The 2012–13 Boston Celtics season was the 67th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics finished the regular season with a 41–40 won-loss record, which was the 3rd best in the Atlantic division, bringing an end to the 5-year run as Atlantic Champs and 7th best in the East. Their longest winning and losing streaks were 7 and 6 games respectively. The leading scorer was Paul Pierce, averaging 18.6 PPG. The leading rebounder was Kevin Garnett (7.8 RPG). Rajon Rondo led the team and the league in assists per-game with 11.1 despite only playing 38 games due to ACL injury. The Celtics only played 81 games as their April 16 game against the Indiana Pacers was cancelled in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing and was not rescheduled because it would not have changed any part of the final Eastern Conference standings anyway. The Celtics would go on to lose in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Knicks in six games, marking the first time the Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs since the 2004–05 season.
For the first time since 2006–07, Ray Allen was not on the roster as he signed with the Miami Heat where he won his second title. This season would mark the end of the Pierce and Garnett era in Boston as they, along with Jason Terry, were traded to the Brooklyn Nets during the 2013 off-season.
Key dates June 28: The 2012 NBA draft took place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. October 30: The regular season begins with a 120–107 loss to the Miami Heat in a rematch from the previous season's playoffs. January 25: Rajon Rondo suffered a partially torn ACL injury in his right knee after a loss to the Atlanta Hawks and will miss the remainder of the season but is expected to be back by training camp for the 2013/14 season. February 1: Jared Sullinger underwent lumbar disc surgery in his back and will also miss the remainder of the season. February 11: Leandro Barbosa suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, along with a sprained MCL. He will be out for the rest of the season. April 3: Clinched a Playoffs berth with a win over the Detroit Pistons.
Pre-season
Game log
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 5 | @ Fenerbahçe Ülker | | Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger (16) | Jared Sullinger (8) | Rajon Rondo (9) | Ülker Sports Arena12,191 | 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 2 | October 8 | @ EA7 Emporio Armani Milano | | Jeff Green, Rajon Rondo (17) | Darko Miličić (9) | Rajon Rondo (6) | Mediolanum Forum | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | October 13 | New York Knicks | | Jared Sullinger (14) | Micah Downs, Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger (7) | Rajon Rondo, Jason Terry (4) | XL Center | 1–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | October 15 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | | Paul Pierce (16) | Brandon Bass, Paul Pierce (6) | Rajon Rondo (6) | Wells Fargo Center | 1–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | October 16 | Brooklyn Nets | | Paul Pierce (29) | Jared Sullinger (9) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden | 1–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 6 | October 18 | @ Brooklyn Nets | | Courtney Lee, Paul Pierce (18) | Jeff Green, Jared Sullinger (6) | Rajon Rondo (9) | Barclays Center | 2–4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 7 | October 20 | New York Knicks | | Jeff Green (25) | Jared Sullinger (8) | Rajon Rondo (11) | Times Union Center | 3–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 8 | October 21 | Philadelphia 76ers | | Jeff Green, Rajon Rondo (12) | Jeff Green (10) | Rajon Rondo (10) | TD Garden | 3–5
Draft picks
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club Team 1 21 Jared Sullinger PF Ohio State 1 22 Fab Melo (pick traded from the L.A. Clippers via Oklahoma City Thunder) C Syracuse 2 51 Kris Joseph SF Syracuse
Future draft picks
Credits
2014 second-round draft pick from Brooklyn
Brooklyn's own 2014 2nd-round pick to Boston. [Boston – Brooklyn, 6/23/2011]
2015 second-round draft pick from Sacramento
Sacramento's own 2015 2nd-round pick to Boston (top 55 protected in the 2015 Draft). If Sacramento's own 2015 2nd-round pick is in the top 55 picks, then Sacramento's obligations to Boston shall be extinguished. [Boston – Sacramento, 2/17/2009]
2017 second-round draft pick from Sacramento
Sacramento's own 2017 2nd-round pick to Boston (top 55 protected in the 2017 Draft). If Sacramento's own 2017 2nd-round pick is in the top 55 picks, then Sacramento's obligations to Boston shall be extinguished. [Boston – Sacramento, 2/24/2011]
Debits
2013 second-round draft pick to Portland
Boston's own 2013 2nd-round pick to Portland. [Boston-Houston-Portland, 7/20/2012]
Roster
Regular season
Game log Note: the Boston Celtics only played 81 games instead of 82 due to the cancellation of the scheduled April 16, 2013 game vs The Indiana Pacers after the Boston Marathon bombing.
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 1 | October 30 | @ Miami | | Paul Pierce (23) | Kevin Garnett (12) | Rajon Rondo (13) | American Airlines Arena20,296 | 0–1
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | November 2 | Milwaukee | | Kevin Garnett (15) | Jared Sullinger (7) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 0–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | November 3 | @ Washington | | Paul Pierce (27) | Garnett, Pierce& Sullinger (7) | Rajon Rondo (12) | Verizon Center20,308 | 1–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | November 7 | Washington | | Kevin Garnett (20) | Kevin Garnett (13) | Rajon Rondo (14) | TD Garden18,624 | 2–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 5 | November 9 | Philadelphia | | Paul Pierce (24) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Rajon Rondo (20) | TD Garden18,624 | 2–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | November 10 | @ Milwaukee | | Paul Pierce (25) | Paul Pierce (9) | Rajon Rondo (11) | Bradley Center14,589 | 3–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | November 12 | @ Chicago | | Rajon Rondo (20) | Rajon Rondo (9) | Rajon Rondo (10) | United Center21,712 | 4–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | November 14 | Utah | | Paul Pierce (23) | Kevin Garnett (8) | Rajon Rondo (10) | TD Garden18,624 | 5–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | November 15 | @ Brooklyn | | Paul Pierce (22) | Courtney Lee (9) | Jason Terry (6) | Barclays Center17,732 | 5–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | November 17 | Toronto | | Jason Terry (20) | Jared Sullinger (11) | Rajon Rondo (20) | TD Garden18,624 | 6–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 11 | November 18 | @ Detroit | | Jared Sullinger (16) | Sullinger & Wilcox (5) | Rajon Rondo (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills12,214 | 6–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 12 | November 21 | San Antonio | | Rajon Rondo (22) | Jared Sullinger (7) | Rajon Rondo (15) | TD Garden18,624 | 6–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | November 23 | Oklahoma City | | Paul Pierce (27) | Kevin Garnett (9) | Rajon Rondo (16) | TD Garden18,624 | 7–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | November 25 | @ Orlando | | Kevin Garnett (24) | Brandon Bass (12) | Rajon Rondo (16) | Amway Center17,037 | 8–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | November 28 | Brooklyn | | Bass & Garnett (16) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Paul Pierce (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 8–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | November 30 | Portland | | Jeff Green (19) | Pierce & Sullinger (8) | Lee & Pierce (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 9–7
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 17 | December 1 | @ Milwaukee | | Paul Pierce (19) | Brandon Bass (8) | Jason Terry (11) | Bradley Center16,581 | 9–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | December 5 | Minnesota | | Garnett & Pierce (18) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 10–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 19 | December 7 | @ Philadelphia | | Paul Pierce (27) | Rajon Rondo (13) | Rajon Rondo (14) | Wells Fargo Center17,921 | 10–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 20 | December 8 | Philadelphia | | Kevin Garnett (19) | Rondo & Sullinger (9) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 11–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | December 12 | Dallas | | Paul Pierce (34) | Rajon Rondo (9) | Rajon Rondo (15) | TD Garden18,624 | 12–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 | December 14 | @ Houston | | Paul Pierce (18) | Green & Pierce (7) | Rajon Rondo (13) | Toyota Center15,679 | 12–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 23 | December 15 | @ San Antonio | | Pierce & Terry (18) | Jared Sullinger (7) | Rajon Rondo (9) | AT&T Center18,759 | 12–11 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | December 18 | @ Chicago | | Rajon Rondo (26) | Bass & Garnett (8) | Rajon Rondo (8) | United Center21,825 | 12–12 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | December 19 | Cleveland | | Paul Pierce (40) | Paul Pierce (8) | Rajon Rondo (8) | TD Garden18,624 | 13–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 26 | December 21 | Milwaukee | | Paul Pierce (35) | Paul Pierce (12) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 13–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | December 25 | @ Brooklyn | | Rajon Rondo (19) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Paul Pierce (10) | Barclays Center17,732 | 14–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 28 | December 27 | @ L. A. Clippers | | Kevin Garnett (16) | Brandon Bass (9) | Rajon Rondo (6) | Staples Center19,552 | 14–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 29 | December 29 | @ Golden State | | Courtney Lee (18) | Jeff Green (9) | Kevin Garnett (4) | Oracle Arena19,596 | 14–15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | December 30 | @ Sacramento | | Pierce & Terry (20) | Kevin Garnett (12) | Rajon Rondo (10) | Sleep Train Arena15,305 | 14–16
|- style="background:#fcc;" | 31 | January 2 | Memphis | | Paul Pierce (17) | Garnett & Pierce (7) | Rajon Rondo (10) | TD Garden18,624 | 14–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | January 4 | Indiana | | Garnett & Rondo (18) | Jared Sullinger (10) | Rajon Rondo (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 15–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 | January 5 | @ Atlanta | | Paul Pierce (26) | Rajon Rondo (11) | Rajon Rondo (10) | Philips Arena19,159 | 16–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | January 7 | @ New York | | Paul Pierce (23) | Kevin Garnett (10) | Paul Pierce (6) | Madison Square Garden19,033 | 17–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | January 9 | Phoenix | | Jeff Green (14) | Jared Sullinger (16) | Rajon Rondo (8) | TD Garden18,624 | 18–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | January 11 | Houston | | Paul Pierce (23) | Jared Sullinger (11) | Rajon Rondo (8) | TD Garden18,624 | 19–17 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | January 14 | Charlotte | | Paul Pierce (19) | Garnett & Rondo (10) | Rajon Rondo (12) | TD Garden18,624 | 20–17 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 38 | January 16 | New Orleans | | Kevin Garnett (15) | Paul Pierce (10) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 20–18 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 39 | January 18 | Chicago | | Rajon Rondo (30) | Jared Sullinger (15) | Rajon Rondo (7) | TD Garden18,624 | 20–19 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 40 | January 20 | @ Detroit | | Garnett & Lee (16) | Rajon Rondo (9) | Rajon Rondo (15) | The Palace of Auburn Hills17,575 | 20–20 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 41 | January 22 | @ Cleveland | | Rajon Rondo (17) | Rajon Rondo (13) | Rajon Rondo (8) | Quicken Loans Arena14,192 | 20–21 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | January 24 | New York | | Rajon Rondo (23) | Kevin Garnett (12) | Rajon Rondo (11) | TD Garden18,624 | 20–22 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 43 | January 25 | @ Atlanta | | Kevin Garnett (24) | Garnett & Rondo (10) | Rajon Rondo (11) | Philips Arena15,595 | 20–23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | January 27 | Miami | | Kevin Garnett (24) | Paul Pierce (13) | Paul Pierce (10) | TD Garden18,624 | 21–23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | January 30 | Sacramento | | Paul Pierce (16) | Paul Pierce (10) | Kevin Garnett (5) | TD Garden18,624 | 22–23
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 46 | February 1 | Orlando | | Jeff Green (17) | Paul Pierce (11) | Paul Pierce (7) | TD Garden 18,624 | 23–23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | February 3 | L. A. Clippers | | Paul Pierce (22) | Brandon Bass (8) | Jason Terry (6) | TD Garden18,624 | 24–23 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | February 6 | @ Toronto | | Kevin Garnett (27) | Paul Pierce (11) | Paul Pierce (6)