars, Laimbeer, Thomas (16)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (13)
Pontiac Silverdome 33,854
41–20
62March 14, 1988 7:30 PM ESTSacramento
W 109–97
Pontiac Silverdome 16,909
42–20
63
March 17, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
W 102–99
Dantley (20)
Rodman (14)
Thomas (8)
Richfield Coliseum 13,261
43–20
64
March 20, 1988 7:00 p.m. EST
Washington
W 118–110
Dumars (25)
Salley (9)
Thomas (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 22,075
44–20
65March 22, 1988 7:30 PM ESTIndiana
W 123–104
Pontiac Silverdome 18,645
45–20
66March 25, 1988 8:30 PM EST@ San Antonio
L 106–107
HemisFair Arena 8,596
45–21
67March 26, 1988 9:30 PM EST@ Phoenix
W 108–103
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,025
46–21
68March 28, 1988 10:30 PM EST@ L.A. Clippers
L 100–102
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12,156
46–22
69
March 30, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
L 102–103
Thomas (35)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 47,692
46–23 :
April: 8–5 (home: 4–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
70
April 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 110–121
Laimbeer (22)
Rodman (8)
Thomas (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
46–24
71
April 3, 1988 1:30 p.m. EDT
Chicago
L 110–112
Thomas (24)
Rodman (9)
Dumars (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 23,712
46–25
72April 5, 1988 7:30 PM EDT@ New Jersey
W 125–108
Brendan Byrne Arena 11,586
47–25
73April 8, 1988 7:30 PM EDT@ Philadelphia
W 96–86
The Spectrum 15,164
48–25
74
April 9, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
W 115–102
Thomas (20)
Laimbeer (16)
Dumars (8)
The Omni 16,451
49–25
75April 11, 1988 7:30 PM EDT@ New York
L 111–114 (OT)
Madison Square Garden 13,312
49–26
76
April 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Cleveland
W 115–98
Dantley (28)
Laimbeer (13)
Dumars (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,808
50–26
77
April 15, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Milwaukee
W 92–91
Rodman (18)
Laimbeer, Mahorn (10)
Thomas (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 27,126
51–26
78April 16, 1988 7:30 PM EDTNew Jersey
W 114–96
Pontiac Silverdome 22,767
52–26
79
April 19, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Boston
L 110–121
Thomas (21)
Rodman (11)
Thomas (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
52–27
80
April 21, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Washington
W 99–87
Dantley (31)
Rodman (7)
Thomas (8)
Capital Centre 11,713
53–27
81April 22, 1988 7:30 PM EDTIndiana
L 98–103
Pontiac Silverdome 27,881
53–28
82April 24, 1988 7:00 PM EDTPhiladelphia
W 128–118
Pontiac Silverdome 27,854
54–28 :
1987–88 schedule :

### Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Washington
W 96–87
Thomas (34)
Laimbeer (12)
Dumars (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 17,356
1–0
2
April 30, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Washington
W 102–101
Thomas (30)
Laimbeer (11)
Dumars (5)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,293
2–0
3
May 2, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Washington
L 106–114 (OT)
Thomas (29)
Laimbeer (8)
Thomas (8)
Capital Centre 9,673
2–1
4
May 4, 1988 8:00 PM EDT
@ Washington
L 103–106
Dantley, Rodman (23)
Laimbeer (10)
Thomas (10)
Capital Centre 10,513
2–2
5
May 8, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
Washington
W 99–78
Dumars (20)
Laimbeer (11)
Thomas (11)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,403
3–2 :
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 10, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
Chicago
W 93–82
Dantley (23)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,312
1–0
2
May 12, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Chicago
L 95–105
Thomas (25)
Laimbeer (14)
Thomas (13)
Pontiac Silverdome 20,281
1–1
3
May 14, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
@ Chicago
W 101–79
Johnson (23)
Laimbeer (10)
Thomas (11)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
2–1
4
May 15, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Chicago
W 96–77
Dantley (24)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (11)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
3–1
5
May 18, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
Chicago
W 102–95
Thomas (25)
Laimbeer (13)
Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 21,371
4–1 :
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 25, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Boston
W 104–96
Thomas (35)
Mahorn (10)
Thomas (12)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
May 26, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Boston
L 115–119 (2OT)
Thomas (24)
Salley (12)
Thomas (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–1
3
May 28, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
Boston
W 98–94
Dumars (29)
Salley (9)
Thomas (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,481
2–1
4
May 30, 1988 3:00 p.m. EDT
Boston
L 78–79
Laimbeer (29)
Mahorn, Salley, Thomas (8)
Thomas (7)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,625
2–2
5
June 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Boston
W 102–96 (OT)
Thomas (35)
Salley (9)
Dumars, Thomas (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
3–2
6
June 3, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
Boston
W 95–90
Johnson (24)
Laimbeer (9)
Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 38,912
4–2 :
NBA Finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
June 7, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
@ L.A. Lakers
W 105–93
Dantley (34)
Laimbeer (7)
Thomas (12)
The Forum 17,505
1–0
2
June 9, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 96–108
Dantley (19)
Laimbeer, Mahorn (9)
Dumars, Thomas (7)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
3
June 12, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
L.A. Lakers
L 86–99
Thomas (28)
Rodman (12)
Thomas (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 39,188
1–2
4
June 14, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
L.A. Lakers
W 111–86
Dantley (27)
Thomas (9)
Thomas (12)
Pontiac Silverdome 34,297
2–2
5
June 16, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
L.A. Lakers
W 104–94
Dantley (25)
Laimbeer (11)
Thomas (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 41,372
3–2
6
June 19, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 102–103
Thomas (43)
Laimbeer (9)
Dumars (10)
The Forum 17,505
3–3
7
June 21, 1988 9:00 p.m. EDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 105–108
Dumars (25)
Salley (10)
Thomas (7)
The Forum 17,505
3–4 :
1988 schedule :

## NBA Finals
### Game 1

The Pistons had just dispatched the Celtics in six games, while the Lakers were coming off back-to-back seven-game wins over the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers were tired, and it showed. Adrian Dantley scored 34 points, hitting 14 of 16 shots from the field. The Pistons took control of the game with six seconds left in the first half when Bill Laimbeer hit a 3-point shot to put the Pistons up 54–40. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar then fired an inbound pass intended for Byron Scott, but it was intercepted by Isiah Thomas who let fly with another three-pointer which went in at the halftime buzzer. The Pistons had a 57–40 halftime lead and never looked back, stealing Game 1 with a 105–93 win.

### Game 2

Facing the possibility of going down 2–0 with three games to play in Detroit, the veteran Lakers found resolve with a 108–96 win. James Worthy led the Lakers with 26 points, Byron Scott had 24, and Magic Johnson 23 despite battling the flu.

### Game 3

With Magic still battling the flu, the Lakers got a key win in Detroit, 99–86, to go up 2–1 in games. The Lakers took control of the game in the third period, outscoring the Pistons 31–14. Despite his illness, Magic had 18 points, 14 assists, and six rebounds.

### Game 4

With pride in front of their home fans, the Pistons tied the series at 2–2 with a 111–86 blowout win. The Pistons decided to attack the basket and make Magic Johnson defend. Johnson wound up on the bench early in the second half with foul trouble.
With Magic out of the game, the Pistons built a substantial lead. During timeouts, Bill Laimbeer was almost frantic. He kept saying, "No letup! We don't let up!" They didn't, and blew out the defending NBA champions by 25 points.
Left open by the trapping Lakers defense, Dantley led the team with 27 points. Vinnie Johnson came off the bench to add 16 while James Edwards had 14 points and five rebounds off the bench.

### Game 5

The Pistons' 104–94 victory was a perfect farewell to the Pontiac Silverdome. "I told Joe Dumars with a minute left in the game to look around and enjoy this because you'll never see anything like it again," Laimbeer said. "Forty-one thousand people waving towels and standing. It was awesome."
The Lakers opened Game 5 with a fury of physical intimidation, scoring the game's first 12 points. But that approach soon backfired, as the Laker big men got into foul trouble.
Dantley played a major role in the turnaround, scoring 25 points, 19 of them in the first half, to rally the Pistons to a 59–50 halftime lead. Vinnie Johnson added 12 of his 16 points in the first half to keep Detroit moving.
Joe Dumars added 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting to send the Pistons back to Los Angeles, one win away from their first NBA title.

### Game 6

This game turned out to be a classic confrontation between a team hungry for their first title (Detroit) and a veteran team with their backs to the wall (the Lakers).
The Lakers led 56–48 in the third quarter when Isiah Thomas suddenly began a classic performance. He scored the game's next 14 points, hitting two free throws, a driving layup, four jump shots, and a running bank shot.
On the Pistons' next possession, Thomas stepped on Michael Cooper's foot, rolled his ankle, and had to be helped from the floor. Despite a severe sprain, Thomas returned to the game 35 seconds later and continued his dizzying onslaught. By the end of the third quarter, Thomas had scored 25 points, an NBA Finals record for one quarter, on 11-of-13 shooting. This helped the Pistons gain an 81–79 lead.
The Pistons' momentum carried into the final period as they led 102–99 with a minute left. Byron Scott cut the lead to one with a 14-footer in the lane with 52 seconds remaining. The Lakers then turned up the defense on the Pistons' next possession, forcing Thomas into a desperation 18-footer. Forty-one-year-old Kareem Abdul-Jabbar then got the ball on the Lakers' trip down the floor and posted up Bill Laimbeer for his signature skyhook. As Kareem shot, Laimbeer was whistled for a foul, even though replays showed he barely touched Kareem. Jabbar then coolly sank the two free throws to put the Lakers up 103–102. The lead held up as Thomas, bad ankle and all, missed another shot at the buzzer.
Thomas would end up with 43 points and eight assists, but it was for naught as the series moved to Game 7.

### Game 7

One of the best NBA Finals in recent memory closed out with another classic.
Thomas' ankle was still sore, as evidenced by his limping badly in warmups. He did manage to play the first half, scoring 10 points and leading the Pistons to a 52–47 halftime lead. But, the delay between halves caused the ankle to stiffen, and Thomas could not continue. With Isiah on the bench, the Lakers turned the halftime deficit into a 90–75 lead late in the 4th quarter.
Chuck Daly then went to a faster lineup with Dennis Rodman, John Salley, Joe Dumars, and Vinnie Johnson that created matchup problems for the Lakers and enabled the Pistons to score at a torrid pace. With 3:52 left, Salley canned two free throws to cut the Laker lead to 98–92, sending the Forum fans into a panic.
With 1:17 left, Dumars hit a jump shot to cut the lead to 102–100. Magic Johnson then hit a free throw after a Rodman foul to put the Lakers up by three. On the Pistons' next trip down the floor, Rodman took an ill-advised jumper with 39 seconds left. Byron Scott rebounded and was fouled. His two free throws pushed the lead to 105–100.
After Dumars made a layup, James Worthy hit a free throw and Bill Laimbeer canned a three-pointer, pushing the score to 106–105 with six seconds showing. A.C. Green completed the scoring with a layup off a length-of-the court pass from Magic, making it 108–105, and although the Pistons got the ball to Thomas at midcourt with a second remaining, he fell without getting off a shot.
Worthy racked up a monster triple-double: 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. For that and his earlier efforts in the series, he was named the Finals MVP.