Celtics vs. Rockets 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 Houston Rockets, 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 Houston Rockets did it 35 times in their 58 seasons. Between the two they total 20 of the 78 NBA championships (25.6%).
They have faced each other in 4 playoff series, all of themwon 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 Rockets 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 | Houston Rockets | |
| Playoff Appearances: | 62 (78.5%) | 35 (60.3%) |
| Playoffs Missed: | 17 (21.5%) | 23 (39.7%) |
| NBA Titles: | 18  | 2 |
| Finals Lost: | 5 | 2 |
| All-time Playoff Record: | 429 wins 320 losses (.573) | 161 wins 168 losses (.489) |
| Total NBA Seasons: | 79 1946-47 to present | 58 1967-68 to present |
Head-to-Head in Playoffs | ||
Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | |
| Total Series | 4 Playoff Series | |
| Series Won | 4 1975, 1980, 1981, 1986 |
none |
Teams Comparison | ||
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 2025 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2024 |  NBA Champions | DNQ |
| 2023 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2022 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| 2021 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2020 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 2019 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2018 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2017 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2016 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2015 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2014 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2013 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2012 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2011 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 2010 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 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 | DNQ |
| 2005 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2004 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2003 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 2002 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2001 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2000 | DNQ | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 1999 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1998 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1997 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 1996 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1995 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | NBA Champions |
| 1994 | DNQ | NBA Champions |
| 1993 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1992 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1991 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1990 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | |||
| 1989 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| 1988 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| 1987 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis | |||
| 1986 | NBA Champions | Lost NBA Finals | |||
| |||||
| 1985 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| 1984 | NBA Champions | DNQ | |||
| 1983 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ | |||
| 1982 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | |||
| 1981 | NBA Champions | Lost NBA Finals | |||
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| 1980 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | |||
| |||||
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | |||
| 1979 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | |||
| 1978 | DNQ | DNQ | |||
| 1977 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | |||
| 1976 | NBA Champions | DNQ | |||
| 1975 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | |||
| |||||
| 1974 | NBA Champions | DNQ | |||
| 1973 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ | |||
| 1972 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ | |||
| 1971 | DNQ | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) | |||
| 1970 | DNQ | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) | |||
| Playoffs | Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets |
| 1969 | NBA Champions | Lost Western Division Semis (as San Diego Rockets) |
| 1968 | NBA Champions | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) |
| 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 | Houston Rockets |
| 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 | Houston Rockets |
| 1949 | DNQ | - |
| 1948 | Lost First Round | - |
| 1947 | DNQ | - |