Celtics–Pistons rivalry

Celtics–Pistons rivalry
	Boston Celtics Detroit Pistons
First meeting	November 12, 1948; Celtics 84, Pistons 75
Latest meeting	January 15, 2020; Celtics 103, Pistons 116
Next meeting	TBD
Statistics
Meetings total	418 meetings
All-time series	262-156 (BOS)
Regular season series	240-138 (BOS)
Postseason results	24–21 (BOS)
Longest win streak	BOS: W17; DET: W9;
Current win streak	W1 (BOS)
Post-season history
	1968 Eastern Division Semifinals: Celtics won, 4–2; 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics won, 4-2; 1987 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics won, 4–3; 1988 Eastern Conference Finals: Pistons won, 4–2; 1989 Eastern Conference First Round: Pistons won, 3–0; 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Pistons won, 4–2; 2002 Eastern Conference Semifinals: Celtics won, 4–1; 2008 Eastern Conference Finals: Celtics won, 4–2;

The Celtics–Pistons rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons. The two teams played each other in the NBA playoffs five times from 1985–1991, with Boston winning in 1985 and 1987, and Detroit winning en route to three consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 1988 to 1990. The rivalry peaked in the late 1980s, featuring players such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer.

History

Pre-1980s

Between 1948 and 1978, the Celtics and Pistons were on opposite divisions/conferences in all but three seasons. The Pistons found success in the early 1950s behind George Yardley, making two NBA Finals appearances, while the Celtics soon built a dynasty behind Bill Russell, winning 11 championships between 1957 and 1969.

The Pistons and Celtics first opposed each other in postseason play in 1968, with the Celtics emerging victorious in six games of the Eastern Division Semifinals. However, the Pistons were generally mediocre for a majority of the 1960s and 1970s, despite the presence of stars such as Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing and Bob Lanier. Meanwhile, the Celtics continued to rack up championships with Russell, John Havlicek and Dave Cowens leading the way.

Bird and Isiah

In the 1978 NBA draft, the Celtics drafted Larry Bird who would soon resurrect the franchise's fortunes. Then in the 1981 NBA draft, the Pistons picked Isiah Thomas and along with head coach Chuck Daly he would also play a key role in his team's reemergence.

It was also in 1978 that the Pistons moved to the Eastern Conference, turning their matchups against the Celtics into an intra-conference affair. The Celtics would win three NBA championships in the 1980s, while the Pistons gradually built a team that eventually became the Bad Boys.

The two teams met in the 1985 Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Celtics ousted the younger Pistons in six games. But when they reengaged in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals, the Pistons were a vastly different team. The Bad Boys, as Detroit became known, used physical play to intimidate their way to victory. This roused the ire of Boston's players and fans, and the teams' mutual hatred of each other often led to on-court fighting. Detroit's biggest antagonists were Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn and Dennis Rodman. In Game 3, Bird and Laimbeer were ejected for fighting as the Pistons won 122–104.

The most famous moment of the rivalry occurred during Game 5. Leading 107-106 with 5 seconds left, and Detroit threatening to take a 3–2 series lead, Isiah Thomas had his inbounds pass stolen by Bird, who dished it off to Dennis Johnson for the winning layup. With Parish forced to sit out Game 6 due to a suspension for punching Laimbeer in the second quarter of Game 5 (the first for a playoff game in NBA history; he also re-sprained his right ankle late in Game 5), the Pistons won Game 6 113–105 to send it back to Boston for Game 7. The Celtics ended the bitter series with a 117–114 win in Boston Garden over Detroit.

The Celtics and Pistons faced off anew in the 1988 Eastern Conference Finals. This time the Pistons finally unseated the Celtics, winning the series 4–2 and advancing to the NBA Finals to face the Lakers. What was notable was the fact that Detroit, who entered the series with 21 straight losses at the Boston Garden, beat Boston by winning 2 of 3 there (Games 1 and 5). In Game 5, the Celtics led by 16 before the Pistons rallied to win 102–96 in OT. In addition, their rough play and intense defense made Bird's scoring drop to just 10 points per game on 35.1% shooting, forcing Boston to rely on McHale.

The next two meetings proved to be anticlimactic. In the 1989 First Round, Detroit swept Boston 3–0 en route to their first championship, as the Celtics missed the services of Bird due to injury. Then in the 1991 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pistons eliminated the Celtics in six games, but it proved to be the last hurrah for the two aging squads.

Later years

The Celtics and Pistons entered a period of rebuilding during the 1990s. Although the Pistons found a new star in Grant Hill, he was unable to lead the team back to championship contention. Meanwhile, the Celtics endured a long dry spell, not reaching the playoffs for much of the decade.

The 2000s saw both teams reemerge as contenders. In 2002, the Celtics and Pistons met again in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, featuring new stars in Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Jerry Stackhouse and Ben Wallace, respectively. Though Detroit had a better regular season record, the Celtics surprisingly eliminated them in five games, reaching their first Conference Finals since 1988. However, the Pistons would go on to dominate the Eastern Conference, reaching six consecutive Conference Finals, two NBA Finals and winning the 2004 championship. One of the Pistons' key players during that era was Chauncey Billups, who the Celtics drafted third overall in the 1997 NBA draft but would later emerge as a star in Detroit. Meanwhile, the Celtics slid back to mediocrity, but was given a new lease in life during the 2007 offseason.

After acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics and Pistons renewed the rivalry as they met in the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals. However, the grind of reaching six straight conference finals took its toll on Detroit as Boston toppled their rivals in six games, eventually winning the championship that year.

The 2010s saw both teams head into opposite directions. Detroit endured a lengthy rebuild with only two playoff appearances, while Boston maintained its status as a playoff contender behind new stars such as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker.

Head to head

Season	at Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons Celtics–Pistons	at Boston Celtics Pistons–Celtics	Neutral site Pistons–Celtics	Total	Notes
1948–49	74–80, 90–69	75–84, 70–76	60–63	Celtics 4–1	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1949–50	89–99, 72–80, 78–84	99–85, 73–92, 68–89	N.A.	Pistons 4–2	Pistons moved to the Central Division Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
1950–51	84–107, 112–106 _(OT), 99–95	81–87, 97–99, 88–90		Celtics 5–1	Pistons moved to the Western Division
1951–52	86–94, 94–85, 90–94	91–98 _(OT), 91–88, 67–88		Tie 3–3	Pistons' final season at North Side High School Gym
1952–53	89–66, 85–91, 98–111	84–94, 92–98	71–78	Celtics 4–2	Pistons' first season at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
1953–54	79–83, 70–76, 79–108, 68–80	68–90, 74–91, 80–86	75–82	Tie 4–4
1954–55	86–90, 98–116, 99–100, 119–110,	90–99, 104–108, 91–110	105–84, 118–98	Pistons 5–4	Pistons were the eventual Western Division champions
1955–56	90–111, 89–105	102–104, 106–97, 99–106	85–91, 90–95, 101–100, 106–103	Pistons 5–4	Pistons were the eventual Western Division champions
1956–57	95–98, 87–95, 98–81, 106–112	93–108, 92–118, 93–108	102–104, 97–113	Celtics 6–3	Pistons' final season in Fort Wayne Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1957–58	105–94, 112–90, 124–113, 106–99	113–131, 115–119, 111–109, 103–108	105–111	Celtics 8–1	Pistons' first season in Detroit Celtics were the eventual Eastern Division champions
1958–59	133–136, 102–95, 103–90, 111–106 _(OT)	98–112, 96–110, 118–119 _(OT), 94–120	102–115	Celtics 8–1	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1959–60	132–129 _(2OT), 136–104, 126–103, 136–116	110–136, 128–146	109–128, 121–153, 107–121	Celtics 9–0	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1960–61	125–110, 108–102, 134–137, 113–99	116–118, 106–150, 111–140	115–114 _(OT), 98–118, 118–119	Celtics 8–2	Pistons' final season at Detroit Olympia Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1961–62	107–101, 103–112, 126–116, 130–111	102–137, 124–120	116–110, 108–116	Celtics 5–3	Pistons' first season at Cobo Arena Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1962–63	115–100, 106–93, 117–113, 115–104	114–125, 128–137	115–125, 93–108	Celtics 8–0	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1963–64	108–102, 121–115, 113–115, 112–94	109–117, 118–128	108–115, 120–140	Celtics 7–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1964–65	106–90, 101–89, 117–106, 124–106	81–112, 113–130	102–104, , 106–118, 106–112, 100–112	Celtics 10–0	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1965–66	106–108, 114–112, 93–99, 128–103	93–122, 108–105	114–134, 116–115, 112–131, 81–100	Celtics 6–4	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1966–67	105–107, 112–105, 132–109	119–116, 106–112	104–100, 111–130, 113–116 _(OT), 103–127	Celtics 6–3	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1967–68	128–109, 107–112, 127–115	111–118, 126–148, 100–107, 125–116	96–118	Celtics 6–2	Pistons moved to the Eastern Division Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1967–68	116–126, 135–110, 111–103	116–123, 109–98, 96–110	N.A.	Celtics 4–2	Eastern Division Semifinals
1968–69	106–88, 108–106, 113–106	119–117, 118–132, 104–113	N.A.	Celtics 5–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1969–70	97–98, 110–92, 112–115	121–124, 118–123, 109–105 _(OT)	98–117	Celtics 4–3	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1970–71	121–98, 118–121, 110–108	121–118, 121–118 _(OT)	N.A.	Pistons 3–2	Pistons moved to the Western Conference Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1971–72	124–112, 125–96	102–103, 94–108, 120–133		Celtics 5–0	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1972–73	121–108, 115–101	118–121, 104–95		Celtics 3–1	Celtics achieve franchise-record 68 wins Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1973–74	101–106, 86–83	97–107	97–102	Celtics 3–1	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1974–75	114–100, 116–90	105–104, 90–96	N.A.	Celtics 3–1
1975–76	118–104, 114–109	91–108, 87–88		Celtics 4–0	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1976–77	110–116, 94–92	91–89, 99–109		Tie 2–2
1977–78	85–100, 100–122	98–105, 111–109		Pistons 3–1	Pistons' final season at Cobo Arena Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1978–79	114–112, 117–160	128–123, 98–99		Tie 2–2	Pistons' first season at Pontiac Silverdome Pistons moved to the Eastern Conference Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1979–80	118–114 _(OT), 131–104, 124–106	111–115, 111–128, 115–118		Celtics 6–0	Pistons lose franchise-record 66 games Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1980–81	103–85, 94–85, 130–119	90–92, 115–90		Celtics 4–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1981–82	129–88, 128–120, 111–101	114–115, 124–134, 104–125		Celtics 6–0	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1982–83	119–112, 108–104, 101–113	123–116, 131–114, 113–115		Tie 3–3	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1983–84	121–127, 129–115, 120–128 _(OT)	118–126, 99–114, 134–137 _(OT)		Celtics 4–2	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1984–85	130–123, 99–104, 105–113	116–127, 130–131, 129–138		Celtics 4–2	Celtics were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
1984–85	117–125, 99–102, 123–113	99–133, 114–121, 123–130		Celtics 4–2	Eastern Conference Semifinals
1985–86	124–105, 109–113	124–132, 109–129, 106–122		Celtics 4–1	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
1986–87	118–111, 101–118, 119–122 _(OT)	102–112, 115–119 _(OT)		Celtics 3–2	Celtics were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
1986–87	104–122, 119–145, 105–113	91–104, 101–110, 107–108, 114–117		Celtics 4–3	Eastern Conference Finals
1987–88	105–128, 108–125, 101–106	105–143, 110–121, 110–121		Tie 3–3	Pistons' final season at Pontiac Silverdome Pistons were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
1987–88	94–98, 79–78, 90–95	104–96, 115–119 _(2OT), 102–96 _(OT)		Pistons 4–2	Eastern Conference Finals
1988–89	87–96, 98–106	116–107, 99–112		Pistons 3–1	Pistons' first season at The Palace of Auburn Hills Pistons were the eventual NBA champions
1988–89	91–101, 95–102	100–85		Pistons 3–0	Eastern Conference First Round
1989–90	86–103, 82–93	97–104,, 111–123		Tie 2–2	Pistons were the eventual NBA champions
1990–91	90–101, 90–118	100–108, 94–111		Tie 2–2
1990–91	115–83, 97–104, 113–117 _(OT)	86–75, 103–109, 116–111		Pistons 4–2	Eastern Conference Semifinals
1991–92	104–99 _(OT), 92–89	91–106, 87–106		Celtics 4–0
1992–93	94–103, 95–99	101–105, 105–90		Pistons 3–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1993–94	118–103, 116–111	102–95, 96–109		Celtics 3–1	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1994–95	124–107, 103–104	115–118, 104–129		Celtics 3–1	Celtics' final season at Boston Garden Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
1995–96	96–105 _(OT)	96–100, 97–98		Celtics 2–1	Celtics' first season at TD Garden Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
1996–97	89–99, 87–99	108–83, 106–100 _(OT)		Pistons 4–0	Celtics lose franchise-record 67 games Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
1997–98	77–93, 101–100	86–90, 96–92		Tie 2–2	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
1998–99	83–93	87–72, 92–85		Pistons 3–0	Season shortened to 50 games due to lockout Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
1999–00	115–124, 106–111	110–92		Pistons 3–0	Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
2000–01	96–101, 102–95	83–103, 87–99		Celtics 3–1	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2001–02	91–94, 101–109	90–104, 92–117		Tie 2–2
2001–02	84–96, 85–77, 90–81	64–66, 79–90		Celtics 4–1	Eastern Conference Semifinals
2002–03	83–86, 81–71	118–66, 92–99		Tie 2–2
2003–04	88–96	78–68, 106–103		Pistons 3–0	Pistons were the eventual NBA champions
2004–05	88–100, 99–105 _(OT)	110–104, 113–115 _(2OT)		Pistons 3–1	Pistons were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
2005–06	100–115, 84–94	82–81		Pistons 3–0	Pistons achieve franchise-record 64 wins Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
2006–07	73–81, 102–109	101–88, 91–89		Pistons 4–0	Celtics did not qualify for the playoffs
2007–08	92–85	87–85, 78–90		Celtics 2–1	Celtics were the eventual NBA champions
2007–08	94–80, 75–94, 89–81	79–88, 103–97, 102–106		Celtics 4–2	Eastern Conference Finals
2008–09	88–76, 86–78	80–98, 105–95		Celtics 3–1
2009–10	86–92, 105–100	93–119		Celtics 2–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Celtics were the eventual Eastern Conference champions
2010–11	109–86, 92–104	82–86, 90–101		Celtics 3–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2011–12	81–96	85–96, 98–88		Pistons 2–1	Season shortened to 66 games due to lockout Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2012–13	83–103, 88–103	93–98		Pistons 2–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2013–14	77–87, 111–115	107–106, 111–118		Pistons 3–1	Both teams did not qualify for the playoffs
2014–15	113–103	102–109 _(OT), 105–97 _(OT)		Celtics 2–1	Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2015–16	116–119, 99–93	99–94, 95–102		Tie 2–2
2016–17	94–92, 104–98	121–114, 109–113		Celtics 3–1	Pistons' final season at The Palace of Auburn Hills Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2017–18	91–81, 110–98	118–108		Celtics 2–1	Pistons' first season at Little Caesars Arena Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs
2018–19	109–89, 104–113	105–108, 110–118		Celtics 3–1
2019–20	N.A.	93–114, 116–113		Tie 1–1	Season suspended from March 11 to July 30 due to the COVID–19 pandemic Pistons did not qualify for the playoffs Pistons only played 66 games in the regular season

Statistics

	Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons	Boston Celtics
Total wins	158	266
At Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons	98	102
At Boston Celtics	52	132
Neutral site	8	32
Regular season wins	137	242
At Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons	84	93
At Boston Celtics	45	117
Neutral site	8	32
Playoff wins	21	24
At Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons	14	9
At Boston Celtics	7	15

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