The 1973–74 Boston Celtics season was their 28th in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics won their 12th title, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a seven-game series. The Celtics also won their division for the third consecutive season. This was their 13th finals appearance, and first since 1968–69.
| 1973–74 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CAP | CHI | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | KCO | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | – | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 5–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | |
| Boston | 5–1 | – | 5–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 7–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | |
| Buffalo | 4–2 | 2–5 | – | 3–3 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| Capital | 4–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–3 | 6–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 4–0 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 5–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | |
| Cleveland | 3–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–6 | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–5 | 2–2 | – | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–5 | – | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 3–3 | |
| Houston | 2–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–4 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | |
| Kansas City-Omaha | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–5 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | |
| Los Angeles | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 5–1 | – | 4–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–3 | 4–3 | |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 7–0 | 2–4 | – | 2–2 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | |
| New York | 5–1 | 2–5 | 4–4 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | – | 4–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 1–7 | 1–6 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–4 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | |
| Phoenix | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 2–5 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 3–3 | 4–3 | |
| Portland | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | |
| Seattle | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–4 | 3–3 | — | |
| 1973–74 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 12 | 112–118 | Paul Silas (31) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 13 | 111–106 | Jo Jo White (33) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 19 | Philadelphia | 102–133 | Steve Kuberski (21) | 3–0 | |
| 4 | October 20 | 87–96 | Dave Cowens (19) | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | October 24 | 132–117 | Jo Jo White (33) | 3–2 | ||
| 6 | October 26 | 101–113 | John Havlicek (34) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 28 | 99–102 | John Havlicek (25) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | October 31 | Cleveland | 110–128 | Cowens, White (21) | 5–3 | |
| 9 | November 2 | 105–108 | Dave Cowens (25) | 6–3 | ||
| 10 | November 3 | 122–109 | John Havlicek (30) | 7–3 | ||
| 11 | November 8 | @ New York | 94–84 | John Havlicek (20) | 8–3 | |
| 12 | November 9 | 107–122 | Jo Jo White (25) | 9–3 | ||
| 13 | November 10 | 97–102 | John Havlicek (32) | 10–3 | ||
| 14 | November 14 | 104–110 | Jo Jo White (28) | 11–3 | ||
| 15 | November 16 | 90–105 | Dave Cowens (26) | 12–3 | ||
| 16 | November 17 | 123–110 | Jo Jo White (30) | 13–3 | ||
| 17 | November 23 | Kansas City–Omaha | 102–119 | John Havlicek (25) | 14–3 | |
| 18 | November 25 | @ Cleveland | 107–101 | John Havlicek (25) | 15–3 | |
| 19 | November 28 | Capital | 104–111 | John Havlicek (24) | 16–3 | |
| 20 | November 30 | @ Milwaukee | 93–117 | Dave Cowens (22) | 16–4 | |
| 21 | December 1 | 98–120 | John Havlicek (29) | 17–4 | ||
| 22 | December 5 | New York | 97–119 | John Havlicek (25) | 18–4 | |
| 23 | December 7 | Atlanta | 112–116 | Cowens, Havlicek (24) | 19–4 | |
| 24 | December 8 | @ Chicago | 95–112 | Cowens, Kuberski (13) | 19–5 | |
| 25 | December 9 | N Buffalo | 114–118 | Jo Jo White (37) | 20–5 | |
| 26 | December 12 | N Buffalo | 119–126 | Jo Jo White (32) | 21–5 | |
| 27 | December 14 | @ Houston | 114–106 | John Havlicek (31) | 22–5 | |
| 28 | December 15 | @ Phoenix | 120–121 | Dave Cowens (21) | 22–6 | |
| 29 | December 16 | 115–110 | Dave Cowens (35) | 23–6 | ||
| 30 | December 18 | @ Golden State | 125–106 | Jo Jo White (28) | 24–6 | |
| 31 | December 21 | 124–120 (OT) | Dave Cowens (27) | 25–6 | ||
| 32 | December 23 | @ Seattle | 96–95 | John Havlicek (22) | 26–6 | |
| 33 | December 26 | @ Buffalo | 125–123 | John Havlicek (27) | 27–6 | |
| 34 | December 29 | N Cleveland | 92–111 | John Havlicek (19) | 28–6 | |
| 35 | December 31 | Philadelphia | 97–106 | Dave Cowens (23) | 29–6 | |
| 36 | January 2 | @ Kansas City–Omaha | 97–109 | Jo Jo White (22) | 29–7 | |
| 37 | January 4 | @ Detroit | 101–106 | Jo Jo White (32) | 29–8 | |
| 38 | January 5 | N Philadelphia | 102–108 (OT) | John Havlicek (30) | 30–8 | |
| 39 | January 9 | Chicago | 89–106 | Don Nelson (24) | 31–8 | |
| 40 | January 11 | Los Angeles | 111–103 | John Havlicek (26) | 31–9 | |
| 41 | January 13 | @ Atlanta | 128–105 | Dave Cowens (29) | 32–9 | |
| 42 | January 18 | Atlanta | 94–98 | John Havlicek (26) | 33–9 | |
| 43 | January 20 | Golden State | 123–102 | Dave Cowens (24) | 33–10 | |
| 44 | January 23 | Seattle | 98–97 | Dave Cowens (32) | 33–11 | |
| 45 | January 25 | Philadelphia | 97–112 | John Havlicek (24) | 34–11 | |
| 46 | January 27 | Kansas City–Omaha | 98–119 | Havlicek, White (16) | 35–11 | |
| 47 | January 29 | @ New York | 83–104 | Dave Cowens (21) | 35–12 | |
| 48 | January 30 | Cleveland | 108–120 | Jo Jo White (27) | 36–12 | |
| 49 | February 1 | N Philadelphia | 105–106 | John Havlicek (30) | 37–12 | |
| 50 | February 3 | Capital | 112–99 | Jo Jo White (26) | 37–13 | |
| 51 | February 5 | @ Chicago | 98–100 | Jo Jo White (29) | 37–14 | |
| 52 | February 6 | @ Milwaukee | 105–104 | Dave Cowens (28) | 38–14 | |
| 53 | February 8 | New York | 97–125 | Jo Jo White (30) | 39–14 | |
| 54 | February 10 | N Milwaukee | 95–86 | Dave Cowens (20) | 39–15 | |
| 55 | February 12 | @ Golden State | 107–102 | John Havlicek (34) | 40–15 | |
| 56 | February 13 | @ Seattle | 100–118 | John Havlicek (20) | 40–16 | |
| 57 | February 15 | @ Portland | 106–104 | Jo Jo White (28) | 41–16 | |
| 58 | February 17 | @ Capital | 95–99 | Jo Jo White (23) | 41–17 | |
| 59 | February 19 | Detroit | 97–107 | John Havlicek (31) | 42–17 | |
| 60 | February 22 | @ Buffalo | 116–109 | John Havlicek (31) | 43–17 | |
| 61 | February 24 | N Atlanta | 111–96 | John Havlicek (32) | 44–17 | |
| 62 | February 26 | @ Detroit | 86–83 | John Havlicek (26) | 45–17 | |
| 63 | February 27 | N Buffalo | 122–104 | Dave Cowens (23) | 45–18 | |
| 64 | March 1 | @ Buffalo | 94–110 | Dave Cowens (18) | 45–19 | |
| 65 | March 2 | @ New York | 104–88 | Don Chaney (26) | 46–19 | |
| 66 | March 3 | New York | 108–102 (OT) | Don Nelson (29) | 46–20 | |
| 67 | March 6 | @ Los Angeles | 111–116 | Paul Westphal (26) | 46–21 | |
| 68 | March 7 | @ Phoenix | 99–97 | Paul Silas (21) | 47–21 | |
| 69 | March 8 | @ Houston | 106–113 | Jo Jo White (30) | 47–22 | |
| 70 | March 10 | Los Angeles | 82–94 | Dave Cowens (24) | 48–22 | |
| 71 | March 12 | N Portland | 93–110 | John Havlicek (27) | 49–22 | |
| 72 | March 13 | Phoenix | 97–104 | John Havlicek (22) | 50–22 | |
| 73 | March 15 | @ Cleveland | 103–104 | John Havlicek (28) | 50–23 | |
| 74 | March 16 | @ Philadelphia | 146–127 | John Havlicek (28) | 51–23 | |
| 75 | March 17 | Capital | 103–129 | John Havlicek (29) | 52–23 | |
| 76 | March 19 | @ Houston | 110–107 | John Havlicek (23) | 53–23 | |
| 77 | March 20 | @ Atlanta | 89–99 | John Havlicek (34) | 53–24 | |
| 78 | March 22 | Portland | 118–126 | John Havlicek (22) | 54–24 | |
| 79 | March 23 | N Houston | 105–108 | John Havlicek (25) | 55–24 | |
| 80 | March 24 | Houston | 106–109 (OT) | Jo Jo White (35) | 56–24 | |
| 81 | March 26 | @ Capital | 108–126 | Paul Westphal (28) | 56–25 | |
| 82 | March 27 | @ Philadelphia | 108–117 | Cowens, White (22) | 56–26 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 30| Buffalo| W 107–97| Jo Jo White (24)| Dave Cowens (18)| John Havlicek (12)| Boston Garden
14,300| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 2| @ Buffalo| L 105–115| Jo Jo White (27)| Dave Cowens (16)| John Havlicek (7)| Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
17,507| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 3| Buffalo| W 120–107| John Havlicek (43)| Dave Cowens (19)| John Havlicek (8)| Boston Garden
14,656| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 6| @ Buffalo| L 102–104| Don Nelson (24)| Dave Cowens (14)| John Havlicek (8)| Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
18,119| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 9| Buffalo| W 100–97| John Havlicek (25)| Dave Cowens (12)| Art Williams (8)| Boston Garden
15,320| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 12| @ Buffalo| W 106–104| John Havlicek (30)| Dave Cowens (17)| John Havlicek (7)| Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
18,257| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 14| New York| W 113–88| John Havlicek (25)| Dave Cowens (13)| John Havlicek (12)| Boston Garden
14,101| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| April 16| @ New York| W 111–99| John Havlicek (27)| Dave Cowens (18)| Jo Jo White (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 19| New York| L 100–103| Dave Cowens (28)| Dave Cowens (22)| Art Williams (5)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 21| @ New York| W 98–91| John Havlicek (36)| Paul Silas (14)| Jo Jo White (9)| Madison Square Garden
19,694| 3–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 24| New York| W 105–94| John Havlicek (33)| Dave Cowens (14)| John Havlicek (5)| Boston Garden
15,320| 4–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 28| @ Milwaukee| W 98–83| John Havlicek (26)| Dave Cowens (17)| Cowens, White (7)| Milwaukee Arena
10,938| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 30| @ Milwaukee| L 96–105 (OT)| Jo Jo White (25)| Dave Cowens (11)| Dave Cowens (6)| Milwaukee Arena
10,938| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| May 3| Milwaukee| W 95–83| Dave Cowens (30)| John Havlicek (12)| Jo Jo White (8)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| May 5| Milwaukee| L 89–97| John Havlicek (33)| Paul Silas (12)| Jo Jo White (9)| Boston Garden
15,320| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| May 7| @ Milwaukee| W 96–87| Havlicek, Cowens (28)| Paul Silas (16)| Dave Cowens (6)| Milwaukee Arena
10,938| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| May 10| Milwaukee| L 101–102 (2OT)| John Havlicek (36)| Havlicek, Silas (9)| Jo Jo White (11)| Boston Garden
15,320| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| May 12| @ Milwaukee| W 102–87| Dave Cowens (28)| Dave Cowens (14)| Havlicek, Westphal (6)| Milwaukee Arena
10,938| 4–3|-