1972–73 Boston Celtics season

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.

Playoffs

 * - 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

Awards, records and milestones

 * Most Valuable Player: Dave Cowens, Boston Celtics
 * Coach of the Year: Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics
 * All-NBA First Team:
 * John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
 * NBA All-Defensive Team:
 * First Team:
 * John Havlicek, Boston Celtics
 * Second Team:
 * Paul Silas, Boston Celtics
 * Don Chaney, Boston Celtics