1988 NBA Finals Game 6 vs Lakers
Isiah Thomas's heroic 43-point effort in Game 6 was not enough as the Lakers forced a decisive Game 7.
Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals was played at The Forum in Inglewood, California. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 103–102 to tie the series at 3–3, forcing a Game 7.
- Winner
- Detroit Pistons
- Opponent
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Series Result
- Pistons win 4-3
- Key Player (MVP)
- Joe Dumars
- Venue
- The Palace of Auburn Hills
- Franchise Achievement
- First NBA Championship since 1989 season start context (actually 3rd title)
- Defensive Strategy
- Jordan Rules / Bad Boys Defense
Lore & Background
Despite badly twisting his ankle midway through the third quarter, Pistons guard Isiah Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in that period. He finished with 43 points, but the Lakers won after a controversial foul on Bill Laimbeer in the final seconds.
In Their Own Story
The air inside The Palace was thick with humidity and anticipation, smelling of popcorn and nervous sweat. As Joe Dumars sank his crucial free throws, the roar of the crowd drowned out the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood. Bill Laimbeer's chest heaved as he embraced Isiah Thomas, the weight of years of criticism lifting in an instant. Outside, the Detroit night seemed to hold its breath before exploding into a celebration that would echo through history.
Reader's Guide
The Lakers led 56–48 in the third quarter when Thomas began his classic performance. He scored 14 straight points for Detroit, then returned from a severe ankle sprain to score 11 of the Pistons' last 15 points in the quarter, giving Detroit an 81–79 lead. In the fourth quarter, Thomas hit a baseline jumper for his 43rd point to put the Pistons up 100–99. After a series of plays, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar drew a foul on Laimbeer with 14 seconds left; replay showed Laimbeer jumping toward Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers won 103–102.
Did You Know?
- Isiah Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in the third quarter of Game 6.
- The Lakers won Game 6 to force a Game 7, which they also won to capture the 1988 championship.
- This was the first NBA Finals since 1983 not to feature the Boston Celtics.
More in Iconic Games & Playoff Battles
Elsewhere in the Detroit Pistons universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record