The 1965-66 Boston Celtics season was marked by continuation of their dominance in the NBA under the guidance of legendary coach Red Auerbach. The team finished the regular season with an impressive 54-26 record, securing the top spot in the Eastern Division. This season was particularly significant as it was Auerbach’s final year as head coach before retiring, and he was determined to end on a high note.
Bill Russell, the cornerstone of the Celtics’ defense, delivered another stellar performance, averaging 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. His leadership on the court was crucial during this season. The backcourt duo of Sam Jones and John Havlicek provided offensive firepower, with Jones averaging 23.5 points per game and Havlicek contributing with 18.3 points per game. The Celtics’ depth and team chemistry were key factors in their success, allowing them to outmatch their opponents consistently.
In the playoffs, the Celtics faced a tough challenge in the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, led by Wilt Chamberlain. Boston prevailed in a hard-fought series, winning 4-1. The NBA Finals pitted them against the Los Angeles Lakers, a familiar rival. Despite the Lakers’ strong play, the Celtics clinched the championship in seven games, securing their eighth consecutive NBA title. This victory was a fitting farewell to Auerbach’s coaching career and solidified the Celtics’ legacy as a basketball dynasty during the 1960s.
- Regular Season Record: 54-26
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 3-2, Division Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 4-3
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1965-66 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Sam Jones | 67 | 23.5 | 4.5 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 24.8 | 5.1 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Havlicek | 71 | 18.8 | 5.4 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 23.6 | 9.1 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Larry Siegfried | 71 | 13.7 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 13.2 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Russell | 78 | 12.9 | 22.6 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 19.1 | 25.2 | 5.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Sanders | 72 | 12.6 | 5.8 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 13.5 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Willie Naulls | 71 | 10.7 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Nelson | 75 | 10.2 | 4.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 8.4 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| K.C. Jones | 80 | 8.6 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 17 | 7.6 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mel Counts | 67 | 8.4 | 5.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Bonham | 39 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Woody Sauldsberry | 39 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Si Green | 10 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Thompson | 10 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ron Watts | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics in the 1966 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Cincinnati Royals
In the 1966 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Cincinnati Royals in the Eastern Division Finals. The Celtics, led by the legendary Bill Russell, displayed their championship mettle by defeating the Royals in a decisive 4-1 series victory. This triumph propelled Boston into the NBA Finals, where they continued their dominance en route to securing their eighth consecutive championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 107-103 | |
| Mar 26, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 132-125 | |
| Mar 27, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 113-107 | |
| Mar 30, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 120-103 | |
| Apr 01, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 112-103 |
1966 Conference Championship vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1966 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics showcased their championship mettle by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Led by player-coach Bill Russell, the Celtics secured their place in the NBA Finals with a 4-1 series victory, overcoming the formidable duo of Wilt Chamberlain and Hal Greer. This triumph marked yet another chapter in their storied dynasty, as they continued their quest for an eighth consecutive NBA title.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 03, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-96 | |
| Apr 06, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-93 | |
| Apr 07, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 111-105 | |
| Apr 10, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-108 | |
| Apr 12, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 120-112 |
1966 NBA Finals vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 133-129 | |
| Apr 19, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 129-109 | |
| Apr 20, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 120-106 | |
| Apr 22, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 122-117 | |
| Apr 24, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 121-117 | |
| Apr 26, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-115 | |
| Apr 28, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 95-93 |
Boston Celtics 1965-66 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1965-66 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 16, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 102-98 | |
| Oct 20, 1965 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-96 | |
| Oct 23, 1965 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 120-110 | |
| Oct 28, 1965 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 113-108 | |
| Oct 29, 1965 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 108-106 | |
| Oct 31, 1965 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 105-100 | |
| Nov 05, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 129-118 | |
| Nov 06, 1965 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-91 | |
| Nov 09, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 130-116 | |
| Nov 11, 1965 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 87-83 | |
| Nov 12, 1965 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 123-114 | |
| Nov 13, 1965 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 122-93 | |
| Nov 16, 1965 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 108-105 | |
| Nov 17, 1965 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 125-115 | |
| Nov 19, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 129-103 | |
| Nov 20, 1965 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-108 | |
| Nov 24, 1965 | vs. New York Knicks | W 125-110 | |
| Nov 26, 1965 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 134-114 | |
| Nov 27, 1965 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-95 | |
| Dec 03, 1965 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 119-103 | |
| Dec 04, 1965 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 100-94 | |
| Dec 05, 1965 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 108-99 | |
| Dec 07, 1965 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 112-96 | |
| Dec 08, 1965 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 108-106 | |
| Dec 11, 1965 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 143-106 | |
| Dec 15, 1965 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 117-110 | |
| Dec 17, 1965 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-112 | |
| Dec 22, 1965 | vs. New York Knicks | W 123-120 | |
| Dec 25, 1965 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 113-99 | |
| Dec 26, 1965 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 120-99 | |
| Dec 28, 1965 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-93 | |
| Dec 29, 1965 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-96 | |
| Dec 30, 1965 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 116-113 | |
| Jan 01, 1966 | @ St. Louis Hawks | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 02, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 124-113 | |
| Jan 05, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-113 | |
| Jan 07, 1966 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 115-114 | |
| Jan 08, 1966 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 124-96 | |
| Jan 12, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-102 | |
| Jan 14, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 112-100 | |
| Jan 16, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 137-122 | |
| Jan 18, 1966 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 116-115 | |
| Jan 19, 1966 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 129-89 | |
| Jan 21, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 113-96 | |
| Jan 22, 1966 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 132-107 | |
| Jan 25, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 113-101 | |
| Jan 27, 1966 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 131-112 | |
| Jan 28, 1966 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 108-105 | |
| Jan 29, 1966 | @ New York Knicks | W 119-107 | |
| Jan 30, 1966 | vs. New York Knicks | W 118-115 | |
| Feb 01, 1966 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 100-81 | |
| Feb 02, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 99-93 | |
| Feb 04, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 117-95 | |
| Feb 05, 1966 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 113-94 | |
| Feb 06, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-99 | |
| Feb 07, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 112-107 | |
| Feb 09, 1966 | vs. New York Knicks | W 121-117 | |
| Feb 10, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 128-117 | |
| Feb 11, 1966 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 99-96 | |
| Feb 12, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 85-83 | |
| Feb 13, 1966 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-110 | |
| Feb 15, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 136-123 | |
| Feb 18, 1966 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 128-106 | |
| Feb 19, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 115-111 | |
| Feb 21, 1966 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 115-108 | |
| Feb 22, 1966 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 116-108 | |
| Feb 24, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 134-106 | |
| Feb 26, 1966 | @ New York Knicks | W 100-95 | |
| Feb 27, 1966 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 132-92 | |
| Mar 01, 1966 | @ St. Louis Hawks | W 120-95 | |
| Mar 02, 1966 | vs. New York Knicks | W 140-104 | |
| Mar 04, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | L 132-112 | |
| Mar 05, 1966 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-85 | |
| Mar 06, 1966 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 113-110 | |
| Mar 07, 1966 | vs. St. Louis Hawks | W 106-104 | |
| Mar 10, 1966 | @ Cincinnati Royals | W 124-120 | |
| Mar 13, 1966 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 129-98 | |
| Mar 17, 1966 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 128-103 | |
| Mar 19, 1966 | @ New York Knicks | W 126-113 | |
| Mar 20, 1966 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 121-104 |