1971–72 Boston Celtics season

The 1971–72 NBA season was the Celtics' 26th season in the NBA. The Celtics qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 3 seasons, and won the Atlantic Division for the 1st time in franchise history. The Celtics had the fifth best team defensive rating and the fifth best team offensive rating in the NBA.

Tom Heinsohn, a Celtics legend as a player, led the club in his third season as head coach. The team made its first postseason without Bill Russell since 1956, and would advance to their first conference finals before falling to the eventual runners-up and rivals New York Knicks in a five-game series.

Regular season

 * z = clinched division title
 * y = clinched division title
 * x = clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * March 29
 * Atlanta
 * W 126–108
 * John Havlicek (32)
 * Dave Cowens (16)
 * John Havlicek (10)
 * Boston Garden 12,815
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * March 31
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 104–113
 * John Havlicek (43)
 * Dave Cowens (12)
 * John Havlicek (4)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 6,955
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 2
 * Atlanta
 * W 136–113
 * John Havlicek (31)
 * Cowens, Finkel (11)
 * Jo Jo White (11)
 * Boston Garden 12,094
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 4
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 110–112
 * Jo Jo White (32)
 * Steve Kuberski (13)
 * John Havlicek (5)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 7,192
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * April 7
 * Atlanta
 * W 124–114
 * John Havlicek (27)
 * Dave Cowens (12)
 * John Havlicek (9)
 * Boston Garden 15,315
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * April 9
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 127–118
 * Havlicek, Cowens (26)
 * Dave Cowens (20)
 * Jo Jo White (9)
 * Alexander Memorial Coliseum 7,192
 * 4–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 13
 * New York
 * L 94–116
 * Jo Jo White (19)
 * Dave Cowens (15)
 * Jo Jo White (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,292
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 16
 * @ New York
 * L 105–106
 * John Havlicek (29)
 * Dave Cowens (18)
 * John Havlicek (6)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,588
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 19
 * New York
 * W 115–109
 * Jo Jo White (29)
 * Dave Cowens (16)
 * John Havlicek (11)
 * Boston Garden 15,315
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 21
 * @ New York
 * L 98–116
 * John Havlicek (27)
 * Havlicek, Nelson (9)
 * John Havlicek (6)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,588
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * April 23
 * New York
 * L 103–111
 * John Havlicek (32)
 * Dave Cowens (15)
 * Jo Jo White (9)
 * Boston Garden 15,315
 * 1–4

Awards and records

 * John Havlicek, All-NBA First Team
 * John Havlicek, NBA All-Defensive First Team
 * Don Chaney, NBA All-Defensive Second Team