February 15, 1986 - Never averaging more than 15.6 points per game, Maurice Cheeks spent the majority of his career serving as the ideal pass-first point guard, setting up the likes of Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, and Patrick Ewing over the course of his 15-year Hall of Fame career.
But Cheeks could score when he needed to, as he did against the Detroit Pistons in 1986 when he finished with 31 points (12-of-18 shooting) and 7 assists in a 134-133 overtime loss. His 31 points fell just one short of his career high, a 32-point showing against the Warriors in 1983.
For its time, the announced Silverdome crowd of 44,180 set the all-time single game NBA attendance record. This record was eventually bested repeatedly by subsequent Silverdome crowds, peaking with a 61,983 showing for a matchup with the Celtics on Jan. 29, 1988. As of 2024, the Silverdome holds the third highest crowd in NBA history. The full rundown:
1. 68,323 - Golden State at San Antonio, Alamodome, Jan. 13, 2023
2. 62,046 - Chicago at Atlanta, Georgia Dome, March, 27, 1998
3. 61,983 - Boston at Detroit, Silverdome, Jan. 29, 1988
4. 52,745 - Philadelphia at Detroit, Silverdome, Feb. 14, 1987
5. 49,551 - Denver at Minnesota, Metrodome, April, 17, 1990
Box Score: www.basketball-reference.com/...
Play-by-Play: George Blaha & Stu Klitenic