1985–86 Boston Celtics season

The 1985–86 Boston Celtics season was the 40th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They finished with the best record in the league at 67–15, including a 40–1 record at home (37–1 at the Boston Garden, 3–0 at the Hartford Civic Center). Those 40 home wins set an NBA record which would only be matched by the San Antonio Spurs in 2016. Arguably considered the best Celtics team ever, and widely regarded among the greatest teams in NBA history, their 67 total wins were one win shy of tying their franchise record of 68 wins set in 1972–73, and tied for fifth all-time.

Larry Bird won his third consecutive MVP award and Bill Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. The team was anchored by the "Big Three" frontcourt of Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, which is frequently ranked among the best frontcourts in NBA history.

In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Chicago Bulls in three games in the First Round, then defeated the Atlanta Hawks in five games in the Semi-finals, before sweeping the Milwaukee Bucks in four games in the Conference Finals to reach the NBA Finals for a third consecutive season. In the NBA Finals, the Celtics faced off against the Houston Rockets in a rematch of the 1981 NBA Finals, which the Celtics won in six games, winning every home game in the playoffs. The Celtics would go on to win their 16th championship and the last for 22 years, defeating the Houston Rockets in six games in the NBA Finals, and had won 82 combined regular season and playoff games, a record that stood until the Chicago Bulls racked up 87 combined wins en route to a title (the 2015–16 Golden State Warriors then broke that record with 88 combined wins, including a 73–9 regular season record, although they infamously lost the finals that season after leading the series 3–1). HoopsHype later ranked this squad as the team with the 17th easiest path to the NBA Finals in 2024 due to the 30–52 record of their first round opponent, the Chicago Bulls.

NBA draft
The 1985 NBA draft took place on June 18, 1985. It was also the first NBA Draft of the "Lottery" era. The lottery was put into place so teams could not intentionally lose games to receive the number one pick.

Season Synopsis
The Celtics were coming from a 6-game NBA Finals series against their arch-rival the Los Angeles Lakers. They ended with a record 63-19 during the regular season, a league-best record, earning home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

November
They started their 1985–86 season campaign with a 109-113 OT loss to the New Jersey Nets, despite a near quadruple-double performance from Larry Bird who recorded 21 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 steals for the Celtics. The next day, Kevin McHale's 26 points and 15 rebounds led the Celtics towards a 105-100 road win over the Cavaliers. Four days later, the Celtics defeated the visiting Bucks, 117–106, with Bird, McHale, Parish and Johnson, all scoring at least 20 points. They ended the month of November with a 2–1 record.

Regular season

 * Under head coach K. C. Jones, the 1985–86 Boston Celtics finished the regular season with a record of 67–15. This team is generally considered to be the best of Larry Bird's career. In addition to longtime Celtics Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the franchise was joined on the front line by former NBA MVP Bill Walton. Despite a career plagued by a series of serious injuries to his knees, ankles and feet, Walton would win the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. Walton had missed essentially the past two seasons and the Los Angeles Clippers put him on the trade bloc as his contract ran out. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Celtics were both interested, but the Lakers wanted Walton to be cleared by their team doctor before making any trade.  The Celtics, on the other hand, were willing to trade former Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell for Walton-based solely on his word that he felt he was healthy enough to play.  Walton appeared in a career high 80 games.  The backcourt was led by the MVP of the 1979 NBA Finals, defensive stopper Dennis Johnson, and former Toronto Blue Jays baseball player, shooting guard Danny Ainge.  Off the bench, the Celtics featured former All-Star Scott Wedman and recent acquisition (from the Indiana Pacers) Jerry Sichting.

Game log

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * October 25, 1985
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 109–113 (OT)
 * Bird (21)
 * Bird (12)
 * Bird (10)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 13,095
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * October 26, 1985
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 105–100
 * McHale (21)
 * McHale (15)
 * Johnson (5)
 * Richfield Coliseum 20,900
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * October 30, 1985 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 117–106
 * McHale (25)
 * Parish (13)
 * Ainge, Bird (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * November 1, 1985
 * Atlanta
 * W 109–105
 * Bird (25)
 * McHale (10)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * November 2, 1985
 * @ Washington
 * W 88–73
 * Ainge (20)
 * Parish (10)
 * Bird (8)
 * Capital Centre 17,488
 * 4–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * November 8, 1985
 * Phoenix
 * W 125–101
 * Parish (25)
 * Parish (10)
 * Bird (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 5–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 7
 * November 9, 1985
 * @ Detroit
 * W 124–105
 * Bird (29)
 * McHale (11)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 25,148
 * 6–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * November 13, 1985
 * Indiana
 * W 118–114
 * Johnson (30)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 7–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 9
 * November 15, 1985
 * Washington
 * W 118–114
 * Ainge (24)
 * Bird (11)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 8–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 10
 * November 16, 1985
 * @ Indiana
 * L 109–111
 * Bird (33)
 * Parish (10)
 * Ainge (7)
 * Market Square Arena 16,904
 * 8–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 11
 * November 20, 1985
 * Utah
 * W 115–106 (OT)
 * Bird (27)
 * Parish (17)
 * Ainge (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 9–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 22, 1985
 * Philadelphia
 * W 110–103
 * McHale (32)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 10–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 23, 1985
 * @ New York
 * W 113–104
 * Parish (27)
 * Parish (12)
 * Bird (10)
 * Madison Square Garden 19,591
 * 11–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 14
 * November 26, 1985
 * @ Philadelphia
 * W 98–91
 * Parish (22)
 * McHale (13)
 * Bird (11)
 * The Spectrum 17,921
 * 12–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * November 27, 1985
 * Detroit
 * W 132–124
 * Bird (47)
 * Bird (12)
 * Ainge, Johnson (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 13–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 16
 * November 29, 1985
 * New York
 * W 94–88
 * Bird (31)
 * Bird (15)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 14–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 17
 * November 30, 1985
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 102–97
 * Bird (28)
 * McHale (8)
 * Johnson (8)
 * The Omni 13,101
 * 15–2


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * December 3, 1985 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 112–109
 * McHale (29)
 * McHale (10)
 * Ainge (6)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 16–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 19
 * December 4, 1985
 * @ New Jersey
 * W 130–111
 * Johnson (23)
 * Walton (13)
 * Ainge, Bird, McHale (5)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 15,169
 * 17–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * December 6, 1985
 * Portland
 * L 103–121
 * Bird (20)
 * Bird (11)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 17–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 21
 * December 10, 1985
 * Atlanta (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 114–110
 * McHale, Parish (24)
 * Parish (10)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Hartford Civic Center 14,493
 * 18–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * December 11, 1985
 * Sacramento
 * W 118–101
 * Bird (24)
 * Bird (7)
 * Ainge, Bird (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 19–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 23
 * December 14, 1985
 * @ Cleveland
 * L 99–109
 * Bird (31)
 * McHale (12)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Richfield Coliseum 15,349
 * 19–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * December 15, 1985
 * Chicago
 * W 109–104
 * Bird (34)
 * Parish (15)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 20–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 17, 1985
 * @ Chicago
 * L 108–116
 * Johnson (25)
 * Parish (15)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 13,786
 * 20–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 18, 1985
 * Dallas
 * W 137–117
 * Bird (35)
 * McHale (10)
 * Ainge (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 21–5
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 27
 * December 21, 1985
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–108
 * McHale (34)
 * McHale (10)
 * Ainge (9)
 * The Spectrum 17,941
 * 21–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 28
 * December 25, 1985
 * @ New York
 * L 104–113 (2OT)
 * McHale (29)
 * Parish (18)
 * Ainge (8)
 * Madison Square Garden 17,480
 * 21–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 29
 * December 28, 1985
 * @ Utah
 * W 110–108
 * Bird, McHale (24)
 * Parish (10)
 * Bird (8)
 * Salt Palace 12,702
 * 22–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 30, 1985
 * @ L.A. Clippers
 * W 125–103
 * McHale (22)
 * McHale (18)
 * Bird (8)
 * Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 14,977
 * 23–7


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 31
 * January 2, 1986
 * @ Indiana
 * W 122–104
 * Johnson (29)
 * Bird (13)
 * Bird (8)
 * Market Square Arena 14,974
 * 24–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 32
 * January 3, 1986
 * New Jersey
 * W 129–117
 * Bird (29)
 * Bird (10)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 25–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 33
 * January 7, 1986
 * @ Detroit
 * L 109–113
 * McHale (29)
 * Bird (12)
 * Bird (8)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 17,421
 * 25–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 34
 * January 8, 1986
 * Cleveland
 * W 126–95
 * Bird (25)
 * McHale (13)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 26–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 35
 * January 10, 1986
 * Atlanta
 * W 115–108
 * Bird (29)
 * Parish (15)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 27–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * January 15, 1986
 * Denver
 * W 123–100
 * McHale (33)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 28–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * January 17, 1986
 * @ Indiana
 * W 123–105
 * McHale (28)
 * Bird (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Market Square Arena 16,904
 * 29–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 38
 * January 18, 1986
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 125–122 (OT)
 * Bird (41)
 * McHale (12)
 * Ainge (12)
 * The Omni 16,522
 * 30–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * January 22, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * L.A. Lakers
 * W 110–95
 * Johnson (22)
 * Bird (12)
 * Ainge (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 31–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * January 24, 1986
 * Golden State
 * W 135–114
 * Bird (25)
 * Wedman (13)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 32–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 26, 1986
 * Philadelphia
 * W 105–103
 * Bird (28)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 33–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 42
 * January 30, 1986
 * @ Chicago
 * W 101–91
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (16)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 15,207
 * 34–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * January 31, 1986
 * @ Washington
 * W 97–88
 * Wedman (24)
 * Parish (14)
 * Ainge (9)
 * Capital Centre 19,123
 * 35–8


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 44
 * February 2, 1986
 * Seattle
 * W 114–101
 * Johnson (24)
 * Bird (11)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 36–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 45
 * February 4, 1986 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 112–93
 * Bird (24)
 * Bird (9)
 * Johnson (8)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 37–8
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 46
 * February 5, 1986
 * Washington
 * W 103–88
 * Bird (26)
 * Walton (17)
 * Bird, Johnson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 38–8
 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * February 11, 1986
 * @ Sacramento
 * L 100–105
 * Bird (29)
 * Parish (15)
 * Johnson (5)
 * ARCO Arena 10,333
 * 38–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * February 13, 1986
 * @ Seattle
 * W 107–98
 * Bird (31)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird (11)
 * Seattle Center Coliseum 14,230
 * 39–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * February 14, 1986
 * @ Portland
 * W 120–119 (OT)
 * Bird (47)
 * Bird (14)
 * Ainge (12)
 * Memorial Coliseum 12,666
 * 40–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 50
 * February 16, 1986 3:30p.m. EST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * W 105–99
 * Johnson (23)
 * Bird (18)
 * Bird (7)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 41–9
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * February 17, 1986
 * @ Phoenix
 * L 101–108
 * Johnson (24)
 * Parish (11)
 * Bird, Carlisle, Johnson (3)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,519
 * 41–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 52
 * February 19, 1986
 * @ Golden State
 * W 115–100
 * Bird (36)
 * Parish (13)
 * Bird (11)
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,011
 * 42–10
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 20, 1986
 * @ Denver
 * L 100–102
 * Bird (27)
 * Bird (16)
 * Ainge (8)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,022
 * 42–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 54
 * February 23, 1986
 * Indiana (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 113–98
 * Bird (30)
 * Parish (15)
 * Bird (12)
 * Hartford Civic Center 15,124
 * 43–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 55
 * February 25, 1986
 * @ New York
 * W 91–74
 * Bird (24)
 * Bird (18)
 * Bird (13)
 * Madison Square Garden 18,329
 * 44–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * February 26, 1986
 * San Antonio
 * W 120–100
 * Parish (27)
 * Parish (10)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 45–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * February 28, 1986
 * L.A. Clippers
 * W 124–108
 * Parish (26)
 * Bird (13)
 * Bird (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 46–11


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 58
 * March 2, 1986
 * Detroit
 * W 129–109
 * Bird (35)
 * Bird (9)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 47–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 59
 * March 4, 1986
 * @ Chicago
 * W 106–94
 * McHale (23)
 * Parish (11)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 14,172
 * 48–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * March 5, 1986
 * Chicago
 * W 108–97
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (15)
 * Ainge (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 49–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * March 7, 1986
 * New York
 * W 115–108
 * McHale (20)
 * Walton (12)
 * Ainge, Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 50–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 62
 * March 8, 1986
 * @ Washington
 * L 108–110 (OT)
 * Bird (24)
 * Parish (25)
 * Bird (8)
 * Capital Centre 19,123
 * 50–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * March 10, 1986
 * @ Dallas
 * L 115–116
 * Bird (50)
 * Parish (16)
 * Johnson (6)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 50–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * March 11, 1986 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Houston
 * W 116–104
 * Bird (31)
 * Walton (16)
 * Bird (10)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 51–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * March 13, 1986
 * @ San Antonio
 * W 135–119
 * Bird (33)
 * Bird (11)
 * Johnson (7)
 * HemisFair Arena 14,180
 * 52–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * March 14, 1986
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 121–114
 * Bird (26)
 * McHale (12)
 * Johnson (9)
 * The Omni 16,522
 * 53–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 67
 * March 16, 1986
 * Philadelphia
 * W 118–101
 * Bird (36)
 * Bird (14)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 54–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 18, 1986
 * Cleveland (at Hartford, Connecticut)
 * W 126–96
 * Bird (43)
 * Parish (12)
 * Johnson (11)
 * Hartford Civic Center 15,134
 * 55–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * March 19, 1986
 * Indiana
 * W 127–108
 * Parish (28)
 * Parish (17)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 56–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 70
 * March 21, 1986
 * Chicago
 * W 126–105
 * Bird (32)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 57–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 71
 * March 24, 1986 8:00p.m. EST
 * Houston
 * W 114–107
 * Bird (36)
 * Johnson, McHale, Parish (8)
 * Johnson (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 58–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 72
 * March 26, 1986 7:30p.m. EST
 * Milwaukee
 * W 121–115
 * Bird (35)
 * Bird (12)
 * Bird, Johnson (6)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 59–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 73
 * March 28, 1986
 * Washington
 * W 116–97
 * Bird (27)
 * Bird, Walton (12)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 60–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 74
 * March 30, 1986
 * New Jersey
 * W 122–117
 * Bird (40)
 * Parish (14)
 * Johnson (10)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 61–13


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 75
 * April 1, 1986
 * @ Cleveland
 * W 123–105
 * Johnson (21)
 * Walton (11)
 * Johnson (7)
 * Richfield Coliseum 17,495
 * 62–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * April 2, 1986
 * Detroit
 * W 122–106
 * Parish (30)
 * Parish (18)
 * Bird (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 63–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * April 4, 1986
 * New York
 * W 119–98
 * McHale (25)
 * McHale (11)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 64–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 78
 * April 6, 1986
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 94–95
 * Johnson (22)
 * Parish (11)
 * Bird (10)
 * The Spectrum 17,941
 * 64–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 79
 * April 8, 1986 8:30p.m. EST
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 126–114
 * Walton (22)
 * Bird (14)
 * Bird (7)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 65–14
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * April 9, 1986
 * @ New Jersey
 * L 98–108
 * McHale (18)
 * Bird (10)
 * McHale (8)
 * Brendan Byrne Arena 18,092
 * 65–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * April 11, 1986
 * Cleveland
 * W 117–104
 * McHale (30)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 66–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * April 13, 1986
 * New Jersey
 * W 135–107
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (13)
 * Ainge, Johnson (4)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 67–15

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

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 17, 1986
 * Chicago
 * W 123–104
 * Bird (30)
 * McHale, Parish (10)
 * Bird (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 20, 1986
 * Chicago
 * W 135–131 (2OT)
 * Bird (36)
 * McHale, Walton (15)
 * Bird, Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 22, 1986
 * @ Chicago
 * W 122–104
 * McHale (31)
 * Walton (9)
 * Bird (8)
 * Chicago Stadium 18,968
 * 3–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 27, 1986 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 103–91
 * McHale (24)
 * Bird (12)
 * Johnson (14)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 29, 1986 8:30p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 119–108
 * Bird (36)
 * McHale (9)
 * Johnson (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 2, 1986 7:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * W 111–107
 * Bird (28)
 * Parish (14)
 * Bird (12)
 * The Omni 12,357
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * May 4, 1986 1:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 94–106
 * McHale (26)
 * McHale (12)
 * Bird (5)
 * The Omni 12,357
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * May 6, 1986 7:30p.m. EDT
 * Atlanta
 * W 132–99
 * Bird (36)
 * Parish (13)
 * Johnson (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–1


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 13, 1986 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Milwaukee
 * W 128–96
 * Bird (26)
 * Ainge (10)
 * Sichting (8)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 15, 1986 8:00p.m. EDT
 * Milwaukee
 * W 122–111
 * Bird (26)
 * Parish (9)
 * Bird (9)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * May 17, 1986 2:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 111–107
 * McHale (29)
 * Bird (16)
 * Bird (13)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 3–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * May 18, 1986 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Milwaukee
 * W 111–98
 * Bird (30)
 * McHale (11)
 * Ainge, Bird (5)
 * MECCA Arena 11,052
 * 4–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * May 26, 1986 3:00p.m. EDT
 * Houston
 * W 112–100
 * Parish (23)
 * Johnson (11)
 * Birs (13)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * May 29, 1986 9:00p.m. EDT
 * Houston
 * W 117–95
 * Bird (31)
 * Bird (8)
 * Bird (7)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 2–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * June 1, 1986 3:30p.m. EDT
 * @ Houston
 * L 104–106
 * McHale (28)
 * Bird (15)
 * Bird (11)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 2–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 4
 * June 3, 1986 9:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Houston
 * W 106–103
 * Parish (22)
 * Parish (15)
 * Bird (10)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 3–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 5
 * June 5, 1986 9:00p.m. EDT
 * @ Houston
 * L 96–111
 * McHale (33)
 * McHale (8)
 * Ainge (5)
 * The Summit 16,016
 * 3–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * June 8, 1986 1:00p.m. EDT
 * Houston
 * W 114–97
 * Bird (29)
 * Bird (11)
 * Bird (12)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 4–2

Following the conclusion of the 1986 NBA Finals, a video documentary of the 1986 NBA season, known as Sweet Sixteen, was released. David Perry was the narrator after Dick Stockton had narrated the last three NBA season documentaries.

Award winners

 * Larry Bird, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
 * Larry Bird, NBA Most Valuable Player Award
 * Larry Bird, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
 * Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
 * Kevin McHale, All-NBA Defensive First Team
 * Dennis Johnson, All-NBA Defensive Second Team
 * Bill Walton, NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award
 * Larry Bird, NBA 3-Point Shootout champion
 * Larry Bird, three-point field goal leader