On this day: Celtics send Pistons, Hawks home, advance in ’85, ’12

On this day in 1985, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons to advance in the playoffs, and in 2012, they’d do the same to the Atlanta Hawks.

Two years to the day later, Boston beat the Milwaukee Bucks 138-137 in a double-overtime nail-biter in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Boston won due to a 42-point explosion from Bird, who also had 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Forward Kevin McHale added 34 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson added 19 points and 12 assists.