Description
June 3, 1988 - This was the middle of the end for the Boston Celtics. After narrowly scraping past the Detroit Pistons the year prior (the year of the legendary Bird steal of Isiah's inbounds pass), Boston's day of reckoning had finally come to pass. After claiming three championships in five Finals appearances throughout the decade, the Celtics began showing signs of wear. And when faced against a Detroit Pistons team hungrier and more driven than ever before, the writing was on the wall.
In six games against Detroit, Larry Bird averaged less than 20 points per game on 35 percent shooting from the field. In Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Finals series with the Pistons—a win-or-go-home scenario for the Celtics—Bird shot just 4-of-17 from the field in a 95-90 loss.
Of particular note, Adrian Dantley—typically not known as a defensive stalwart—more than held his own against Bird in Game 6.
Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198806030DET.html