The 1986-87 Boston Celtics season is remembered for the team’s impressive performance and resilience, despite falling short of an NBA championship. Under the guidance of head coach K.C. Jones, the Celtics finished the regular season with a stellar 59-23 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The team was led by the formidable trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, each delivering consistent performances throughout the season.
During the playoffs, the Celtics demonstrated their championship pedigree, advancing to the NBA Finals after defeating the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Larry Bird continued his exceptional play, while Kevin McHale battled through a foot injury to contribute significantly. The Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons were particularly notable, featuring a dramatic Game 5 victory known as the “Bird Steal” game.
In the NBA Finals, the Celtics faced the Los Angeles Lakers, renewing their storied rivalry. Despite their efforts, the Celtics were defeated by the Lakers in six games, with Magic Johnson’s memorable “junior, junior sky hook” in Game 4 being a pivotal moment in the series. The 1986-87 season, while not ending with a championship, highlighted the Celtics’ tenacity and the enduring legacy of their core players during the 1980s.
- Regular Season Record: 59-23
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 2-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Bird | 74 | 28.1 | 9.2 | 7.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 40.0 | 23 | 27.0 | 10.0 | 7.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 34.1 |
| Kevin McHale | 77 | 26.1 | 9.9 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 21 | 21.1 | 9.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 |
| Robert Parish | 80 | 17.5 | 10.6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 21 | 18.0 | 9.4 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Danny Ainge | 71 | 14.8 | 3.4 | 5.6 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 44.3 | 20 | 14.8 | 2.6 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 43.8 |
| Dennis Johnson | 79 | 13.4 | 3.3 | 7.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 11.3 | 23 | 18.9 | 4.0 | 8.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 11.5 |
| Jerry Sichting | 78 | 5.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 26.9 | 23 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Fred Roberts | 73 | 5.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 20 | 4.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Darren Daye | 61 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 23 | 5.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Sam Vincent | 46 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Scott Wedman | 6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bill Walton | 10 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 12 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Conner Henry | 36 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 38.7 | 11 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Rick Carlisle | 42 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 31.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Greg Kite | 74 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 20 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| David Thirdkill | 17 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Andre Turner | 3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Chicago Bulls in a memorable three-game sweep. Led by the legendary Larry Bird, the Celtics showcased their depth and dominance, overcoming a spectacular performance by a young Michael Jordan. Boston's experience and team cohesion were on full display, setting the stage for their deep playoff run that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-104 | |
| Apr 26, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 105-96 | |
| Apr 28, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 105-94 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Milwaukee Bucks
In the second round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Milwaukee Bucks and showcased their dominance, winning the series 4-3. Led by the legendary Larry Bird, the Celtics combined resilience with skillful play to advance, ultimately demonstrating their championship pedigree. This series victory was a crucial step in their journey to the NBA Finals that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-98 | |
| May 06, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-124 | |
| May 08, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 126-121 | |
| May 10, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 138-137 | |
| May 13, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 129-124 | |
| May 15, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-111 | |
| May 17, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-113 |
1987 Conference Championship vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics showcased their resilience and experience in the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Detroit Pistons in a grueling seven-game series. Larry Bird's clutch performance, particularly his iconic steal in Game 5, was pivotal in overcoming the rugged Pistons, ultimately leading the Celtics to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance. The series highlighted the intense rivalry between the two teams, setting the stage for future classic encounters.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-91 | |
| May 21, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 110-101 | |
| May 23, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-104 | |
| May 24, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 145-119 | |
| May 26, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 108-107 | |
| May 28, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 113-105 | |
| May 30, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-114 |
1987 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1987 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly anticipated matchup, marking their third Finals encounter in four years. Despite the Celtics' formidable lineup featuring Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, they were unable to overcome the Lakers' fast-paced u0022Showtimeu0022 style and Magic Johnson's standout performance, ultimately falling in six games. The series was highlighted by Johnson's iconic u0022junior sky hooku0022 in Game 4, which helped propel the Lakers to a pivotal victory and underscored the intense rivalry between these two storied franchises.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 126-113 | |
| Jun 04, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 141-122 | |
| Jun 07, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 109-103 | |
| Jun 09, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-106 | |
| Jun 11, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-108 | |
| Jun 14, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-93 |
Boston Celtics 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 120-102 | |
| Nov 01, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-105 | |
| Nov 05, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 133-102 | |
| Nov 07, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | W 88-86 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 114-110 | |
| Nov 12, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 14, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1986 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 118-111 | |
| Nov 19, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 111-107 | |
| Nov 21, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 135-120 | |
| Nov 22, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-96 | |
| Nov 25, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-100 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-90 | |
| Nov 28, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 111-96 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 117-109 | |
| Dec 03, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-113 | |
| Dec 05, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-106 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 88-86 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-98 | |
| Dec 12, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-110 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 107-96 | |
| Dec 17, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 113-101 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-100 | |
| Dec 20, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 120-100 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 122-112 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-101 | |
| Dec 29, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 119-102 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 113-99 | |
| Jan 07, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 119-92 | |
| Jan 09, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 109-99 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 118-101 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 123-117 | |
| Jan 14, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-108 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 133-128 | |
| Jan 18, 1987 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 122-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-109 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 130-100 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 126-106 | |
| Jan 25, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-96 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 105-97 | |
| Jan 28, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 132-103 | |
| Jan 30, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 100-94 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 126-123 | |
| Feb 04, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-102 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 119-105 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 134-112 | |
| Feb 13, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 131-116 | |
| Feb 15, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-103 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 109-89 | |
| Feb 18, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 113-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1987 | @ Houston Rockets | W 99-92 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 121-113 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-103 | |
| Feb 25, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 122-116 | |
| Feb 27, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 115-105 | |
| Mar 01, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 112-102 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 123-105 | |
| Mar 06, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 132-111 | |
| Mar 08, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 122-119 | |
| Mar 11, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-109 | |
| Mar 13, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 116-109 | |
| Mar 15, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-104 | |
| Mar 17, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 123-115 | |
| Mar 18, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 120-102 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-108 | |
| Mar 22, 1987 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-104 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 111-88 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | @ Washington Bullets | L 106-103 | |
| Mar 27, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 111-106 | |
| Mar 29, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-100 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | @ New York Knicks | L 128-120 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 103-86 | |
| Apr 03, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 119-115 | |
| Apr 05, 1987 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-104 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 107-83 | |
| Apr 10, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 117-108 | |
| Apr 12, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-107 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 108-85 | |
| Apr 17, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 108-105 | |
| Apr 19, 1987 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-107 |