411 REFERENCE · Wikipedia
1981–82 Boston Celtics season
Reference material by Wikipedia contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
NBA basketball team season
August 2023
March 2026
Boston Celtics 1982 yes 63 19 Atlantic 1 1 Bill Fitch Red Auerbach Boston GardenHartford Civic Center PRISM New England, WBZ, WATR WRKO, WTIC Eastern Conference finals(lost to 76ers 3–4) BOS
thumb
The 1981–82 Boston Celtics season was the 36th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics entered the season as the defending NBA champions. They finished the season with the best record in the NBA.
Boston was notably defeated in a seven-game series with their bitter rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers; in the final game, with the contest well decided, fans chanted "Beat L.A.," helping kick off one of American sports' most famous fan chants.
2
Draft picks
1981 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 123 Charles Bradley SG United StatesWyoming–Sr. 5 95 Glen Grunwald C United States Indianahttp://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?lg=N&yr=1981 1981 NBA Draft on databaseBasketball.com 2012-11-05 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20121103194520/http://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1981&lg=N 2012-11-03
Roster
Boston Celtics 1981–82
44 Danny Ainge SG 6 4 175 BYU 1959–03–17
7 Nate Archibald PG 6 1 150 UTEP 1948–09–02
33 Larry Bird PF 6 9 220 Indiana State 1956–12–07
35 Charles Bradley SG 6 5 215 Wyoming 1959–05–16 basketball
30 M. L. Carr SF 6 6 205 Guilford College 1951–01–09
40 Terry Duerod SG 6 2 180 Detroit 1956–07–29
45 Eric Fernsten C 6 10 205 San Francisco 1953–11–01
42 Chris Ford SG 6 5 190 Villanova 1949–01–11
43 Gerald Henderson PG 6 2 175 VCU 1956–01–16
31 Cedric Maxwell SF 6 8 205 Charlotte 1955–11–21
32 Kevin McHale basketball PF 6 10 210 Minnesota 1957–12–19
00 Robert Parish C 7 1 230 Centenary College of Louisiana 1953–08–30
53 Rick Robey C 6 11 230 Kentucky 1956–01–30
Bill Fitch K. C. Jones
Jimmy Rodgers (L) On leave from the team https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1982.html
Regular season
Season standings
BOS
BOS
Game log
Regular season
Boston Celtics 1982 #006400 #FFFFFF Total: 63–19 (home: 35–6; road: 28–13)
Boston Celtics October yes #FFFFFF #006400 1 0 0 1
|-
| 1
| October 30
| Washington
| W 124–100
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 1–0
|-
| 2
| October 31
| @ Milwaukee
| L 103–119
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 1–1
Boston Celtics November #FFFFFF #006400 7 1 5 0
|-
| 3
| November 4
| Chicago
| W 115–93
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 2–1
|-
| 4
| November 6
| Indiana
| W 111–94
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 3–1
|-
| 5
| November 7
| @ Detroit
| W 129–88
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 4–1
|-
| 6
| November 10
| @ Washington
| W 90–84
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 5–1
|-
| 7
| November 11
| Kansas City
| W 115–100
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 6–1
|-
| 8
| November 13
| New Jersey
| W 111–97
|
|
|
| Hartford Civic Center
| 7–1
|-
| 9
| November 14
| @ Cleveland
| W 92–91
|
|
|
| Richfield Coliseum
| 8–1
|-
| 10
| November 17
| @ Chicago
| W 98–95
|
|
|
| Chicago Stadium
| 9–1
|-
| 11
| November 18
| Houston
| L 104–106
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 9–2
|-
| 12
| November 20
| Milwaukee
| W 112–89
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 10–2
|-
| 13
| November 25
| Golden State
| W 122–101
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 11–2
|-
| 14
| November 27
| Washington
| W 113–100
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 12–2
|-
| 15
| November 28
| @ Atlanta
| W 98–90
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 13–2
Boston Celtics December #FFFFFF #006400 6 0 3 5
|-
| 16
| December 1
| @ Indiana
| L 87–90
|
|
|
| Market Square Arena
| 13–3
|-
| 17
| December 2
| Detroit
| W 115–114
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 14–3
|-
| 18
| December 4
| Philadelphia
| W 111–103
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 15–3
|-
| 19
| December 5
| @ New York
| L 83–103
|
|
|
| Madison Square Garden
| 15–4
|-
| 20
| December 9
| New Jersey
| W 109–100
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 16–4
|-
| 21
| December 11
| Atlanta
| W 94–86
|
|
|
| Hartford Civic Center
| 17–4
|-
| 22
| December 12
| @ Atlanta
| L 97–108
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 17–5
|-
| 23
| December 16
| Dallas
| W 109–92
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 18–5
|-
| 24
| December 18
| @ Washington
| W 99–98
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 19–5
|-
| 25
| December 19
| @ Philadelphia
| L 118–123 (OT)
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 19–6
|-
| 26
| December 22
| Cleveland
| W 120–116
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 20–6
|-
| 27
| December 26
| @ Kansas City
| W 124–119 (OT)
|
|
|
| Kemper Arena
| 21–6
|-
| 28
| December 29
| @ Denver
| L 123–128
|
|
|
| McNichols Sports Arena
| 21–7
|-
| 29
| December 30
| @ Utah
| W 121–110
|
|
|
| Salt Palace Acord Arena
| 22–7
Boston Celtics January #FFFFFF #006400 5 3 5 1
|-
| 30
| January 2
| @ Cleveland
| W 106–103
|
|
|
| Richfield Coliseum
| 22–8
|-
| 31
| January 6
| Chicago
| L 102–116
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 23–8
|-
| 32
| January 8
| Philadelphia
| W 96–90
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 24–8
|-
| 33
| January 10
| Detroit
| W 134–124
|
|
|
| Hartford Civic Center
| 25–8
|-
| 34
| January 11
| @ New Jersey
| W 112–94
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 26–8
|-
| 35
| January 13
| Atlanta
| W 116–95
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 27–8
|-
| 36
| January 15
| @ Milwaukee
| L 118–122
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 27–9
|-
| 37
| January 16
| @ Detroit
| W 128–120
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 28–9
|-
| 38
| January 19
| @ New York
| W 111–107
|
|
|
| Madison Square Garden
| 29–9
|-
| 39
| January 20
| Indiana
| W 112–103
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 30–9
|-
| 40
| January 22
| Seattle
| L 106–118
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 30–10
|-
| 41
| January 24
| Portland
| L 119–123
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 30–11
|-
| 42
| January 27
| New York
| W 131–99
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 31–11
|-
| 43
| January 28
| @ Cleveland
| W 116–104
|
|
|
| Richfield Coliseum
| 32–11
Boston Celtics February #FFFFFF #006400 4 1 4 3
|-
| 44
| February 2
| @ Indiana
| W 109–105
|
|
|
| Market Square Arena
| 33–11
|-
| 45
| February 5
| Denver
| W 145–144
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 34–11
|-
| 46
| February 7
| Los Angeles
| L 113–119
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 34–12
|-
| 47
| February 10
| @ Phoenix
| L 110–112
|
|
|
| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
| 34–13
|-
| 48
| February 12
| @ San Diego
| W 129–116
|
|
|
| San Diego Sports Arena
| 35–13
|-
| 49
| February 14
| @ Los Angeles
| W 108–103
|
|
|
| The Forum
| 36–13
|-
| 50
| February 17
| @ Golden State
| L 105–121
|
|
|
| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
| 36–14
|-
| 51
| February 19
| @ Portland
| W 127–117
|
|
|
| Memorial Coliseum
| 37–14
|-
| 52
| February 21
| @ Seattle
| L 100–103
|
|
|
| Kingdome
| 37–15
|-
| 53
| February 24
| Utah
| W 132–90
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 38–15
|-
| 54
| February 26
| San Diego
| W 122–110
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 39–15
|-
| 55
| February 28
| Milwaukee
| W 106–102
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 40–15
Boston Celtics March #FFFFFF #006400 8 1 8 0
|-
| 56
| March 2
| @ Dallas
| W 101–97
|
|
|
| Reunion Arena
| 41–15
|-
| 58
| March 5
| @ Houston
| W 100–98
|
|
|
| The Summit
| 43–15
|-
| 59
| March 7
| New York
| W 107–106
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 44–15
|-
| 60
| March 8
| @ Detroit
| W 111–101
|
|
|
| Pontiac Silverdome
| 45–15
|-
| 61
| March 10
| Indiana
| W 121–100
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 46–15
|-
| 62
| March 12
| @ New Jersey
| W 113–109
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 47–15
|-
| 63
| March 14
| Phoenix
| W 105–92
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 48–15
|-
| 64
| March 16
| @ Washington
| W 98–97 (OT)
|
|
|
| Capital Centre
| 49–15
|-
| 65
| March 17
| Atlanta
| W 113–109
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 50–15
|-
| 67
| March 21
| @ Philadelphia
| W 123–111
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 52–15
|-
| 68
| March 23
| @ Chicago
| W 110–103
|
|
|
| Chicago Stadium
| 53–15
|-
| 69
| March 24
| Cleveland
| W 136–115
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 54–15
|-
| 70
| March 26
| Detroit
| W 125–104
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 55–15
|-
| 71
| March 28
| Philadelphia
| L 98–116
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 55–16
|-
| 72
| March 31
| Washington
| W 119–109
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 56–16
Boston Celtics April #FFFFFF #006400 4 0 3 3
|-
| 73
| April 2
| @ Atlanta
| W 110–107
|
|
|
| The Omni
| 57–16
|-
| 74
| April 4
| Chicago
| W 114–112
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 58–16
|-
| 75
| April 6
| @ Milwaukee
| L 116–122
|
|
|
| MECCA Arena
| 58–17
|-
| 76
| April 8
| @ New York
| W 110–106
|
|
|
| Madison Square Garden
| 59–17
|-
| 77
| April 9
| New Jersey
| W 106–103
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 60–17
|-
| 78
| April 11
| @ Philadelphia
| W 110–109 (OT)
|
|
|
| The Spectrum
| 61–17
|-
| 79
| April 13
| @ Chicago
| L 115–120
|
|
|
| Chicago Stadium
| 61–18
|-
| 80
| April 14
| Milwaukee
| W 100–91
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 62–18
|-
| 81
| April 16
| @ New Jersey
| L 96–113
|
|
|
| Brendan Byrne Arena
| 62–19
|-
| 82
| April 18
| New York
| W 119–99
|
|
|
| Boston Garden
| 63–19
BOS 1982
Playoffs
Boston Celtics 1982 yes #006400 #FFFFFF
Boston Celtics #008040 white Conference semifinals yes yes no 2 1 2 0
|-
| 1
| April 25
| Washington
| W 109–91
| M. L. Carr (21)
| Larry Bird (12)
| Tiny Archibald (7)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 1–0
|-
| 2
| April 28
| Washington
| L 102–103
| Larry Bird (26)
| Bird, Parish (10)
| Tiny Archibald (6)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 1–1
|-
| 3
| May 1
| @ Washington
| W 92–83
| Robert Parish (25)
| Parish, Archibald (13)
| Tiny Archibald (5)
| Capital Centre15,035
| 2–1
|-
| 4
| May 2
| @ Washington
| W 103–99 (OT)
| Robert Parish (28)
| Robert Parish (15)
| Tiny Archibald (4)
| Capital Centre16,295
| 3–1
|-
| 5
| May 5
| Washington
| W 131–126 (2OT)
| Robert Parish (33)
| Robert Parish (13)
| Tiny Archibald (11)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 4–1
|-
Boston Celtics #008040 white Conference finals yes no 2 2 1 2
|-
| 1
| May 9
| Philadelphia
| W 121–81
| Bird, Parish (24)
| Larry Bird (15)
| Larry Bird (10)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 1–0
|-
| 2
| May 12
| Philadelphia
| L 113–121
| Tiny Archibald (24)
| Larry Bird (14)
| Tiny Archibald (13)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 1–1
|-
| 3
| May 15
| @ Philadelphia
| L 97–99
| Cedric Maxwell (18)
| Larry Bird (13)
| Larry Bird (11)
| Spectrum18,364
| 1–2
|-
| 4
| May 16
| @ Philadelphia
| L 94–119
| Robert Parish (18)
| Larry Bird (9)
| Gerald Henderson (7)
| Spectrum18,364
| 1–3
|-
| 5
| May 19
| Philadelphia
| W 114–85
| Robert Parish (26)
| Larry Bird (20)
| Larry Bird (8)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 2–3
|-
| 6
| May 21
| @ Philadelphia
| W 88–75
| Kevin McHale (17)
| Larry Bird (17)
| Danny Ainge (7)
| Spectrum18,364
| 3–3
|-
| 7
| May 23
| Philadelphia
| L 106–120
| Robert Parish (23)
| Robert Parish (14)
| Larry Bird (9)
| Boston Garden15,320
| 3–4
|-
BOS 1982 yes
References
Awards and honors
Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
See also
1981–82 NBA season
Category:Boston Celtics seasons
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
Celtics
Celtics