Celtics vs. Suns 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 Phoenix Suns, 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 Phoenix Suns did it 33 times in their 57 seasons. The Celtics have won 18 of the NBA's 78 Championships (23.1%) and the Suns have not won a title so far.

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 Suns 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

Phoenix Suns
Playoff Appearances:62
(78.5%)
33
(57.9%)
Playoffs Missed:17
(21.5%)
24
(42.1%)
NBA Titles:18 NBA Titles 0 NBA Titles
Finals Lost:53
All-time Playoff Record:429 wins
320 losses
(.573)
160 wins
164 losses
(.494)
Total NBA Seasons:79
1946-47 to present
57
1968-69 to present

Head-to-Head in Playoffs


Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
Total Series 1
Playoff Series
Series Won 1
1976
none

Teams Comparison
Playoff Performances Year by Year

Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
2025
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
DNQ
2024
NBA Champions 2024NBA Champions
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
2023
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
Lost Western Conference Semis
2022
Lost NBA Finals
Lost Western Conference Semis
2021
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost NBA Finals
2020
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
2019
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
DNQ
2018
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
2017
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
2016
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
DNQ
2015
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
DNQ
2014
DNQ
DNQ
2013
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
DNQ
2012
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
2011
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
DNQ
2010
Lost NBA Finals
Lost Western Conference Finals
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
2009
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
DNQ
2008
NBA Champions 2008NBA Champions
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
2007
DNQ
Lost Western Conference Semis
2006
DNQ
Lost Western Conference Finals
2005
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost Western Conference Finals
2004
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
DNQ
2003
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
2002
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
2001
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
2000
DNQ
Lost Western Conference Semis
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
1999
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1998
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1997
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1996
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1995
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost Western Conference Semis
1994
DNQ
Lost Western Conference Semis
1993
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost NBA Finals
1992
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
Lost Western Conference Semis
1991
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1990
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost Western Conference Finals
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
1989
Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round
Lost Western Conference Finals
1988
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
1987
Lost NBA Finals
DNQ
1986
NBA Champions 1986NBA Champions
DNQ
1985
Lost NBA Finals
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1984
NBA Champions 1984NBA Champions
Lost Western Conference Finals
1983
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1982
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
Lost Western Conference Semis
1981
NBA Champions 1981NBA Champions
Lost Western Conference Semis
1980
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
Lost Western Conference Semis
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
1979
DNQ
Lost Western Conference Finals
1978
DNQ
Lost Western Conference 1st Round
1977
Lost Eastern Conference Semis
DNQ
1976
NBA Champions 1976NBA Champions
Lost NBA Finals

* The Celtics defeated the Suns 4-2 in the Finals.

1975
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
1974
NBA Champions 1974NBA Champions
DNQ
1973
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
1972
Lost Eastern Conference Finals
DNQ
1971
DNQ
DNQ
1970
DNQ
Lost Western Division Semis
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
1969
NBA Champions 1969NBA Champions
DNQ
1968
NBA Champions 1968NBA Champions
-
1967
Lost Eastern Division Finals
-
1966
NBA Champions 1966NBA Champions
-
1965
NBA Champions 1965NBA Champions
-
1964
NBA Champions 1964NBA Champions
-
1963
NBA Champions 1963NBA Champions
-
1962
NBA Champions 1962NBA Champions
-
1961
NBA Champions 1961NBA Champions
-
1960
NBA Champions 1960NBA Champions
-
Playoffs

Boston Celtics

Phoenix Suns
1959
NBA Champions 1959NBA Champions
-
1958
Lost NBA Finals
-
1957
NBA Champions 1957NBA 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

Phoenix Suns
1949
DNQ
-
1948
Lost First Round
-
1947
DNQ
-