The 2012-13 Boston Celtics season was a transitional period for the franchise. Coming off a strong performance the previous year, the Celtics aimed to maintain their competitive edge in the Eastern Conference. However, the season was marred by significant challenges, including injuries and aging key players.
Led by head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics finished the regular season with a 41-40 record, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Veteran stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett continued to be the backbone of the team, but the absence of All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in January, was a major blow.
In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the first round. Despite their experience, Boston struggled against a rejuvenated Knicks team led by Carmelo Anthony. The Celtics lost the series 4-2, marking their earliest playoff exit since 2007. This defeat signaled the end of an era, as the offseason saw major changes, including the departure of coach Doc Rivers and the trade of Pierce and Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets.
The season highlighted the need for a rebuild, as the Celtics aimed to transition from their veteran core to a younger, more dynamic roster. It set the stage for the Celtics to focus on developing new talent and reshaping their future strategy in the NBA landscape.
- Regular Season Record: 41-40
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 2012-13 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Pierce | 77 | 18.6 | 6.3 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 38.0 | 6 | 19.2 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 26.8 |
| Kevin Garnett | 68 | 14.8 | 7.8 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 12.5 | 6 | 12.7 | 13.7 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Rajon Rondo | 38 | 13.7 | 5.6 | 11.1 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 24.0 | |||||||
| Jeff Green | 81 | 12.8 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 38.5 | 6 | 20.3 | 5.3 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 45.5 |
| Jason Terry | 79 | 10.1 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 37.2 | 6 | 12.0 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 44.1 |
| Avery Bradley | 50 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 31.7 | 6 | 6.7 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 25.0 |
| Jordan Crawford | 27 | 9.1 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 32.0 | 5 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Brandon Bass | 81 | 8.7 | 5.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 6 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Courtney Lee | 78 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 37.2 | 4 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jared Sullinger | 45 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Leandro Barbosa | 41 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 38.3 | |||||||
| Terrence Williams | 24 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 5 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Chris Wilcox | 61 | 4.2 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Shavlik Randolph | 16 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| D.J. White | 12 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jarvis Varnado | 5 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Fab Melo | 6 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Kris Joseph | 6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jason Collins | 32 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Darko Miličić | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Boston Celtics in the 2013 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. New York Knicks
In the 2013 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the first round, ultimately falling in six games. Despite a resilient effort led by veterans like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics struggled offensively against the Knicks' stout defense. The series marked the end of an era, as it was the last playoff appearance for the Pierce-Garnett duo in Boston before their subsequent trade to the Brooklyn Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 20, 2013 | @ New York Knicks | L 85-78 | |
| Apr 23, 2013 | @ New York Knicks | L 87-71 | |
| Apr 26, 2013 | vs. New York Knicks | L 90-76 | |
| Apr 28, 2013 | vs. New York Knicks | W 97-90 | |
| May 01, 2013 | @ New York Knicks | W 92-86 | |
| May 03, 2013 | vs. New York Knicks | L 88-80 |
Boston Celtics 2012-13 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2012-13 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 120-107 | |
| Nov 02, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-88 | |
| Nov 03, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | W 89-86 | |
| Nov 07, 2012 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 100-94 | |
| Nov 09, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 10, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-92 | |
| Nov 12, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 101-95 | |
| Nov 14, 2012 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 98-93 | |
| Nov 15, 2012 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 102-97 | |
| Nov 17, 2012 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 107-89 | |
| Nov 18, 2012 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 103-83 | |
| Nov 21, 2012 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 112-100 | |
| Nov 23, 2012 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 108-100 | |
| Nov 25, 2012 | @ Orlando Magic | W 116-110 | |
| Nov 28, 2012 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 95-83 | |
| Nov 30, 2012 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 96-78 | |
| Dec 01, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 91-88 | |
| Dec 05, 2012 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 104-94 | |
| Dec 07, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 95-94 | |
| Dec 08, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-79 | |
| Dec 12, 2012 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 117-115 | |
| Dec 14, 2012 | @ Houston Rockets | L 101-89 | |
| Dec 15, 2012 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-88 | |
| Dec 18, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-89 | |
| Dec 19, 2012 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 103-91 | |
| Dec 21, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-94 | |
| Dec 25, 2012 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 93-76 | |
| Dec 27, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 106-77 | |
| Dec 29, 2012 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 101-83 | |
| Dec 30, 2012 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 118-96 | |
| Jan 02, 2013 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 93-83 | |
| Jan 04, 2013 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 94-75 | |
| Jan 05, 2013 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 89-81 | |
| Jan 07, 2013 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 09, 2013 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 87-79 | |
| Jan 11, 2013 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 103-91 | |
| Jan 14, 2013 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 100-89 | |
| Jan 16, 2013 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 90-78 | |
| Jan 18, 2013 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 100-99 | |
| Jan 20, 2013 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 103-88 | |
| Jan 22, 2013 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 95-90 | |
| Jan 24, 2013 | vs. New York Knicks | L 89-86 | |
| Jan 25, 2013 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 123-111 | |
| Jan 27, 2013 | vs. Miami Heat | W 100-98 | |
| Jan 30, 2013 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 99-81 | |
| Feb 01, 2013 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 97-84 | |
| Feb 03, 2013 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-104 | |
| Feb 06, 2013 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 99-95 | |
| Feb 07, 2013 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-95 | |
| Feb 10, 2013 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 118-114 | |
| Feb 11, 2013 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 94-91 | |
| Feb 13, 2013 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 71-69 | |
| Feb 19, 2013 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 97-90 | |
| Feb 20, 2013 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 113-99 | |
| Feb 22, 2013 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 113-88 | |
| Feb 24, 2013 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 92-86 | |
| Feb 25, 2013 | @ Utah Jazz | W 110-107 | |
| Mar 01, 2013 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 94-86 | |
| Mar 05, 2013 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-101 | |
| Mar 06, 2013 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 83-81 | |
| Mar 08, 2013 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 10, 2013 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 91-79 | |
| Mar 12, 2013 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 100-74 | |
| Mar 13, 2013 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 112-88 | |
| Mar 16, 2013 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 105-88 | |
| Mar 18, 2013 | vs. Miami Heat | L 105-103 | |
| Mar 20, 2013 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 87-86 | |
| Mar 22, 2013 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 104-94 | |
| Mar 23, 2013 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 110-106 | |
| Mar 26, 2013 | vs. New York Knicks | L 100-85 | |
| Mar 27, 2013 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-92 | |
| Mar 29, 2013 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 118-107 | |
| Mar 31, 2013 | @ New York Knicks | L 108-89 | |
| Apr 01, 2013 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 110-100 | |
| Apr 03, 2013 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 98-93 | |
| Apr 05, 2013 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 97-91 | |
| Apr 07, 2013 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 107-96 | |
| Apr 10, 2013 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 101-93 | |
| Apr 12, 2013 | @ Miami Heat | L 109-101 | |
| Apr 13, 2013 | @ Orlando Magic | W 120-88 | |
| Apr 17, 2013 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 114-90 |