Every 1985-86 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 25, 1985 to April 13, 1986.
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East standings, 1985-86
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
67
15
.817
-
8-2
W2
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
57
25
.695
10
7-3
W2
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
54
28
.659
13
7-3
L1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
50
32
.610
17
6-4
W3
Detroit Pistons (DET)
46
36
.561
21
5-5
W1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
39
43
.476
28
4-6
L2
Washington Bullets (WAS)
39
43
.476
28
5-5
W1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
30
52
.366
37
6-4
L1
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
29
53
.354
38
3-7
W1
Indiana Pacers (IND)
26
56
.317
41
1-9
L2
New York Knicks (NYK)
23
59
.280
44
1-9
L2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands twice.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 1.5 games on October 29, 1985.
The Boston Celtics took first place for good on November 2, 1985.
The Boston Celtics won 14 games in a row from March 11, 1986 to April 4, 1986, the longest run of the race.
The Boston Celtics went 13-0 from January 7, 1986 to February 5, 1986, turning a lead of 2 games into a lead of 8 games.
Five teams held first place.
The Boston Celtics spent 164 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.