The 1991-92 Boston Celtics season was marked by the team’s continued reliance on their aging core, led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. Despite being in the twilight of their careers, these veterans delivered commendable performances throughout the season. The Celtics finished with a record of 51-31, securing the second spot in the Atlantic Division.
Under the guidance of head coach Chris Ford, the Celtics showcased a balanced offensive attack. Larry Bird, despite dealing with back issues, contributed significantly, averaging 20.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Meanwhile, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish provided strong support, with McHale averaging 20.9 points and 7.3 rebounds, and Parish adding 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
The Celtics’ season, however, ended in disappointment during the playoffs. After defeating the Indiana Pacers 3-0 in the first round, Boston faced the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Despite a strong effort, the Celtics were eliminated in a grueling seven-game series. This loss highlighted the team’s need for rejuvenation, as their aging stars struggled to maintain the high level of play required for postseason success.
The 1991-92 season was a transitional period for the Celtics, as it became evident that changes were necessary to remain competitive. The season was also notable as it marked the final year of Larry Bird’s illustrious career, with his retirement coming shortly after its conclusion.
- Regular Season Record: 51-31
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 3-0, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 3-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1991-92 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Reggie Lewis | 82 | 20.8 | 4.8 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 23.8 | 10 | 28.0 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 33.3 |
| Larry Bird | 45 | 20.2 | 9.6 | 6.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 40.6 | 4 | 11.3 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Robert Parish | 79 | 14.1 | 8.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 12.0 | 9.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Kevin McHale | 56 | 13.9 | 5.9 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.5 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Gamble | 82 | 13.5 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 29.0 | 10 | 13.6 | 4.2 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Dee Brown | 31 | 11.7 | 2.5 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 22.7 | 6 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 5.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Brian Shaw | 17 | 10.3 | 4.1 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Rick Fox | 81 | 8.0 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 32.9 | 8 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 |
| Ed Pinckney | 81 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 10 | 9.6 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Sherman Douglas | 37 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Bagley | 73 | 7.2 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 23.8 | 10 | 11.1 | 2.7 | 8.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 25.0 |
| Joe Kleine | 70 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50.0 | 9 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Kevin Pritchard | 11 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Rickey Green | 26 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Larry Robinson | 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Stojko Vranković | 19 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Battle | 8 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tony Massenburg | 7 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
Boston Celtics in the 1992 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Indiana Pacers
In the 1992 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced off against the Indiana Pacers in the first round. The Celtics, led by veterans like Larry Bird and Kevin McHale, secured a hard-fought 3-0 series victory. Despite battling injuries and an aging roster, Boston's experience and resilience shone through, allowing them to advance past a young and energetic Pacers team.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 1992 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 124-113 | |
| Apr 25, 1992 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 119-112 | |
| Apr 27, 1992 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-98 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
In the 1992 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Despite a valiant effort led by veteran Larry Bird and emerging star Reggie Lewis, the Celtics were overpowered by the Cavaliers' balanced attack and fell in a closely contested seven-game series. This marked the end of an era for Boston, as it was Bird's final playoff appearance before retiring due to back issues.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 101-76 | |
| May 04, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 104-98 | |
| May 08, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-107 | |
| May 10, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-112 | |
| May 13, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 114-98 | |
| May 15, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 122-91 | |
| May 17, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 122-104 |
Boston Celtics 1991-92 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1991-92 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1991 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 111-108 | |
| Nov 02, 1991 | @ Washington Bullets | L 126-118 | |
| Nov 05, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | W 93-89 | |
| Nov 06, 1991 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 132-113 | |
| Nov 08, 1991 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 100-95 | |
| Nov 10, 1991 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-90 | |
| Nov 12, 1991 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 126-103 | |
| Nov 13, 1991 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-111 | |
| Nov 15, 1991 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 122-97 | |
| Nov 16, 1991 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 118-109 | |
| Nov 20, 1991 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-101 | |
| Nov 23, 1991 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 125-107 | |
| Nov 25, 1991 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 121-108 | |
| Nov 27, 1991 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 101-92 | |
| Nov 29, 1991 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-91 | |
| Nov 30, 1991 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 129-102 | |
| Dec 04, 1991 | vs. Miami Heat | W 124-97 | |
| Dec 06, 1991 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-92 | |
| Dec 09, 1991 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 132-94 | |
| Dec 13, 1991 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-97 | |
| Dec 14, 1991 | @ New York Knicks | L 111-101 | |
| Dec 17, 1991 | @ Orlando Magic | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 18, 1991 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 131-117 | |
| Dec 20, 1991 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 112-101 | |
| Dec 21, 1991 | @ Miami Heat | L 112-101 | |
| Dec 25, 1991 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 121-99 | |
| Dec 27, 1991 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 110-87 | |
| Dec 28, 1991 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 97-90 | |
| Dec 30, 1991 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 97-86 | |
| Jan 03, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-100 | |
| Jan 04, 1992 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 06, 1992 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-108 | |
| Jan 08, 1992 | vs. New York Knicks | W 99-95 | |
| Jan 10, 1992 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 104-94 | |
| Jan 11, 1992 | @ New York Knicks | L 100-96 | |
| Jan 15, 1992 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 130-120 | |
| Jan 17, 1992 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-95 | |
| Jan 19, 1992 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 98-89 | |
| Jan 20, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-102 | |
| Jan 22, 1992 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 107-95 | |
| Jan 24, 1992 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 100-93 | |
| Jan 26, 1992 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-91 | |
| Jan 28, 1992 | @ Washington Bullets | W 98-87 | |
| Jan 31, 1992 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-100 | |
| Feb 01, 1992 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-110 | |
| Feb 05, 1992 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 98-85 | |
| Feb 11, 1992 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 100-84 | |
| Feb 12, 1992 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-100 | |
| Feb 14, 1992 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-99 | |
| Feb 16, 1992 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-107 | |
| Feb 17, 1992 | @ Utah Jazz | L 88-83 | |
| Feb 19, 1992 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 117-112 | |
| Feb 21, 1992 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 113-110 | |
| Feb 23, 1992 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 102-95 | |
| Feb 25, 1992 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 109-95 | |
| Feb 26, 1992 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 130-109 | |
| Feb 28, 1992 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 102-90 | |
| Mar 01, 1992 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-91 | |
| Mar 04, 1992 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 125-100 | |
| Mar 06, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-100 | |
| Mar 08, 1992 | @ Orlando Magic | W 111-93 | |
| Mar 10, 1992 | @ Miami Heat | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 11, 1992 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 119-85 | |
| Mar 13, 1992 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 110-108 | |
| Mar 15, 1992 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 152-148 | |
| Mar 17, 1992 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-106 | |
| Mar 18, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 96-94 | |
| Mar 20, 1992 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 104-99 | |
| Mar 22, 1992 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 114-97 | |
| Mar 25, 1992 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 118-110 | |
| Mar 27, 1992 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 106-87 | |
| Mar 29, 1992 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 117-93 | |
| Apr 01, 1992 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 120-106 | |
| Apr 03, 1992 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 101-97 | |
| Apr 05, 1992 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 97-86 | |
| Apr 07, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-97 | |
| Apr 08, 1992 | vs. New York Knicks | W 93-89 | |
| Apr 10, 1992 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-100 | |
| Apr 12, 1992 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 128-102 | |
| Apr 14, 1992 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 99-94 | |
| Apr 15, 1992 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 92-89 | |
| Apr 19, 1992 | vs. Miami Heat | W 109-93 |