1987-88 Season
Record: 62-20, first place in Pacific Division
In their quest to repeat, the Lakers won their seventh consecutive Pacific Division title.
Playoffs: After sweeping San Antonio in the first round, the Lakers were forced to a decisive seventh game by the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks before winning each series.
This time, the Celtics weren't waiting for the Lakers in the NBA Finals, the Detroit Pistons were. The Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer, and Dennis Rodman, took pride in their "Bad Boys" persona and played a physical style of basketball that many predicted would give the "Showtime" Lakers some problems.
The series went a grueling seven games, before perhaps the most overlooked star of the "Showtime" era took over in Game 7. James Worthy had a triple-double in Game 7 to lead the Lakers to a 108-105 victory. Worthy was named NBA Finals MVP, and the Lakers became the first team to repeat as NBA champions since the Boston Celtics in 1968-69.
Playoff Results
Western Conference first round
- at Lakers 122, San Antonio 110
- at Lakers 130, San Antonio 112
- Lakers 109, at San Antonio 107
Western Conference semifinals
- at Lakers 110, Utah 91
- Utah 101, at Lakers 97
- at Utah 96, Lakers 89
- Lakers 113, at Utah 100
- at Lakers 111, Utah 109
- at Utah 108, Lakers 80
- at Lakers 109, Utah 98
Western Conference finals
- at Lakers 113, Dallas 98
- at Lakers 123, Dallas 101
- at Dallas 106, Lakers 94
- at Dallas 118, Lakers 104
- at Lakers 119, Dallas 102
- at Dallas 105, Lakers 103
- at Lakers 117, Dallas 102
NBA Finals
- Detroit 105, at Lakers 93
- at Lakers 108, Detroit 96
- Lakers 99, at Detroit 86
- at Detroit 111, Lakers 86
- at Detroit 104, Lakers 94
- at Lakers 103, Detroit 102
- at Lakers 108, Detroit 105
