Boston Celtics 1972-73 Roster and Stats

The 1972-73 Boston Celtics season was a remarkable campaign marked by significant achievements and key performances. Under the leadership of head coach Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics finished the regular season with an impressive 68-14 record, the best in the NBA that year. This dominant performance was a testament to the team’s depth and cohesiveness, with standout contributions from players like John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, and Jo Jo White.

Dave Cowens, the team’s center, was a pivotal figure throughout the season and was recognized for his outstanding play by being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. His ability to control the game on both ends of the floor was instrumental in Boston’s success. John Havlicek also had an exceptional season, providing veteran leadership and clutch performances, which helped the Celtics maintain their winning edge.

Despite their regular-season triumphs, the Celtics faced a disappointing end to their playoff run. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they were defeated by the New York Knicks in a hard-fought seven-game series. The Knicks would go on to win the NBA Championship, leaving the Celtics to reflect on a season that, while successful, fell short of their ultimate goal. Nevertheless, the 1972-73 season remains one of the strongest in Boston Celtics history, setting the foundation for future successes in the decade. The team’s performance is still celebrated by fans and analysts as a testament to Boston’s enduring basketball legacy.

Regular Season Record: 68-14
Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Eastern Conference Finals: 3-4

Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1972-73 Season

POINTS

John Havlicek

23.8

REBOUNDS

Dave Cowens

16.2

ASSISTS

John Havlicek

6.6

	Regular Season							Playoffs
Player	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%
John Havlicek	80	23.8	7.1	6.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	12	23.8	5.2	6.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Dave Cowens	82	20.5	16.2	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	13	21.9	16.6	3.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
Jo Jo White	82	19.7	5.0	6.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	13	24.5	4.2	6.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Paul Silas	80	13.3	13.0	3.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	13	9.6	15.1	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Don Chaney	79	13.1	5.7	2.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	12	7.5	3.3	2.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
Don Nelson	72	10.8	4.4	1.4	0.0	0.0	0.0	13	11.0	2.9	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Steve Kuberski	78	4.4	2.5	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	12	3.8	1.2	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Paul Westphal	60	4.1	1.1	1.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	3.9	0.6	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Art Williams	81	3.2	2.2	2.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	10	4.8	2.7	4.1	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hank Finkel	76	2.4	2.0	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	7	1.7	0.9	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tom Sanders	59	2.0	1.5	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	5	2.0	1.0	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0
Mark Minor	4	1.3	1.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0

Boston Celtics in the 1973 NBA Playoffs

Playoffs Second Round vs. Atlanta Hawks

In the 1973 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals after a first-round bye, as the playoffs had a different structure then. Despite a strong regular season, the Celtics fell to the Knicks in a hard-fought series, losing 4-3, as New York's cohesive team play and clutch performances ultimately outmatched Boston's efforts. This series highlighted the Celtics' resilience and set the stage for their eventual resurgence in the mid-1970s.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Apr 01, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 134-109	John Havlicek (54 pts)
Apr 04, 1973	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 126-113	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Apr 06, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	L 118-105	Jo Jo White (23 pts)
Apr 08, 1973	@ Atlanta Hawks	L 97-94	John Havlicek (21 pts)
Apr 11, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 108-101	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Apr 13, 1973	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 121-103	Jo Jo White (33 pts)

1973 Conference Championship vs. New York Knicks

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Apr 15, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	W 134-108	Jo Jo White (30 pts)
Apr 18, 1973	@ New York Knicks	L 129-96	John Havlicek (21 pts)
Apr 20, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	L 98-91	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Apr 22, 1973	@ New York Knicks	L 117-110	Jo Jo White (34 pts)
Apr 25, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	W 98-97	Dave Cowens (32 pts)
Apr 27, 1973	@ New York Knicks	W 110-100	Dave Cowens (26 pts)
Apr 29, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	L 94-78	Dave Cowens (24 pts)

Boston Celtics 1972-73 Regular Season Game Log

Here is the game log for the 1972-73 season for the Boston Celtics.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Oct 11, 1972	@ Detroit Pistons	W 121-108	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Oct 13, 1972	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	W 112-104	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Oct 14, 1972	@ Chicago Bulls	W 96-88	John Havlicek (21 pts)
Oct 17, 1972	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 119-115	Dave Cowens (29 pts)
Oct 20, 1972	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 126-118	Dave Cowens (24 pts)
Oct 21, 1972	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 104-101	Jo Jo White (36 pts)
Oct 23, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 105-85	Dave Cowens (21 pts)
Oct 24, 1972	@ Buffalo Braves	W 105-97	Jo Jo White (28 pts)
Oct 27, 1972	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	W 123-97	Jo Jo White (20 pts)
Nov 03, 1972	vs. Baltimore Bullets	W 109-96	John Havlicek (22 pts)
Nov 04, 1972	vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings	L 118-107	John Havlicek (36 pts)
Nov 08, 1972	vs. Golden State Warriors	W 128-111	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Nov 10, 1972	@ Buffalo Braves	W 106-104	Jo Jo White (22 pts)
Nov 11, 1972	vs. Detroit Pistons	W 121-118	John Havlicek (37 pts)
Nov 15, 1972	vs. Phoenix Suns	W 113-94	Dave Cowens (25 pts)
Nov 17, 1972	vs. Milwaukee Bucks	L 95-88	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Nov 21, 1972	@ Milwaukee Bucks	W 116-102	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Nov 22, 1972	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	W 126-107	Dave Cowens (33 pts)
Nov 24, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	W 114-97	Dave Cowens (23 pts)
Nov 25, 1972	@ New York Knicks	L 97-94	John Havlicek (24 pts)
Nov 29, 1972	vs. Seattle SuperSonics	W 120-98	John Havlicek (22 pts)
Dec 01, 1972	@ Philadelphia 76ers	W 105-99	Jo Jo White (31 pts)
Dec 02, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 131-120	Jo Jo White (30 pts)
Dec 08, 1972	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	W 96-87	Dave Cowens (25 pts)
Dec 09, 1972	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	W 123-88	John Havlicek (23 pts)
Dec 13, 1972	@ Phoenix Suns	W 105-100	Jo Jo White (26 pts)
Dec 15, 1972	@ Los Angeles Lakers	W 102-98	Dave Cowens (31 pts)
Dec 16, 1972	@ Portland Trail Blazers	W 123-116	Dave Cowens (33 pts)
Dec 17, 1972	@ Seattle SuperSonics	W 123-98	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Dec 19, 1972	@ Golden State Warriors	L 115-112	Jo Jo White (30 pts)
Dec 22, 1972	@ Kansas City-Omaha Kings	W 118-90	Dave Cowens (26 pts)
Dec 23, 1972	@ Milwaukee Bucks	L 104-98	John Havlicek (24 pts)
Dec 26, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	W 115-106	Dave Cowens (38 pts)
Dec 29, 1972	vs. Chicago Bulls	L 106-99	Dave Cowens (27 pts)
Dec 30, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 117-107	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Jan 02, 1973	@ Houston Rockets	W 130-110	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Jan 03, 1973	@ Houston Rockets	L 123-112	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Jan 05, 1973	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 126-108	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Jan 07, 1973	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 116-98	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Jan 10, 1973	vs. Houston Rockets	W 128-107	John Havlicek (22 pts)
Jan 12, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 133-109	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Jan 13, 1973	@ Philadelphia 76ers	W 111-95	Jo Jo White (29 pts)
Jan 16, 1973	@ Buffalo Braves	W 106-102	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Jan 17, 1973	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	W 117-99	Dave Cowens (35 pts)
Jan 19, 1973	vs. Seattle SuperSonics	W 124-104	Jo Jo White (33 pts)
Jan 21, 1973	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 104-97	John Havlicek (26 pts)
Jan 26, 1973	vs. Houston Rockets	W 139-126	Dave Cowens (24 pts)
Jan 27, 1973	@ New York Knicks	L 111-108	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Jan 28, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	L 96-93	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Jan 31, 1973	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	W 94-89	Don Chaney (26 pts)
Feb 02, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	L 100-99	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Feb 03, 1973	@ Philadelphia 76ers	W 104-100	Jo Jo White (20 pts)
Feb 04, 1973	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 123-115	Jo Jo White (38 pts)
Feb 06, 1973	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	L 110-105	Don Nelson (30 pts)
Feb 07, 1973	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	W 113-112	Dave Cowens (34 pts)
Feb 09, 1973	vs. Detroit Pistons	L 104-95	Jo Jo White (24 pts)
Feb 11, 1973	vs. Milwaukee Bucks	W 120-96	Dave Cowens (28 pts)
Feb 13, 1973	@ Chicago Bulls	W 105-101	John Havlicek (31 pts)
Feb 14, 1973	@ Kansas City-Omaha Kings	W 104-101	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Feb 16, 1973	@ Portland Trail Blazers	W 112-105	Jo Jo White (36 pts)
Feb 17, 1973	@ Golden State Warriors	W 110-106	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Feb 18, 1973	@ Seattle SuperSonics	W 106-105	Jo Jo White (26 pts)
Feb 20, 1973	vs. Phoenix Suns	W 107-97	John Havlicek (26 pts)
Feb 25, 1973	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	W 105-92	Dave Cowens (22 pts)
Feb 27, 1973	@ New York Knicks	L 123-91	Don Chaney (18 pts)
Feb 28, 1973	vs. Golden State Warriors	W 118-111	Don Chaney (32 pts)
Mar 02, 1973	@ Detroit Pistons	W 115-101	Jo Jo White (25 pts)
Mar 04, 1973	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 125-113	Paul Silas (26 pts)
Mar 06, 1973	@ Buffalo Braves	W 127-112	Jo Jo White (25 pts)
Mar 08, 1973	@ Phoenix Suns	W 141-134	Dave Cowens (32 pts)
Mar 09, 1973	@ Los Angeles Lakers	W 119-111	Dave Cowens (34 pts)
Mar 11, 1973	vs. New York Knicks	W 122-107	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Mar 14, 1973	vs. Baltimore Bullets	W 111-107	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Mar 16, 1973	@ Baltimore Bullets	L 103-97	Dave Cowens (23 pts)
Mar 18, 1973	vs. Kansas City-Omaha Kings	W 109-105	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Mar 20, 1973	vs. Houston Rockets	W 94-89	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Mar 21, 1973	vs. Chicago Bulls	W 106-105	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Mar 23, 1973	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 124-108	Don Chaney (22 pts)
Mar 24, 1973	@ New York Knicks	W 108-103	Dave Cowens (29 pts)
Mar 25, 1973	@ Houston Rockets	W 125-121	Dave Cowens (28 pts)
Mar 27, 1973	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 117-110	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Mar 28, 1973	vs. Baltimore Bullets	W 120-101	John Havlicek (34 pts)

NBA

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Northwest

Pacific