1972–73 Boston Celtics season

1972–73 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachTom Heinsohn
General managerRed Auerbach
ArenaBoston Garden
Results
Record68–14 (.829)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference finals
(lost to Knicks 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWSMW
RadioWBZ
< 1971–72 1973–74 >

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.

Draft picks

Main article: 1972 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Paul Westphal PG/SG  United States USC
2 27 Dennis Wuycik SF  United States North Carolina
3 44 Wayne Grabiec G  United States Michigan
4 61 Nate Stephens C  United States Long Beach State
5 77 Bryan Adrian G  United States Davidson
6 94 Don Holcomb C  United States Memphis
6 96 Wally Rice G  United States Widener
7 111 Steve Previs PG  United States North Carolina
8 127 Sam McCamey F  United States Oral Roberts
10 154 Marty Hunt G  United States Kenyon
11 165 Mark Minor SF  United States Ohio State
12 173 Phil Stephens C  United States South Carolina State

Roster

Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 12 Chaney, Don 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Houston
C 18 Cowens, Dave 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Florida State
C 29 Finkel, Henry 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Dayton
G/F 17 Havlicek, John 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 203 lb (92 kg) Ohio State
F/C 11 Kuberski, Steve 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Bradley
F 19 Nelson, Don 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Iowa
F 16 Sanders, Tom 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) NYU
F 35 Silas, Paul 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Creighton
G 44 Westphal, Paul 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg) USC
G 10 White, Jo Jo 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Kansas
G 7 Williams, Art 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Cal Poly Pomona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Neutral Div
y-Boston Celtics 68 14 .829 – 33–6 32–8 3–0 18–4
x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695 11 35–6 21–18 1–1 16–6
Buffalo Braves 21 61 .256 47 14–27 6–31 1–3 8–14
Philadelphia 76ers 9 73 .110 59 5–26 2–36 2–11 2–20
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT
1 z-Boston Celtics 68 14 .829
2 x-New York Knicks 57 25 .695
3 y-Baltimore Bullets 52 30 .634
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 46 36 .561
5 Houston Rockets 33 49 .402
6 Cleveland Cavaliers 32 50 .390
7 Buffalo Braves 21 61 .256
8 Philadelphia 76ers 9 73 .110

Record vs. opponents

1972–73 NBA Records
Team ATL BAL BOS BUF CHI CLE DET GSW HOU KCO LAL MIL NYK PHI PHO POR SEA
Atlanta — 3–4 1–5 5–1 2–2 3–4 2–2 1–3 4–4 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–3 6–0 3–1 4–0 3–1
Baltimore 4–3 — 1–5 5–1 0–4 8–0 2–2 3–1 5–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–3 5–1 2–2 4–0 4–0
Boston 5–1 5–1 — 7–0 3–1 5–1 3–1 3–1 5–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 4–4 7–0 4–0 4–0 4–0
Buffalo 1–5 1–5 0–7 — 2–2 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 0–4 1–6 7–1 1–3 2–2 2–2
Chicago 2–2 4–0 1–3 2–2 — 3–1 3–4 3–3 4–0 5–2 1–5 2–4 3–1 4–0 4–2 5–1 5–1
Cleveland 4–3 0–8 1–5 5–1 1–3 — 1–3 1–3 4–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–6 6–0 1–3 1–3 3–1
Detroit 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 4–3 3–1 — 2–4 1–3 3–3 1–5 2–5 1–3 3–1 4–2 6–0 2–4
Golden State 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 3–3 3–1 4–2 — 3–1 4–2 3–4 1–5 2–2 4–0 2–4 5–1 4–3
Houston 4–4 2–5 1–5 5–1 0–4 3–4 3–1 1–3 — 0–4 1–3 1–3 1–5 5–1 2–2 2–2 2–2
Kansas City-Omaha 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–5 2–2 3–3 2–4 4–0 — 1–5 1–6 0–4 3–1 3–3 4–2 4–2
Los Angeles 1–3 3–1 0–4 4–0 5–1 3–1 5–1 4–3 3–1 5–1 — 3–3 2–2 4–0 6–1 6–0 6–0
Milwaukee 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–2 3–1 5–2 5–1 3–1 6–1 3–3 — 2–2 3–1 5–1 5–1 5–1
New York 3–3 3–3 4–4 6–1 1–3 6–0 3–1 2–2 5–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 — 6–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Philadelphia 0–6 1–5 0–7 1–7 0–4 0–6 1–3 0–4 1–5 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–6 — 0–4 1–3 1–3
Phoenix 1–3 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–4 3–1 2–4 4–2 2–2 3–3 1–6 1–5 1–3 4–0 — 5–2 4–2
Portland 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 3–1 0–6 1–5 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 1–3 3–1 2–5 — 3–4
Seattle 1–3 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–5 1–3 4–2 3–4 2–2 2–4 0–6 1–5 0–4 3–1 2–4 4–3 —

Game log

1972–73 game log
# Date Opponent Score High points Record
1 October 11 @ Detroit 121–108 John Havlicek (29) 1–0
2 October 13 Los Angeles 104–112 John Havlicek (30) 2–0
3 October 14 @ Chicago 96–88 John Havlicek (21) 3–0
4 October 17 @ Atlanta 119–115 Dave Cowens (29) 4–0
5 October 20 Buffalo 118–126 Dave Cowens (24) 5–0
6 October 21 @ Baltimore 104–101 Jo Jo White (36) 6–0
7 October 23 Philadelphia 85–105 Dave Cowens (21) 7–0
8 October 24 @ Buffalo 105–97 Jo Jo White (28) 8–0
9 October 27 Cleveland 97–123 Jo Jo White (20) 9–0
10 November 3 Baltimore 96–109 Havlicek, White (22) 10–0
11 November 4 Kansas City–Omaha 118–107 John Havlicek (36) 10–1
12 November 8 Golden State 111–128 John Havlicek (25) 11–1
13 November 10 @ Buffalo 106–104 Jo Jo White (22) 12–1
14 November 11 Detroit 118–121 John Havlicek (37) 13–1
15 November 15 Phoenix 94–113 Dave Cowens (25) 14–1
16 November 17 Milwaukee 95–88 John Havlicek (30) 14–2
17 November 21 @ Milwaukee 116–102 John Havlicek (27) 15–2
18 November 22 Portland 107–126 Dave Cowens (33) 16–2
19 November 24 New York 97–114 Dave Cowens (23) 17–2
20 November 25 @ New York 94–97 John Havlicek (24) 17–3
21 November 29 Seattle 98–120 John Havlicek (22) 18–3
22 December 1 @ Philadelphia 105–99 Jo Jo White (31) 19–3
23 December 2 Philadelphia 120–131 Jo Jo White (30) 20–3
24 December 8 @ Cleveland 96–87 Dave Cowens (25) 21–3
25 December 9 Cleveland 88–123 John Havlicek (23) 22–3
26 December 13 @ Phoenix 105–100 Jo Jo White (26) 23–3
27 December 15 @ Los Angeles 102–98 Dave Cowens (31) 24–3
28 December 16 @ Portland 123–116 Dave Cowens (33) 25–3
29 December 17 @ Seattle 123–98 John Havlicek (27) 26–3
30 December 19 @ Golden State 112–115 Jo Jo White (30) 26–4
31 December 22 @ Kansas City–Omaha 118–90 Dave Cowens (26) 27–4
32 December 23 @ Milwaukee 98–104 John Havlicek (24) 27–5
33 December 26 New York 106–115 Dave Cowens (38) 28–5
34 December 29 Chicago 106–99 Dave Cowens (27) 28–6
35 December 30 N Philadelphia 107–117 John Havlicek (28) 29–6
36 January 2 @ Houston 130–110 John Havlicek (25) 30–6
37 January 3 @ Houston 112–123 John Havlicek (32) 30–7
38 January 5 @ Atlanta 126–108 John Havlicek (30) 31–7
39 January 7 N Baltimore 116–98 John Havlicek (33) 32–7
40 January 10 Houston 107–128 John Havlicek (22) 33–7
41 January 12 Atlanta 109–133 John Havlicek (25) 34–7
42 January 13 @ Philadelphia 111–95 Jo Jo White (29) 35–7
43 January 16 @ Buffalo 106–102 John Havlicek (33) 36–7
44 January 17 Portland 99–117 Dave Cowens (35) 37–7
45 January 19 Seattle 104–124 Jo Jo White (33) 38–7
46 January 21 Buffalo 97–104 John Havlicek (26) 39–7
47 January 26 Houston 126–139 Dave Cowens (24) 40–7
48 January 27 @ New York 108–111 John Havlicek (25) 40–8
49 January 28 New York 96–93 John Havlicek (25) 40–9
50 January 31 Cleveland 89–94 Don Chaney (26) 41–9
51 February 2 Atlanta 100–99 John Havlicek (30) 41–10
52 February 3 @ Philadelphia 104–100 Jo Jo White (20) 42–10
53 February 4 Philadelphia 115–123 Jo Jo White (38) 43–10
54 February 6 @ Cleveland 105–110 Don Nelson (30) 43–11
55 February 7 Los Angeles 112–113 (OT) Dave Cowens (34) 44–11
56 February 9 Detroit 104–95 Jo Jo White (24) 44–12
57 February 11 Milwaukee 96–120 Dave Cowens (28) 45–12
58 February 13 @ Chicago 105–101 John Havlicek (31) 46–12
59 February 14 @ Kansas City–Omaha 104–101 John Havlicek (28) 47–12
60 February 16 @ Portland 112–105 Jo Jo White (36) 48–12
61 February 17 @ Golden State 110–106 John Havlicek (33) 49–12
62 February 18 @ Seattle 106–105 Jo Jo White (26) 50–12
63 February 20 Phoenix 97–107 John Havlicek (26) 51–12
64 February 25 @ Cleveland 105–92 Dave Cowens (22) 52–12
65 February 27 @ New York 91–123 Don Chaney (18) 52–13
66 February 28 Golden State 111–118 Don Chaney (32) 53–13
67 March 2 @ Detroit 115–101 Jo Jo White (25) 54–13
68 March 4 Buffalo 113–125 Paul Silas (26) 55–13
69 March 6 @ Buffalo 127–112 Havlicek, White (25) 56–13
70 March 8 @ Phoenix 141–134 (OT) Dave Cowens (32) 57–13
71 March 9 @ Los Angeles 119–111 Dave Cowens (34) 58–13
72 March 11 New York 107–122 John Havlicek (32) 59–13
73 March 14 Baltimore 107–111 Havlicek, White (27) 60–13
74 March 16 @ Baltimore 97–103 Dave Cowens (23) 60–14
75 March 18 Kansas City–Omaha 105–109 John Havlicek (28) 61–14
76 March 20 N Houston 89–94 John Havlicek (28) 62–14
77 March 21 Chicago 105–106 John Havlicek (27) 63–14
78 March 23 Atlanta 108–124 Don Chaney (22) 64–14
79 March 24 @ New York 108–103 Dave Cowens (29) 65–14
80 March 25 @ Houston 125–121 Dave Cowens (28) 66–14
81 March 27 @ Atlanta 117–110 John Havlicek (29) 67–14
82 March 28 Baltimore 101–120 John Havlicek (34) 68–14

Playoffs

1973 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 1 Atlanta W 134–109 John Havlicek (54) Dave Cowens (17) Art Williams (12) Boston Garden
11,907 		1–0
2 April 4 @ Atlanta W 126–113 John Havlicek (29) Dave Cowens (25) Jo Jo White (11) Omni Coliseum
11,588 		2–0
3 April 6 Atlanta L 105–118 Jo Jo White (23) Dave Cowens (18) Jo Jo White (10) Boston Garden
15,320 		2–1
4 April 8 @ Atlanta L 94–97 John Havlicek (21) Paul Silas (22) John Havlicek (5) Omni Coliseum
11,675 		2–2
5 April 11 Atlanta W 108–101 John Havlicek (32) Dave Cowens (20) John Havlicek (11) Boston Garden
12,525 		3–2
6 April 13 @ Atlanta W 121–103 Jo Jo White (33) Paul Silas (17) Jo Jo White (7) Omni Coliseum
16,181 		4–2
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 2–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 15 New York W 134–108 Jo Jo White (30) Dave Cowens (15) John Havlicek (11) Boston Garden
15,320 		1–0
2 April 18 @ New York L 96–129 John Havlicek (21) Dave Cowens (13) John Havlicek (11) Madison Square Garden
19,694 		1–1
3 April 20 New York L 91–98 John Havlicek (29) Paul Silas (14) John Havlicek (6) Boston Garden
15,320 		1–2
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
5 April 25 New York W 98–97 Dave Cowens (32) Paul Silas (20) Jo Jo White (7) Boston Garden
15,320 		2–3
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
7 April 29 New York L 78–94 Dave Cowens (24) Paul Silas (16) Dave Cowens (5) Boston Garden
15,320 		3–4
1973 schedule

Awards, records and milestones

References