# 1987–88 Boston Celtics season

The 1987–88 Boston Celtics season was the 42nd season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. Bird, Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge were all selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the New York Knicks in four games. In the semi-finals, the Celtics trailed 3–2 to Dominique Wilkins and the Atlanta Hawks, but won the final two games. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the fifth consecutive time, becoming the first team to do so since the 1968–69 Boston Celtics (which reached the previous thirteen). However, they would lose to Isiah Thomas and the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons in six games. This was the first time since the 1982-83 season that the Celtics failed to reach the NBA Finals.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 22 | Reggie Lewis | SF | United States | Northeastern |
| 2 | 45 | Brad Lohaus | C/PF | United States | Iowa |
| 4 | 70 | Tom Sheehey | | United States | Virginia |
| 4 | 91 | Darryl Kennedy | | United States | Oklahoma |
| 5 | 114 | David Butler | | United States | California |
| 6 | 137 | Tim Naegeli | | United States | Wisconsin–Stevens Point |
| 7 | 160 | Jerry Corcoran | | United States | Northeastern |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Center Bill Walton missed the entire season due to a right foot injury.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 19–5 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 25–16 | 13–28 | 13–11 |
| x-New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 29–12 | 9–32 | 10–14 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | 27–14 | 9–32 | 12–12 |
| New Jersey Nets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 38 | 16–25 | 3–38 | 6–18 |
| # | 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 log
### Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 57–25 (home: 36–5; Away: 21–20) :
November: 10–4 (home: 6–1; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 6, 1987 8:00 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 125–108
Bird (28)
Bird (15)
Bird, Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
November 7, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
W 140–139 (2 OT)
Bird (47)
Parish (13)
Johnson (17)
Capital Centre 19,643
2–0
3November 9, 1987@ New York
W 96–87
Madison Square Garden
3–0
4November 11, 1987Indiana
W 120–106
Boston Garden
4–0
5
November 13, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 128–114
Bird (34)
Parish (16)
Johnson (13)
Boston Garden 14,890
5–0
6November 15, 1987@ Indiana
W 103–98
Market Square Arena
6–0
7
November 17, 1987 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 88–109
Johnson (16)
Acres (8)
Bird (4)
Richfield Coliseum 14,621
6–1
8November 18, 1987New York
W 111–109 (2OT)
Boston Garden
7–1
9November 20, 1987@ Philadelphia
L 85–116
The Spectrum
7–2
10November 21, 1987@ New Jersey
W 107–97
Brendan Byrne Arena
8–2
11
November 23, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago (at Hartford, Connecticut)
L 102–107
Johnson (23)
Lohaus, Parish (9)
Johnson (7)
Hartford Civic Center 15,134
8–3
12
November 25, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 117–102
Daye (26)
Parish (13)
Ainge (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
9–3
13
November 27, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Seattle
W 117–112
Daye (27)
Bird (10)
Bird (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
10–3
14
November 28, 1987 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 97–112
Bird (28)
Parish (13)
Johnson (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
10–4 :
December: 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 1, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 106–120
McHale (22)
Bird, Lohaus (8)
Johnson (8)
The Omni 16,451
10–5
16December 2, 1987New Jersey
W 130–99
Boston Garden
11–5
17
December 4, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 105–128
Bird (27)
Parish (11)
Johnson (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 34,523
11–6
18
December 9, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Denver
L 119–124
Bird (40)
Parish (14)
Johnson (15)
Boston Garden 14,890
11–7
19
December 11 8:00 p.m. EST
L.A. Lakers
L 114–115
Bird (35)
Bird, Parish (9)
Bird (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
11–8
20
December 15, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Washington
W 122–102
Bird (27)
McHale (8)
Johnson (8)
Capital Centre 15,890
12–8
21
December 16, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Utah
W 121–111
Bird (38)
Parish (14)
Johnson (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
13–8
22December 20, 1987Philadelphia
W 124–87
Boston Garden
14–8
23December 22, 1987@ Philadelphia
W 118–115
The Spectrum
15–8
24December 26, 1987@ L.A. Clippers
W 106–97
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
16–8
25December 27, 1987@ Sacramento
W 114–102
ARCO Arena
17–8
26
December 30, 1987 10:30 p.m. EST
@ Seattle
L 105–111
Bird (36)
Bird (15)
Bird (8)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
17–9 :
January: 14–3 (home: 9–0; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
27January 2, 1988@ Golden State
W 115–110
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
18–9
28
January 4, 1988 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Utah
W 107–99
Bird (28)
Parish (10)
Johnson (12)
Salt Palace 12,212
19–9
29January 6, 1988New York
W 117–108
Boston Garden
20–9
30
January 8, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 125–109
Bird (35)
Bird (11)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
21–9
31January 9, 1988@ New York
L 98–106
Madison Square Garden
21–10
32
January 12, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
W 104–97
Bird (38)
Parish (16)
Ainge, Minniefield (9)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
22–10
33
January 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 143–105
McHale (31)
Bird, McHale (7)
Bird (13)
Boston Garden 14,890
23–10
34January 15, 1988Sacramento
W 122–86
Boston Garden
24–10
35January 16, 1988@ New Jersey
W 103–96
Brendan Byrne Arena
25–10
36January 18, 1988Golden State
W 121–101
Boston Garden
26–10
37January 20, 1988Phoenix
W 131–115
Boston Garden
27–10
38
January 22, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 124–106
Bird (25)
Parish (12)
Ainge (11)
Boston Garden 14,890
28–10
39
January 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 100–119
Bird (32)
McHale (17)
Johnson (5)
Richfield Coliseum 20,900
28–11
40
January 26, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
W 102–97
McHale (21)
Parish (14)
Ainge (10)
The Omni 16,451
29–11
41
January 27, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 106–100
Bird (49)
Parish (12)
Ainge (13)
Boston Garden 14,890
30–11
42
January 29, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 108–125
Bird (25)
Bird (11)
Bird (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 61,983
30–12
43January 31, 1988Philadelphia
W 100–85
Boston Garden
31–12 :
February: 9–5 (home: 5–0; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44February 3, 1988Indiana
W 118–103
Boston Garden
32–12
45
February 4, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 101–111
McHale (25)
Bird (12)
Johnson (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
32–13
All-Star Break
46February 9, 1988@ Houston
L 120–129
The Summit
32–14
47February 10, 1988@ San Antonio
W 139–120
HemisFair Arena
33–14
48
February 12, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Dallas
W 105–104
Bird (39)
McHale, Parish (15)
Johnson (11)
Reunion Arena 17,007
34–14
49
February 14 3:30 p.m. EST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 106–115
Bird (25)
Bird (17)
Johnson (10)
The Forum 17,505
34–15
50February 15, 1988@ Phoenix
W 107–106
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
35–15
51
February 17, 1988 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Denver
L 125–138
McHale (33)
McHale (11)
Minniefield (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
35–16
52February 19, 1988@ Portland
W 124–104
Memorial Coliseum
36–16
53February 22, 1988New York
W 95–93
Hartford Civic Center
37–16
54February 24, 1988Portland
W 113–112
Boston Garden
38–16
55
February 26, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 132–96
Bird (32)
McHale (8)
Bird, Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
39–16
56
February 28, 1988 12 Noon EST
@ Detroit
L 101–106
McHale (33)
McHale (11)
Bird (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 37,462
39–17 :
March: 11–4 (home: 8–2; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57
March 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 116–117
Bird (31)
Bird, McHale (7)
Ainge (10)
MECCA Arena 11,052
39–18
58March 2, 1988New Jersey
L 107–117
Boston Garden
39–19
59March 4, 1988L.A. Clippers
W 121–90
Boston Garden
40–19
60
March 6, 1988 1:00 p.m. EST
Cleveland
W 127–98
Bird (31)
McHale (8)
Ainge, Johnson (6)
Boston Garden 14,890
41–19
61March 9, 1988San Antonio
W 117–116
Boston Garden
42–19
62March 11, 1988Indiana
W 122–112
Hartford Civic Center
43–19
63
March 13, 1988 12 Noon EST
Atlanta
W 117–100
Bird (28)
Acres (11)
Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
44–19
64March 15, 1988@ Indiana
W 119–113
Market Square Arena
45–19
65
March 18, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 103–113
McHale (33)
Bird, McHale (10)
Ainge (9)
Chicago Stadium 18,676
45–20
66
March 20, 1988 1:00 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 137–107
Bird (33)
McHale (10)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
46–20
67
March 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Washington
W 104–89
Bird (37)
Bird (14)
Bird (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
47–20
68March 25, 1988Philadelphia
L 93–97
Boston Garden
47–21
69March 26, 1988@ New York
W 118–106
Madison Square Garden
48–21
70March 28, 1988@ New Jersey
W 106–105
Brendan Byrne Arena
49–21
71March 30, 1988Houston
W 117–110
Boston Garden
50–21 :
April: 7–4 (home: 6–0; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 121–110
Bird (32)
Bird, McHale (11)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
51–21
73
April 3, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
Dallas
W 110–101
Bird (32)
McHale (7)
McHale (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
52–21
74April 8, 1988New Jersey
W 127–90
Boston Garden
53–21
75April 10, 1988@ Philadelphia
W 117–108
The Spectrum
54–21
76
April 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Milwaukee
W 123–104
Bird (26)
Bird McHale (10)
Bird (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
55–21
77
April 15, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Cleveland
L 109–120
Bird (30)
Parish (9)
Bird (8)
Richfield Coliseum 20,149
55–22
78
April 17, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Washington
L 92–98
Bird (23)
Bird (7)
Ainge (9)
Capital Centre 18,643
55–23
79
April 19, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 121–110
McHale (33)
Parish (12)
Bird (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
56–23
80
April 21, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Chicago
W 126–119
Bird (44)
Bird, Parish (10)
Johson (15)
Boston Garden 14,890
57–23
81
April 22, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 106–133
Ainge (25)
Parish (7)
Ainge, Johnson, ,Parish, Roberts (4)
The Omni 16,451
57–24
82
April 24, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Chicago
L 108–115
Ainge (20)
Acres (9)
Ainge (11)
Chicago Stadium 18,636
57–25 :
1987–88 schedule :

### Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
First round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1April 29New York
W 112–92
McHale, Bird (29)
Robert Parish (13)
Dennis Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2May 1New York
W 128–102
Larry Bird (36)
Kevin McHale (12)
Dennis Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–0
3May 4@ New York
L 100–109
Kevin McHale (24)
Robert Parish (11)
Larry Bird (12)
Madison Square Garden 19,591
2–1
4May 6@ New York
W 102–94
Larry Bird (28)
Robert Parish (12)
Dennis Johnson (12)
Madison Square Garden 19,591
3–1 :
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 11, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 110–101
Bird (38)
Parish (14)
Ainge (12)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–0
2
May 13, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 108–97
McHale (32)
Parish (14)
Johnson (9)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–0
3
May 15, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 92–110
Bird (22)
Parish (13)
Bird (8)
The Omni 16,451
2–1
4
May 16, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
L 109–118
Bird (30)
McHale (12)
Johnson (10)
The Omni 16,451
2–2
5
May 18, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
L 104–112
Parish (24)
Parish (13)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
May 20, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
W 102–100
McHale (26)
Bird (11)
Ainge (14)
The Omni 16,451
3–3
7
May 22, 1988 1:00 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 118–116
Bird (34)
McHale (13)
Ainge (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
4–3 :
Eastern Conference Finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 25, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
L 96–104
McHale (31)
Parish (13)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
0–1
2
May 26, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 119–115 (2OT)
Parish (26)
Bird (12)
Johnson (10)
Boston Garden 14,890
1–1
3
May 28, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
L 94–98
McHale (32)
Bird (11)
Bird (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,481
1–2
4
May 30, 1988 3:00 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
W 79–78
Bird (20)
Bird (10)
Bird, Johnson (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,625
2–2
5
June 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
L 96–102 (OT)
Bird (27)
Bird (17)
Johnson (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
2–3
6
June 3, 1988 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 90–95
McHale (33)
Bird (14)
Johnson (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 38,912
2–4 :
1988 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Playoffs

The Celtics would end up losing to the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals, as an aging Celtics team was beginning to falter against a younger and fresher Pistons team led by Isiah Thomas. This also marked that franchise's "Bad Boy" era, noted for the team's penchant for fighting and rough, physical play. This would be the first time in five years that the Celtics would not make it to the finals and would not return to another finals until 2008.

## Awards and records

* Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
* Kevin McHale, NBA All-Defensive First Team