The 2020-21 Boston Celtics navigated a challenging NBA season, finishing with a 36-36 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Under head coach Brad Stevens, the team faced various obstacles, including injuries and COVID-19 disruptions. Key players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both missed time due to health protocols, which contributed to the team’s inconsistency throughout the season.
Jayson Tatum emerged as a star, averaging 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. His performance earned him an All-Star selection, alongside Jaylen Brown, who averaged 24.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Despite their impressive individual performances, the team struggled to find rhythm, particularly on the defensive end, where they ranked 14th in defensive rating.
The Celtics entered the Play-In Tournament and defeated the Washington Wizards to secure the seventh seed in the playoffs. However, their postseason run was short-lived as they faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. Boston was eliminated in five games, unable to contain the Nets’ star-studded lineup.
Following the season, significant changes occurred within the organization. Brad Stevens transitioned to a front-office role as President of Basketball Operations, and the Celtics hired Ime Udoka as the new head coach. These moves marked a shift in strategy aimed at returning the storied franchise to championship contention in the future.
- Regular Season Record: 36-36
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 2020-21 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Jayson Tatum | 64 | 26.4 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 38.6 | 6 | 33.8 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 39.6 |
| Jaylen Brown | 58 | 24.7 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 39.7 | |||||||
| Kemba Walker | 43 | 19.3 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 36.0 | 4 | 16.8 | 4.8 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 29.0 |
| Marcus Smart | 48 | 13.1 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 33.0 | 6 | 16.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 35.4 |
| Evan Fournier | 16 | 13.0 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 46.3 | 6 | 14.2 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 41.7 |
| Daniel Theis | 42 | 9.5 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 34.7 | |||||||
| Robert Williams | 52 | 8.0 | 6.9 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.8 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Payton Pritchard | 66 | 7.7 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 41.1 | 6 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Tristan Thompson | 54 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 6 | 10.7 | 10.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Teague | 34 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 46.4 | |||||||
| Jabari Parker | 10 | 6.4 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 20.0 | 4 | 8.5 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 40.0 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 46 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 37.0 | 6 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 27.8 |
| Grant Williams | 63 | 4.7 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 37.2 | 6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 50.0 |
| Semi Ojeleye | 56 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 36.7 | 3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Luke Kornet | 18 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 25.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Javonte Green | 25 | 4.2 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 31.8 | |||||||
| Carsen Edwards | 31 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 28.6 | 3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Tremont Waters | 26 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 39.5 | 4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Romeo Langford | 18 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 27.8 | 5 | 7.8 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 35.3 |
| Tacko Fall | 19 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Moritz Wagner | 9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 33.3 | |||||||
Boston Celtics in the 2021 NBA Playoffs
2021 NBA Play-In Tournament
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 118-100 |
Playoffs First Round vs. Brooklyn Nets
In the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Brooklyn Nets and struggled against the formidable trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Despite Jayson Tatum's impressive 50-point performance in Game 3, the Celtics were overwhelmed by the Nets' offensive firepower, ultimately falling in five games. The series highlighted the Celtics' need for more depth and star power to compete with the league's elite teams.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 104-93 | |
| May 25, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 130-108 | |
| May 28, 2021 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 125-119 | |
| May 30, 2021 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 141-126 | |
| Jun 01, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 123-109 |
Boston Celtics 2020-21 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2020-21 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2020 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-121 | |
| Dec 25, 2020 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 123-95 | |
| Dec 27, 2020 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 108-107 | |
| Dec 29, 2020 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 116-111 | |
| Dec 30, 2020 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 126-107 | |
| Jan 01, 2021 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-93 | |
| Jan 03, 2021 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 122-120 | |
| Jan 04, 2021 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 126-114 | |
| Jan 06, 2021 | @ Miami Heat | W 107-105 | |
| Jan 08, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 116-107 | |
| Jan 15, 2021 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 124-97 | |
| Jan 17, 2021 | vs. New York Knicks | L 105-75 | |
| Jan 20, 2021 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-109 | |
| Jan 22, 2021 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 122-110 | |
| Jan 24, 2021 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 141-103 | |
| Jan 25, 2021 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 119-103 | |
| Jan 27, 2021 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-106 | |
| Jan 30, 2021 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-95 | |
| Feb 02, 2021 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 111-107 | |
| Feb 03, 2021 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 116-111 | |
| Feb 05, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 119-115 | |
| Feb 07, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-91 | |
| Feb 09, 2021 | @ Utah Jazz | L 122-108 | |
| Feb 11, 2021 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 120-106 | |
| Feb 12, 2021 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-102 | |
| Feb 14, 2021 | @ Washington Wizards | L 104-91 | |
| Feb 16, 2021 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 112-99 | |
| Feb 17, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 122-114 | |
| Feb 19, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 121-109 | |
| Feb 21, 2021 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 120-115 | |
| Feb 23, 2021 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 110-107 | |
| Feb 24, 2021 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 127-112 | |
| Feb 26, 2021 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 118-112 | |
| Feb 28, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 02, 2021 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-112 | |
| Mar 04, 2021 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 132-125 | |
| Mar 11, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 121-109 | |
| Mar 14, 2021 | @ Houston Rockets | W 134-107 | |
| Mar 16, 2021 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 117-109 | |
| Mar 17, 2021 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-110 | |
| Mar 19, 2021 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 107-96 | |
| Mar 21, 2021 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 112-96 | |
| Mar 22, 2021 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 132-126 | |
| Mar 24, 2021 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-119 | |
| Mar 26, 2021 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-114 | |
| Mar 27, 2021 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 111-94 | |
| Mar 29, 2021 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | L 115-109 | |
| Mar 31, 2021 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 113-108 | |
| Apr 02, 2021 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 118-102 | |
| Apr 04, 2021 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 116-86 | |
| Apr 06, 2021 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-96 | |
| Apr 07, 2021 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-99 | |
| Apr 09, 2021 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 145-136 | |
| Apr 11, 2021 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 105-87 | |
| Apr 13, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-115 | |
| Apr 15, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-113 | |
| Apr 17, 2021 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 119-114 | |
| Apr 19, 2021 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 102-96 | |
| Apr 22, 2021 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-86 | |
| Apr 23, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 109-104 | |
| Apr 25, 2021 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 125-104 | |
| Apr 27, 2021 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 119-115 | |
| Apr 28, 2021 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 120-111 | |
| Apr 30, 2021 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 143-140 | |
| May 02, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 129-119 | |
| May 05, 2021 | @ Orlando Magic | W 132-96 | |
| May 07, 2021 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-99 | |
| May 09, 2021 | vs. Miami Heat | L 130-124 | |
| May 11, 2021 | vs. Miami Heat | L 129-121 | |
| May 12, 2021 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-94 | |
| May 15, 2021 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 124-108 | |
| May 16, 2021 | @ New York Knicks | L 96-92 |