<P> Motivated by their loss to the Celtics, the 1988 Pistons, aided by midseason acquisition James Edwards, improved to a then - franchise - record 54 victories and the franchise's first division title in 32 years . In the postseason, the Pistons avenged their two previous playoff losses to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating them in six games and advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since the franchise moved to Detroit . </P> <P> The Pistons' first trip to the Finals in 32 years saw them face the Los Angeles Lakers, who were led by Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul - Jabbar . After taking a 3--2 series lead back to Los Angeles, Detroit appeared poised to win their first NBA title in Game 6 . In that game, Isiah Thomas scored an NBA Finals record 25 points in the third quarter while playing on a severely sprained ankle . However, the Lakers won the game, 103--102, on a pair of last - second free throws by Abdul - Jabbar following a controversial foul called on Bill Laimbeer, referred to by many as a "phantom foul". With Thomas unable to compete at full strength, the Pistons narrowly fell in Game 7, 108--105 . </P> <P> Prior to the 1988--89 season, the Pistons moved to Auburn Hills to play at The Palace of Auburn Hills . The 1989 Pistons completed the building of their roster by trading Dantley for Mark Aguirre, a trade that Piston fans would criticize heavily initially, but later praise . The team won 63 games, shattering their one - year - old franchise record, and steamrolled through the playoffs and into an NBA Finals rematch with the Lakers . This time the Pistons came out victorious in a four - game sweep to win their first NBA championship . Joe Dumars was named NBA Finals MVP . </P> <P> The Pistons successfully defended their title in 1990, despite losing Mahorn to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the expansion draft . After winning 59 games and a third straight division title, the Pistons cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs before playing a tough Eastern Conference Finals series against Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and the Chicago Bulls . Facing each other for the third straight season, the Pistons and Bulls split the first six games before the Pistons finished the series with a decisive 93--74 victory in Game 7 . Advancing to their third consecutive NBA Finals, the Pistons faced the Portland Trail Blazers . After splitting the first two games at The Palace, the Pistons went to Portland, where they had not won a game since 1974, to play Games 3, 4 and 5 . The Pistons summarily won all three games in Portland, becoming the first NBA team to sweep the middle three games on the road . The decisive game came down to the final second . Trailing 90--83 with two minutes remaining, the Pistons rallied to tie the game, then took a 92--90 lead when Vinnie Johnson sank an 15 - foot jumper with 00.7 seconds left in the game; this shot earned Johnson a new nickname in Detroit, "007", to go with his original, "The Microwave". Isiah Thomas was named NBA Finals MVP . </P>

When did the pistons move to the palace