The 2002–03 NBA season was the 57th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired Vin Baker from the Seattle SuperSonics. The Celtics posted a six-game winning streak after losing their first two games, and got off to a solid 16–7 start. However, they lost six straight games in March, and finished third in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record. The team made the playoffs for the second time with team captain Paul Pierce, but this time as the #6 seed in the Eastern Conference. Pierce and Antoine Walker were both selected for the 2003 NBA All-Star Game. After defeating the 3rd-seeded Indiana Pacers four games to two in the first round, they were unable to stop the New Jersey Nets as they were swept in four straight Conference Semifinal games. This was also Walker's final season with the Celtics as he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks the following offseason. He would return to Boston midway during the 2004–05 season.

Bold = All-Star selection

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Boston Celtics Last Playoff Meeting: 1992 Eastern Conference First Round (Boston won 3-0)

(BOS-IND)

(2) New Jersey Nets vs. (6) Boston Celtics Last Playoff Meeting: 2002 Eastern Conference Finals (New Jersey won 4-2)

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