Isiah Thomas (30pts, 12ast, 7reb) - Payback Performance vs. Bulls (1987)

March 13, 1987 - Just nine days after Michael Jordan came into the Pontiac Silverdome and dropped a 61-spot in a 125-120 overtime win, Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas returned volley in classic Isiah fashion, finishing with 30 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds in 100-99 comeback win in Chicago. This time, while Thomas picked his spots and executed (shooting 13-of-21 from the floor), it was Jordan who struggled, swarmed by multiple Pistons defenders all evening while hitting just 7-of-22 attempts from the floor, ending the night 10 points below his season average.

Thomas would go on to lead the Pistons to their first 50-win season in well over a decade. Alas, both the Pistons and Bulls would run into the same roadblock. After sweeping Chicago in the first round, the Boston Celtics needed seven games and a small miracle (Bird's Game 5 steal) to send the Pistons packing the Eastern Conference Finals. It would be Boston's last dance before ceding the floor to Chicago and Detroit moving forward.

Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/...