Celtics vs. Mavericks Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year
Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.
The Boston Celtics have been present in the NBA Playoffs 62 times in 79 seasons while the Dallas Mavericks did it 25 times in their 45 seasons. Between the two they total 19 of the 78 NBA championships (24.4%).
They have faced each other in 1 playoff series, won by the Celtics.
On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Celtics and the Mavericks advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.
Summary of Their Playoff History | ||
Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | |
| Playoff Appearances: | 62 (78.5%) | 25 (55.6%) |
| Playoffs Missed: | 17 (21.5%) | 20 (44.4%) |
| NBA Titles: | 18  | 1 |
| Finals Lost: | 5 | 2 |
| All-time Playoff Record: | 429 wins 320 losses (.573) | 118 wins 131 losses (.474) |
| Total NBA Seasons: | 79 1946-47 to present | 45 1980-81 to present |
Head-to-Head in Playoffs | ||
Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | |
| Total Series | 1 Playoff Series | |
| Series Won | 1 2024 |
none |
Teams Comparison | |||||
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks | |||
| 2025 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ (lost Play-in) | |||
| 2024 |  NBA Champions | Lost NBA Finals | |||
| |||||
| 2023 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ | |||
| 2022 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals | |||
| 2021 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| 2020 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2019 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 2018 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2017 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2016 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2015 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2014 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2013 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2012 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2011 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | NBA Champions |
| 2010 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2009 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2008 | NBA Champions | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2007 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2006 | DNQ | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2005 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2004 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2003 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2002 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2001 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2000 | DNQ | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1999 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1998 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1997 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1996 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1995 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1994 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1993 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1992 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1991 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1990 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1989 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1988 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 1987 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1986 | NBA Champions | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1985 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1984 | NBA Champions | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1983 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1982 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1981 | NBA Champions | DNQ |
| 1980 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | - |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1979 | DNQ | - |
| 1978 | DNQ | - |
| 1977 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | - |
| 1976 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1975 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | - |
| 1974 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1973 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | - |
| 1972 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | - |
| 1971 | DNQ | - |
| 1970 | DNQ | - |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1969 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1968 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1967 | Lost Eastern Division Finals | - |
| 1966 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1965 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1964 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1963 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1962 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1961 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1960 | NBA Champions | - |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1959 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1958 | Lost NBA Finals | - |
| 1957 | NBA Champions | - |
| 1956 | Lost Eastern Division Semis | - |
| 1955 | Lost Eastern Division Finals | - |
| 1954 | Lost Eastern Division Finals | - |
| 1953 | Lost Eastern Division Finals | - |
| 1952 | Lost Eastern Division Semis | - |
| 1951 | Lost Eastern Division Semis | - |
| 1950 | DNQ | - |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1949 | DNQ | - |
| 1948 | Lost First Round | - |
| 1947 | DNQ | - |