NBA finals 1987–88 Detroit Pistons season

1 nba finals

1.1 game 1
1.2 game 2
1.3 game 3
1.4 game 4
1.5 game 5
1.6 game 6
1.7 game 7

nba finals
game 1

the pistons had dispatched celtics in 6 games, while lakers coming off back-to-back seven-game wins on utah jazz , dallas mavericks. lakers tired, , showed. adrian dantley scored 34 points, hitting 14 of 16 shots field. pistons took control of game 6 seconds left in first half when bill laimbeer hit 3-point shot put pistons 54–40. kareem abdul-jabbar fired inbound pass intended byron scott, intercepted isiah thomas let fly three-pointer went in @ halftime buzzer. pistons had 57–40 halftime lead , never looked back, stealing game 1 105–93 win.

game 2

facing possibility of going down 2–0 3 games play in detroit, veteran lakers found resolve 108–96 win. james worthy led lakers 26 points, byron scott had 24, , magic johnson 23 despite battling flu.

game 3

with magic still battling flu, lakers got key win in detroit, 99–86, go 2–1 in games. lakers took control of game in third period, outscoring pistons 31-14. despite illness, magic had 18 points, 14 assists, , 6 rebounds.

game 4

with pride in front of home fans, pistons tied series @ 2–2 111–86 blowout win. pistons decided attack basket , make magic johnson defend. johnson wound on bench in second half foul trouble.

with magic out of game, pistons built substantial lead. during timeouts, bill laimbeer frantic. kept saying, no letup! don t let up! didn t, , blew out defending nba champions 25 points.

left open trapping lakers defense, dantley led team 27 points. vinnie johnson came off bench add 16 while james edwards had 14 points , 5 rebounds off bench.

game 5

the pistons 104-94 victory perfect farewell pontiac silverdome. told joe dumars minute left in game around , enjoy because ll never see again, laimbeer said. forty-one thousand people waving towels , standing. awesome.

the lakers opened game 5 fury of physical intimidation, scoring game s first 12 points. approach backfired, laker big men got foul trouble.

dantley played major role in turnaround, scoring 25 points, 19 of them in first half, rally pistons 59-50 halftime lead. vinnie johnson added 12 of 16 points in first half keep detroit moving.

joe dumars added 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting send pistons los angeles, 1 win away first nba title.

game 6

this game turned out classic confrontation between team hungry first title (detroit) , veteran team backs wall (the lakers).

the lakers led 56–48 in third quarter when isiah thomas began classic performance. scored game s next 14 points, hitting 2 free throws, driving layup, 4 jump shots, , running bank shot.

on pistons next possession, thomas stepped on michael cooper s foot, rolled ankle, , had helped floor. despite severe sprain, thomas returned game 35 seconds later , continued dizzying onslaught. end of third quarter, thomas had scored 25 points, nba finals record 1 quarter, on 11-of-13 shooting. better, pistons had 81–79 lead.

the pistons momentum carried final period led 102–99 minute left. byron scott cut lead 1 14-footer in lane 52 seconds remaining. lakers turned defense on pistons next possession, forcing thomas desperation 18-footer. forty-one-year-old kareem abdul-jabbar got ball on lakers trip down floor , posted bill laimbeer signature skyhook. kareem shot, laimbeer whistled foul, though replays showed barely touched kareem. jabbar coolly sank 2 free thows put lakers 103–102. lead held thomas, bad ankle , all, missed shot @ buzzer.

thomas end 43 points , 8 assists, heroic performance, naught series moved game 7.

game 7

one of best nba finals in recent memory closed out classic.

thomas ankle still sore, evidenced limping badly in warmups. did manage play first half, scoring 10 points , leading pistons 52–47 halftime lead. but, delay between halves caused ankle stiffen, , thomas not continue. isiah on bench, lakers turned halftime deficit 90–75 lead late in 4th quarter.

chuck daly went faster lineup dennis rodman, john salley, joe dumars, , vinnie johnson created matchup problems lakers , enabled pistons score @ torrid pace. 3:52 left, salley canned 2 free throws cut laker lead 98-92, sending forum fans panic.

with 1:17 left, dumars hit jump shot cut lead 102–100. magic johnson hit free throw after rodman foul put lakers three. on pistons next trip down floor, rodman took ill-advised jumper 39 seconds left. byron scott rebounded , fouled. 2 free throws pushed lead 105–100.

after dumars made layup, james worthy hit free throw , bill laimbeer canned three-pointer, pushing score 106–105 6 seconds showing. a. c. green completed scoring layup off length-of-the court pass magic, making 108–105, , although pistons got ball thomas @ midcourt second remaining, fell without getting off shot.

worthy racked monster triple-double: 36 points, 16 rebounds , 10 assists. , earlier efforts in series, named finals mvp.