1965–66 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season (won championship) August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics yes 1966 54 26 Eastern 2 Red Auerbach Boston Garden WHDH-TV WHDH NBA champions(Defeated Lakers 4–3) BOS The 1965–66 Boston Celtics season was their 20th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On October 29, 1965, Sam Jones set a Celtics single-game scoring record with 51, against the Detroit Pistons. His record would last until Larry Bird's 53 in 1983. The Celtics won their 8th title in a row, which still stands as a record for the most titles in a row. The Celtics defeated the Lakers 4 games to 3. This also marked the final season Red Auerbach coached the Celtics, though his duties with the team only expanded as general manager in the following seasons; he would remain involved with the team in some form until his death 40 years later. 1966 NBA finals The 1965-1966 NBA Finals was a close seven-game series between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics entered the series as the favorites, having won the championship the previous year and boasting a strong roster led by Hall of Famers Bill Russell, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones. The Lakers were also led by two Hall of Fame players, that being Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The series began with a closely contested game one, which the Lakers won by a score of 133–129 in overtime.2011-08-17 NBA.com NBA.com http://www.nba.com/home/index.html 2023-04-18 2011-08-15 https://web.archive.org/web/20110815013610/http://www.nba.com/home/index.html bot: unknown The Celtics bounced back in game two, with a 129–123 victory that featured standout performances from Russell and Jones. The series continued in this back-and-forth fashion, with each team trading wins and delivering memorable moments. In game five, Russell had one of the greatest performances in NBA Finals history, recording 32 points and 30 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 129–96 victory. The Lakers responded in game six, with Baylor scoring 41 points in a 120–118 win that forced a decisive game seven. Game seven was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away. In the end, it was the Celtics who emerged victorious, thanks in large part to the heroics of Havlicek. With the score tied at 100-100 and just seconds remaining, Havlicek stole an inbound pass from the Lakers and scored the game-winning basket with five seconds left on the clock. The Celtics won the game 95-93 and secured their eighth championship in ten years. The 1965-1966 NBA Finals are a classic series between two of the most influential teams in basketball history. The Celtics and Lakers would meet again in the Finals several times over the years, but this series remains one of the most significant in the history of the NBA. Offseason Draft picks Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 8 Ollie Johnson SF San Francisco Roster Boston Celtics 1965–66 21 Ron Bonham SG 6 5 192 1942-05-31 University of Cincinnati 11 Mel Counts C 7 0 230 1941-10-16 Oregon State University 28 Si Green G/F 6 2 185 1933-08-20 Duquesne University 17 John Havlicek SF 6 5 203 1940-04-08 Ohio State 25 K. C. Jones PG 6 1 200 1932-05-25 University of San Francisco 24 Sam Jones basketball, born 1933 SG 6 4 198 1933-06-24 North Carolina Central 12 Willie Naulls SF 6 6 225 1934-10-07 University of California, Los Angeles 19 Don Nelson SF 6 6 210 1940-05-15 Iowa 6 Bill Russell C 6 9 215 1934-02-12 San Francisco 16 Satch Sanders PF 6 6 210 1938-11-08 NYU 18 Woody Sauldsberry PF 6 7 220 1934-07-11 Texas Southern University 20 Larry Siegfried PG 6 3 190 1939-05-22 Ohio State 5 John Thompson basketball C 6 10 225 1941-09-02 Providence College 12 Ron Watts F 6 6 210 1943-05-21 Wake Forest University Red Auerbach Regular season Season standings BOS Game log Several of the Celtics games were played in neutral sites, such as Providence, Rhode Island. The games in Providence occurred on November 9 and 26, December 30, February 10 and March 4. Games were also played in Fort Wayne, Indiana (against Detroit on January 27) and in Syracuse, New York (against Philadelphia on February 12) and Memphis, Tennessee (against St. Louis on March 7).1965-66 Boston Celtics Schedule https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1966_games.html 2025-03-19 Basketball-Reference.com en background:#008040; color:white 1965–66 game log y background:#008040; color:white October Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 1 || October 16 || Cincinnati Royals || 102–98 || Boston Garden|| 1–0 |- | 2 || October 20 || Los Angeles Lakers || 100–96 || Boston Garden ||2–0 |- | 3 || October 23|| @ St. Louis Hawks || 110–120 || St. Louis Arena || 2–1 |- | 4 || October 28 || @ Cincinnati Royals || 108–113 || Cincinnati || 2–2 |- | 5 || October 29 || @ Detroit Pistons || 106–108 || Detroit || 2–3 |- | 6 || October 31 || Baltimore Bullets || 105–100 || Boston Garden || 3–3 |- y background:#008040; color:white November Game Date Opponent Score Location Record |- | 7 || November 5 || @ Baltimore Bullets || 129–118 || Baltimore || 4–3 |- | 8 || November 6 || Philadelphia 76ers || 101–91 || Boston Garden || 5–3 |- | 9 || November 9 || Baltimore Bullets || 130–116 || Providence || 6–3 |- | 10 || November 11|| St. Louis Hawks || 87–83 || Boston Garden || 7–3 |- | 11 || November 12 || @ Philadelphia 76ers || 114–123 || Convention Hall || 7–4 |- | 12 || November 13|| Detroit Pistons || 122–93 || Boston Garden || 8–4 |- | 13 || November 16|| @ San Francisco Warriors || 108–105 || San Francisco || 9–4 |- | 14 || November 17|| @ Los Angeles Lakers || 115–125 || Los Angeles || 9–5 |- | 15 || November 19|| Cincinnati Royals || 129–103 || Boston Garden || 10–5 |- | 16 || November 20|| @ New York Knicks || 122–108 || Madison Square Garden || 11–5 |- | 17 || November 24|| New York Knicks || 125–110 || Boston Garden || 12–5 |- | 18 || November 26|| Detroit Pistons || 134–114 || Providence || 13–5 |- | 19 || November 27|| Los Angeles Lakers || 101–95 || Boston Garden || 14–5 |- y background:#008040; color:white December Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- | 20 || December 3|| Philadelphia 76ers || 103–119 || Boston Garden || 14–6 |- | 21 || December 4|| @ St. Louis Hawks || 100–94 || St. Louis Arena || 15–6 |- | 22 || December 5|| @ Cincinnati Royals || 99–108 || Cincinnati || 15–7 |- | 23 || December 7|| St. Louis Hawks || 112–96 || New York, NY || 16–7 |- | 24 || December 8|| Los Angeles Lakers || 108–106 || Boston Garden || 17–7 |- | 25 || December 11|| San Francisco Warriors || 143–106 || Boston Garden || 18–7 |- | 26 || December 15|| Cincinnati Royals || 110–117 || Boston Garden|| 18–8 |- | 27 || December 17|| @ Detroit Pistons || 114–112 || Detroit || 19–8 |- | 28 || December 22|| New York Knickerbockers || 123–120 || Boston Garden || 20–8 |- | 29 || December 25|| @ Baltimore Bullets || 113–99 || Baltimore || 21–8 |- | 30 || December 26|| Baltimore Bullets || 120–99 || Baltimore || 22–8 |- | 31 || December 28|| @ Philadelphia 76ers || 93–102 || Baltimore || 22–9 |- | 32 || December 29|| @ New York Knicks || 99–96 || Madison Square Garden || 23–9 |- | 33 || December 30|| San Francisco Warriors || 116–113 || Providence || 24–9 |- y background:#008040; color:white January Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- | 34 || January 1|| @ St. Louis Hawks || 98–100 || St. Louis Arena || 24–10 |- | 35 || January 2|| @ Los Angeles Lakers || 124–113 || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena || 25–10 |- | 36 || January 5|| @ Los Angeles Lakers || 113–120 || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena || 25–11 |- | 37 || January 7|| @ San Francisco Warriors || 115–114 || San Francisco Civic Auditorium || 26–11 |- | 38 || January 8|| @ San Francisco Warriors || 124–96 || San Francisco Civic Auditorium || 27–11 |- | 39 || January 12|| Los Angeles Lakers || 114–102 || Boston Garden || 28–11 |- | 40 || January 14|| @ Philadelphia 76ers || 100–112 || Convention Hall || 28–12 |- | 41 || January 16|| Philadelphia 76ers || 137–122 || Boston Garden || 29–12 |- | 42 || January 18|| Detroit Pistons || 115–116 || Philadelphia || 29–13 |- | 43 || January 19|| Baltimore Bullets || 129–89 || Boston Garden || 30–13 |- | 44 || January 21|| Cincinnati Royals || 113–96 || Boston Garden || 31–13 |- | 45 || January 22|| @ Baltimore Bullets || 107–132 || Baltimore Civic Center || 31–14 |- | 46 || January 25|| @ Cincinnati Royals || 101–113 || Cincinnati Gardens || 31–15 |- | 47 || January 27|| Detroit Pistons || 131–112 || Fort Wayne, IN || 32–15 |- | 48 || January 28|| Detroit Pistons || 105–108 || Boston Garden || 32–16 |- | 49 || January 29|| @ New York Knickerbockers || 119–107 || Madison Square Garden || 33–16 |- | 50 || January 30|| New York Knickerbockers || 118–115 || Boston Garden || 34–16 |- y background:#008040; color:white February Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- | 51 || February 1|| Detroit Pistons || 100–81 || New York || 35–16 |- | 52 || February 2|| @ Detroit Pistons || 93–99 || Cobo Arena || 35–17 |- | 53 || February 4|| St. Louis Hawks || 117–95 || Boston Garden || 36–17 |- | 54 || February 5|| @ Baltimore Bullets || 94–113 || Baltimore Civic Center || 36–18 |- | 55 || February 6|| Philadelphia 76ers || 100–99 || Boston Garden || 37–18 |- | 56 || February 7|| San Francisco Warriors || 112–107 || Philadelphia || 38–18 |- | 57 || February 9|| New York Knicks || 121–117 || Boston Garden || 39–18 |- | 58 || February 10|| San Francisco Warriors || 117–128 || Providence, RI || 39–19 |- | 59 || February 11|| San Francisco Warriors || 99–96 || Boston Garden || 40–19 |- | 60 || February 12|| Philadelphia 76ers || 85–83 || Syracuse, NY || 41–19 |- | 61 || February 13|| Los Angeles Lakers || 110–120 || Boston Garden || 41–20 |- | 62 || February 15|| @ Cincinnati Royals || 123–136 || Cincinnati Gardens || 41–21 |- | 63 || February 18|| @ San Francisco Warriors || 106–128 || San Francisco Civic Auditorium|| 41–22 |- | 64 || February 19|| @ Los Angeles Lakers || 115–111 || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|| 42–22 |- | 65 || February 21|| @ Los Angeles Lakers || 115–108 || Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena|| 43–22 |- | 66 || February 22|| @ San Francisco Warriors || 116–108 || San Francisco Civic Auditorium|| 44–22 |- | 67 || February 24|| St. Louis Hawks || 134–106 || Boston Garden|| 45–22 |- | 68 || February 26|| @ New York Knicks || 100–95 || Madison Square Garden|| 46–22 |- | 69 || February 27|| @ Baltimore Bullets || 92–132 || Baltimore Civic Center || 46–23 |- y background:#008040; color:white March Game Date Opponent Score Location/Attendance Record |- | 70 || March 1|| @ St. Louis Hawks || 120–95 || Kiel Auditorium|| 47–23 |- | 71 || March 2|| New York Knickerbockers || 140–104 || Boston Garden|| 48–23 |- | 72 || March 4|| St. Louis Hawks || 112–132 || Providence, RI|| 48–24 |- | 73 || March 5|| @ Philadelphia 76ers || 85–102 || Convention Hall|| 48–25 |- | 74 || March 6|| Philadelphia 76ers || 110–113 || Boston Garden|| 48–26 |- | 75 || March 7|| St. Louis Hawks || 106–104 || Memphis, TN|| 49–26 |- | 76 || March 10|| @ Cincinnati Royals || 124–120 || Cincinnati Gardens || 50–26 |- | 77 || March 13|| Baltimore Bullets || 129–98 || Boston Garden || 51–26 |- | 78 || March 17|| @ Detroit Pistons || 128–103 || Cobo Arena || 52–26 |- | 79 || March 19|| @ New York Knicks || 126–113 || Madison Square Garden || 53–26 |- | 80 || March 20|| Cincinnati Royals || 121–104 || Boston Garden || 54–26 |- |- | 1965–66 Schedule Playoffs Boston Celtics 1966 yes Boston Celtics #008040 white Division Semifinals yes yes no 1 2 2 0 |- | 1 | March 23 | Cincinnati | L 103–107 | Bill Russell (22) | Bill Russell (29) | Russell, Havlicek (4) | Boston Garden9,510 | 0–1 |- | 2 | March 26 | @ Cincinnati | W 132–125 | Sam Jones (42) | Bill Russell (16) | K. C. Jones (9) | Cincinnati Gardens10,027 | 1–1 |- | 3 | March 27 | Cincinnati | L 107–113 | John Havlicek (36) | Bill Russell (25) | K. C. Jones (6) | Boston Garden13,571 | 1–2 |- | 4 | March 30 | @ Cincinnati | W 120–103 | Sam Jones (32) | Bill Russell (26) | John Havlicek (8) | Cincinnati Gardens12,107 | 2–2 |- | 5 | April 1 | Cincinnati | W 112–103 | Sam Jones (34) | Bill Russell (31) | Bill Russell (11) | Boston Garden13,909 | 3–2 |- Boston Celtics #008040 white Division Finals yes no 2 0 2 1 |- | 1 | April 3 | @ Philadelphia | W 115–96 | Sam Jones (29) | Bill Russell (18) | three players tied (4) | Municipal Auditorium6,563 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 6 | Philadelphia | W 114–93 | Sam Jones (23) | Bill Russell (29) | K. C. Jones (11) | Boston Garden13,909 | 2–0 |- | 3 | April 7 | @ Philadelphia | L 105–111 | John Havlicek (27) | Bill Russell (23) | Sam Jones (6) | Municipal Auditorium10,454 | 2–1 |- | 4 | April 10 | Philadelphia | W 114–108 (OT) | John Havlicek (27) | Bill Russell (30) | Russell, Havlicek (7) | Boston Garden13,909 | 3–1 |- | 5 | April 12 | @ Philadelphia | W 120–112 | John Havlicek (32) | Bill Russell (31) | Bill Russell (6) | Municipal Auditorium8,623 | 4–1 |- Boston Celtics #008040 white NBA Finals yes no 2 2 2 1 |- | 1 | April 17 | Los Angeles | L 129–133 (OT) | Bill Russell (28) | Bill Russell (26) | Sam Jones (9) | Boston Garden13,909 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 19 | Los Angeles | W 129–109 | Havlicek, S. Jones (21) | Bill Russell (24) | John Havlicek (7) | Boston Garden13,909 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 20 | @ Los Angeles | W 120–106 | Sam Jones (36) | Bill Russell (19) | Sanders, K. C. Jones (5) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena15,101 | 2–1 |- | 4 | April 22 | @ Los Angeles | W 122–117 | John Havlicek (32) | Bill Russell (18) | Larry Siegfried (7) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena15,251 | 3–1 |- | 5 | April 24 | Los Angeles | L 117–121 | Bill Russell (32) | Bill Russell (28) | Siegfried, K. C. Jones (6) | Boston Garden13,909 | 3–2 |- | 6 | April 26 | @ Los Angeles | L 115–123 | John Havlicek (27) | Bill Russell (23) | K. C. Jones (6) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena15,069 | 3–3 |- | 7 | April 28 | Los Angeles | W 95–93 | Bill Russell (25) | Bill Russell (32) | Sanders, K. C. Jones (3) | Boston Garden13,909 | 4–3 |- BOS yes 1966 Awards, records and milestones Awards John Havlicek, All-NBA Second Team Sam Jones, All-NBA Second Team Bill Russell, All-NBA Second Team References 2 Celtics on Database Basketball Celtics on Basketball Reference Category:Boston Celtics seasons Category:NBA championship seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Category:1960s in Boston