Every 1989-90 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran November 3, 1989 to April 22, 1990.
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East standings, 1989-90
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Detroit Pistons (DET)
59
23
.720
-
6-4
W2
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
55
27
.671
4
6-4
L2
Philadelphia 76ers (PHL)
53
29
.646
6
7-3
L1
Boston Celtics (BOS)
52
30
.634
7
9-1
W3
New York Knicks (NYK)
45
37
.549
14
4-6
L3
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
44
38
.537
15
7-3
W2
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
42
40
.512
17
8-2
W6
Indiana Pacers (IND)
42
40
.512
17
6-4
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
41
41
.500
18
6-4
W3
Washington Bullets (WAS)
31
51
.378
28
3-7
L3
Miami Heat (MIA)
18
64
.220
41
1-9
L1
Orlando Magic (ORL)
18
64
.220
41
1-9
W1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
17
65
.207
42
1-9
L7
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 13 times.
The Detroit Pistons trailed by as many as 3 games on December 29, 1989.
The Detroit Pistons took first place for good on January 23, 1990.
The Detroit Pistons won 13 games in a row from January 23, 1990 to February 21, 1990, the longest run of the race.
The New York Knicks led by 2 games as late as December 28, 1989.
The Detroit Pistons led by as many as 8 games on March 16, 1990.
The Detroit Pistons went 18-2 from January 18, 1990 to March 2, 1990, turning a deficit of 1.5 games into a lead of 6 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 67 of the 158 days played.
The Detroit Pistons spent 98 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.