1983–84 Boston Celtics season

The 1983–84 Boston Celtics were champions of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the 15th time in franchise history, led by regular season and finals MVP Larry Bird.

In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Washington Bullets in the First Round in three games, defeated the New York Knicks in the Semi-finals in seven games, and defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in the Conference Finals in five games, advancing to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, the Celtics faced their long time rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, the first time the two teams faced off against each other since 1969 in which the Celtics won 4–3, and the first time the two teams met in the Finals in the 1980s. The Celtics would go on to defeat the Lakers in seven games, winning their fifteenth NBA championship, and extending their NBA Finals victories over the Lakers to 8. HoopsHype would later rank this squad as the team with the 15th easiest route to the NBA Finals championship in 2024, primarily due to the record of the Washington Bullets in the first round.

Season standings

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

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * @ Detroit
 * L 121–127
 * McHale (25)
 * McHale (15)
 * Henderson (6)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 17,117
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 108–89
 * McHale (22)
 * Bird (13)
 * Bird (7)
 * Richfield Coliseum 8,194
 * 1–1
 * Richfield Coliseum 8,194
 * 1–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * Milwaukee
 * W 119–105
 * Bird (27)
 * Parish (16)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * Indiana
 * W 121–105
 * Parish (34)
 * Bird, Maxwell (9)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc
 * 5
 * @ Washington
 * W 120–117
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (8)
 * Bird (9)
 * Capital Centre 16,250
 * 4–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * @ Indiana
 * W 99–97
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (11)
 * Bird (7)
 * Market Square Arena 14,935
 * 5–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * San Diego
 * W 129–122
 * Bird (25)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 6–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * Detroit
 * W 126–118
 * Bird (39)
 * McHale, Parish (12)
 * Maxwell (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 7–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 9
 * @ Chicago
 * W 116–101
 * Johnson (23)
 * Parish (13)
 * Maxwell (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 11,942
 * 8–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * @ Denver
 * W 140–124
 * Bird (28)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (10)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 13,908
 * 9–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * @ Utah
 * L 109–122
 * Parish (25)
 * Parish (17)
 * Bird (8)
 * Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,743
 * 9–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * New York
 * L 103–110
 * Johnson (18)
 * McHale (13)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 9–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 13
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 91–92
 * Bird (18)
 * Parish (11)
 * Bird, Johnson (5)
 * The Spectrum 17,921
 * 9–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 14
 * @ New York
 * L 113–117 (2OT)
 * McHale (25)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (11)
 * Madison Square Garden 16,921
 * 9–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * Atlanta
 * W 109–102
 * Johnson (25)
 * Parish (11)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 10–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * Detroit
 * W 114–99
 * McHale (29)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 11–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 17
 * San Antonio
 * W 130–106
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 12–5
 * McHale (29)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 11–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 17
 * San Antonio
 * W 130–106
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 12–5
 * 12–5


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * Portland
 * W 115–106
 * Bird (41)
 * Bird (14)
 * Johnson (11)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 12–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * Philadelphia
 * L 114–121 (OT)
 * Bird (22)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 13–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 20
 * @ Chicago
 * W 118–105
 * Bird (24)
 * McHale (14)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 7,627
 * 14–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * @ Indiana
 * W 100–95
 * Parish (21)
 * Parish (17)
 * Bird (5)
 * Market Square Arena 13,725
 * 15–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * Denver (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 119–90
 * McHale (21)
 * Parish (7)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Hartford Civic Center 13,374
 * 16–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 104–87
 * Parish (24)
 * Parish (15)
 * Maxwell (6)
 * The Omni 9,917
 * 17–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * @ New York
 * W 102–100
 * Johnson (26)
 * Parish (11)
 * Henderson (5)
 * Madison Square Garden 14,839
 * 18–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25
 * Cleveland
 * W 110–108
 * Parish (30)
 * Parish (16)
 * Henderson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 19–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 26
 * Washington
 * L 93–100
 * Bird (30)
 * Bird (10)
 * Ainge (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 19–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 27
 * @ Detroit
 * W 129–115
 * McHale (30)
 * McHale (16)
 * Bird (9)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 24,318
 * 20–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * Atlanta
 * W 107–96
 * Bird, Maxwell, Parish (18)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 21–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29
 * New Jersey
 * W 125–113
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 22–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 115–100
 * Bird (38)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (8)
 * HemisFair Arena 13,112
 * 23–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * @ Houston
 * L 94–107
 * Parish (28)
 * Parish (19)
 * Bird (4)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 23–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * 8:35p.m. EST
 * @ Dallas
 * W 114–109 (OT)
 * Bird (36)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (6)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 24–8
 * Parish (19)
 * Bird (4)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 23–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * 8:35p.m. EST
 * @ Dallas
 * W 114–109 (OT)
 * Bird (36)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (6)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 24–8


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 105–103
 * Parish (27)
 * Parish (19)
 * Bird (5)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 13,478
 * 25–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34
 * Washington
 * W 113–104
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (9)
 * Johnson (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 26–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35
 * Cleveland
 * W 115–97
 * Bird (19)
 * Bird (7)
 * Henderson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 27–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * Golden State
 * W 135–112
 * Parish (33)
 * Parish (14)
 * Henderson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 28–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 105–104
 * Bird (29)
 * Bird (19)
 * Bird (8)
 * The Spectrum 17,921
 * 29–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 38
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 87–106
 * Ainge (18)
 * Parish (9)
 * Parish (4)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 29–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * @ Kansas City
 * W 122–113
 * Bird (38)
 * Parish (14)
 * Bird (13)
 * Kemper Arena 11,478
 * 30–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * Indiana (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 132–125
 * Bird (27)
 * Parish (13)
 * Maxwell (9)
 * Hartford Civic Center 13,134
 * 31–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * Milwaukee
 * W 109–98
 * Parish (22)
 * Parish (15)
 * Maxwell, Johnson (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 32–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 42
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 118–97
 * Bird (24)
 * Parish (9)
 * Ainge (5)
 * Richfield Coliseum 5,830
 * 33–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * Philadelphia
 * W 102–98
 * Parish (24)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 34–9
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * @ Chicago
 * W 106–83
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird, Parish (12)
 * Henderson, Buckner (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 9,430
 * 35–9
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * @ Chicago
 * W 106–83
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird, Parish (12)
 * Henderson, Buckner (5)
 * Chicago Stadium 9,430
 * 35–9
 * 35–9


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 45
 * Kansas City
 * W 119–110
 * Bird (32)
 * Parish (10)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 36–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 46
 * Indiana
 * W 125–106
 * Bird (27)
 * Bird (12)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 37–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 47
 * Detroit
 * W 137–134 (OT)
 * Parish (36)
 * Bird (19)
 * Ainge (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 38–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 48
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 112–115
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (12)
 * Henderson (7)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 14,808
 * 38–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 49
 * 8:00p.m. EST
 * Los Angeles
 * L 109–111
 * Bird (29)
 * Bird, Parish (11)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 38–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * Houston
 * W 114–101
 * McHale (30)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 39–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * Philadelphia
 * L 91–109
 * Bird (25)
 * Parish (13)
 * Ainge (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 39–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52
 * @ Golden State
 * W 125–115
 * Parish (28)
 * Parish (14)
 * Bird (17)
 * Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,335
 * 40–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 53
 * @ Seattle
 * W 111–100
 * Bird (30)
 * Bird (13)
 * Bird (13)
 * Kingdome 19,468
 * 41–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * @ Portland
 * W 107–101
 * Bird (34)
 * Bird (18)
 * Bird (9)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 42–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 55
 * @ San Diego
 * L 107–114
 * Bird (24)
 * Maxwell (8)
 * Henderson (8)
 * San Diego Sports Arena 11,718
 * 42–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * 10:30p.m. EST
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 108–116
 * McHale (26)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (5)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 42–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 116–109
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (13)
 * Buckner (5)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
 * 43–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * New York
 * L 98–102
 * Bird (30)
 * Parish (16)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 43–15
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660
 * 43–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * New York
 * L 98–102
 * Bird (30)
 * Parish (16)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 43–15
 * 43–15


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * Chicago (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 104–100
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (12)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Hartford Civic Center 14,529
 * 44–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * Seattle
 * W 117–93
 * McHale (21)
 * McHale (12)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 45–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc
 * 61
 * @ Washington
 * W 108–85
 * Parish (26)
 * McHale (12)
 * Buckner (6)
 * Capital Centre 11,216
 * 46–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * Utah
 * W 117–106
 * Bird (26)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 47–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 63
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 129–128 (2OT)
 * Bird (30)
 * McHale (10)
 * Bird (12)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 48–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * Phoenix
 * W 117–109
 * Parish (33)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 49–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 65
 * Washington
 * L 99–103
 * Bird (27)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird, Henderson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 49–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * Milwaukee
 * W 109–99
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (12)
 * Bird, Johnson (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 50–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 103–88
 * Parish (22)
 * Parish (13)
 * Parish (6)
 * The Omni 12,172
 * 51–16
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * @ Indiana
 * L 121–123 (OT)
 * Bird (25)
 * McHale (14)
 * Bird (8)
 * Market Square Arena 16,969
 * 51–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * @ New York
 * W 108–100
 * Johnson, Bird, McHale (23)
 * Bird (9)
 * Bird (11)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 52–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * New Jersey
 * L 97–101
 * Bird (33)
 * Bird (13)
 * Bird (4)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 52–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 71
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 114–119 (2OT)
 * Bird (33)
 * Bird (17)
 * Bird, Johnson, Henderson (6)
 * The Spectrum 17,921
 * 52–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc
 * 72
 * @ Washington
 * W 106–93
 * Johnson (24)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (13)
 * Capital Centre 11,355
 * 53–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * 7:30p.m. EST
 * Dallas
 * W 114–107
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird, McHale (9)
 * Henderson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 54–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 74
 * Atlanta
 * W 105–96
 * Bird (19)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 55–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 107–98
 * Parish (30)
 * Parish (13)
 * Buckner (6)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 17,034
 * 56–19
 * W 105–96
 * Bird (19)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 55–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 107–98
 * Parish (30)
 * Parish (13)
 * Buckner (6)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 17,034
 * 56–19
 * 56–19


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 98–86
 * Bird (29)
 * Parish (15)
 * Bird (6)
 * Richfield Coliseum 7,094
 * 57–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * Cleveland
 * W 113–94
 * Bird (33)
 * Parish (14)
 * Buckner (11)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 58–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * Chicago
 * W 117–110
 * Bird (30)
 * Bird, Parish (10)
 * Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 59–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 79
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 96–95
 * Parish (22)
 * Parish (9)
 * Johnson (8)
 * MECCA Arena 10,795
 * 60–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 80
 * New York
 * W 102–96
 * Bird (23)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird, Johnson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 61–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 81
 * @ Detroit
 * L 120–128 (OT)
 * McHale (32)
 * Bird (20)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 30,091
 * 61–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * New Jersey
 * W 118–111
 * Henderson, Johnson (18)
 * Kite (10)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 62–20
 * New Jersey
 * W 118–111
 * Henderson, Johnson (18)
 * Kite (10)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 62–20

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * Washington
 * W 91–83
 * Larry Bird (23)
 * Robert Parish (14)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * Washington
 * W 88–85
 * Larry Bird (23)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Larry Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * @ Washington
 * L 108–111 (OT)
 * Larry Bird (27)
 * Robert Parish (16)
 * Bird, Johnson (6)
 * Capital Centre 8,359
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * @ Washington
 * W 99–96
 * Robert Parish (20)
 * Robert Parish (12)
 * Larry Bird (7)
 * Capital Centre 13,853
 * 3–1
 * Robert Parish (12)
 * Larry Bird (7)
 * Capital Centre 13,853
 * 3–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * New York
 * W 110–92
 * Kevin McHale (25)
 * Robert Parish (12)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * New York
 * W 116–102
 * Larry Bird (37)
 * Bird, Parish (11)
 * Dennis Johnson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * @ New York
 * L 92–100
 * Larry Bird (24)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Dennis Johnson (4)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * @ New York
 * L 113–118
 * Larry Bird (29)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Dennis Johnson (7)
 * Madison Square Garden 15,840
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * New York
 * W 121–99
 * Larry Bird (26)
 * Robert Parish (10)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * @ New York
 * L 104–106
 * Larry Bird (35)
 * Larry Bird (11)
 * Gerald Henderson (8)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * New York
 * W 121–104
 * Larry Bird (39)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–3
 * New York
 * W 121–104
 * Larry Bird (39)
 * Larry Bird (12)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–3


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * Milwaukee
 * W 119–96
 * Larry Bird (24)
 * Kevin McHale (7)
 * Gerald Henderson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * Milwaukee
 * W 125–110
 * Larry Bird (32)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Larry Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 109–100
 * Larry Bird (28)
 * Robert Parish (16)
 * Larry Bird (6)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 113–122
 * Larry Bird (32)
 * Larry Bird (10)
 * Larry Bird (8)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * Milwaukee
 * W 115–108
 * Larry Bird (21)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Bird, Maxwell (4)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–1
 * Larry Bird (21)
 * Larry Bird (13)
 * Bird, Maxwell (4)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Los Angeles
 * L 109–115
 * McHale (25)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * 9:00p.m. EDT
 * Los Angeles
 * W 124–121 (OT)
 * Bird (27)
 * Bird (13)
 * Ainge, Henderson (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 104–137
 * Bird (30)
 * Parish (12)
 * Maxwell (5)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * 9:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Los Angeles
 * W 129–125 (OT)
 * Bird (29)
 * Bird (21)
 * Johnson (14)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 2–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * 9:00p.m. EDT
 * Los Angeles
 * W 121–103
 * Bird (34)
 * Bird (17)
 * Henderson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 108–119
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * 9:00p.m. EDT
 * Los Angeles
 * W 111–102
 * Maxwell (24)
 * Parish (16)
 * Maxwell (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–3

Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average

Game One
The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden.

Game Two
In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup and the Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121.

Game Three
In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists. After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates.

Game Four
In Game 4, the Lakers had a five-point lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Larry Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. Also, Bird pushed Michael Cooper to the baseline following the inbound play during the second quarter.

Game Five
In Game 5, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead as Larry Bird scored 34 points. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97-degree heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. The Celtics did not warm up with their sweat pants on because of extreme heat, and oxygen tanks were provided to give air to exhausted players.

Game Six
In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war."

Game Seven
In Game 7, the heat that was an issue in Game 5 was not so bad (indoor temperatures hovered around 91 degrees during the game, due to additional fans being brought in to try to cool the air). The Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. In the game the Lakers rallied from a 14-point-deficit to three with one minute remaining when Cedric Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. Larry Bird was named MVP of the series.

The series was the eighth time in NBA history that the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA finals, with Boston winning each time.

Award winners

 * Larry Bird, NBA Free Throw Percentage Leader (88.8%)
 * Larry Bird, NBA Most Valuable Player
 * Larry Bird, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
 * Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
 * Kevin McHale, Sixth Man of the Year Award