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.
See main article: article and 1987 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Reggie Lewis | SF | Northeastern | ||
| 2 | 45 | Brad Lohaus | C/PF | Iowa | ||
| 4 | 70 | Tom Sheehey | Virginia | |||
| 4 | 91 | Darryl Kennedy | Oklahoma | |||
| 5 | 114 | David Butler | California | |||
| 6 | 137 | Tim Naegeli | Wisconsin–Stevens Point | |||
| 7 | 160 | Jerry Corcoran | Northeastern |
| 1987-88 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | 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 | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Boston | 4–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | – | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–4 | 2–0 | |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 | |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | |
|- 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
| 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|- 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|- 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|- 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|- 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|- 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
|- 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|-
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.