REMEMBER WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR: Celtics Become First Team in NBA History With Three 50-Point Wins in a Single Season

“Remember what we did last year.”

It’s a phrase the Boston Celtics have proudly embraced—and for good reason. In a league built on legacies, grit, and historic dominance, the 2024-25 Boston Celtics have carved out a new chapter in NBA lore. With their third 50+ point win of the season, the Celtics became the first team in NBA history to accomplish such a feat. Let that sink in—never before, in over 75 seasons of NBA basketball, has any franchise recorded three victories by a margin of 50 points or more in a single season.

The magnitude of the milestone isn’t lost on players, coaches, or fans. It’s a testament not just to the Celtics’ firepower and defensive suffocation, but to their ability to stay locked in across all 48 minutes of a game—often turning a close contest into a full-blown avalanche by the time the final horn sounds.

Their third 50+ point statement came in a demolition of the Indiana Pacers at TD Garden, a 145–94 rout that had the crowd roaring and the league buzzing. “We weren’t trying to send a message,” All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum said postgame. “We were just doing what we do—playing Celtics basketball. But if the league heard it, good.”

A Historic Season of Blowouts

The first of Boston’s three 50-point victories came back in January when they dismantled the Golden State Warriors 140–88 at Chase Center. Then came a March showdown with the Brooklyn Nets, a 136–81 destruction that tied the largest winning margin in Celtics history. And now, the Pacers—no slouches themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race—fell victim to the latest chapter of Boston’s dominance.

Each of these games had a common thread: suffocating defense, elite ball movement, and an offensive explosion from beyond the arc. But more than that, they revealed something deeper about Boston’s psyche—this team plays with a chip on its shoulder. After last year’s heart-wrenching Game 7 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics returned with a vengeance.

“We haven’t forgotten anything,” said Jaylen Brown, who had 26 points in the most recent blowout. “People talk about the Nuggets, the Bucks, the new-look Suns… and that’s fine. But we remember how it ended for us. That fuels us.”

Breaking Down the Three Wins

Let’s take a closer look at the trilogy of dominance that etched Boston into the record books.

1. Celtics 140, Warriors 88 – January 2025
The Warriors had just welcomed Steph Curry back from injury. But the celebration was short-lived. Tatum dropped 35 in three quarters, while Boston held Curry and Klay Thompson to a combined 24 points. Boston’s defense swarmed the perimeter, forcing 19 turnovers and holding Golden State to 38% shooting. The 52-point win was a wake-up call to the rest of the league that Boston was no longer in “build mode”—they were on a mission.

2. Celtics 136, Nets 81 – March 2025
In what felt more like a clinic than a contest, Boston blitzed Brooklyn from the opening tip. Kristaps Porziņģis controlled the paint on both ends with 5 blocks and 22 points. The Nets never got closer than 18 after the first quarter. The 55-point margin tied the Celtics’ largest since 1998, when they beat the Bulls by the same score. But unlike that team, these Celtics are contenders, not rebuilders.

3. Celtics 145, Pacers 94 – July 2025
The most recent chapter saw Boston shoot a blistering 60% from the field and hit 23 three-pointers. Derrick White was everywhere, racking up steals, deflections, and 7 assists. The Celtics bench outscored Indiana’s 63–28. By the fourth quarter, fans were chanting “We want Banner 18!”—a reminder of the goal that has driven this team since the heartbreak of last postseason.

Joe Mazzulla’s Blueprint for Dominance

Much credit goes to head coach Joe Mazzulla, who has grown more assertive and creative in his second full season at the helm. Known for his defensive schemes and adaptability, Mazzulla has empowered his stars while building a culture of accountability and excellence.

“He’s real with us,” said Jrue Holiday. “He doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but he also doesn’t micromanage. He trusts us to play the right way. And we want to prove he’s right.”

Under Mazzulla, the Celtics rank top-3 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They lead the NBA in point differential, and their depth is unmatched. When the starters rest, players like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Luke Kornet step up with energy and production.

Analysts have been stunned by Boston’s ability to consistently blow teams out in an era of parity. “What they’re doing is rare,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said. “Teams are too skilled, too deep today for 50-point wins to happen at all—let alone three in a season.”

A Legacy in the Making?

To grasp the rarity of this achievement, consider this: prior to this season, only five teams in NBA history had ever won two games by 50+ points in a single season. None had ever reached three. Even the dynastic Warriors, Jordan’s Bulls, and the 1986 Celtics never did it.

The 2025 Celtics now stand alone.

And it’s not just about blowouts. It’s about sending a clear message: we are not the same team that fell short last year.

Tatum and Brown, once seen as a talented but unproven duo, have matured into cold-blooded assassins on both ends of the floor. Holiday’s veteran leadership and defensive versatility have been pivotal. Porziņģis adds a stretch-big dynamic the Celtics sorely missed in years past. And the chemistry? It’s never been stronger.

“I’ve been on teams where guys want stats,” said Tatum. “This group just wants to win. That’s why we’re making history.”

What Comes Next?

Of course, regular-season greatness means nothing without playoff validation. The Celtics have experienced the pain of postseason disappointment, and they know all too well that one cold night in May or June can overshadow an entire season’s worth of work.

But this time, they seem more equipped—mentally, physically, and emotionally.

If Boston does win the title this year, the “three 50-point wins” stat may become more than just a record. It could be seen as the turning point. The exclamation mark. The moment when the Celtics transitioned from promise to power.

Until then, they’ll keep grinding. Keep winning. And, most importantly, keep remembering what they did last year.

Because they never want to feel that heartbreak again.

And now, the entire league knows—when the Celtics lock in, history follows.

“Remember what we did last year,” they say.

Yes, we remember. And after this historic season, no one else will ever forget.