The 1972–73 Boston Celtics season was their 27th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics finished the season with the best record in the league, and currently in franchise history, at 68–14. Third-year center Dave Cowens won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tiny Archibald. They also won the Atlantic Division for the second consecutive season.
In the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics lost to the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks in seven games.
See main article: 1972 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Paul Westphal | PG/SG | USC | |
| 2 | 27 | Dennis Wuycik | SF | North Carolina | |
| 3 | 44 | Wayne Grabiec | G | Michigan | |
| 4 | 61 | Nate Stephens | C | Long Beach State | |
| 5 | 77 | Bryan Adrian | G | Davidson | |
| 6 | 94 | Don Holcomb | C | Memphis | |
| 6 | 96 | Wally Rice | G | Widener | |
| 7 | 111 | Steve Previs | PG | North Carolina | |
| 8 | 127 | Sam McCamey | F | Oral Roberts | |
| 10 | 154 | Marty Hunt | G | Kenyon | |
| 11 | 165 | Mark Minor | SF | Ohio State | |
| 12 | 173 | Phil Stephens | C | South Carolina State | |
| 1972–73 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 3–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | |
| Baltimore | 4–3 | — | 1–5 | 5–1 | 0–4 | 8–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 7–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–4 | 7–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | |
| Buffalo | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–7 | — | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–6 | 7–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 3–4 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | |
| Cleveland | 4–3 | 0–8 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 4–3 | |
| Houston | 4–4 | 2–5 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 0–4 | 3–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | |
| Kansas City-Omaha | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | — | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Los Angeles | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 5–1 | — | 3–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 6–1 | 6–0 | 6–0 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 6–1 | 3–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | |
| New York | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 1–3 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–7 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–6 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | |
| Phoenix | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 5–2 | 4–2 | |
| Portland | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–5 | — | 3–4 | |
| Seattle | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 4–3 | — | |
| 1972–73 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 11 | 121–108 | John Havlicek (29) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 13 | 104–112 | John Havlicek (30) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 14 | 96–88 | John Havlicek (21) | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | October 17 | 119–115 | Dave Cowens (29) | 4–0 | ||
| 5 | October 20 | 118–126 | Dave Cowens (24) | 5–0 | ||
| 6 | October 21 | 104–101 | Jo Jo White (36) | 6–0 | ||
| 7 | October 23 | 85–105 | Dave Cowens (21) | 7–0 | ||
| 8 | October 24 | @ Buffalo | 105–97 | Jo Jo White (28) | 8–0 | |
| 9 | October 27 | 97–123 | Jo Jo White (20) | 9–0 | ||
| 10 | November 3 | Baltimore | 96–109 | Havlicek, White (22) | 10–0 | |
| 11 | November 4 | 118–107 | John Havlicek (36) | 10–1 | ||
| 12 | November 8 | 111–128 | John Havlicek (25) | 11–1 | ||
| 13 | November 10 | @ Buffalo | 106–104 | Jo Jo White (22) | 12–1 | |
| 14 | November 11 | Detroit | 118–121 | John Havlicek (37) | 13–1 | |
| 15 | November 15 | 94–113 | Dave Cowens (25) | 14–1 | ||
| 16 | November 17 | 95–88 | John Havlicek (30) | 14–2 | ||
| 17 | November 21 | @ Milwaukee | 116–102 | John Havlicek (27) | 15–2 | |
| 18 | November 22 | 107–126 | Dave Cowens (33) | 16–2 | ||
| 19 | November 24 | 97–114 | Dave Cowens (23) | 17–2 | ||
| 20 | November 25 | @ New York | 94–97 | John Havlicek (24) | 17–3 | |
| 21 | November 29 | 98–120 | John Havlicek (22) | 18–3 | ||
| 22 | December 1 | @ Philadelphia | 105–99 | Jo Jo White (31) | 19–3 | |
| 23 | December 2 | Philadelphia | 120–131 | Jo Jo White (30) | 20–3 | |
| 24 | December 8 | @ Cleveland | 96–87 | Dave Cowens (25) | 21–3 | |
| 25 | December 9 | Cleveland | 88–123 | John Havlicek (23) | 22–3 | |
| 26 | December 13 | @ Phoenix | 105–100 | Jo Jo White (26) | 23–3 | |
| 27 | December 15 | @ Los Angeles | 102–98 | Dave Cowens (31) | 24–3 | |
| 28 | December 16 | @ Portland | 123–116 | Dave Cowens (33) | 25–3 | |
| 29 | December 17 | @ Seattle | 123–98 | John Havlicek (27) | 26–3 | |
| 30 | December 19 | @ Golden State | 112–115 | Jo Jo White (30) | 26–4 | |
| 31 | December 22 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 118–90 | Dave Cowens (26) | 27–4 | |
| 32 | December 23 | @ Milwaukee | 98–104 | John Havlicek (24) | 27–5 | |
| 33 | December 26 | New York | 106–115 | Dave Cowens (38) | 28–5 | |
| 34 | December 29 | Chicago | 106–99 | Dave Cowens (27) | 28–6 | |
| 35 | December 30 | N Philadelphia | 107–117 | John Havlicek (28) | 29–6 | |
| 36 | January 2 | 130–110 | John Havlicek (25) | 30–6 | ||
| 37 | January 3 | @ Houston | 112–123 | John Havlicek (32) | 30–7 | |
| 38 | January 5 | @ Atlanta | 126–108 | John Havlicek (30) | 31–7 | |
| 39 | January 7 | N Baltimore | 116–98 | John Havlicek (33) | 32–7 | |
| 40 | January 10 | Houston | 107–128 | John Havlicek (22) | 33–7 | |
| 41 | January 12 | Atlanta | 109–133 | John Havlicek (25) | 34–7 | |
| 42 | January 13 | @ Philadelphia | 111–95 | Jo Jo White (29) | 35–7 | |
| 43 | January 16 | @ Buffalo | 106–102 | John Havlicek (33) | 36–7 | |
| 44 | January 17 | Portland | 99–117 | Dave Cowens (35) | 37–7 | |
| 45 | January 19 | Seattle | 104–124 | Jo Jo White (33) | 38–7 | |
| 46 | January 21 | Buffalo | 97–104 | John Havlicek (26) | 39–7 | |
| 47 | January 26 | Houston | 126–139 | Dave Cowens (24) | 40–7 | |
| 48 | January 27 | @ New York | 108–111 | John Havlicek (25) | 40–8 | |
| 49 | January 28 | New York | 96–93 | John Havlicek (25) | 40–9 | |
| 50 | January 31 | Cleveland | 89–94 | Don Chaney (26) | 41–9 | |
| 51 | February 2 | Atlanta | 100–99 | John Havlicek (30) | 41–10 | |
| 52 | February 3 | @ Philadelphia | 104–100 | Jo Jo White (20) | 42–10 | |
| 53 | February 4 | Philadelphia | 115–123 | Jo Jo White (38) | 43–10 | |
| 54 | February 6 | @ Cleveland | 105–110 | Don Nelson (30) | 43–11 | |
| 55 | February 7 | Los Angeles | 112–113 (OT) | Dave Cowens (34) | 44–11 | |
| 56 | February 9 | Detroit | 104–95 | Jo Jo White (24) | 44–12 | |
| 57 | February 11 | Milwaukee | 96–120 | Dave Cowens (28) | 45–12 | |
| 58 | February 13 | @ Chicago | 105–101 | John Havlicek (31) | 46–12 | |
| 59 | February 14 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 104–101 | John Havlicek (28) | 47–12 | |
| 60 | February 16 | @ Portland | 112–105 | Jo Jo White (36) | 48–12 | |
| 61 | February 17 | @ Golden State | 110–106 | John Havlicek (33) | 49–12 | |
| 62 | February 18 | @ Seattle | 106–105 | Jo Jo White (26) | 50–12 | |
| 63 | February 20 | Phoenix | 97–107 | John Havlicek (26) | 51–12 | |
| 64 | February 25 | @ Cleveland | 105–92 | Dave Cowens (22) | 52–12 | |
| 65 | February 27 | @ New York | 91–123 | Don Chaney (18) | 52–13 | |
| 66 | February 28 | Golden State | 111–118 | Don Chaney (32) | 53–13 | |
| 67 | March 2 | @ Detroit | 115–101 | Jo Jo White (25) | 54–13 | |
| 68 | March 4 | Buffalo | 113–125 | Paul Silas (26) | 55–13 | |
| 69 | March 6 | @ Buffalo | 127–112 | Havlicek, White (25) | 56–13 | |
| 70 | March 8 | @ Phoenix | 141–134 (OT) | Dave Cowens (32) | 57–13 | |
| 71 | March 9 | @ Los Angeles | 119–111 | Dave Cowens (34) | 58–13 | |
| 72 | March 11 | New York | 107–122 | John Havlicek (32) | 59–13 | |
| 73 | March 14 | Baltimore | 107–111 | Havlicek, White (27) | 60–13 | |
| 74 | March 16 | @ Baltimore | 97–103 | Dave Cowens (23) | 60–14 | |
| 75 | March 18 | Kansas City–Omaha | 105–109 | John Havlicek (28) | 61–14 | |
| 76 | March 20 | N Houston | 89–94 | John Havlicek (28) | 62–14 | |
| 77 | March 21 | Chicago | 105–106 | John Havlicek (27) | 63–14 | |
| 78 | March 23 | Atlanta | 108–124 | Don Chaney (22) | 64–14 | |
| 79 | March 24 | @ New York | 108–103 | Dave Cowens (29) | 65–14 | |
| 80 | March 25 | @ Houston | 125–121 | Dave Cowens (28) | 66–14 | |
| 81 | March 27 | @ Atlanta | 117–110 | John Havlicek (29) | 67–14 | |
| 82 | March 28 | Baltimore | 101–120 | John Havlicek (34) | 68–14 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 1| Atlanta| W 134–109| John Havlicek (54)| Dave Cowens (17)| Art Williams (12)| Boston Garden
11,907| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 4| @ Atlanta| W 126–113| John Havlicek (29)| Dave Cowens (25)| Jo Jo White (11)| Omni Coliseum
11,588| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 6| Atlanta| L 105–118| Jo Jo White (23)| Dave Cowens (18)| Jo Jo White (10)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 8| @ Atlanta| L 94–97| John Havlicek (21)| Paul Silas (22)| John Havlicek (5)| Omni Coliseum
11,675| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 11| Atlanta| W 108–101| John Havlicek (32)| Dave Cowens (20)| John Havlicek (11)| Boston Garden
12,525| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 13| @ Atlanta| W 121–103| Jo Jo White (33)| Paul Silas (17)| Jo Jo White (7)| Omni Coliseum
16,181| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 15| New York| W 134–108| Jo Jo White (30)| Dave Cowens (15)| John Havlicek (11)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 18| @ New York| L 96–129| John Havlicek (21)| Dave Cowens (13)| John Havlicek (11)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 20| New York| L 91–98| John Havlicek (29)| Paul Silas (14)| John Havlicek (6)| Boston Garden
15,320| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 22| @ New York| L 110–117 (2OT)| Jo Jo White (34)| Paul Silas (23)| Jo Jo White (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 25| New York| W 98–97| Dave Cowens (32)| Paul Silas (20)| Jo Jo White (7)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 27| @ New York| W 110–100| Dave Cowens (26)| Dave Cowens (14)| Jo Jo White (7)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 29| New York| L 78–94| Dave Cowens (24)| Paul Silas (16)| Dave Cowens (5)| Boston Garden
15,320| 3–4|-