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.

1983–84 Boston Celtics season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coach	K. C. Jones
General manager	Red Auerbach
Owners	Don Gaston Alan N. Cohen Paul Dupee
Arena	Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record	62–20 (.756)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Champions (Defeated Lakers 4–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	SportsChannel New England, WBZ, WTXX
Radio	WRKO, WTIC

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.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	21	Greg Kite	Center	United States	BYU

Roster

Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 44 Ainge, Danny 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 175 lb (79 kg) BYU F 33 Bird, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Indiana State G 28 Buckner, Quinn 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Indiana F 30 Carr, M. L. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Guilford G 40 Clark, Carlos 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Mississippi G 43 Henderson, Gerald 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) VCU G 3 Johnson, Dennis 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Pepperdine C 50 Kite, Greg 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg) BYU F 31 Maxwell, Cedric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Charlotte F 32 McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Minnesota C 00 Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Centenary F 8 Wedman, Scott 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Colorado

Head coach K. C. Jones Assistant coach(es) Chris Ford Jimmy Rodgers Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–	33–8	29–12	13–11
x-Philadelphia 76ers	52	30	.634	10	32–9	20–21	15–9
x-New York Knicks	47	35	.573	15	29–12	18–23	12–12
x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	17	29–12	16–25	12–12
x-Washington Bullets	35	47	.427	27	25–16	10–31	8–16

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	50	32	.610	12
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	52	30	.634	10
4	x-Detroit Pistons	49	33	.598	13
5	x-New York Knicks	47	35	.573	15
6	x-New Jersey Nets	45	37	.549	17
7	x-Atlanta Hawks	40	42	.488	22
8	x-Washington Bullets	35	47	.427	27
9	Cleveland Cavaliers	28	54	.341	34
10	Chicago Bulls	27	55	.329	35
11	Indiana Pacers	26	56	.317	36

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1983-84 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	–	0–5	4–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	0–2	3–3	3–3	4–1	5–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2
Boston	5–0	–	5–0	6–0	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	5–1	4–2	3–3	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–2
Chicago	2–4	0–5	–	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–4	2–3	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	3–3	0–6	4–2	–	1–1	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–5	2–3	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–1
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	4–2	0–2	4–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	3–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	2–3	4–2	4–1	1–4	4–2	0–2
Denver	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–4	–	1–1	2–3	4–2	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	1–4	3–3	3–2	2–3	3–3	0–2
Detroit	4–2	2–4	5–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	–	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–3
Golden State	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	3–2	1–1	–	2–3	2–0	4–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	2–4	3–2	3–3	4–2	1–4	2–0
Houston	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–1	3–2	–	1–1	2–4	1–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	2–4	2–3	3–2	1–5	0–2
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	4–2	0–2	2–0	2–4	0–2	1–1	–	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	0–5	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4
Kansas City	2–0	0–2	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–4	4–2	2–0	–	0–5	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–3	2–3	5–1	3–2	1–4	3–3	2–0
Los Angeles	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	4–1	1–1	3–3	4–1	1–1	5–0	–	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	5–1	2–3	4–2	3–3	4–1	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	1–5	4–2	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	5–1	2–0	0–2	–	4–2	4–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
New Jersey	3–3	2–4	4–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	0–2	1–1	2–4	–	3–3	3–3	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
New York	1–4	3–3	4–1	5–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–3	–	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Philadelphia	1–5	4–2	3–2	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	3–3	4–2	–	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–2
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	3–2	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	3–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	–	2–4	5–0	4–2	2–4	1–4	2–0
Portland	2–0	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	4–1	1–1	4–2	4–1	1–1	3–2	1–5	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2	–	4–1	4–2	4–2	1–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	1–1	2–3	4–2	2–0	1–5	3–2	1–1	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–5	1–4	–	4–1	2–3	4–2	1–1
San Diego	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	0–2	3–3	3–2	1–1	2–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	1–4	–	3–3	2–3	1–1
Seattle	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–1	3–2	1–1	2–4	2–3	1–1	4–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	3–2	3–3	–	1–4	1–1
Utah	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4	3–3	1–1	4–1	5–1	1–1	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–1	4–1	2–4	3–2	4–1	–	1–1
Washington	2–4	2–4	4–2	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–3	0–2	2–0	4–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	2–4	2–4	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1983–84 game log Total: 62–20 (Home: 33–8; Road: 29–12)
October: 1–1 (home: 0–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 28 @ Detroit L 121–127 McHale (25) McHale (15) Henderson (6) Pontiac Silverdome 17,117 0–1 2 October 29 @ Cleveland W 108–89 McHale (22) Bird (13) Bird (7) Richfield Coliseum 8,194 1–1
November: 11–4 (home: 7–1; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 2 Milwaukee W 119–105 Bird (27) Parish (16) Bird (6) Boston Garden 14,890 2–1 4 November 4 Indiana W 121–105 Parish (34) Bird, Maxwell (9) Johnson (9) Boston Garden 14,890 3–1 5 November 5 @ Washington W 120–117 Bird (28) Bird (8) Bird (9) Capital Centre 16,250 4–1 6 November 8 @ Indiana W 99–97 Bird (26) Parish (11) Bird (7) Market Square Arena 14,935 5–1 7 November 9 San Diego W 129–122 Bird (25) Bird (11) Bird (9) Boston Garden 14,890 6–1 8 November 11 Detroit W 126–118 Bird (39) McHale, Parish (12) Maxwell (8) Boston Garden 14,890 7–1 9 November 12 @ Chicago W 116–101 Johnson (23) Parish (13) Maxwell (5) Chicago Stadium 11,942 8–1 10 November 15 @ Denver W 140–124 Bird (28) Parish (13) Bird (10) McNichols Sports Arena 13,908 9–1 11 November 16 @ Utah L 109–122 Parish (25) Parish (17) Bird (8) Salt Palace Acord Arena 12,743 9–2 12 November 18 New York L 103–110 Johnson (18) McHale (13) Bird (8) Boston Garden 14,890 9–3 13 November 19 @ Philadelphia L 91–92 Bird (18) Parish (11) Bird, Johnson (5) The Spectrum 17,921 9–4 14 November 22 @ New York L 113–117 (2OT) McHale (25) Parish (13) Bird (11) Madison Square Garden 16,921 9–5 15 November 25 Atlanta W 109–102 Johnson (25) Parish (11) Bird (8) Boston Garden 14,890 10–5 16 November 27 Detroit W 114–99 McHale (29) Parish (13) Bird (8) Boston Garden 14,890 11–5 17 November 30 San Antonio W 130–106 Bird (23) Bird (14) Bird (13) Boston Garden 14,890 12–5
December: 12–3 (home: 5–2; road: 7–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 18 December 2 Portland W 115–106 Bird (41) Bird (14) Johnson (11) Boston Garden 14,890 12–6 19 December 4 Philadelphia L 114–121 (OT) Bird (22) Parish (13) Bird (13) Boston Garden 14,890 13–6 20 December 6 @ Chicago W 118–105 Bird (24) McHale (14) Johnson (8) Chicago Stadium 7,627 14–6 21 December 7 @ Indiana W 100–95 Parish (21) Parish (17) Bird (5) Market Square Arena 13,725 15–6 22 December 9 Denver (at Hartford, Connecticut) W 119–90 McHale (21) Parish (7) Johnson (8) Hartford Civic Center 13,374 16–6 23 December 10 @ Atlanta W 104–87 Parish (24) Parish (15) Maxwell (6) The Omni 9,917 17–6 24 December 13 @ New York W 102–100 Johnson (26) Parish (11) Henderson (5) Madison Square Garden 14,839 18–6 25 December 14 Cleveland W 110–108 Parish (30) Parish (16) Henderson (6) Boston Garden 14,890 19–6 26 December 16 Washington L 93–100 Bird (30) Bird (10) Ainge (6) Boston Garden 14,890 19–7 27 December 17 @ Detroit W 129–115 McHale (30) McHale (16) Bird (9) Pontiac Silverdome 24,318 20–7 28 December 21 Atlanta W 107–96 Bird, Maxwell, Parish (18) Parish (9) Bird (8) Boston Garden 14,890 21–7 29 December 23 New Jersey W 125–113 Bird (26) Parish (9) Bird (8) Boston Garden 14,890 22–7 30 December 27 @ San Antonio W 115–100 Bird (38) Parish (12) Bird (8) HemisFair Arena 13,112 23–7 31 December 29 @ Houston L 94–107 Parish (28) Parish (19) Bird (4) The Summit 16,016 23–8 32 December 30 8:35 p.m. EST @ Dallas W 114–109 (OT) Bird (36) Parish (14) Johnson (6) Reunion Arena 17,007 24–8
January: 11–1 (home: 6–0; road: 5–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 3 @ New Jersey W 105–103 Parish (27) Parish (19) Bird (5) Brendan Byrne Arena 13,478 25–8 34 January 4 Washington W 113–104 Bird (23) Bird (9) Johnson (5) Boston Garden 14,890 26–8 35 January 6 Cleveland W 115–97 Bird (19) Bird (7) Henderson (8) Boston Garden 14,890 27–8 36 January 11 Golden State W 135–112 Parish (33) Parish (14) Henderson (8) Boston Garden 14,890 28–8 37 January 13 @ Philadelphia W 105–104 Bird (29) Bird (19) Bird (8) The Spectrum 17,921 29–8 38 January 15 @ Milwaukee L 87–106 Ainge (18) Parish (9) Parish (4) MECCA Arena 11,052 29–9 39 January 17 @ Kansas City W 122–113 Bird (38) Parish (14) Bird (13) Kemper Arena 11,478 30–9 40 January 20 Indiana (at Hartford, Connecticut) W 132–125 Bird (27) Parish (13) Maxwell (9) Hartford Civic Center 13,134 31–9 41 January 22 Milwaukee W 109–98 Parish (22) Parish (15) Maxwell, Johnson (5) Boston Garden 14,890 32–9 42 January 24 @ Cleveland W 118–97 Bird (24) Parish (9) Ainge (5) Richfield Coliseum 5,830 33–9 43 January 25 Philadelphia W 102–98 Parish (24) Parish (13) Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 34–9 All-Star Break 44 January 31 @ Chicago W 106–83 Bird (28) Bird, Parish (12) Henderson, Buckner (5) Chicago Stadium 9,430 35–9
February: 8–6 (home: 4–3; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 1 Kansas City W 119–110 Bird (32) Parish (10) Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 36–9 46 February 3 Indiana W 125–106 Bird (27) Bird (12) Bird (9) Boston Garden 14,890 37–9 47 February 5 Detroit W 137–134 (OT) Parish (36) Bird (19) Ainge (7) Boston Garden 14,890 38–9 48 February 6 @ New Jersey L 112–115 Bird (23) Bird (12) Henderson (7) Brendan Byrne Arena 14,808 38–10 49 February 8 8:00 p.m. EST Los Angeles L 109–111 Bird (29) Bird, Parish (11) Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 38–11 50 February 10 Houston W 114–101 McHale (30) Bird (14) Bird (12) Boston Garden 14,890 39–11 51 February 12 Philadelphia L 91–109 Bird (25) Parish (13) Ainge (5) Boston Garden 14,890 39–12 52 February 16 @ Golden State W 125–115 Parish (28) Parish (14) Bird (17) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13,335 40–12 53 February 17 @ Seattle W 111–100 Bird (30) Bird (13) Bird (13) Kingdome 19,468 41–12 54 February 19 @ Portland W 107–101 Bird (34) Bird (18) Bird (9) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 42–12 55 February 22 @ San Diego L 107–114 Bird (24) Maxwell (8) Henderson (8) San Diego Sports Arena 11,718 42–13 56 February 24 10:30 p.m. EST @ Los Angeles L 108–116 McHale (26) Parish (12) Bird (5) The Forum 17,505 42–14 57 February 26 @ Phoenix W 116–109 Bird (23) Bird (13) Buckner (5) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 14,660 43–14 58 February 29 New York L 98–102 Bird (30) Parish (16) Bird (6) Boston Garden 14,890 43–15
March: 13–4 (home: 7–2; road: 6–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 2 Chicago (at Hartford, Connecticut) W 104–100 Bird (28) Bird (12) Johnson (7) Hartford Civic Center 14,529 44–15 60 March 4 Seattle W 117–93 McHale (21) McHale (12) Bird (6) Boston Garden 14,890 45–15 61 March 6 @ Washington W 108–85 Parish (26) McHale (12) Buckner (6) Capital Centre 11,216 46–15 62 March 7 Utah W 117–106 Bird (26) Bird (14) Bird (9) Boston Garden 14,890 47–15 63 March 9 @ Milwaukee W 129–128 (2OT) Bird (30) McHale (10) Bird (12) MECCA Arena 11,052 48–15 64 March 11 Phoenix W 117–109 Parish (33) Parish (12) Bird (10) Boston Garden 14,890 49–15 65 March 14 Washington L 99–103 Bird (27) Parish (9) Bird, Henderson (6) Boston Garden 14,890 49–16 66 March 16 Milwaukee W 109–99 Bird (28) Bird (12) Bird, Johnson (5) Boston Garden 14,890 50–16 67 March 17 @ Atlanta W 103–88 Parish (22) Parish (13) Parish (6) The Omni 12,172 51–16 68 March 20 @ Indiana L 121–123 (OT) Bird (25) McHale (14) Bird (8) Market Square Arena 16,969 51–17 69 March 22 @ New York W 108–100 Johnson, Bird, McHale (23) Bird (9) Bird (11) Madison Square Garden 19,591 52–17 70 March 23 New Jersey L 97–101 Bird (33) Bird (13) Bird (4) Boston Garden 14,890 52–18 71 March 25 @ Philadelphia L 114–119 (2OT) Bird (33) Bird (17) Bird, Johnson, Henderson (6) The Spectrum 17,921 52–19 72 March 27 @ Washington W 106–93 Johnson (24) Parish (13) Bird (13) Capital Centre 11,355 53–19 73 March 28 7:30 p.m. EST Dallas W 114–107 Bird (23) Bird, McHale (9) Henderson (10) Boston Garden 14,890 54–19 74 March 30 Atlanta W 105–96 Bird (19) Bird (11) Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 55–19 75 March 31 @ New Jersey W 107–98 Parish (30) Parish (13) Buckner (6) Brendan Byrne Arena 17,034 56–19
April: 6–1 (home: 4–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 3 @ Cleveland W 98–86 Bird (29) Parish (15) Bird (6) Richfield Coliseum 7,094 57–19 77 April 6 Cleveland W 113–94 Bird (33) Parish (14) Buckner (11) Boston Garden 14,890 58–19 78 April 8 Chicago W 117–110 Bird (30) Bird, Parish (10) Bird (10) Boston Garden 14,890 59–19 79 April 10 @ Milwaukee W 96–95 Parish (22) Parish (9) Johnson (8) MECCA Arena 10,795 60–19 80 April 11 New York W 102–96 Bird (23) Bird (11) Bird, Johnson (6) Boston Garden 14,890 61–19 81 April 13 @ Detroit L 120–128 (OT) McHale (32) Bird (20) Johnson (8) Pontiac Silverdome 30,091 61–20 82 April 15 New Jersey W 118–111 Henderson, Johnson (18) Kite (10) Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 62–20
1983–84 schedule

Playoffs

Main articles: 1984 NBA playoffs and 1984 NBA Finals

1984 playoff game log Total: 15–8 (home: 12–1; road: 3–7)
Eastern Conference First Round: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 17 Washington W 91–83 Larry Bird (23) Robert Parish (14) Larry Bird (12) Boston Garden 14,890 1–0 2 April 19 Washington W 88–85 Larry Bird (23) Larry Bird (12) Larry Bird (6) Boston Garden 14,890 2–0 3 April 21 @ Washington L 108–111 (OT) Larry Bird (27) Robert Parish (16) Bird, Johnson (6) Capital Centre 8,359 2–1 4 April 24 @ Washington W 99–96 Robert Parish (20) Robert Parish (12) Larry Bird (7) Capital Centre 13,853 3–1
Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 4–0; road: 0–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 29 New York W 110–92 Kevin McHale (25) Robert Parish (12) Larry Bird (12) Boston Garden 14,890 1–0 2 May 2 New York W 116–102 Larry Bird (37) Bird, Parish (11) Dennis Johnson (7) Boston Garden 14,890 2–0 3 May 4 @ New York L 92–100 Larry Bird (24) Larry Bird (11) Dennis Johnson (4) Madison Square Garden 19,591 2–1 4 May 6 @ New York L 113–118 Larry Bird (29) Larry Bird (11) Dennis Johnson (7) Madison Square Garden 15,840 2–2 5 May 9 New York W 121–99 Larry Bird (26) Robert Parish (10) Larry Bird (10) Boston Garden 14,890 3–2 6 May 11 @ New York L 104–106 Larry Bird (35) Larry Bird (11) Gerald Henderson (8) Madison Square Garden 19,591 3–3 7 May 13 New York W 121–104 Larry Bird (39) Larry Bird (12) Larry Bird (10) Boston Garden 14,890 4–3
Eastern Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 15 Milwaukee W 119–96 Larry Bird (24) Kevin McHale (7) Gerald Henderson (7) Boston Garden 14,890 1–0 2 May 17 Milwaukee W 125–110 Larry Bird (32) Larry Bird (13) Larry Bird (7) Boston Garden 14,890 2–0 3 May 19 @ Milwaukee W 109–100 Larry Bird (28) Robert Parish (16) Larry Bird (6) MECCA Arena 11,052 3–0 4 May 21 @ Milwaukee L 113–122 Larry Bird (32) Larry Bird (10) Larry Bird (8) MECCA Arena 11,052 3–1 5 May 23 Milwaukee W 115–108 Larry Bird (21) Larry Bird (13) Bird, Maxwell (4) Boston Garden 14,890 4–1
NBA Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 27 1:00 p.m. EDT Los Angeles L 109–115 McHale (25) Bird (14) Bird (5) Boston Garden 14,890 0–1 2 May 31 9:00 p.m. EDT Los Angeles W 124–121 (OT) Bird (27) Bird (13) Ainge, Henderson (5) Boston Garden 14,890 1–1 3 June 3 3:30 p.m. EDT @ Los Angeles L 104–137 Bird (30) Parish (12) Maxwell (5) The Forum 17,505 1–2 4 June 6 9:00 p.m. EDT @ Los Angeles W 129–125 (OT) Bird (29) Bird (21) Johnson (14) The Forum 17,505 2–2 5 June 8 9:00 p.m. EDT Los Angeles W 121–103 Bird (34) Bird (17) Henderson (9) Boston Garden 14,890 3–2 6 June 10 3:30 p.m. EDT @ Los Angeles L 108–119 Bird (28) Bird (14) Bird (8) The Forum 17,505 3–3 7 June 12 9:00 p.m. EDT Los Angeles W 111–102 Maxwell (24) Parish (16) Maxwell (8) Boston Garden 14,890 4–3
1984 schedule

Player stats

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

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Larry Bird	79	796	520	144	69	1908	24.2
Robert Parish	80	857	139	55	116	1520	19.0
Kevin McHale	82	610	104	23	126	1511	18.4
Dennis Johnson	80	280	338	93	57	1053	13.2
Cedric Maxwell	80	461	205	63	24	955	11.9
Gerald Henderson	78	147	300	117	14	908	11.6
Danny Ainge	71	116	162	41	4	384	5.4
Scott Wedman	68	139	67	27	7	327	4.8
Quinn Buckner	79	137	214	84	3	324	4.1
M.L. Carr	60	75	49	17	4	185	3.1
Greg Kite	35	62	7	1	5	65	1.9
Carlos Clark	31	17	17	8	1	54	1.7

NBA Finals

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

References

• Celtics on Database Basketball
• Celtics on Basketball Reference