The Celtics' Longest Winning Streaks

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 25, 2008

The Celtics' Longest Winning Streaks

2008-09 | 19 games

The streak lifted the Celtics to the best start in franchise history. They did it with balance among their three stars (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are averaging between 16 and 19 points), solid play from the James Posey-less bench and the continued development of point guard Rajon Rondo, whom Boston continues to push as an All-Star candidate.

1981-82 | 18 games

The streak (tied for the fifth longest in league history entering the 2008-09 season) was part of the Celtics' league-best 63-19 season, but Larry Bird & Co. missed a chance to repeat as NBA champions when they lost in the Eastern Conference finals to the Julius Erving-led 76ers.

1959-60 | 17 games

The Celtics rode the streak (which started Nov. 28 and ended Dec. 30) to a 59-16 record, 10 games better than any of the league's seven other teams. With Bill Russell dominating the glass and the defensive end, and Tom Heinsohn (21.7 ppg) leading an offense that had seven double-digit scorers, Boston won the second of its eight consecutive championships.

1964-65 | 16 games

Boston began the season with an 11-game winning streak and tacked on a 16-game run to bring it to 41-7 a little past the midway point of the season. Behind Russell (14.1 ppg, 24.1 rpg), Sam Jones (25.9 ppg) and sixth man John Havlicek (18.3 ppg), Boston set an NBA regular-season record with 62 victories (against 18 losses).

1985-86 | 14 games

Larry Bird won his third consecutive MVP award, Bill Walton was a durable contributor in his first season as a Celtic and Boston romped through the regular season at 67-15 on the strength of eight-, nine-, 13- and 14-game winning streaks. The Celtics defeated the Rockets in the NBA Finals for the third and final championship in Boston for Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.

1957-58 | 14 games

In Bill Russell's second year, and with guards Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman still in their prime, the Celtics opened 14-0 before cooling off for a 49-23 season. Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks defeated the Celtics in the NBA Finals, the year before Boston started its streak of eight titles.