Every 1979-80 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 12, 1979 to March 30, 1980.
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East standings, 1979-80
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
61
21
.744
-
7-3
L1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
59
23
.720
2
6-4
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
50
32
.610
11
6-4
L2
Houston Rockets (HOU)
41
41
.500
20
6-4
W3
San Antonio Spurs (SAN)
41
41
.500
20
6-4
W1
New York Knicks (NYK)
39
43
.476
22
3-7
L2
Washington Bullets (WAS)
39
43
.476
22
5-5
W2
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
37
45
.451
24
8-2
W1
Indiana Pacers (IND)
37
45
.451
24
5-5
L1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
34
48
.415
27
3-7
L1
Detroit Pistons (DET)
16
66
.195
45
0-10
L14
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 8 times.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 2 games on October 26, 1979.
The Boston Celtics took first place for good on January 27, 1980.
The Boston Celtics won 9 games in a row from February 20, 1980 to March 7, 1980, the longest run of the race.
The Philadelphia 76ers led by 2 games as late as October 30, 1979.
The Boston Celtics led by as many as 4 games on March 20, 1980.
The Boston Celtics went 8-1 from January 21, 1980 to February 8, 1980, turning a deficit of 1 game into a lead of 3 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 69 of the 141 days played.
The Boston Celtics spent 139 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.