The 1985-86 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 38th season in the

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...

and 29th season in Detroit. The team played at the Pontiac Silverdome in surburban

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit. Founde ...

. The year got off to an excellent start as the Pistons drafted future Hall of Famer

Joe Dumars Joe Dumars III ( ; born May 24, 1963) is an American professional basketball executive and former player who is the executive vice president and head of basketball operations of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He could play either shoo ...

with the 18th pick in the first-round of the

1985 NBA Draft The 1985 NBA Draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA draft of the "lottery" era. It was also around this time where the league decreased the amount of rounds the draft spent, with the previous few years lasting up to 10 roun ...

. The team's steady rise in recent years stalled during the 1985–86 season as the Pistons finished 46–36 (.561), 3rd in the Central Division. The team advanced to the playoffs but were beaten 3–1 by Dominique Wilkins and the rising Atlanta Hawks. When the series ended, Piston guard and team leader

Isiah Thomas Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who is an analyst for ''NBA TV''. The 12-time NBA All-Star was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as well as the 75 Grea ...

said, “All I know,” Isiah would say, eyes fixed straight ahead and locked on nothing in particular, jaw firmly set, amid the spartan if spacious locker room underneath the stands at the Silverdome, “is something has to change next year.” The Pistons were led by guard Thomas (20.9 ppg, 10.8 apg, NBA All-Star), center

Bill Laimbeer William J. Laimbeer Jr. (born May 19, 1957) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who spent the majority of his career with the Detroit Pistons. Known for his rough and violent style of play, he played a big part in the P ...

(16.6 ppg, 13.1 rpg), and guard Vinnie "the Microwave" Johnson (13.9 ppg). Dumars (9.4 ppg) was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. Before the 1986-87 Detroit Pistons season began, driven by Thomas, the Pistons would trade away several key players, including forward Kelly Tripucka, center Kent Benson and guard John Long.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

:z – clinched division title :y – clinched division title :x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 1 , October 25, 1985 , Milwaukee
W 118–116
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 1–0 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , October 26, 1985 , @ Chicago
L 118–121
, , , , Chicago Stadium , 1–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , October 29, 1985 , New Jersey
W 124–107
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 2–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 , October 30, 1985 , @ Philadelphia
L 125–132 (OT)
, , , , The Spectrum , 2–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 5 , November 1, 1985 , Indiana
W 124–116
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 3–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 6 , November 2, 1985 , @ Indiana
W 128–117
, , , , Market Square Arena , 4–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 7 , November 6, 1985 , Chicago
W 122–105
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 5–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 8 , November 8, 1985 , @ Washington
W 117–110
, , , ,

Capital Centre Capitol Center or Capitol Centre or Capital Center or Capital Centre may refer to: Singapore *Capitol Centre, Singapore United Arab Emirates *Capital Centre (Abu Dhabi) United Kingdom *Capitol Centre, Cardiff, a shopping mall United States * Ca ...

, 6–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 9 , November 9, 1985 , Boston
L 105–124
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 6–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 10 , November 12, 1985 , Washington
W 124–122 (OT)
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 7–3 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 11 , November 13, 1985 , @ Milwaukee
L 118–137
, , , , MECCA Arena , 7–4 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 12 , November 15, 1985
7:30p.m. EST , @ Atlanta
L 118–122
, Thomas (26) , Laimbeer (14) , Thomas (14) , The Omni
12,924 , 7–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 13 , November 20, 1985 ,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

W 109–98
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 8–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 14 , November 22, 1985 , Golden State
W 115–96
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 9–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 15 , November 23, 1985 , @ Philadelphia
W 119–114
, , , , The Spectrum , 10–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 16 , November 26, 1985 , Cleveland
W 113–98
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 11–5 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 17 , November 27, 1985 , @ Boston
L 124–132
, , , , Boston Garden , 11–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 18 , November 29, 1985 , Milwaukee
W 111–102
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 12–6 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 19 , November 30, 1985 , @ Washington
L 119–133
, , , ,

, 12–7 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 20 , December 3, 1985 , Philadelphia
L 107–127
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 12–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 21 , December 5, 1985 , New Jersey
W 113–111
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 13–8 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 22 , December 7, 1985 , Sacramento
L 112–122
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 13–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 23 , December 10, 1985 , @ Cleveland
W 130–120
, , , , Richfield Coliseum , 14–9 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 24 , December 11, 1985 , Washington
L 100–108
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 14–10 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 25 , December 13, 1985 , San Antonio
L 113–119
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 14–11 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 26 , December 15, 1985 , @ L.A. Lakers
L 119–132
, , , , The Forum , 14–12 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 27 , December 17, 1985 , @ Sacramento
L 121–132
, , , , ARCO Arena , 14–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 28 , December 19, 1985 , @ Seattle
W 99–97
, , , ,

Seattle Center Coliseum Climate Pledge Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is located north of Downtown Seattle in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, for which it was or ...

, 15–13 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 29 , December 21, 1985 , @

L 110–112
, , , ,

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street, above Pennsylva ...

, 15–14 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 30 , December 26, 1985 , @ New Jersey
L 116–124
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 15–15 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 31 , December 27, 1985 , Cleveland
L 105–119
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 15–16 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 32 , December 30, 1985 , @ Milwaukee
L 110–121
, , , , MECCA Arena , 15–17 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 33 , January 2, 1986 , @ Chicago
L 122–131
, , , , Chicago Stadium , 15–18 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 34 , January 3, 1986
7:30p.m. EST , @ Atlanta
L 101–111
, Tripucka (26) , Laimbeer (17) , Thomas (5) , The Omni
15,817 , 15–19 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 35 , January 7, 1986 , Boston
W 113–109
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 16–19 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 36 , January 9, 1986
7:30p.m. EST , Atlanta
L 99–110
, Dumars (21) , Laimbeer (14) , Thomas (9) , Pontiac Silverdome
9,400 , 16–20 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 37 , January 11, 1986 , Philadelphia
L 101–102
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 16–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 38 , January 15, 1986 , Chicago
W 123–115
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 17–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 39 , January 17, 1986 , Denver
W 129–113
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 18–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 40 , January 19, 1986 , L.A. Lakers
W 118–115
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 19–21 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 41 , January 20, 1986 , @ Indiana
L 99–105
, , , , Market Square Arena , 19–22 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 42 , January 22, 1986 , @ Cleveland
W 107–104
, , , , Richfield Coliseum , 20–22 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 43 , January 24, 1986 , @ Dallas
W 129–120
, , , , Reunion Arena , 21–22 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 44 , January 25, 1986 , @ Houston
L 112–117
, , , , The Summit , 21–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 45 , January 27, 1986 , @ San Antonio
W 118–117
, , , , HemisFair Arena , 22–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 46 , January 29, 1986
7:30p.m. EST , Atlanta
W 107–94
, Johnson (24) , Laimbeer (10) , Thomas (13) , Pontiac Silverdome
12,386 , 23–23 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 47 , January 31, 1986
7:30p.m. EST , @ Atlanta
L 103–116
, Dumars (22) , Laimbeer (16) , Thomas (9) , The Omni
12,624 , 23–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 48 , February 1, 1986 , Washington
W 116–101
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 24–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 49 , February 4, 1986 , @ Chicago
W 117–115
, , , , Chicago Stadium , 25–24 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 50 , February 6, 1986 , @ Washington
W 111–109 (OT)
, , , ,

, 26–24 , - align="center" , colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff", All-Star Break , - style="background:#cfc;" , - bgcolor="#bbffbb" , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 51 , February 11, 1986 , @ New Jersey
L 122–130
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 26–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 52 , February 12, 1986 ,

W 113–99
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 27–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 53 , February 14, 1986 , Dallas
W 119–110
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 28–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 54 , February 15, 1986 , Philadelphia
W 134–133 (OT)
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 29–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 55 , February 17, 1986 , Utah
W 117–96
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 30–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 56 , February 19, 1986 , Seattle
W 118–113
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 31–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 57 , February 20, 1986 , @ Cleveland
W 109–107
, , , , Richfield Coliseum , 32–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 58 , February 22, 1986 ,

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

W 113–106
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 33–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 59 , February 24, 1986 , Chicago
W 110–100
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 34–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 60 , February 26, 1986 ,

L.A. Clippers The Los Angeles Clippers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. The Clipper ...

W 111–104
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 35–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 61 , February 28, 1986
7:30p.m. EST , Atlanta
W 115–103
, Thomas (30) , Laimbeer (11) , Dumars, Thomas (6) , Pontiac Silverdome
25,888 , 36–25 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 62 , March 2, 1986 , @ Boston
L 109–129
, , , , Boston Garden , 36–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 63 , March 4, 1986 , New Jersey
W 120–103
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 37–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 64 , March 7, 1986 , @ New Jersey
W 104–102
, , , , Brendan Byrne Arena , 38–26 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 65 , March 10, 1986 , Phoenix
L 109–120
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 38–27 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 66 , March 12, 1986 , Indiana
W 111–101
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 39–27 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 67 , March 14, 1986 ,

W 112–89
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 40–27 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 68 , March 16, 1986 , @

L 109–119
, , , , Memorial Coliseum , 40–28 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 69 , March 17, 1986 , @ Utah
L 106–107
, , , ,

Salt Palace Acord Arena The Salt Palace was an indoor arena located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Built on land that was once the "Little Tokyo" area of the city, construction was pushed by Salt Lake's bid committee for the 1972 Winter Olympics, which included Gen. Maxwell ...

, 40–29 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 70 , March 19, 1986 , @ Denver
L 98–114
, , , , McNichols Sports Arena , 40–30 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 71 , March 21, 1986 , @ Phoenix
L 103–105
, , , , Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum , 40–31 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 72 , March 22, 1986 , @

W 119–99
, , , , Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena , 41–31 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 73 , March 25, 1986 , @ Golden State
L 121–125
, , , , Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena , 41–32 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 74 , March 28, 1986 , Houston
W 116–107
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 42–32 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 75 , March 29, 1986 , @ Milwaukee
L 121–130
, , , , MECCA Arena , 42–33 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 76 , April 1, 1986 , Indiana
W 116–108
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 43–33 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 77 , April 2, 1986 , @ Boston
L 106–122
, , , , Boston Garden , 43–34 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 78 , April 4, 1986 , Milwaukee
L 108–115
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 43–35 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 79 , April 5, 1986 , @ Indiana
W 115–106
, , , , Market Square Arena , 44–35 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 80 , April 7, 1986 , Cleveland
W 128–104
, , , , Pontiac Silverdome , 45–35 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 81 , April 8, 1986 , @ Philadelphia
L 112–116
, , , , The Spectrum , 45–36 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 82 , April 11, 1986 , @

W 108–95
, , , ,

, 46–36

Playoffs

, - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 1 , April 17, 1986
8:00p.m. EST , @ Atlanta
L 122–140
, Laimbeer (26) , Laimbeer (17) , Thomas (16) , The Omni
12,538 , 0–1 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 2 , April 19, 1986
3:30p.m. EST , @ Atlanta
L 125–137
, Thomas (36) , Laimbeer (12) , Thomas (9) , The Omni
12,964 , 0–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" , 3 , April 22, 1986
8:00p.m. EST , Atlanta
W 106–97
, Tripucka (33) , Laimbeer (14) , Thomas (11) , Pontiac Silverdome
13,312 , 1–2 , - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" , 4 , April 25, 1986
8:00p.m. EST , Atlanta
L 113–114 (2OT)
, Thomas (30) , Laimbeer (13) , Thomas (12) , Pontiac Silverdome
15,288 , 1–3 , -

Awards and records

, All-NBA First Team *

, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Regular season

Playoffs

Awards and records

References

See also