1986
Boston Celtics
Series Flow
4
Wins
2
Losses
Regular Season
67–15
Win–Loss
Playoff Record
15–3
Win–Loss
Finals
4–2
vs Houston Rockets
Finals MVP
Bird
Larry
Boston Celtics
67–15Houston Rockets
51–31The Twin Towers — Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson — gave Boston the only real challenge they faced in the playoffs. Sampson's buzzer-beater in Game 3 was one of the great individual moments in Finals history. But nobody was stopping this Celtics team.
Finals MVP
Larry Bird
#33 · Forward
24.0
PPG
9.7
RPG
9.5
APG
The peak of Bird's powers — arguably the greatest individual season (29.9 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 6.8 APG) combined with Finals dominance.
3rd consecutive MVP season (1984-86)
The 1985-86 Celtics are widely considered one of the 2-3 greatest teams in NBA history
How the Series Unfolded
G1 · W
1–0
G2 · W
2–0
G3 · L
2–1
G4 · W
3–1
G5 · L
3–2
G6 · W
4–2
112
BOS
100
HOU
Bird's 29 points and the sheer talent advantage of Boston's frontcourt established immediate control. Hakeem Olajuwon had 33 but received minimal support.
Boston Celtics
Larry Bird
29 pts · 11 reb · 9 astTranscendent — made every play look inevitable.
HOU
Hakeem Olajuwon
33 pts · 12 rebThe only player in the building who matched the Celtics' intensity.
117
BOS
95
HOU
McHale's 25 points and the Celtics' suffocating defense gave Boston a 2-0 series lead heading to Houston.
Boston Celtics
Kevin McHale
25 pts · 11 rebThe best low-post scorer of his era — Houston had no answer.
Larry Bird
22 pts · 12 astOrchestrated the offense brilliantly while McHale was the executioner.
104
BOS
106
HOU
Ralph Sampson's impossible turnaround jumper over Bird at the buzzer gave Houston their only win of the series — one of the most surprising moments of the 1986 playoffs.
HOU
Ralph Sampson
24 pts · 9 reb · buzzer-winnerHit a miraculous, off-balance turnaround shot over Bird at the buzzer.
Hakeem Olajuwon
28 pts · 11 rebKept the Rockets competitive and created the conditions for Sampson's moment.
106
BOS
103
HOU
Bird's clutch fourth-quarter play restored order. Boston answered the Game 3 shock with composure and authority on the road.
Boston Celtics
Larry Bird
28 pts · 11 reb · 8 astThe ultimate competitor — answered Houston's shock win with quiet dominance.
Dennis Johnson
14 pts · 5 astVeteran guard delivered in a tight road game.
114
BOS
117
HOU
Hakeem's 30 points forced the series back to Boston. The Rockets had found a second gear but the Garden was waiting.
HOU
Hakeem Olajuwon
30 pts · 13 reb · 4 blkThe Dream — showing why he would one day be champion himself.
Robert Reid
16 ptsProvided crucial secondary scoring for Houston's survival win.
114
BOS
97
HOU
Bird's 29 points closed out the championship at the Garden. He averaged 24 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in the Finals — the statistical definition of an all-time great at his peak. The 1985-86 Celtics may be the greatest team ever.
Boston Celtics
Larry Bird
29 pts · 11 reb · 12 astA triple-double in the clinching game. Bird at his absolute apex.
Kevin McHale
22 pts · 10 rebThe perfect complement — the greatest frontcourt tandem in basketball history closed it out together.
The Champions
They Pushed Us to the Limit
The Twin Towers — Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson — gave Boston the only real challenge they faced in the playoffs. Sampson's buzzer-beater in Game 3 was one of the great individual moments in Finals history. But nobody was stopping this Celtics team.
24.5
PPG
11.5
RPG
2.2
BPG
The best player on the losing team — his legendary career would produce two championships of his own. Here he showed why.
History Written in 1986
Boston Celtics
16th NBA Championship
Larry Bird
3rd consecutive MVP award (1984-86) — one of only 3 players in NBA history to achieve this
Boston Celtics
67-15 regular season record — widely considered one of the greatest teams in NBA history
Kevin McHale
Set an NBA single-season FG% record (56.8%) while playing on the championship team — peak efficiency
Beyond the Box Score
The 1985-86 Boston Celtics are frequently debated as one of the two or three greatest teams in NBA history. Bird, McHale, Parish, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge — all at their peak. Bird won his third consecutive MVP award. McHale set a field goal percentage record.
Larry Bird's Finals line (24.0 pts, 9.7 reb, 9.5 ast) was near triple-double territory every night. He was the most complete basketball player alive.
The Full Story
Bird. McHale. Parish. Dennis Johnson. Danny Ainge. Kevin Garnett once called the 1985-86 Celtics "the greatest team I've ever seen." They won 67 games. Bird averaged 29-10-7 for the season. McHale set a field goal percentage record.
The Houston Rockets' Twin Towers gave them a legitimate scare — Ralph Sampson's impossible buzzer-beater in Game 3 was one of the most shocking moments in Finals history. But the Celtics answered with Bird closing it out in Game 6: 29 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists.
Was this the greatest team ever? The question is still asked. The answer is always: "It's a very short list."