The 1995-96 Detroit Pistons experienced a season of transition, finishing with a 46-36 record. This performance earned them a sixth-place finish in the Central Division and a playoff berth. The team was coached by Doug Collins, who focused on developing a strong defensive identity. Key players included Grant Hill, who emerged as a versatile star, averaging 20.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game, and Allan Houston, who contributed significantly with his scoring prowess.
Despite a promising regular season, the Pistons struggled in the playoffs, facing the Orlando Magic in the first round. They were defeated 3-0 in the best-of-five series, as the Magic, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway, proved too formidable. This season set the stage for future improvements, as the Pistons focused on building around Hill’s all-around abilities and seeking additional talent to bolster their roster.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-3
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1995-96 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Grant Hill | 80 | 20.2 | 9.8 | 6.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 19.2 | 3 | 19.0 | 7.3 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Allan Houston | 82 | 19.7 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 42.7 | 3 | 25.0 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 33.3 |
| Otis Thorpe | 82 | 14.2 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 11.7 | 11.7 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Dumars | 67 | 11.8 | 2.1 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 40.6 | 3 | 13.7 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 35.7 |
| Terry Mills | 82 | 9.4 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 39.6 | 3 | 5.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 12.5 |
| Lindsey Hunter | 80 | 8.5 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 40.5 | 2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Michael Curry | 41 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Theo Ratliff | 75 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Reid | 69 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Mark Macon | 23 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 46.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark West | 47 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 3 | 9.3 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Steve Bardo | 9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Leckner | 18 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lou Roe | 49 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 22.2 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1996 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Orlando Magic
In the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced the Orlando Magic in the first round. Despite a spirited effort, the Pistons were outmatched and ultimately swept in three games by the dominant Magic, who were led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. This series marked the end of a transition period for Detroit, as they looked to rebuild and regain their competitive edge in the Eastern Conference.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 112-92 | |
| Apr 28, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 92-77 | |
| Apr 30, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 101-98 |
Detroit Pistons 1995-96 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1995-96 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1995 | vs. New York Knicks | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 04, 1995 | @ Washington Bullets | L 100-89 | |
| Nov 07, 1995 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 108-96 | |
| Nov 08, 1995 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-100 | |
| Nov 10, 1995 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-80 | |
| Nov 15, 1995 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 94-87 | |
| Nov 17, 1995 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 86-81 | |
| Nov 18, 1995 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 93-90 | |
| Nov 22, 1995 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 98-97 | |
| Nov 24, 1995 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-78 | |
| Nov 26, 1995 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 102-100 | |
| Nov 27, 1995 | @ Orlando Magic | L 96-95 | |
| Nov 29, 1995 | @ Boston Celtics | L 100-96 | |
| Nov 30, 1995 | vs. Miami Heat | L 118-107 | |
| Dec 02, 1995 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-96 | |
| Dec 04, 1995 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 85-82 | |
| Dec 07, 1995 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 93-84 | |
| Dec 08, 1995 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 121-114 | |
| Dec 10, 1995 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 87-82 | |
| Dec 13, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-98 | |
| Dec 15, 1995 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1995 | @ New York Knicks | L 86-82 | |
| Dec 19, 1995 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 94-82 | |
| Dec 20, 1995 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-77 | |
| Dec 22, 1995 | @ Miami Heat | W 84-75 | |
| Dec 23, 1995 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 94-79 | |
| Dec 26, 1995 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 100-90 | |
| Dec 28, 1995 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 113-91 | |
| Dec 30, 1995 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 102-100 | |
| Jan 03, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 96-82 | |
| Jan 06, 1996 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 90-82 | |
| Jan 11, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 95-93 | |
| Jan 13, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 91-80 | |
| Jan 15, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 96-88 | |
| Jan 18, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 100-98 | |
| Jan 19, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 89-81 | |
| Jan 21, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 111-96 | |
| Jan 24, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 85-84 | |
| Jan 25, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 93-92 | |
| Jan 27, 1996 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-85 | |
| Jan 29, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 106-97 | |
| Feb 01, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 87-70 | |
| Feb 03, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 94-85 | |
| Feb 05, 1996 | @ New York Knicks | L 97-91 | |
| Feb 07, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 97-83 | |
| Feb 14, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-83 | |
| Feb 15, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 112-109 | |
| Feb 17, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 108-95 | |
| Feb 19, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 113-83 | |
| Feb 21, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 113-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-93 | |
| Feb 25, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 93-81 | |
| Feb 26, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 93-78 | |
| Feb 28, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 94-80 | |
| Mar 01, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 102-97 | |
| Mar 02, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 107-103 | |
| Mar 04, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 99-93 | |
| Mar 05, 1996 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 105-84 | |
| Mar 07, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 102-81 | |
| Mar 09, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 92-91 | |
| Mar 11, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 100-90 | |
| Mar 13, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-115 | |
| Mar 15, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 80-69 | |
| Mar 17, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 91-81 | |
| Mar 19, 1996 | @ Orlando Magic | L 113-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1996 | @ Miami Heat | L 102-93 | |
| Mar 22, 1996 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 111-96 | |
| Mar 23, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 92-84 | |
| Mar 26, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 86-75 | |
| Mar 30, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 95-85 | |
| Apr 02, 1996 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-98 | |
| Apr 03, 1996 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 98-83 | |
| Apr 05, 1996 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-87 | |
| Apr 07, 1996 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-97 | |
| Apr 09, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-94 | |
| Apr 10, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-76 | |
| Apr 13, 1996 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 91-86 | |
| Apr 14, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 105-96 | |
| Apr 17, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 102-93 | |
| Apr 18, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-79 | |
| Apr 20, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 75-73 | |
| Apr 21, 1996 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 108-92 |