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.

Roster Notes

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

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * November 6, 1987 8:00p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 125–108
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird, Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * November 7, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Washington
 * W 140–139 (2 OT)
 * Bird (47)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (17)
 * Capital Centre 19,643
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3 || November 9, 1987 || @ New York
 * W 96–87
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4 || November 11, 1987 || Indiana
 * W 120–106
 * Boston Garden
 * 4–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * November 13, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Cleveland
 * W 128–114
 * Bird (34)
 * Parish (16)
 * Johnson (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 5–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6 || November 15, 1987 || @ Indiana
 * W 103–98
 * Market Square Arena
 * 6–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * November 17, 1987 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 88–109
 * Johnson (16)
 * Acres (8)
 * Bird (4)
 * Richfield Coliseum 14,621
 * 6–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8 || November 18, 1987 || New York
 * W 111–109 (2OT)
 * Boston Garden
 * 7–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9 || November 20, 1987 || @ Philadelphia
 * L 85–116
 * The Spectrum
 * 7–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10 || November 21, 1987 || @ New Jersey
 * W 107–97
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 8–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * November 23, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Chicago (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * L 102–107
 * Johnson (23)
 * Lohaus, Parish (9)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Hartford Civic Center 15,134
 * 8–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 25, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Atlanta
 * W 117–102
 * Daye (26)
 * Parish (13)
 * Ainge (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 9–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 27, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Seattle
 * W 117–112
 * Daye (27)
 * Bird (10)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 10–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 28, 1987 9:00p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 97–112
 * Bird (28)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (9)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 10–4
 * November 27, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Seattle
 * W 117–112
 * Daye (27)
 * Bird (10)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 10–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * November 28, 1987 9:00p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 97–112
 * Bird (28)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (9)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 10–4


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 15
 * December 1, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 106–120
 * McHale (22)
 * Bird, Lohaus (8)
 * Johnson (8)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 10–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16 || December 2, 1987 || New Jersey
 * W 130–99
 * Boston Garden
 * 11–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * December 4, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 105–128
 * Bird (27)
 * Parish (11)
 * Johnson (6)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 34,523
 * 11–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 18
 * December 9, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Denver
 * L 119–124
 * Bird (40)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (15)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 11–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * 8:00p.m. EST
 * L.A. Lakers
 * L 114–115
 * Bird (35)
 * Bird, Parish (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 11–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 20
 * December 15, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Washington
 * W 122–102
 * Bird (27)
 * McHale (8)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Capital Centre 15,890
 * 12–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * December 16, 1987 7:30p.m. EST
 * Utah
 * W 121–111
 * Bird (38)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (11)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 13–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22 || December 20, 1987 || Philadelphia
 * W 124–87
 * Boston Garden
 * 14–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23 || December 22, 1987 || @ Philadelphia
 * W 118–115
 * The Spectrum
 * 15–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24 || December 26, 1987 || @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 106–97
 * Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
 * 16–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25 || December 27, 1987 || @ Sacramento
 * W 114–102
 * ARCO Arena
 * 17–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * December 30, 1987 10:30p.m. EST
 * @ Seattle
 * L 105–111
 * Bird (36)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird (8)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
 * 17–9
 * ARCO Arena
 * 17–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * December 30, 1987 10:30p.m. EST
 * @ Seattle
 * L 105–111
 * Bird (36)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird (8)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
 * 17–9
 * Bird (8)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,850
 * 17–9


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 27 || January 2, 1988 || @ Golden State
 * W 115–110
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * 18–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * January 4, 1988 9:30p.m. EST
 * @ Utah
 * W 107–99
 * Bird (28)
 * Parish (10)
 * Johnson (12)
 * Salt Palace 12,212
 * 19–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29 || January 6, 1988 || New York
 * W 117–108
 * Boston Garden
 * 20–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * January 8, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Washington
 * W 125–109
 * Bird (35)
 * Bird (11)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 21–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31 || January 9, 1988 || @ New York
 * L 98–106
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 21–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * January 12, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Chicago
 * W 104–97
 * Bird (38)
 * Parish (16)
 * Ainge, Minniefield (9)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 22–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * January 13, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 143–105
 * McHale (31)
 * Bird, McHale (7)
 * Bird (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 23–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34 || January 15, 1988 || Sacramento
 * W 122–86
 * Boston Garden
 * 24–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35 || January 16, 1988 || @ New Jersey
 * W 103–96
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 25–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36 || January 18, 1988 || Golden State
 * W 121–101
 * Boston Garden
 * 26–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37 || January 20, 1988 || Phoenix
 * W 131–115
 * Boston Garden
 * 27–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 38
 * January 22, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * Atlanta
 * W 124–106
 * Bird (25)
 * Parish (12)
 * Ainge (11)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 28–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#fcccc"
 * 39
 * January 23, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 100–119
 * Bird (32)
 * McHale (17)
 * Johnson (5)
 * Richfield Coliseum 20,900
 * 28–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * January 26, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 102–97
 * McHale (21)
 * Parish (14)
 * Ainge (10)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 29–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 27, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Washington
 * W 106–100
 * Bird (49)
 * Parish (12)
 * Ainge (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 30–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 29, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 108–125
 * Bird (25)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 61,983
 * 30–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43 || January 31, 1988 || Philadelphia
 * W 100–85
 * Boston Garden
 * 31–12
 * W 106–100
 * Bird (49)
 * Parish (12)
 * Ainge (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 30–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * January 29, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 108–125
 * Bird (25)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 61,983
 * 30–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43 || January 31, 1988 || Philadelphia
 * W 100–85
 * Boston Garden
 * 31–12
 * Boston Garden
 * 31–12
 * 31–12


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44 || February 3, 1988 || Indiana
 * W 118–103
 * Boston Garden
 * 32–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * February 4, 1988 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 101–111
 * McHale (25)
 * Bird (12)
 * Johnson (6)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 32–13
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46 || February 9, 1988 || @ Houston
 * L 120–129
 * The Summit
 * 32–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 47 || February 10, 1988 || @ San Antonio
 * W 139–120
 * HemisFair Arena
 * 33–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * February 12, 1988 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Dallas
 * W 105–104
 * Bird (39)
 * McHale, Parish (15)
 * Johnson (11)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 34–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * 3:30p.m. EST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 106–115
 * Bird (25)
 * Bird (17)
 * Johnson (10)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 34–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50 || February 15, 1988 || @ Phoenix
 * W 107–106
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * 35–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * February 17, 1988 9:30p.m. EST
 * @ Denver
 * L 125–138
 * McHale (33)
 * McHale (11)
 * Minniefield (6)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
 * 35–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52 || February 19, 1988 || @ Portland
 * W 124–104
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * 36–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 53 || February 22, 1988 || New York
 * W 95–93
 * Hartford Civic Center
 * 37–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54 || February 24, 1988 || Portland
 * W 113–112
 * Boston Garden
 * 38–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 26, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 132–96
 * Bird (32)
 * McHale (8)
 * Bird, Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 39–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 28, 1988 12Noon EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 101–106
 * McHale (33)
 * McHale (11)
 * Bird (9)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 37,462
 * 39–17
 * 38–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 26, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 132–96
 * Bird (32)
 * McHale (8)
 * Bird, Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 39–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * February 28, 1988 12Noon EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 101–106
 * McHale (33)
 * McHale (11)
 * Bird (9)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 37,462
 * 39–17


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 57
 * March 1, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 116–117
 * Bird (31)
 * Bird, McHale (7)
 * Ainge (10)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 39–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58 || March 2, 1988 || New Jersey
 * L 107–117
 * Boston Garden
 * 39–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59 || March 4, 1988 || L.A. Clippers
 * W 121–90
 * Boston Garden
 * 40–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * March 6, 1988 1:00p.m. EST
 * Cleveland
 * W 127–98
 * Bird (31)
 * McHale (8)
 * Ainge, Johnson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 41–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61 || March 9, 1988 || San Antonio
 * W 117–116
 * Boston Garden
 * 42–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62 || March 11, 1988 || Indiana
 * W 122–112
 * Hartford Civic Center
 * 43–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 63
 * March 13, 1988 12Noon EST
 * Atlanta
 * W 117–100
 * Bird (28)
 * Acres (11)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 44–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64 || March 15, 1988 || @ Indiana
 * W 119–113
 * Market Square Arena
 * 45–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 65
 * March 18, 1988 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Chicago
 * L 103–113
 * McHale (33)
 * Bird, McHale (10)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,676
 * 45–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * March 20, 1988 1:00p.m. EST
 * Chicago
 * W 137–107
 * Bird (33)
 * McHale (10)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 46–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * March 23, 1988 7:30p.m. EST
 * Washington
 * W 104–89
 * Bird (37)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 47–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68 || March 25, 1988 || Philadelphia
 * L 93–97
 * Boston Garden
 * 47–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69 || March 26, 1988 || @ New York
 * W 118–106
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 48–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70 || March 28, 1988 || @ New Jersey
 * W 106–105
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 49–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71 || March 30, 1988 || Houston
 * W 117–110
 * Boston Garden
 * 50–21
 * Boston Garden
 * 47–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69 || March 26, 1988 || @ New York
 * W 118–106
 * Madison Square Garden
 * 48–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70 || March 28, 1988 || @ New Jersey
 * W 106–105
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 49–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71 || March 30, 1988 || Houston
 * W 117–110
 * Boston Garden
 * 50–21
 * Brendan Byrne Arena
 * 49–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71 || March 30, 1988 || Houston
 * W 117–110
 * Boston Garden
 * 50–21
 * Boston Garden
 * 50–21
 * 50–21


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 72
 * April 1, 1988 8:00p.m. EST
 * Detroit
 * W 121–110
 * Bird (32)
 * Bird, McHale (11)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 51–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * April 3, 1988 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Dallas
 * W 110–101
 * Bird (32)
 * McHale (7)
 * McHale (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 52–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 74 || April 8, 1988 || New Jersey
 * W 127–90
 * Boston Garden
 * 53–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75 || April 10, 1988 || @ Philadelphia
 * W 117–108
 * The Spectrum
 * 54–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * April 13, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Milwaukee
 * W 123–104
 * Bird (26)
 * Bird McHale (10)
 * Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 55–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 77
 * April 15, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 109–120
 * Bird (30)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Richfield Coliseum 20,149
 * 55–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 78
 * April 17, 1988 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Washington
 * L 92–98
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (7)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Capital Centre 18,643
 * 55–23
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 79
 * April 19, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Detroit
 * W 121–110
 * McHale (33)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 56–23
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * April 21, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Chicago
 * W 126–119
 * Bird (44)
 * Bird, Parish (10)
 * Johson (15)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 57–23
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 81
 * April 22, 1988 7:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 106–133
 * Ainge (25)
 * Parish (7)
 * Ainge, Johnson, ,Parish, Roberts (4)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 57–24
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * April 24, 1988 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Chicago
 * L 108–115
 * Ainge (20)
 * Acres (9)
 * Ainge (11)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,636
 * 57–25
 * L 108–115
 * Ainge (20)
 * Acres (9)
 * Ainge (11)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,636
 * 57–25

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1 || April 29 || New York
 * W 112–92
 * McHale, Bird (29)
 * Robert Parish (13)
 * Dennis Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2 || May 1 || New York
 * W 128–102
 * Larry Bird (36)
 * Kevin McHale (12)
 * Dennis Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3 || May 4 || @ New York
 * L 100–109
 * Kevin McHale (24)
 * Robert Parish (11)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4 || May 6 || @ New York
 * W 102–94
 * Larry Bird (28)
 * Robert Parish (12)
 * Dennis Johnson (12)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 3–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 11, 1988 8:30p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 110–101
 * Bird (38)
 * Parish (14)
 * Ainge (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 13, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 108–97
 * McHale (32)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * May 15, 1988 1:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 92–110
 * Bird (22)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (8)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 16, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 109–118
 * Bird (30)
 * McHale (12)
 * Johnson (10)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * May 18, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * L 104–112
 * Parish (24)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * May 20, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 102–100
 * McHale (26)
 * Bird (11)
 * Ainge (14)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * May 22, 1988 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 118–116
 * Bird (34)
 * McHale (13)
 * Ainge (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–3


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * May 25, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Detroit
 * L 96–104
 * McHale (31)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 26, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Detroit
 * W 119–115 (2OT)
 * Parish (26)
 * Bird (12)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * May 28, 1988 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Detroit
 * L 94–98
 * McHale (32)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 26,481
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 30, 1988 3:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Detroit
 * W 79–78
 * Bird (20)
 * Bird (10)
 * Bird, Johnson (6)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 26,625
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * June 1, 1988 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Detroit
 * L 96–102 (OT)
 * Bird (27)
 * Bird (17)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * June 3, 1988 9:00p.m. EST
 * @ Detroit
 * L 90–95
 * McHale (33)
 * Bird (14)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 38,912
 * 2–4

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