The 1989–90 NBA season was the 44th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. With Larry Bird returning after playing just six games in the 1988–89 season, the Celtics struggled around .500 during the first month of the season, but would win 11 of their next 15 games, finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a solid 52–30 record. Bird led the way averaging 24.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, while being selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game, and selected to the All-NBA Second Team. In the first round of the playoffs, the Celtics looked ready to make a serious run as they jumped out to a 2–0 series lead over the 5th-seeded New York Knicks. However, they would collapse as they lost three straight games, losing 3–2 to the Knicks. Following the season, Dennis Johnson retired and head coach Jim Rodgers was fired.

Larry Bird, the Celtics star player, was coming back after surgery to both heels the previous season and later said he never felt the same. Despite the injury, the Celtics were able to rise to 2nd place in the Atlantic Division. By the end of the regular season, the Celtics had scored an average of 110 points per a game, and allowed an average of 106 points per game. During the playoffs against the Knicks that year, the Celtics quickly took the first 2 games of the series, but the New York Knicks would come back and rally to win 3 games in a row, sending the Celtics home.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) New York Knicks: Knicks win series 3–2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1988 Eastern Conference First Round (Boston won 3–1)

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