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1986–87 Boston Celtics season

{{Short description|NBA basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NBA season

| team = Boston Celtics

| ConferenceWin = yes

| DivisionWin = yes

| end_year = 1987

| wins = 59

| losses = 23

| division = Atlantic

| division_place = 1

| conf_place = 1

| coach = K. C. Jones

| gm = Jan Volk

| arena = Boston Garden
Hartford Civic Center

| owners = Don Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee

| television = WLVI
(Gil Santos, Bob Cousy)
SportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)

| radio = WRKO
(Johnny Most, Glenn Ordway)

| playoffs = NBA Finals
(lost to Lakers 2–4)

| bbr_team = BOS

}}

The 1986–87 Boston Celtics season was the 41st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season as the defending NBA Champions, having defeated the Houston Rockets in the 1986 NBA Finals in six games, winning their sixteenth NBA championship.

In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in the First Round in three games, defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Semi-finals in seven games, and the Detroit Pistons in the conference finals in seven games to reach the NBA Finals for the fifth time in the 1980s. In the Finals, the Celtics faced off against their long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, in their third and final matchup in the NBA Finals in the 1980s. The Celtics would lose in six games to the Lakers, and it marked the last time the Celtics made it to the NBA Finals until 2008. Remarkably, the 1987 NBA Finals was the first playoff series for the Celtics in the Bird era in which they did not have the home court advantage, as they had played 24 consecutive series with the home court advantage starting in 1980.

NBA draft

Thanks to the 1984 trade of Gerald Henderson and the subsequent fall of the Seattle SuperSonics, at the end of the 1985–86 season the Celtics owned not only the best team in the NBA but also the second pick in the 1986 NBA draft. The Celtics drafted small forward Len Bias with the pick and had high hopes for the young Maryland Terrapins star. The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale, and Parish retired. Unfortunately, Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing.{{cite news |title=All-American Basketball Star, Celtic Choice, Dies Suddenly |date=June 20, 1986 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/20/obituaries/all-american-basketball-star-celtic-choice-dies-suddenly.html }}

Unlike the prior year, the Celtics were forced to endure major injuries to several key players including Bill Walton, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. With a road record of 20–21, the Celtics were a sub-.500 road team for the first time in the Larry Bird era and the first time since the 1978–79 season. However, they continued with the previous season's historic dominance at home with a record of 39–2 at Boston Garden.

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#00994D;" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#00994D;" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#00994D;" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#00994D;" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#00994D;" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#00994D;" width="20%"| School/Club Team

1

| 2

| Len Bias

| Forward

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Maryland

4

| 93

| Tony Benford

| N/A

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Texas Tech

5

| 116

| Dave Colbert

| N/A

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Dayton

6

| 139

| Greg Wendt

| N/A

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Detroit

7

| 162

| Tom Ivey

| N/A

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boston University

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1986–87 NBA Atlantic standings|team=BOS}}

{{1986–87 NBA East standings|team=BOS}}

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=24|1986-87 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FF8C00;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#008000;color:#00008B;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#F9160D;color:#1A2E8B;width=35"|LAC

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|SAC

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta–3–34–24–22–02–03–31–11–13–32–01–13–35–05–13–31–11–12–02–02–02–05–0
style="text-align:left;" | Boston3–3–6–03–22–02–03–22–02–05–12–00–23–34–24–23–32–02–02–02–02–01–14–2
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago2–40–6–5–11–11–13–30–20–23–22–00–24–23–24–23–31–11–11–11–12–00–23–3
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland2–42–31–5–0–21–11–51–10–23–32–00–21–54–24–12–41–11–11–11–11–10–22–4
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas0–20–21–12–0–4–21–15–03–30–25–03–22–02–02–02–03–22–35–14–25–03–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Denver0–20–21–11–12–4–0–24–13–31–12–30–51–12–02–00–23–23–22–45–12–32–41–1
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit3–32–33–35–11–12–0–1–11–13–32–01–13–35–16–05–01–10–21–11–12–01–13–3
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State1–10–22–01–10–51–41–1–4–10–26–02–40–22–02–01–11–54–24–14–14–22–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | Houston1–10–22–02–03–33–31–11–4–2–04–11–40–21–11–10–23–22–35–15–11–43–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana3–31–52–33–32–01–13–32–00–2–2–00–22–45–13–22–41–10–21–12–01–11–14–2
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Clippers0–20–20–20–20–53–20–20–61–40–2–0–60–21–10–20–21–50–61–41–42–42–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | L.A. Lakers1–12–02–02–02–35–01–14–24–12–06–0–1–12–02–02–05–15–15–04–14–23–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee3–33–32–45–10–21–13–32–02–04–22–01–1–4–24–22–32–00–22–01–12–01–14–1
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey0–52–42–32–40–20–21–50–21–11–51–10–22–4–5–13–31–10–20–20–20–21–12–4
style="text-align:left;" | New York1–52–42–41–40–20–20–60–21–12–32–00–22–41–5–3–31–10–22–01–10–21–12–4
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia3–33–33–34–20–22–00–51–12–04–22–00–23–23–33–3–1–12–02–01–12–01–13–3
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix1–10–21–11–12–32–31–15–12–31–15–11–50–21–11–11–1–2–42–32–31–54–10–2
style="text-align:left;" | Portland1–10–21–11–13–22–32–02–43–22–06–01–52–02–02–00–24–2–3–24–14–23–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Sacramento0–20–21–11–11–54–21–11–41–51–14–10–50–22–00–20–23–22–3–3–32–31–51–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio0–20–21–11–12–41–51–11–41–50–24–11–41–12–01–11–13–21–43–3–1–42–40–2
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle0–20–20–21–10–53–20–22–44–11–14–22–40–22–02–00–25–12–43–24–1–3–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Utah0–21–12–02–03–34–21–13–23–31–13–22–31–11–11–11–11–42–35–14–22–3–1–1
style="text-align:left;" | Washington0–52–43–34–21–11–13–32–01–12–42–01–11–44–24–23–32–01–11–12–01–11–1—

=Game log=

{{Game log start|style=background:#efe196; color:#008040|title= 1986-87 game log}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=October| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 1 || Fri. Oct. 31 || Washington Bullets || 120-102 ||Boston Garden ||1-0

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=November| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 2 || Sat. Nov. 1 || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 105-111 ||Milwaukee Arena (MECCA) ||1-1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 3 || Wed. Nov. 5 || Indiana Pacers || 133-102 || Boston Garden || 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 4 || Fri. Nov. 7 || @Washington Bullets || 88-86 || Capital Centre || 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 5 || Tue. Nov. 11 || @ New Jersey Nets || 110-114 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 6 || Wed. Nov. 12 || Milwaukee Bucks || 124-116 || Boston Garden || 4–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 7 || Fri. Nov. 14 || @ Chicago Bulls || 124-105 || Chicago Stadium ||5-2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 8 || Sat. Nov. 15 || @ Detroit Pistons || 118-111 || Pontiac Silverdome || 6–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 9 || Wed. Nov. 19 || Atlanta Hawks || 111-107 || Boston Garden || 7–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 10 || Fri. Nov. 21 || Golden State Warriors || 135-120 || Boston Garden || 8–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 11 || Sat. Nov. 22 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 96-97 || The Omni || 8–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 12 || Tue. Nov. 25 || @ Philadelphia 76ers || 100-102 || The Spectrum || 8–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 13 || Wed. Nov. 26 || New York Knicks || 101-90 || Boston Garden || 9–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 14 || Fri. Nov. 28 || San Antonio Spurs || 111-96 || Boston Garden || 10–4

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=December| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 15 || Tue. Dec. 2 || Washington Bullets || 109-117 || Hartford Civic Center || 10–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 16 || Wed. Dec. 3 || Denver Nuggets || 119-113 || Boston Garden || 11–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 17 || Fri. Dec. 5 || Philadelphia 76ers || 108-106 || Boston Garden || 12–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 18 || Sat. Dec. 6 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 86-88 || Richfield Coliseum || 12–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 19 || Wed. Dec. 10 || New Jersey Nets || 108-98 || Boston Garden || 13–6

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 20 || Fri. Dec. 12 || Los Angeles Lakers || 110-117 || Boston Garden || 13–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 21 || Sat. Dec. 13 || @ Washington Bullets || 105-98 || Capital Centre || 14–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 22 || Tue. Dec. 16 || @ New York Knicks || 107-96 || Madison Square Garden || 15–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 23 || Wed. Dec. 17 || Indiana Pacers || 113-101 || Boston Garden || 16–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 24 || Fri. Dec. 19 || @ Philadelphia 76ers || 100-122 || The Spectrum || 16–8

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 25 || Sat. Dec. 20 || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 100-120 || Milwaukee Arena (MECCA) || 16–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 26 || Fri. Dec. 26 || @ Phoenix Suns || 122-112 || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 17–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 27 || Sat. Dec. 27 || @ Los Angeles Clippers || 114-101 || L.A. Sports Arena || 18–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 28 || Mon. Dec. 29 || @ Sacramento Kings || 119-102 || ARCO Arena I || 19–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 29 || Tue. Dec. 30 || @ Seattle SuperSonics || 104-102 || Seattle Center Coliseum || 20–9

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=January| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 30 || Fri. Jan. 2 ||Chicago Bulls || 113-99 || Boston Garden || 21–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 31 || Wed. Jan. 7 || Milwaukee Bucks || 119-92 || Boston Garden || 22–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 32 || Fri. Jan. 9 || Sacramento Kings || 109-99 || Boston Garden || 23–9

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 33 || Sat. Jan. 10 || @ Detroit Pistons || 101-118 || Pontiac Silverdome || 23–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 34 || Tue. Jan. 13 || @ New Jersey Nets || 123-117 || Brendan Byrne Arena || 24–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 35 || Wed. Jan. 14 || Dallas Mavericks || 117-108 || Boston Garden || 25–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 36 || Fri. Jan. 16 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 133-128 (OT) || Boston Garden || 26–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 37 || Sun. Jan. 18 || Houston Rockets || 122-99 || Boston Garden || 27–10

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 38 || Mon. Jan. 19 || @ New York Knicks || 109-111 || Madison Square Garden || 27–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 39 || Wed. Jan. 21 || Indiana Pacers || 130-100 || Boston Garden || 28–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 40 || Fri. Jan. 23 || Atlanta Hawks || 126-106 || Boston Garden || 29–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 41 || Sun. Jan. 25 || Philadelphia 76ers || 111-96 || Boston Garden || 30–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 42 || Tue. Jan. 27 || @ Chicago Bulls || 105-97 || Chicago Stadium || 31–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 43 || Wed. Jan. 28 || Chicago Bulls || 132-103 || Boston Garden || 32–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 44 || Fri. Jan. 30 || @ Indiana Pacers || 100-94 || Market Square Arena || 33–11

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=February| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 45 || Tue. Feb. 3 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 123-126 (OT) || The Omni || 33–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 46 || Wed. Feb. 4 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 104-102 || Boston Garden || 34–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 47 || Tue. Feb. 10 || @ Denver Nuggets || 119-105 || McNichols Sports Arena || 35–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 48 || Thu. Feb. 12 || @ Golden State Warriors || 134-112 || Oakland Coliseum || 36–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 49 ||Fri. Feb. 13 || @ Portland Trail Blazers || 131-116 || Memorial Coliseum || 37–12

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 50 ||Sun. Feb. 15 || @ Los Angeles Lakers || 103-106 || The Forum || 37–13

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 51 ||Mon. Feb. 16 || @ Utah Jazz || 89-109 || Salt Palace || 37–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 52 ||Wed. Feb. 18 || @ Dallas Mavericks || 113-96 || Reunion Arena || 38–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 53 ||Thu. Feb. 19 || @ Houston Rockets || 99-92 || The Summit || 39–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 54 ||Sat. Feb. 21 || @ San Antonio Spurs || 121-113 || HemisFair Arena || 40–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 55 ||Mon. Feb. 23 || New Jersey Nets || 116-103 || Hartford Civic Center || 41–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 56 ||Wed. Feb. 25 || Portland Trail Blazers || 122-116 || Boston Garden || 42–14

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 57 ||Fri. Feb. 27 || @ Atlanta Hawks || 105-115 || The Omni || 42–15

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=March| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 58 ||Sun. Mar. 1 || Detroit Pistons || 112-102 || Boston Garden || 43–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 59 ||Wed. Mar. 4 || Utah Jazz || 123-105 || Boston Garden || 44–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 60 ||Fri. Mar. 6 || Los Angeles Clippers || 132-111 || Boston Garden || 45–15

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 61 ||Sun. Mar. 8 || @ Detroit Pistons || 119-122 (OT) || Pontiac Silverdome ||45-16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 62 ||Wed. Mar. 11 || Phoenix Suns || 118-109 || Boston Garden ||46-16

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 63 ||Fri. Mar. 13 || @ Indiana Pacers || 109-116 || Market Square Arena ||46-17

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 64 ||Sun. Mar. 15 || New York Knicks || 113-104 || Boston Garden ||47-17

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 65 ||Tue. Mar. 17 || @ Milwaukee Bucks || 115-123 || Milwaukee Arena (MECCA) ||47-18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 66 ||Wed. Mar. 18 || Milwaukee Bucks || 120-102 || Boston Garden ||48-18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 67 ||Fri. Mar. 20 || Seattle SuperSonics || 112-108 || Boston Garden ||49-18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 68 ||Sun. Mar. 22 || New Jersey Nets || 116-104 || Boston Garden ||50-18

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 69 ||Tue. Mar. 24 || Cleveland Cavaliers || 111-88 || Hartford Civic Center ||51-18

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 70 ||Thu. Mar. 26 || @ Washington Bullets || 103-106 || Capital Centre ||51-19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 71 ||Fri. Mar. 27 || @ Chicago Bulls || 111-106 || Chicago Stadium ||52-19

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 72 ||Sun. Mar. 29 || Philadelphia 76ers || 118-100 || Boston Garden ||53-19

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 73 ||Tue. Mar. 31 || @ New York Knicks || 120-128 || Madison Square Garden ||53-20

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#008040; color:white|title=April| Game| Date| Opponent| Score| Location| Record}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 74 ||Wed. Apr. 1 || Washington Bullets || 103-86 || Boston Garden ||54-20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 75 ||Fri. Apr. 3 || Detroit Pistons || 119-115 (OT) || Boston Garden ||55-20

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 76 ||Sun. Apr. 5 || @ Philadelphia 76ers || 104-106 (OT) || The Spectrum ||55-21

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 77 ||Tue. Apr. 7 || @ Cleveland Cavaliers || 83-107 || Richfield Coliseum ||55-22

|- align="center" bgcolor="edbebf"

| 78 ||Fri. Apr. 10 || @ New Jersey Nets || 108-117 || Brendan Byrne Arena ||55-23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 79 ||Sun. Apr. 12 || New York Knicks || 119-107 || Boston Garden ||56-23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 80 ||Wed. Apr. 15 || @ Indiana Pacers || 108-85 || Market Square Arena ||57-23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 81 ||Fri. Apr. 17 || Chicago Bulls || 108-105 || Boston Garden ||58-23

|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbffbb"

| 82 ||Sun. Apr. 19 || Atlanta Hawks || 118-107 || Boston Garden ||59-23

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1987_games.html 1986-87 Schedule]

{{Game log end}}

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Boston Celtics|season=1986–87}}

{{player2 | num = 44 | first = Danny | last = Ainge | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 175 | college = Brigham Young University | DOB = 1959-03-17 }}

{{player2 | num = 33 | first = Larry | last = Bird | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 220 | school = Indiana State University | DOB = 1956-12-07 }}

{{player2 | num = 34 | first = Rick | last = Carlisle | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 5 | lbs = 210 | college = University of Virginia | DOB = 1959-10-27 }}

{{player2 | num = 20 | first = Darren | last = Daye | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 220 | college = University of California, Los Angeles | DOB = 1960-11-30 }}

{{player2 | num = 43 | first = Conner | last = Henry | pos = SG | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 195 | college = University of California, Santa Barbara | DOB = 1963-07-21 }}

{{player2 | num = 3 | first = Dennis | last = Johnson | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 4 | lbs = 185 | college = Pepperdine University | DOB = 1954-09-18 }}

{{player2 | num = 50 | first = Greg | last = Kite | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 250 | college = Brigham Young University | DOB = 1961-08-05 }}

{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Kevin | last = McHale | dab = basketball | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 210 | school = University of Minnesota | DOB = 1957-12-19 }}

{{player2 | num = 00 | first = Robert | last = Parish | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 230 | school = Centenary College of Louisiana | DOB = 1953-08-30 }}

{{player2 | num = 31 | first = Fred | last = Roberts | pos = PF | ft = 6 | in = 10 | lbs = 218 | college = Brigham Young University | DOB = 1960-08-10 }}

{{player2 | num = 12 | first = Jerry | last = Sichting | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 168 | college = Purdue University | DOB = 1956-11-29 }}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Sam | last = Vincent | dab = basketball | pos = PG | ft = 6 | in = 2 | lbs = 185 | college = Michigan State University | DOB = 1963-05-18 }}

{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Bill | last = Walton | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 235 | college = University of California, Los Angeles | DOB = 1952-11-05 }}

{{player2 | num = 8 | first = Scott | last = Wedman | pos = SF | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 215 | college = University of Colorado | DOB = 1952-07-29 }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

| roster_url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1987.html

}}

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average

class="wikitable sortable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" | Player

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | GP

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | REB

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AST

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | STL

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | BLK

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | PTS

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" | AVG

align="center"

| Larry Bird

7468256613570207628.1
align="center"

| Kevin McHale

7776319838172200826.1
align="center"

| Robert Parish

8085117364144140317.5
align="center"

| Dennis Johnson

792615948738106213.4
align="center"

| Danny Ainge

7124240010114105314.8
align="center"

| Jerry Sichting

78911874014485.7
align="center"

| Fred Roberts

731906222204025.5
align="center"

| Darren Daye

61124752572363.9
align="center"

| Sam Vincent

4627591311713.7
align="center"

| Greg Kite

741692717461231.7
align="center"

| Conner Henry

36272761982.7
align="center"

| Rick Carlisle

42303580801.9
align="center"

| Bill Walton

10319110282.8
align="center"

| David Thirdkill

1719220251.5
align="center"

| Scott Wedman

69622203.3
align="center"

| Andre Turner

3210041.3
align="center"

Playoffs

{{NBA game log start|Boston Celtics|end_year=1987|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#006400|color=#FFFFFF}}

{{NBA game log section|Boston Celtics|color=#008040|bgcolor=white|First round|playoffs=yes|first=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 0

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| April 23

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198704230BOS.html W 108–104]

| Kevin McHale (21)

| Robert Parish (11)

| Larry Bird (13)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| April 26

| Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198704260BOS.html W 105–96]

| Larry Bird (29)

| McHale, Parish (10)

| Larry Bird (8)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| April 28

| @ Chicago

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198704280CHI.html W 105–94]

| Larry Bird (32)

| Larry Bird (14)

| Dennis Johnson (10)

| Chicago Stadium
18,122

| 3–0

|-

{{NBA game log section|Boston Celtics|color=#008040|bgcolor=white|Conference Semi-finals|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| May 5

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705050BOS.html W 111–98]

| Larry Bird (40)

| Robert Parish (12)

| Bird, Johnson (7)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| May 6

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705060BOS.html W 126–124]

| Bird, Ainge (30)

| Larry Bird (10)

| Dennis Johnson (10)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| May 8

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705080MIL.html L 121–126 (OT)]

| Dennis Johnson (32)

| Robert Parish (16)

| Dennis Johnson (14)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 4

| May 10

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705100MIL.html W 138–137 (2OT)]

| Larry Bird (42)

| Kevin McHale (11)

| Dennis Johnson (12)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 3–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 5

| May 13

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705130BOS.html L 124–129]

| Robert Parish (30)

| Robert Parish (16)

| Larry Bird (12)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| May 15

| @ Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705150MIL.html L 111–121]

| Dennis Johnson (25)

| Kevin McHale (16)

| Dennis Johnson (14)

| MECCA Arena
11,052

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 7

| May 17

| Milwaukee

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705170BOS.html W 119–113]

| Larry Bird (31)

| Robert Parish (19)

| Dennis Johnson (10)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 4–3

|-

{{NBA game log section|Boston Celtics|color=#008040|bgcolor=white|Conference finals|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 4

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 0

| road_losses = 3

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| May 19

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705190BOS.html W 104–91]

| Robert Parish (31)

| Larry Bird (16)

| Larry Bird (11)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 1–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| May 21

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705210BOS.html W 110–101]

| Larry Bird (31)

| Bird, Parish (9)

| Larry Bird (12)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 2–0

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| May 23

| @ Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705230DET.html L 104–122]

| Sam Vincent (18)

| Larry Bird (11)

| Dennis Johnson (8)

| Pontiac Silverdome
23,525

| 2–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| May 24

| @ Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705240DET.html L 119–145]

| Sam Vincent (18)

| Kevin McHale (9)

| Sam Vincent (7)

| Pontiac Silverdome
27,387

| 2–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| May 26

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705260BOS.html W 108–107]

| Larry Bird (36)

| Larry Bird (12)

| Larry Bird (9)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 3–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| May 28

| @ Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705280DET.html L 105–113]

| Larry Bird (35)

| Kevin McHale (12)

| Dennis Johnson (11)

| Pontiac Silverdome
28,383

| 3–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 7

| May 30

| Detroit

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198705300BOS.html W 117–114]

| Larry Bird (37)

| Robert Parish (11)

| Dennis Johnson (11)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 4–3

|-

{{NBA game log section|Boston Celtics|color=#008040|bgcolor=white|NBA Finals|playoffs=yes|show=no

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 0

| road_losses = 3

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 1

| June 2

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706020LAL.html L 113–126]

| Larry Bird (32)

| Larry Bird (7)

| Dennis Johnson (13)

| The Forum
17,505

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 2

| June 4

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706040LAL.html L 122–141]

| Larry Bird (23)

| Robert Parish (14)

| Dennis Johnson (9)

| The Forum
17,505

| 0–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 3

| June 7

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706070BOS.html W 109–103]

| Larry Bird (30)

| Larry Bird (12)

| Ainge, McHale (5)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 1–2

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 4

| June 9

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706090BOS.html L 106–107]

| Kevin McHale (25)

| Kevin McHale (13)

| Dennis Johnson (14)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 1–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 5

| June 11

| L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706110BOS.html W 123–108]

| Dennis Johnson (25)

| Kevin McHale (14)

| Dennis Johnson (11)

| Boston Garden
14,890

| 2–3

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 6

| June 14

| @ L.A. Lakers

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198706140LAL.html L 93–106]

| Dennis Johnson (33)

| Johnson, McHale (10)

| Danny Ainge (6)

| The Forum
17,505

| 2–4

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=BOS|playoffs=yes|end_year=1987}}

Award winners

  • Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
  • Kevin McHale, All-NBA First Team
  • Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team

References

{{reflist}}

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070422121450/http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=BOS&lg=N&yr=1986 Celtics on Database Basketball]
  • [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1987.html Celtics on Basketball Reference]

{{1986–87 NBA season by team}}

{{Boston Celtics}}

{{Boston Celtics seasons}}

{{Navbox

|navbar=plain

|titlestyle = background:#008040; color:white;

|bodystyle = background:#efe196;

|title = Boston Celtics 1986-87 NBA Eastern Conference Champions

|list1 =

00 Parish {{!}}

3 Johnson {{!}}

5 Walton {{!}}

7 Turner {{!}}

8 Wedman {{!}}

11 Vincent {{!}}

12 Sichting {{!}}

20 Daye {{!}}

32 McHale {{!}}

33 Bird {{!}}

34 Carlisle {{!}}

43 Henry {{!}}

44 Ainge {{!}}

45 Thirdkill {{!}}

50 Kite {{!}}

Coach Jones

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1986-87 Boston Celtics Season}}

Category:Boston Celtics seasons

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