# 2001–02 Boston Celtics season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 56th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. In the 2001 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Joe Johnson from the University of Arkansas with the tenth overall pick, but later on traded him along with Randy Brown at mid-season to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk. The team also signed free agent Erick Strickland during the off-season.
The Celtics struggled with a 5–6 start to the season, but then won 12 of their next 14 games, and held a 28–21 record at the All-Star break. They later on posted a 7-game winning streak in March, and won eight of their final nine games finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record, making their first playoff appearance since 1995.
Paul Pierce averaged 26.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Antoine Walker averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and Kenny Anderson provided the team with 9.6 points, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In addition, Strickland contributed 7.7 points per game off the bench, and Tony Battie provided with 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Pierce and Walker were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was Pierce's first ever All-Star appearance.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, advancing to the second round for the first time since 1992. In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they lost Game 1 to the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons, 96–84 on the road, but managed to defeat them four games to one, reaching the conference finals also for the first time since 1988. In the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics took a 2–1 series lead over the top-seeded New Jersey Nets. However, they would lose to the Nets in six games. The Nets would go on to reach the NBA Finals for the first time, but would lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in four straight games.
Following the season, Anderson was traded along with Vitaly Potapenko to the Seattle SuperSonics, while Rogers signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets, Strickland signed with the Indiana Pacers, and Mark Blount signed with the Denver Nuggets.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 10 | Joe Johnson | SG | United States | Arkansas |
| 1 | 11 | Kedrick Brown | SF/SG | United States | Okaloosa-Walton |
| 1 | 21 | Joseph Forte | SG | United States | North Carolina |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Rookie point guard Omar Cook also holds American citizenship, but he represents Montenegro in international play. He was signed by the Celtics on April 16, 2002, but never played for the team.
* Small forward Roshown McLeod missed the entire season with a nerve ailment in his lower left leg, and never played for the Celtics.

## Regular season
### Standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-New Jersey Nets | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 33–8 | 19–22 | 16–8 |
| x-Boston Celtics | 49 | 33 | .598 | 3 | 27–14 | 22–19 | 17–7 |
| x-Orlando Magic | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 | 27–14 | 17–24 | 12–12 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 22–19 | 21–20 | 14–11 |
| Washington Wizards | 37 | 45 | .451 | 15 | 22–19 | 15–26 | 12–13 |
| Miami Heat | 36 | 46 | .439 | 16 | 18–23 | 18–23 | 10–14 |
| New York Knicks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 22 | 19–22 | 11–30 | 4–20 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-New Jersey Nets | 52 | 30 | .634 | – |
| 2 | y-Detroit Pistons | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Boston Celtics | 49 | 33 | .598 | 3 |
| 4 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 |
| 5 | x-Orlando Magic | 44 | 38 | .537 | 8 |
| 6 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 |
| 7 | x-Toronto Raptors | 42 | 40 | .512 | 10 |
| 8 | x-Indiana Pacers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 10 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | .500 | 11 |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | 37 | 45 | .451 | 15 |
| 11 | Miami Heat | 36 | 46 | .439 | 16 |
| 12 | Atlanta Hawks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 19 |
| 13 | New York Knicks | 30 | 52 | .366 | 22 |
| 14 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 23 |
| 15 | Chicago Bulls | 21 | 61 | .256 | 31 |

### Record vs. opponents

2001-02 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Charlotte | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Memphis | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Miami | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| New Jersey | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| New York | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Orlando | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | — |

### Game log

2001-02 game log Total: 49–33 (home: 27–14; road: 22–19) :
October (home: 0-1; road: 1-0)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1Tue. Oct. 30@ Cleveland Cavaliers108–89Gund Arena1-0
2Wed. Oct. 31New Jersey Nets92-95FleetCenter1-1 :
November (home: 4-2; road: 2-3)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
3Fri. Nov. 2Chicago Bulls96-82FleetCenter2–1
4Sat. Nov. 3@ Milwaukee Bucks99-105Bradley Center2-2
5Wed. Nov. 7Washington Wizards104-95FleetCenter3–2
6Fri. Nov. 9Seattle SuperSonics104-94FleetCenter4–2
7Wed. Nov. 14Indiana Pacers101-93FleetCenter5-2
8Sat. Nov. 17@ Atlanta Hawks103-112Philips Arena5–3
9Wed. Nov. 21Atlanta Hawks85-92FleetCenter5–4
10Fri. Nov. 23Toronto Raptors89-91FleetCenter5-5
11Sat. Nov. 24@ Washington Wizards84-88 (OT)MCI Center5–6
12Tue. Nov. 27@ Miami Heat84-83American Airlines Arena6-6
13Thu. Nov. 29@ Orlando Magic99-89TD Waterhouse Centre7–6 :
December (home: 6-0; road: 5-5)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
14Sat. Dec. 1@ New Jersey Nets105-98 (OT)Continental Airlines Arena8–6
15Sun. Dec. 2@ Toronto Raptors85-69Air Canada Centre9–6
16Wed. Dec. 5Denver Nuggets95-80FleetCenter10–6
17Fri. Dec. 7Phoenix Suns109-102 (OT)FleetCenter11–6
18Sat. Dec. 8@ Chicago Bulls84-87United Center11–7
19Tue. Dec. 11@ New York Knicks102-93 (OT)Madison Square Garden12–7
20Fri. Dec. 14Chicago Bulls107-101FleetCenter13–7
21Sat. Dec. 15@ Charlotte Hornets106-97Charlotte Coliseum14–7
22Mon. Dec. 17@ Philadelphia 76ers83-99First Union Center14–8
23Wed. Dec. 19Cleveland Cavaliers104-98FleetCenter15–8
24Fri. Dec. 21Utah Jazz98-92FleetCenter16–8
25Sun. Dec. 23Memphis Grizzlies85-80FleetCenter17–8
26Wed. Dec. 26@ Utah Jazz86-99Delta Center17–9
27Thu. Dec. 27@ Phoenix Suns82-84America West Arena17–10
28Sat. Dec. 29@ Los Angeles Clippers105-103 (OT)Staples Center18–10
29Sun. Dec. 30@ Sacramento Kings94-109ARCO Arena18–11 :
January (home: 5-4; road: 3-4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
30Wed. Jan. 2Orlando Magic110-94FleetCenter19–11
31Fri. Jan. 4Miami Heat66-89FleetCenter19–12
32Sat. Jan. 5@ New York Knicks90-81Madison Square Garden20–12
33Mon. Jan. 7@ Orlando Magic87-98TD Waterhouse Centre20–13
34Wed. Jan. 9San Antonio Spurs90-93FleetCenter20–14
35Fri. Jan. 11Detroit Pistons104-90FleetCenter21–14
36Sat. Jan. 12@ Atlanta Hawks115-91Philips Arena22–14
37Wed. Jan. 16New York Knicks101-100FleetCenter23–14
38Fri. Jan. 18Houston Rockets101-104FleetCenter23–15
39Sat. Jan. 19@ Detroit Pistons91-94The Palace of Auburn Hills23–16
40Mon. Jan. 21Toronto Raptors106-97FleetCenter24–16
41Wed. Jan. 23Indiana Pacers98-94FleetCenter25–16
42Fri. Jan. 25Philadelphia 76ers90-106FleetCenter25–17
43Sat. Jan. 26@ Cleveland Cavaliers108-101Gund Arena26–17
44Tue. Jan. 29@ Milwaukee Bucks90-109Bradley Center26–18
45Thu. Jan. 31@ Toronto Raptors92-97Air Canada Centre26–19 :
February (home: 1-3; road: 4-4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
46Fri. Feb. 1Minnesota Timberwolves95-98 (OT)FleetCenter26–20
47Sun. Feb. 3Los Angeles Clippers104-91FleetCenter27–20
48Tue. Feb. 5@ Charlotte Hornets82-79Charlotte Coliseum28–20
49Wed. Feb. 6Sacramento Kings85-102FleetCenter28–21
50Tue. Feb. 12@ Denver Nuggets110-93Pepsi Center29–21
51Wed. Feb. 13@ Golden State Warriors75-92The Arena in Oakland29–22
52Fri. Feb. 15@ Portland Trail Blazers107-104Rose Garden30–22
53Sat. Feb. 16@ Seattle SuperSonics79-99KeyArena30–23
54Tue. Feb. 19@ Los Angeles Lakers109-108Staples Center31–23
55Thu. Feb. 21@ Dallas Mavericks92-98American Airlines Center31–24
56Sat. Feb. 23@ Houston Rockets89-99Compaq Center31–25
57Wed. Feb. 27Milwaukee Bucks92-95FleetCenter31–26 :
March (home: 7-4; road: 4-2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
58Fri. Mar. 1Charlotte Hornets87-100FleetCenter31–27
59Mon. Mar. 4@ Philadelphia 76ers100-94First Union Center32–27
60Wed. Mar. 6Orlando Magic130-110FleetCenter33–27
61Fri. Mar. 8Detroit Pistons117-92FleetCenter34–27
62Sun. Mar. 10Washington Wizards98-91FleetCenter35–27
63Mon. Mar. 11@ Washington Wizards104-99MCI Center36–27
64Wed. Mar. 13New Jersey Nets97-89FleetCenter37–27
65Fri. Mar. 15@ Memphis Grizzlies103-97The Pyramid38–27
66Sat. Mar. 16@ San Antonio Spurs104-111Alamodome38–28
67Mon. Mar. 18Portland Trail Blazers91-100FleetCenter38–29
68Wed. Mar. 20Cleveland Cavaliers96-70FleetCenter39–29
69Fri. Mar. 22Philadelphia 76ers91-96FleetCenter39–30
70Sun. Mar. 24@ Detroit Pistons101-109The Palace of Auburn Hills39–31
71Mon. Mar. 25@ Miami Heat87-82American Airlines Arena40–31
72Wed. Mar. 27Golden State Warriors102-99FleetCenter41–31
73Fri. Mar. 29Dallas Mavericks82-108FleetCenter41–32
74Sun. Mar. 31Milwaukee Bucks110-80FleetCenter42–32 :
April (home: 4-0; road: 3-1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
75Tue. Apr. 2@ Indiana Pacers105-94Conseco Fieldhouse43–32
76Fri. Apr. 5Los Angeles Lakers99-81FleetCenter44–32
77Sun. Apr. 7@ New Jersey Nets102-90Continental Airlines Arena45–32
78Mon. Apr. 8@ Chicago Bulls100-105United Center45–33
79Wed. Apr. 10Miami Heat70-65FleetCenter46–33
80Fri. Apr. 12New York Knicks107-92FleetCenter47–33
81Mon. Apr. 15@ Minnesota Timberwolves93-90Target Center48–33
82Wed. Apr. 17Atlanta Hawks89-81FleetCenter49–33 :
2001-02 Schedule :

## Playoffs

2002 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 21
Philadelphia
W 92–82
Paul Pierce (31)
Paul Pierce (11)
Kenny Anderson (5)
FleetCenter 18,624
1–0
2
April 25
Philadelphia
W 93–85
Paul Pierce (25)
Pierce, Walker (10)
three players tied (4)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–0
3
April 28
@ Philadelphia
L 103–108
Paul Pierce (29)
Rodney Rogers (11)
Paul Pierce (7)
First Union Center 20,689
2–1
4
May 1
@ Philadelphia
L 81–83
Antoine Walker (25)
Paul Pierce (8)
Kenny Anderson (8)
First Union Center 20,904
2–2
5
May 3
Philadelphia
W 120–87
Paul Pierce (46)
Antoine Walker (9)
Pierce, Walker (6)
FleetCenter 18,624
3–2 :
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 5
@ Detroit
L 84–96
Antoine Walker (20)
Paul Pierce (10)
Paul Pierce (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 20,252
0–1
2
May 8
@ Detroit
W 85–77
Paul Pierce (22)
Tony Battie (11)
Kenny Anderson (5)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
1–1
3
May 10
Detroit
W 66–64
Paul Pierce (19)
Tony Battie (10)
Paul Pierce (5)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–1
4
May 12
Detroit
W 90–79
Antoine Walker (30)
Paul Pierce (17)
Paul Pierce (6)
FleetCenter 18,624
3–1
5
May 14
@ Detroit
W 90–81
Paul Pierce (18)
Antoine Walker (13)
Kenny Anderson (6)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,076
4–1 :
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 19
@ New Jersey
L 97–104
Pierce, Walker (27)
Tony Battie (11)
Kenny Anderson (6)
Continental Airlines Arena 20,049
0–1
2
May 21
@ New Jersey
W 93–86
Antoine Walker (26)
Paul Pierce (14)
Kenny Anderson (7)
Continental Airlines Arena 19,850
1–1
3
May 25
New Jersey
W 94–90
Paul Pierce (28)
Antoine Walker (12)
Pierce, Walker (4)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–1
4
May 27
New Jersey
L 92–94
Paul Pierce (31)
three players tied (9)
four players tied (4)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–2
5
May 29
@ New Jersey
L 92–103
Paul Pierce (24)
Antoine Walker (13)
Kenny Anderson (6)
Continental Airlines Arena 19,850
2–3
6
May 31
New Jersey
L 88–96
Kenny Anderson (18)
Antoine Walker (9)
Kenny Anderson (7)
FleetCenter 18,624
2–4 :
2002 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kenny Anderson | 76 | 76 | 32.0 | .436 | .273 | .742 | 3.6 | 5.3 | 1.9 | .1 | 9.6 |
| Tony Battie | 74 | 73 | 24.6 | .541 | .000 | .677 | 6.5 | .5 | .8 | .9 | 6.9 |
| Mark Blount | 44 | 0 | 9.4 | .421 | | .811 | 1.9 | .2 | .4 | .4 | 2.1 |
| Kedrick Brown | 29 | 5 | 8.4 | .329 | .185 | .600 | 1.7 | .5 | .6 | .2 | 2.2 |
| Randy Brown | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | .000 | | | .0 | 2.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 |
| Tony Delk$^†$ | 22 | 16 | 25.9 | .349 | .299 | .733 | 3.6 | 2.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 7.4 |
| Joseph Forte | 8 | 0 | 4.9 | .083 | .000 | 1.000 | .8 | .8 | .3 | .0 | .8 |
| Joe Johnson$^†$ | 48 | 33 | 20.9 | .439 | .273 | .769 | 2.9 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | 6.3 |
| Walter McCarty | 56 | 0 | 12.8 | .444 | .394 | .684 | 2.3 | .7 | .3 | .1 | 3.8 |
| Milt Palacio$^†$ | 41 | 0 | 12.6 | .385 | .353 | .706 | 1.2 | 1.3 | .5 | .1 | 3.7 |
| Paul Pierce | 82 | 82 | 40.3 | .442 | .404 | .809 | 6.9 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 26.1 |
| Vitaly Potapenko | 79 | 9 | 17.0 | .455 | | .742 | 4.4 | .4 | .5 | .2 | 4.6 |
| Rodney Rogers$^†$ | 27 | 1 | 23.2 | .482 | .411 | .700 | 4.0 | 1.5 | .6 | .4 | 10.7 |
| Erick Strickland | 79 | 4 | 20.8 | .389 | .385 | .845 | 2.7 | 2.3 | .7 | .0 | 7.7 |
| Antoine Walker | 81 | 81 | 42.0 | .394 | .344 | .741 | 8.8 | 5.0 | 1.5 | .5 | 22.1 |
| Eric Williams | 74 | 30 | 23.6 | .374 | .279 | .731 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | .1 | 6.4 |

### Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Kenny Anderson | 16 | 16 | 35.0 | .416 | | .800 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 1.3 | .0 | 12.0 |
| Tony Battie | 16 | 16 | 27.7 | .488 | | .619 | 7.6 | .8 | .6 | 1.9 | 6.1 |
| Mark Blount | 4 | 0 | 9.8 | .500 | | 1.000 | 1.8 | .3 | .5 | .5 | 1.5 |
| Kedrick Brown | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.000 | 1.000 | | .0 | .0 | .0 | .5 | 2.5 |
| Tony Delk | 14 | 0 | 16.2 | .354 | .394 | .583 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .6 | .4 | 4.7 |
| Walter McCarty | 14 | 0 | 13.9 | .447 | .167 | .778 | 2.4 | .3 | .3 | .0 | 3.1 |
| Paul Pierce | 16 | 16 | 42.0 | .403 | .288 | .764 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 24.6 |
| Rodney Rogers | 16 | 0 | 24.6 | .426 | .365 | .886 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | .4 | 8.9 |
| Erick Strickland | 12 | 0 | 9.8 | .282 | .200 | 1.000 | 1.1 | 1.4 | .4 | .1 | 2.9 |
| Antoine Walker | 16 | 16 | 43.9 | .411 | .385 | .781 | 8.6 | 3.3 | 1.5 | .4 | 22.1 |
| Eric Williams | 16 | 16 | 30.4 | .500 | .467 | .739 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 1.6 | .3 | 7.8 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Celtics only.

## Awards and records

* Paul Pierce, All-NBA Third Team