Every 1987-88 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran November 6, 1987 to April 24, 1988.
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East standings, 1987-88
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
57
25
.695
-
6-4
L2
Detroit Pistons (DET)
54
28
.659
3
7-3
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
50
32
.610
7
4-6
L1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
50
32
.610
7
7-3
W1
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
42
40
.512
15
8-2
W4
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
42
40
.512
15
3-7
L1
Indiana Pacers (IND)
38
44
.463
19
4-6
L1
New York Knicks (NYK)
38
44
.463
19
6-4
W1
Washington Bullets (WAS)
38
44
.463
19
5-5
W1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
36
46
.439
21
4-6
L2
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
19
63
.232
38
1-9
W1
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 12 times.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 2.5 games on December 12, 1987.
The Boston Celtics took first place for good on March 4, 1988.
The Detroit Pistons won 10 games in a row from December 1, 1987 to December 26, 1987, the longest run of the race.
The Atlanta Hawks led by 3 games as late as January 11, 1988.
The Boston Celtics led by as many as 5 games on April 3, 1988.
The Boston Celtics went 16-6 from January 11, 1988 to February 22, 1988, turning a deficit of 2.5 games into a lead of 3.5 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 74 of the 158 days played.
The Boston Celtics spent 109 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.