Celtics vs. Pacers 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 Indiana Pacers, 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 Indiana Pacers did it 29 times in their 49 seasons. The Celtics have won 18 of the NBA's 78 Championships (23.1%) and the Pacers have not won a title so far.

They have faced each other in 7 playoff series, 5 of them won by the Celtics and 2 by the Pacers.

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 Pacers 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	Indiana Pacers
Playoff Appearances:	62 (78.5%)	29 (59.2%)
Playoffs Missed:	17 (21.5%)	20 (40.8%)
NBA Titles:	18	0
Finals Lost:	5	1
All-time Playoff Record:	429 wins 320 losses (.573)	137 wins 142 losses (.491)
Total NBA Seasons:	79 1946-47 to present	49 1976-77 to present

Teams Comparison Playoff Performances Year by Year
Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Indiana Pacers
2025	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Playoffs in progress
2024	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Celtics defeated the Pacers 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.
2023	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
2022	Lost NBA Finals	DNQ
2021	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ (lost Play-in)
2020	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Indiana Pacers
2009	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
2008	NBA Champions	DNQ
2007	DNQ	DNQ
2006	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2005	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference Semis
	* The Pacers defeated the Celtics 4-3 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
2004	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	Lost Eastern Conference Finals
	* The Pacers defeated the Celtics 4-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
2003	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
	* The Celtics defeated the Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference First Round.
2002	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2001	DNQ	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
2000	DNQ	Lost NBA Finals

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Indiana Pacers
1989	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round	DNQ
1988	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
1987	Lost NBA Finals	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1986	NBA Champions	DNQ
1985	Lost NBA Finals	DNQ
1984	NBA Champions	DNQ
1983	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
1982	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ
1981	NBA Champions	Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
1980	Lost Eastern Conference Finals	DNQ

Playoffs	Boston Celtics	Indiana Pacers
1979	DNQ	DNQ
1978	DNQ	DNQ
1977	Lost Eastern Conference Semis	DNQ
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	Indiana Pacers
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	Indiana Pacers
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	-