NBA basketball season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1986–87 Boston Celtics season was the 41st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season as the defending NBA Champions, having defeated the Houston Rockets in the 1986 NBA Finals in six games, winning their sixteenth NBA championship.
In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in the First Round in three games, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Semi-finals in seven games, and the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals in seven games to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth time in the 1980s. In the Finals, the Celtics faced off against their long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers , in their third and final matchup in the NBA Finals in the 1980s. The Celtics would lose in six games to the Lakers, and it marked the last time the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals until 2008 . Remarkably, the 1987 NBA Finals was the first playoff series for the Celtics in the Bird era in which they did not have the home court advantage, as they had played 24 consecutive series with the home court advantage starting in 1980.
NBA draft
Thanks to the 1984 trade of Gerald Henderson and the subsequent fall of the Seattle SuperSonics , at the end of the 1985–86 season the Celtics owned not only the best team in the NBA but also the second pick in the 1986 NBA draft . The Celtics drafted small forward Len Bias with the pick and had high hopes for the young Maryland Terrapins star. The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale, and Parish retired. Unfortunately, Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing .[1]
Unlike the prior year, the Celtics were forced to endure major injuries to several key players including Bill Walton, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. With a road record of 20–21, the Celtics were a sub-.500 road team for the first time in the Larry Bird era and the first time since the 1978–79 season . However, they continued with the previous season's historic dominance at home with a record of 39–2 at Boston Garden.
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
1986-87 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
–
3–3
4–2
4–2
2–0
2–0
3–3
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
5–0
5–1
3–3
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–0
Boston
3–3
–
6–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
5–1
2–0
0–2
3–3
4–2
4–2
3–3
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–1
4–2
Chicago
2–4
0–6
–
5–1
1–1
1–1
3–3
0–2
0–2
3–2
2–0
0–2
4–2
3–2
4–2
3–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
0–2
3–3
Cleveland
2–4
2–3
1–5
–
0–2
1–1
1–5
1–1
0–2
3–3
2–0
0–2
1–5
4–2
4–1
2–4
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
2–4
Dallas
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–0
–
4–2
1–1
5–0
3–3
0–2
5–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–3
5–1
4–2
5–0
3–3
1–1
Denver
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
–
0–2
4–1
3–3
1–1
2–3
0–5
1–1
2–0
2–0
0–2
3–2
3–2
2–4
5–1
2–3
2–4
1–1
Detroit
3–3
2–3
3–3
5–1
1–1
2–0
–
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
5–1
6–0
5–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–3
Golden State
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–5
1–4
1–1
–
4–1
0–2
6–0
2–4
0–2
2–0
2–0
1–1
1–5
4–2
4–1
4–1
4–2
2–3
0–2
Houston
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
3–3
3–3
1–1
1–4
–
2–0
4–1
1–4
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
3–2
2–3
5–1
5–1
1–4
3–3
1–1
Indiana
3–3
1–5
2–3
3–3
2–0
1–1
3–3
2–0
0–2
–
2–0
0–2
2–4
5–1
3–2
2–4
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–2
L.A. Clippers
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–5
3–2
0–2
0–6
1–4
0–2
–
0–6
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–5
0–6
1–4
1–4
2–4
2–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
2–3
5–0
1–1
4–2
4–1
2–0
6–0
–
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
5–1
5–1
5–0
4–1
4–2
3–2
1–1
Milwaukee
3–3
3–3
2–4
5–1
0–2
1–1
3–3
2–0
2–0
4–2
2–0
1–1
–
4–2
4–2
2–3
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
4–1
New Jersey
0–5
2–4
2–3
2–4
0–2
0–2
1–5
0–2
1–1
1–5
1–1
0–2
2–4
–
5–1
3–3
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
2–4
New York
1–5
2–4
2–4
1–4
0–2
0–2
0–6
0–2
1–1
2–3
2–0
0–2
2–4
1–5
–
3–3
1–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
2–4
Philadelphia
3–3
3–3
3–3
4–2
0–2
2–0
0–5
1–1
2–0
4–2
2–0
0–2
3–2
3–3
3–3
–
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
3–3
Phoenix
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–3
2–3
1–1
5–1
2–3
1–1
5–1
1–5
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
–
2–4
2–3
2–3
1–5
4–1
0–2
Portland
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
3–2
2–3
2–0
2–4
3–2
2–0
6–0
1–5
2–0
2–0
2–0
0–2
4–2
–
3–2
4–1
4–2
3–2
1–1
Sacramento
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–5
4–2
1–1
1–4
1–5
1–1
4–1
0–5
0–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
3–2
2–3
–
3–3
2–3
1–5
1–1
San Antonio
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–1
2–4
1–5
1–1
1–4
1–5
0–2
4–1
1–4
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–2
1–4
3–3
–
1–4
2–4
0–2
Seattle
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–5
3–2
0–2
2–4
4–1
1–1
4–2
2–4
0–2
2–0
2–0
0–2
5–1
2–4
3–2
4–1
–
3–2
1–1
Utah
0–2
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–3
4–2
1–1
3–2
3–3
1–1
3–2
2–3
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–4
2–3
5–1
4–2
2–3
–
1–1
Washington
0–5
2–4
3–3
4–2
1–1
1–1
3–3
2–0
1–1
2–4
2–0
1–1
1–4
4–2
4–2
3–3
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
—
Game log
1986-87 game log
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
1
Fri. Oct. 31
Washington Bullets
120-102
Boston Garden
1-0
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
2
Sat. Nov. 1
@ Milwaukee Bucks
105-111
Milwaukee Arena (MECCA)
1-1
3
Wed. Nov. 5
Indiana Pacers
133-102
Boston Garden
2-1
4
Fri. Nov. 7
@Washington Bullets
88-86
Capital Centre
3-1
5
Tue. Nov. 11
@ New Jersey Nets
110-114
Brendan Byrne Arena
3-2
6
Wed. Nov. 12
Milwaukee Bucks
124-116
Boston Garden
4-2
7
Fri. Nov. 14
@ Chicago Bulls
124-105
Chicago Stadium
5-2
8
Sat. Nov. 15
@ Detroit Pistons
118-111
Pontiac Silverdome
6-2
9
Wed. Nov. 19
Atlanta Hawks
111-107
Boston Garden
7-2
10
Fri. Nov. 21
Golden State Warriors
135-120
Boston Garden
8-2
11
Sat. Nov. 22
@ Atlanta Hawks
96-97
The Omni
8-3
12
Tue. Nov. 25
@ Philadelphia 76ers
100-102
The Spectrum
8-4
13
Wed. Nov. 26
New York Knicks
101-90
Boston Garden
9-4
14
Fri. Nov. 28
San Antonio Spurs
111-96
Boston Garden
10-4
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
15
Tue. Dec. 2
Washington Bullets
109-117
Hartford Civic Center
10-5
16
Wed. Dec. 3
Denver Nuggets
119-113
Boston Garden
11-5
17
Fri. Dec. 5
Philadelphia 76ers
108-106
Boston Garden
12-5
18
Sat. Dec. 6
@ Cleveland Cavaliers
86-88
Richfield Coliseum
12-6
19
Wed. Dec. 10
New Jersey Nets
108-98
Boston Garden
13-6
20
Fri. Dec. 12
Los Angeles Lakers
110-117
Boston Garden
13-7
21
Sat. Dec. 13
@ Washington Bullets
105-98
Capital Centre
14-7
22
Tue. Dec. 16
@ New York Knicks
107-96
Madison Square Garden
15-7
23
Wed. Dec. 17
Indiana Pacers
113-101
Boston Garden
16-7
24
Fri. Dec. 19
@ Philadelphia 76ers
100-122
The Spectrum
16-8
25
Sat. Dec. 20
@ Milwaukee Bucks
100-120
Milwaukee Arena (MECCA)
16-9
26
Fri. Dec. 26
@ Phoenix Suns
122-112
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
17-9
27
Sat. Dec. 27
@ Los Angeles Clippers
114-101
L.A. Sports Arena
18-9
28
Mon. Dec. 29
@ Sacramento Kings
119-102
ARCO Arena I
19-9
29
Tue. Dec. 30
@ Seattle SuperSonics
104-102
Seattle Center Coliseum
20-9
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
30
Fri. Jan. 2
Chicago Bulls
113-99
Boston Garden
21-9
31
Wed. Jan. 7
Milwaukee Bucks
119-92
Boston Garden
22-9
32
Fri. Jan. 9
Sacramento Kings
109-99
Boston Garden
23-9
33
Sat. Jan. 10
@ Detroit Pistons
101-118
Pontiac Silverdome
23-10
34
Tue. Jan. 13
@ New Jersey Nets
123-117
Brendan Byrne Arena
24-10
35
Wed. Jan. 14
Dallas Mavericks
117-108
Boston Garden
25-10
36
Fri. Jan. 16
Cleveland Cavaliers
133-128 (OT)
Boston Garden
26-10
37
Sun. Jan. 18
Houston Rockets
122-99
Boston Garden
27-10
38
Mon. Jan. 19
@ New York Knicks
109-111
Madison Square Garden
27-11
39
Wed. Jan. 21
Indiana Pacers
130-100
Boston Garden
28-11
40
Fri. Jan. 23
Atlanta Hawks
126-106
Boston Garden
29-11
41
Sun. Jan. 25
Philadelphia 76ers
111-96
Boston Garden
30-11
42
Tue. Jan. 27
@ Chicago Bulls
105-97
Chicago Stadium
31-11
43
Wed. Jan. 28
Chicago Bulls
132-103
Boston Garden
32-11
44
Fri. Jan. 30
@ Indiana Pacers
100-94
Market Square Arena
33-11
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
45
Tue. Feb. 3
@ Atlanta Hawks
123-126 (OT)
The Omni
33-12
46
Wed. Feb. 4
Cleveland Cavaliers
104-102
Boston Garden
34-12
47
Tue. Feb. 10
@ Denver Nuggets
119-105
McNichols Sports Arena
35-12
48
Thu. Feb. 12
@ Golden State Warriors
134-112
Oakland Coliseum
36-12
49
Fri. Feb. 13
@ Portland Trail Blazers
131-116
Memorial Coliseum
37-12
50
Sun. Feb. 15
@ Los Angeles Lakers
103-106
The Forum
37-13
51
Mon. Feb. 16
@ Utah Jazz
89-109
Salt Palace
37-14
52
Wed. Feb. 18
@ Dallas Mavericks
113-96
Reunion Arena
38-14
53
Thu. Feb. 19
@ Houston Rockets
99-92
The Summit
39-14
54
Sat. Feb. 21
@ San Antonio Spurs
121-113
HemisFair Arena
40-14
55
Mon. Feb. 23
New Jersey Nets
116-103
Hartford Civic Center
41-14
56
Wed. Feb. 25
Portland Trail Blazers
122-116
Boston Garden
42-14
57
Fri. Feb. 27
@ Atlanta Hawks
105-115
The Omni
42-15
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
58
Sun. Mar. 1
Detroit Pistons
112-102
Boston Garden
43-15
59
Wed. Mar. 4
Utah Jazz
123-105
Boston Garden
44-15
60
Fri. Mar. 6
Los Angeles Clippers
132-111
Boston Garden
45-15
61
Sun. Mar. 8
@ Detroit Pistons
119-122 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
45-16
62
Wed. Mar. 11
Phoenix Suns
118-109
Boston Garden
46-16
63
Fri. Mar. 13
@ Indiana Pacers
109-116
Market Square Arena
46-17
64
Sun. Mar. 15
New York Knicks
113-104
Boston Garden
47-17
65
Tue. Mar. 17
@ Milwaukee Bucks
115-123
Milwaukee Arena (MECCA)
47-18
66
Wed. Mar. 18
Milwaukee Bucks
120-102
Boston Garden
48-18
67
Fri. Mar. 20
Seattle SuperSonics
112-108
Boston Garden
49-18
68
Sun. Mar. 22
New Jersey Nets
116-104
Boston Garden
50-18
69
Tue. Mar. 24
Cleveland Cavaliers
111-88
Hartford Civic Center
51-18
70
Thu. Mar. 26
@ Washington Bullets
103-106
Capital Centre
51-19
71
Fri. Mar. 27
@ Chicago Bulls
111-106
Chicago Stadium
52-19
72
Sun. Mar. 29
Philadelphia 76ers
118-100
Boston Garden
53-19
73
Tue. Mar. 31
@ New York Knicks
120-128
Madison Square Garden
53-20
Game
Date
Opponent
Score
Location
Record
74
Wed. Apr. 1
Washington Bullets
103-86
Boston Garden
54-20
75
Fri. Apr. 3
Detroit Pistons
119-115 (OT)
Boston Garden
55-20
76
Sun. Apr. 5
@ Philadelphia 76ers
104-106 (OT)
The Spectrum
55-21
77
Tue. Apr. 7
@ Cleveland Cavaliers
83-107
Richfield Coliseum
55-22
78
Fri. Apr. 10
@ New Jersey Nets
108-117
Brendan Byrne Arena
55-23
79
Sun. Apr. 12
New York Knicks
119-107
Boston Garden
56-23
80
Wed. Apr. 15
@ Indiana Pacers
108-85
Market Square Arena
57-23
81
Fri. Apr. 17
Chicago Bulls
108-105
Boston Garden
58-23
82
Sun. Apr. 19
Atlanta Hawks
118-107
Boston Garden
59-23
1986-87 Schedule
Roster
1986–87 Boston Celtics roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
SG
44
Ainge, Danny
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1959-03-17
BYU
SF
33
Bird, Larry (C)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1956-12-07
Indiana State
SG
34
Carlisle, Rick
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1959-10-27
Virginia
SF
20
Daye, Darren
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1960-11-30
UCLA
SG
43
Henry, Conner
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1963-07-21
UC Santa Barbara
PG
3
Johnson, Dennis
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1954-09-18
Pepperdine
C
50
Kite, Greg
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1961-08-05
BYU
PF
32
McHale, Kevin
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
1957-12-19
Minnesota
C
00
Parish, Robert
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1953-08-30
Centenary
PF
31
Roberts, Fred
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1960-08-10
BYU
PG
12
Sichting, Jerry
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
168 lb (76 kg)
1956-11-29
Purdue
PG
11
Vincent, Sam
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1963-05-18
Michigan State
C
5
Walton, Bill
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1952-11-05
UCLA
SF
8
Wedman, Scott
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1952-07-29
Colorado
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(C) Team captain(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average
Playoffs
1987 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
Conference Semi-finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
Conference finals: 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3)
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
1987 schedule
Award winners
Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
Kevin McHale, All-NBA First Team
Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team
References
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
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