This Date in NBA Finals History: James Worthy’s Game 7 Triple-Double Leads Lakers over Pistons in 1988

Cover photo: James Worthy holds the ball in the post against Dennis Rodman. Photo credit: Richard Mackson, USA Today Sports.

In the 1982 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 1 overall pick took a 6 foot, 9 inch small forward from the University of North Carolina. 

As a Tar Heel, James Worthy was the team’s best player. But he was someone, according to then-assistant coach Roy Williams, who paced himself and truly asserted himself in the clutch moments. 

“The bigger the game, the more involved he was,” Williams told longtime Chicago Tribune columnist Sam Smith in 2003. 

Hence the moniker “Big Game James”. 

Worthy’s assertiveness was never more apparent than in the 1988 Finals. Sharing the floor with Magic Johnson, an aging all-time leading scorer in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Pistons’ Isiah Thomas and Adrian Dantley, Worthy averaged more points (22.0). He also led all playoff players in total points, dialing in 506. 

The 1987-88 Lakers won 62 games. Byron Scott led the team in scoring with 21.7 per game. Worthy’s 19.7 was just ahead of Magic’s 19.6. The Lakers had balance - seven players averaged double figures for the season. Abdul-Jabbar averaged 14.6, Mychal Thompson averaged 11.6, A.C. Green 11.4 and Tony Campbell 11.0. After sweeping the San Antonio Spurs 3-0 in the first round, it took the Lakers seven games apiece against the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks to continue to advance. 

Scott and Worthy were both 26 years of age. The guard, Scott, averaged two points more than the forward Worthy in the regular season. But just like Williams said, the higher the stakes the more clutch the play from Worthy. Thirteen times in the ‘88 playoff run he scored at least 20 points. In games one, five, six, and seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Worthy scored 28-28-27-28. In Games 4 and 5 against the Utah Jazz in the second round (both wins with the Jazz leading two games to one) he scored 29 and 27. The Lakers lost Game 1 of the Finals 105-93. In Games 2 and 3, Worthy scored 26 points (10 rebounds, 6 assists) and 24 in 108-96 and 99-86 Laker victories. After losses in Games 4 and 5 (111-86, 104-94) that put his team down 3-2, he scored 28 points (9 rebounds, 4 assists) in Game 6’s 103-102 win. He shot 12-of-22 in the game and played all but two minutes. 

The Pistons got to the 1988 championship series via 54 wins, a 3-2 first round series over the Washington Bullets, a five-game series victory over the Chicago Bulls in the second round, and a 4-2 Eastern Conference Finals victory over the Boston Celtics. 

In the 1987 Finals, the Lakers defeated the Celtics in six games. Magic, with 26.2 points, 13.0 assists, and 8.0 rebounds, was the Finals MVP. In that series, Worthy had set the tone in Game 1 with 33 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds on 16-of-23 shooting in the Lakers’ 126-113 win. 

The Detroit Pistons were making their first ever Finals appearance in 1988 (the franchise made the Finals in 1955 and 1956 while playing in Fort Wayne). They won games four and five to take a 3-2 lead. In Game 6, Thomas was basically playing on one ankle, which he injured in the second half. He poured in 43 points including 25 third quarter points. Truly one of the toughest performances in NBA history. With 28 seconds to go, Isiah missed a baseline jump shot on the left side over Michael Cooper. Worthy rebounded. 

With 17 seconds remaining, Scott, in the right corner, gave an entry pass to Abdul-Jabbar. His skyhook hit the front of the rim and spun on the rim and missed. It was Bill Laimbeer’s sixth foul. A bit of a phantom call. Abdul-Jabbar hit both. 

Out of the Piston timeout, Dumars caught on the right wing and drove inside to the paint and elevated for a shot that ended up being half jump shot, half layup. Off the glass and no good. Scott rebounded and the Lakers forced a seventh game. Thomas’ legendary performance all for not. 

In Game 7, Worthy gets his 36-16-10 night started by opening up the scoring with an 18-foot jump shot from straight away on a feed from Magic. 

Three minutes in, Laimbeer misses from in close and Magic rebounds. Magic pushes and rifles a pass to Worthy who extends with one hand and is fouled by Laimbeer. Worthy makes one of two free-throws. 

With the Pistons leading 10-9, Worthy recovers the ball off a Dantley miss and sprints up the floor. Worthy drives and rises and puts the ball off the glass. John Salley goaltends. 

Salley makes one of two free-throws and on their next possession Magic gets the ball into Abdul-Jabbar who swings to Cooper on the right wing. Cooper delivers a quick pass to Worthy who takes a power dribble and lays the ball up with his left hand. Game tied at 15. “A tough shot,” says play-by-play man Dick Stockton. 

With just under two minutes to go in the opening quarter, Worthy gets the ball from Magic. Worthy, posted up on Salley on the right block, fakes a pass to a cutting Magic and takes two dribbles before turning toward the baseline and going to the glass on a jump hook. Nine points for Worthy. 

“He is so quick when he gets the ball down in the low post,” says Stockton’s booth mate Billy Cunningham. 

In the second quarter, Worthy makes winning defensive plays and offensive plays. On one possession, he stands firm in the post defensively against Dantley, contests the shot and snags the rebound with his right hand. He turns and outlets to Cooper who pushes in transition for a finger roll. Deficit is two at 25-23.

Worthy gets the ball on the left elbow from Cooper. He extends the ball out again and takes five dribbles and goes for an up and under fake, getting Salley to bite. His attempt is good. Worthy has 13 and the Pistons lead 26-25. 

After James Edwards misses, Kurt Rambis rebounds and gets the ball to Cooper who fires down to Worthy. Worthy turns and passes to Thompson who is in the middle of the floor. Thompson goes up and scores on a jump hook. A good look from Worthy. One of his 10 assists. 

Moments later, after Dumars throws the ball away into the left corner, Magic guns a pass to Worthy down the floor. Worthy drives it into the middle and finger rolls over Laimbeer. 18 points for Worthy, Lakers lead 41-40. 

Dennis Rodman is playing actively. He is taking shots and is aggressive in pushing the ball and running. He converts a layup after Worthy’s make. 

Abdul-Jabbar throws the ball away intending his pass for Magic and Thomas races down for the finish. It was one of Thomas’ four makes in 12 attempts on the day, as he played 28 minutes obviously limited by the ankle from Game 6. 

On the next Laker possession, Abdul-Jabbar is posted on the left block, and while double-teamed gets the ball to Magic on the right wing. Magic takes a dribble and finds a cutting Worthy on the left side who takes a power dribble and goes up for a right hand hook. Worthy has 9 points and 4 rebounds in the period and 20 points overall. The Pistons lead 44-43. 

“He’s been a one-man gang offensively for the Lakers,” says Stockton. Cunningham agrees.

“He’s putting on a show out here,” he says. “Worthy is carrying this Laker team to this point.”

Rodman swats at a pass from Magic on the inside and Dumars finishes a transition score. Rodman then rebounds a Magic miss and throws the ball overhead to Dumars who misses but Salley is there for the follow-up dunk. An inside jump shot from Thomas (eight points now) gives the Pistons a 50-47 lead with 25 seconds remaining in the half. “I don’t know how he’s playing. Honest to goodness,” Cunningham offers, sounding equal parts impressed and shocked. 

Thomas hits a jump shot for the final points of the half as the Pistons lead 52-47. 

Scott opens the second half scoring with a thunderous jam over Laimbeer. 

Abdul-Jabbar, doubled by Laimbeer and Dumars, passes to Worthy who rises and hits from 17 feet. 

“Worthy’s been everything,” says Stockton. 22 points on 10-of-13 for No. 42. The Piston lead is now 54-51. 

Worthy works to the right block and is guarded by Salley. He gets the pass from Magic and extends the ball once again. He spins baseline and throws the ball up top but it is picked off by Thomas. Meanwhile, Thomas gives the ball away to Magic while trying to squeeze a pass to Dantley. Magic drives all the way into the paint and drops off to Worthy who lays the ball up. Thomas is limping and Dumars is handling the ball. Thomas tries a jump shot from the right side and misses. Abdul-Jabbar rebounds and gets the ball to Magic who wants to push the pace to keep the Pistons off balance. He finds a sprinting Worthy on the right side who goes up and is clobbered by Laimbeer and Dumars. A flagrant foul today. But not back in the day. Worthy splits the pair. He has 25 points and the game is tied at 54. 

Dumars drives to the middle and misses a layup against Abdul-Jabbar. Worthy, up the right side, passes to Magic in the middle. Magic looks briefly at A.C. Green who is running left and goes back to Worthy who finishes off the glass. This is patented Showtime. Worthy has scored seven consecutive points. The Lakers lead 56-54 and Chuck Daly calls timeout. 

The Lakers eventually take an eight-point lead, 65-57, and Scott gets going for layups and jump shots. The 27-year-old who made 7-of-12 shots in the game for 21 points runs up five quick points. The Lakers lead 70-62 after Dumars hits a pair of free-throws to get the deficit within ten. The defensive ace two-guard led the Pistons in scoring in the game with 25 points.  

Rodman, who finished game seven with 15 points and 5 rebounds - a juxtaposition to his later career stat lines - is impacting every facet. Rebounding, getting second chance opportunities, and swooping in for layups. An athletic and creative play from him as he fakes and drives on the left baseline towards the basket. He goes up, hangs, and scoops a shot over Thompson. 

With the Lakers moments later leading 74-66, Worthy asserts himself again. After he rebounds his own miss inside, he goes up with his right hand, a jump hook, over Edwards. A tough bucket. Worthy with 29 points now as the Lakers lead is ten. 

“He is just doing it all for this ball club at the offensive end and the defensive end,” observes Cunningham. 

Worthy on the right block again gets a pass from Magic and turns inside, goes up strong and gets fouled by Salley. Free-throws are good. Worthy with 31 points. 

With the Lakers up 78-70, Worthy has the ball on the right block once more. He is guarded by Rodman and finds Cooper at the top who nets the 3-pointer. The Lakers lead 81-70 with one minute remaining in the quarter. Vinnie Johnson responds with a short jump shot. 

In the third quarter, the Lakers outscored the Pistons 34-21 and took an 83-73 lead into the fourth. 

Early in the fourth, Thomas fakes above the arc on Cooper and double clutches before releasing. The shot goes off the rim, and Dantley goes for the rebound, losing his balance. Worthy retrieves the ball and gets it to Cooper who is moving up the floor. Cooper gives to a trailing Magic on the left side and Magic gets into the paint and finds Cooper for a 3-ball. An open Cooper takes one dribble, releases and hits. Cooper turns to the crowd, pumps his fist and yells in celebration, slapping hands with Magic. The Pistons get the ball into the front court and call timeout. They are down 88-73 with 10:38 remaining in the game. 

“The Lakers want to put this to bed early it seems,” says Stockton. 

Magic picks up a loose ball foul against Rodman. The foul is Magic's fourth of the game. Scores from Salley, Thompson, and Laimbeer make the score 90-77 with 9:13 remaining. 

Salley throws down a one-handed jam off a pass from Vinnie Johnson. 90-79. Abdul-Jabbar hits his patented sky hook to give the Lakers a 92-79 lead. Thomas is called for a charge with 7:44 remaining. A tip in from Thompson off the back of the rim makes the score 94-79 Lakers. Worthy is on the bench but Thompson is giving the Lakers quality minutes. He finished the game 6-of-10 from the field for 12 points. 

Salley completes a 3-point play with a free-throw that gives him 15 points in the game. He too gave quality minutes off the bench, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The deficit is ten, 94-84, with 6:40 remaining. 

Worthy, back on the floor, posts Salley on the left block and gets the ball. Taking three dribbles deep into the paint, he releases a jump hook that takes four bounces before falling in. 33 points for Worthy. 

Thomas hits an elbow jump shot that makes the score 96-88. Abdul-Jabbar misses a hook, and Dumars knifes inside and draws a foul. He makes both. 96-90. 4:34 remaining. 

Worthy posts Salley on the left block and retreats to the 3-point line, giving an entry pass to Magic who turns and hooks for two. The score is 98-90 with 4:11 to go. 

Salley drives inside and is fouled by Abdul-Jabbar. Five fouls on the veteran center. Two free-throws for Salley and the score is 98-92. 

Magic is called for a charge and Laimbeer connects from the elbow. A four-point game. 

A sky hook attempt from Abdul-Jabbar is knocked away by Rodman. Rodman glides in transition and skies for a layup. He appears to levitate over Magic. With 2:50 remaining, the score is 98-96. 

Magic drives into the key, spins and releases. His shot misses but Worthy is there for the follow up. Big Game with 35.

Vinnie Johnson uses a screen from Laimbeer and going left pulls up for a mid-range shot that hits nylon. 100-98 Lakers with 2:15 remaining. 

Magic gets fouled by Laimbeer on a drive. Both offerings from Magic are good. 18 points and 13 assists for the superstar point guard. 

Vinnie Johnson misfires on a triple but Laimbeer hustles for the rebound diving near mid-court. From his backside, he bounces the ball to Dumars.  Dumars hits from 17 feet. 102-100. 

Rodman inexplicably fouls Magic in the back court. One out of two makes for Magic. 

Laimbeer misses a three from the top and the ball is batted out near the out of bounds line. Laimbeer can’t recover the ball. 

After Worthy drives and has the ball knocked away, Vinnie Johnson pushes the ball up the floor to Rodman who shoots and misses from the right side. Scott rebounds the ball and is fouled by Salley. The free-throws are good. 

With 30 seconds remaining, Thomas inbounds to Laimbeer who throws to Dumars who can’t handle the pass. Laker ball. The crowd can sense it now. 

Cooper misses both of his free-throws and the score is still 105-100 with twenty seconds remaining. Vinnie Johnson is short on a jump shot but Dumars follows. Magic hits one out of two free-throws. 106-102. Up the floor, Laimbeer takes a three from a few feet behind the line and drills it with six seconds to go. Off the inbound, Magic throws a pass ahead to Green who catches, takes one dribble, and lays the ball up for the final score of the game. 

The court is stormed as the buzzer sounds. Pat Riley runs onto the floor. 

“The game ends! The Lakers have won it again!”, says Stockton. 

Back-to-back titles for the Lakers, the first franchise to repeat since the Celtics of the 1960s.

On a floor with other Hall of Famers, Worthy was the best player on this day. Only seven missed shots (15-of-22) in 44 minutes. He made six of his 10 free-throw attempts and was all over the boards. He was a problem in the post, quick enough like a small forward but he had the strength to play as four on the block. Worthy averaged 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists on 49.2% shooting on his way to his Finals MVP award.

The Lakers lost in the Finals the next year to the Pistons, getting swept, though Worthy in that series averaged 25.5 points per game. Those Lakers won 57 games, and two seasons later in 1990-91 coached by Mike Dunleavy the franchise won 58 games. Magic, Worthy, Thompson, and Green were on that squad that lost to the Chicago Bulls.

 Worthy was the last remaining Showtime holdover going into the mid-1990s days of the Lakers, as his final season came in 1993-94 (after 1987-88, Rambis played in Charlotte, Phoenix, and Sacramento before returning to the Lakers in 1993 for his final two NBA seasons). James Edwards, the Piston big man from 1988 affectionately called “Buddha” by his teammates, spent the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons with the Lakers.

Worthy played 80 games in his final season and started two. He was eleven years in. Rambis and Danny Schayes were twelve-year vets. Sedale Threatt was a 10-year veteran. Edwards was in year 16.

Six years prior to his retirement and thirty-seven years ago on this date, Worthy delivered one of the greatest performances of his career. He came up the most clutch when the situation called for it. It was the only triple-double of his career.

Big Game is right.