The 1985-86 Detroit Pistons season marked a pivotal moment in the team’s development, building towards their future as NBA champions. Under head coach Chuck Daly, the Pistons finished with a 46-36 record, securing third place in the Central Division. This season was notable for the emergence of their defensive identity, led by key players such as Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer.
The Pistons entered the playoffs as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. They won the series 3-1, showcasing their growing defensive prowess. However, their playoff run ended in the Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics, a series they lost 4-0. Despite the sweep, the experience gained set the foundation for their success in the late 1980s. The 1985-86 season was a crucial step in the Pistons’ journey toward becoming the “Bad Boys” and ultimately winning back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-3
Detroit Pistons Roster and Stats for 1985-86 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Isiah Thomas | 77 | 20.9 | 3.6 | 10.8 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 31.0 | 4 | 26.5 | 5.5 | 12.0 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Kelly Tripucka | 81 | 20.0 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 48.0 | 4 | 21.8 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Bill Laimbeer | 82 | 16.6 | 13.1 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 28.6 | 4 | 22.5 | 14.0 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 100.0 |
| Vinnie Johnson | 79 | 13.9 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 15.4 | 4 | 12.8 | 4.3 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Long | 62 | 10.0 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 18.8 | 1 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Dumars | 82 | 9.4 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 31.3 | 4 | 15.0 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Earl Cureton | 80 | 8.6 | 6.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Campbell | 82 | 7.9 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 22.2 | 2 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kent Benson | 72 | 6.5 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 50.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Rick Mahorn | 80 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chuck Nevitt | 25 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Gibson | 32 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walker Russell | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Crevier | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Detroit Pistons in the 1986 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the first round of the 1986 NBA Playoffs, the Detroit Pistons faced off against the Atlanta Hawks in a tightly contested five-game series. The Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, displayed resilience and tenacity, ultimately overcoming the Hawks 3-1. This series victory marked a pivotal moment for Detroit, foreshadowing their emergence as a formidable force in the late 1980s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 140-122 | |
| Apr 19, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 137-125 | |
| Apr 22, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 106-97 | |
| Apr 25, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 114-113 |
Detroit Pistons 1985-86 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1985-86 season for the Detroit Pistons.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 118-116 | |
| Oct 26, 1985 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-118 | |
| Oct 29, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 124-107 | |
| Oct 30, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 132-125 | |
| Nov 01, 1985 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 124-116 | |
| Nov 02, 1985 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 128-117 | |
| Nov 06, 1985 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 122-105 | |
| Nov 08, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | W 117-110 | |
| Nov 09, 1985 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 124-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 124-122 | |
| Nov 13, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 137-118 | |
| Nov 15, 1985 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-118 | |
| Nov 20, 1985 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-98 | |
| Nov 22, 1985 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 115-96 | |
| Nov 23, 1985 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 119-114 | |
| Nov 26, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-98 | |
| Nov 27, 1985 | @ Boston Celtics | L 132-124 | |
| Nov 29, 1985 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-102 | |
| Nov 30, 1985 | @ Washington Bullets | L 133-119 | |
| Dec 03, 1985 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 127-107 | |
| Dec 05, 1985 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 113-111 | |
| Dec 07, 1985 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 122-112 | |
| Dec 10, 1985 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 130-120 | |
| Dec 11, 1985 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 108-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1985 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 119-113 | |
| Dec 15, 1985 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 132-119 | |
| Dec 17, 1985 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 132-121 | |
| Dec 19, 1985 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 21, 1985 | @ New York Knicks | L 112-110 | |
| Dec 26, 1985 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 124-116 | |
| Dec 27, 1985 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 119-105 | |
| Dec 30, 1985 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 02, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 131-122 | |
| Jan 03, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-101 | |
| Jan 07, 1986 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 113-109 | |
| Jan 09, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 110-99 | |
| Jan 11, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-101 | |
| Jan 15, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 123-115 | |
| Jan 17, 1986 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 129-113 | |
| Jan 19, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-115 | |
| Jan 20, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 105-99 | |
| Jan 22, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-104 | |
| Jan 24, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 129-120 | |
| Jan 25, 1986 | @ Houston Rockets | L 117-112 | |
| Jan 27, 1986 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 118-117 | |
| Jan 29, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-94 | |
| Jan 31, 1986 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 116-103 | |
| Feb 01, 1986 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 116-101 | |
| Feb 04, 1986 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-115 | |
| Feb 06, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | W 111-109 | |
| Feb 11, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 130-122 | |
| Feb 12, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 113-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1986 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 119-110 | |
| Feb 15, 1986 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 134-133 | |
| Feb 17, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-96 | |
| Feb 19, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 118-113 | |
| Feb 20, 1986 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 109-107 | |
| Feb 22, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-106 | |
| Feb 24, 1986 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 110-100 | |
| Feb 26, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-104 | |
| Feb 28, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 115-103 | |
| Mar 02, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 129-109 | |
| Mar 04, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-103 | |
| Mar 07, 1986 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 104-102 | |
| Mar 10, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 120-109 | |
| Mar 12, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-101 | |
| Mar 14, 1986 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-89 | |
| Mar 16, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-109 | |
| Mar 17, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-106 | |
| Mar 19, 1986 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 22, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-99 | |
| Mar 25, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 125-121 | |
| Mar 28, 1986 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 116-107 | |
| Mar 29, 1986 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-121 | |
| Apr 01, 1986 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-108 | |
| Apr 02, 1986 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-106 | |
| Apr 04, 1986 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-108 | |
| Apr 05, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 115-106 | |
| Apr 07, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 128-104 | |
| Apr 08, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-112 | |
| Apr 11, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | W 108-95 |