The 2001-02 Boston Celtics season marked a significant turnaround for a franchise seeking to reclaim its former glory. Under the guidance of head coach Jim O’Brien, the Celtics finished the regular season with a 49-33 record, securing the third seed in the Eastern Conference. This marked the team’s first playoff appearance since the 1994-95 season, signaling a revival of competitive basketball in Boston.
This season was notable for the emergence of the dynamic duo of Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. Pierce, averaging 26.1 points per game, established himself as one of the league’s premier scorers, while Walker contributed significantly with 22.1 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Their leadership on the court was instrumental in the team’s improved performance, as the Celtics became known for their strong defensive play, allowing the fourth-fewest points per game in the league.
In the playoffs, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals after defeating the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons in the first two rounds. This marked their deepest postseason run since 1988. However, their championship aspirations were halted by the New Jersey Nets, who defeated them in six games. Despite the loss, the 2001-02 season laid the groundwork for future success and reignited enthusiasm among Celtics fans, setting the stage for a return to prominence in the NBA landscape.
- Regular Season Record: 49-33
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-1, Eastern Conference Finals: 2-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 2001-02 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Pierce | 82 | 26.1 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 40.4 | 16 | 24.6 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 28.8 |
| Antoine Walker | 81 | 22.1 | 8.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 34.4 | 16 | 22.1 | 8.6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 38.5 |
| Rodney Rogers | 27 | 10.7 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 41.1 | 16 | 8.9 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 36.5 |
| Kenny Anderson | 76 | 9.6 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 27.3 | 16 | 12.0 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Erick Strickland | 79 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 12 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 20.0 |
| Tony Delk | 22 | 7.4 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 29.9 | 14 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 39.4 |
| Tony Battie | 74 | 6.9 | 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 16 | 6.1 | 7.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| Eric Williams | 74 | 6.4 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 27.9 | 16 | 7.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 46.7 |
| Joe Johnson | 48 | 6.3 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 27.3 | |||||||
| Vitaly Potapenko | 79 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Walter McCarty | 56 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 39.4 | 14 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Milt Palacio | 41 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 35.3 | |||||||
| Kedrick Brown | 29 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 18.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 100.0 |
| Mark Blount | 44 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 4 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Joseph Forte | 8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Randy Brown | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Boston Celtics in the 2002 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the first round of the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Philadelphia 76ers and emerged victorious in a decisive five-game series. Powered by the dynamic duo of Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, the Celtics showcased a balanced offensive attack and tenacious defense, ultimately outlasting Allen Iverson and the 76ers. This series win marked Boston's first playoff series victory since 1992, setting the stage for a deep postseason run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-82 | |
| Apr 25, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 93-85 | |
| Apr 28, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-103 | |
| May 01, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 83-81 | |
| May 03, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-87 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Detroit Pistons
In the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, ultimately prevailing in a hard-fought five-game series. Key performances from stars like Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker helped the Celtics secure their first trip to the Conference Finals since 1988. The series was marked by Boston's ability to outmaneuver the Pistons with strategic play and clutch scoring, setting the stage for their thrilling matchup against the New Jersey Nets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-84 | |
| May 08, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 85-77 | |
| May 10, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 66-64 | |
| May 12, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 90-79 | |
| May 14, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 90-81 |
2002 Conference Championship vs. New Jersey Nets
In the 2002 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics made an impressive run to the Eastern Conference Finals, marking their first appearance at that stage since 1988. Led by the dynamic duo of Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, the Celtics faced the New Jersey Nets in a hard-fought series. Despite a memorable comeback in Game 3, where they erased a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win, Boston eventually fell to the Nets in six games, highlighting both their potential and the need for further growth to reclaim championship glory.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 104-97 | |
| May 21, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 93-86 | |
| May 25, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 94-90 | |
| May 27, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 94-92 | |
| May 29, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 103-92 | |
| May 31, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 96-88 |
Boston Celtics 2001-02 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2001-02 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2001 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-89 | |
| Oct 31, 2001 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 95-92 | |
| Nov 02, 2001 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 96-82 | |
| Nov 03, 2001 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 105-99 | |
| Nov 07, 2001 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 104-95 | |
| Nov 09, 2001 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 104-94 | |
| Nov 14, 2001 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-93 | |
| Nov 17, 2001 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-103 | |
| Nov 21, 2001 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 92-85 | |
| Nov 23, 2001 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 91-89 | |
| Nov 24, 2001 | @ Washington Wizards | L 88-84 | |
| Nov 27, 2001 | @ Miami Heat | W 84-83 | |
| Nov 29, 2001 | @ Orlando Magic | W 99-89 | |
| Dec 01, 2001 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 02, 2001 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 85-69 | |
| Dec 05, 2001 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 95-80 | |
| Dec 07, 2001 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-102 | |
| Dec 08, 2001 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 87-84 | |
| Dec 11, 2001 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-93 | |
| Dec 14, 2001 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 15, 2001 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 106-97 | |
| Dec 17, 2001 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-83 | |
| Dec 19, 2001 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-98 | |
| Dec 21, 2001 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 98-92 | |
| Dec 23, 2001 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 85-80 | |
| Dec 26, 2001 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-86 | |
| Dec 27, 2001 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 84-82 | |
| Dec 29, 2001 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-103 | |
| Dec 30, 2001 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 109-94 | |
| Jan 02, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 110-94 | |
| Jan 04, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | L 89-66 | |
| Jan 05, 2002 | @ New York Knicks | W 90-81 | |
| Jan 07, 2002 | @ Orlando Magic | L 98-87 | |
| Jan 09, 2002 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 93-90 | |
| Jan 11, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 104-90 | |
| Jan 12, 2002 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 115-91 | |
| Jan 16, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-100 | |
| Jan 18, 2002 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 104-101 | |
| Jan 19, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 94-91 | |
| Jan 21, 2002 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 106-97 | |
| Jan 23, 2002 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 98-94 | |
| Jan 25, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-90 | |
| Jan 26, 2002 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-101 | |
| Jan 29, 2002 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-90 | |
| Jan 31, 2002 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 97-92 | |
| Feb 01, 2002 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 98-95 | |
| Feb 03, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-91 | |
| Feb 05, 2002 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 82-79 | |
| Feb 06, 2002 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 102-85 | |
| Feb 12, 2002 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 110-93 | |
| Feb 13, 2002 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 92-75 | |
| Feb 15, 2002 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 107-104 | |
| Feb 16, 2002 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-79 | |
| Feb 19, 2002 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 109-108 | |
| Feb 21, 2002 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 98-92 | |
| Feb 23, 2002 | @ Houston Rockets | L 99-89 | |
| Feb 27, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-92 | |
| Mar 01, 2002 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | L 100-87 | |
| Mar 04, 2002 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-94 | |
| Mar 06, 2002 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 130-110 | |
| Mar 08, 2002 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 117-92 | |
| Mar 10, 2002 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 98-91 | |
| Mar 11, 2002 | @ Washington Wizards | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 13, 2002 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 97-89 | |
| Mar 15, 2002 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 103-97 | |
| Mar 16, 2002 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-104 | |
| Mar 18, 2002 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 100-91 | |
| Mar 20, 2002 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-70 | |
| Mar 22, 2002 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-91 | |
| Mar 24, 2002 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 109-101 | |
| Mar 25, 2002 | @ Miami Heat | W 87-82 | |
| Mar 27, 2002 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 29, 2002 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 108-82 | |
| Mar 31, 2002 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-80 | |
| Apr 02, 2002 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 105-94 | |
| Apr 05, 2002 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 99-81 | |
| Apr 07, 2002 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-90 | |
| Apr 08, 2002 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 105-100 | |
| Apr 10, 2002 | vs. Miami Heat | W 70-65 | |
| Apr 12, 2002 | vs. New York Knicks | W 107-92 | |
| Apr 15, 2002 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 93-90 | |
| Apr 17, 2002 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 89-81 |