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games above .500 · final standings
1996-97 NBA Western Conference standings
The Utah Jazz won the 1996-97 NBA Western Conference playoff race at 64-18, 7 games ahead of the Houston Rockets.
🏆How the 1996-97 playoffs went
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West standings, 1996-97
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | L10 | Streak |
|---|
| Utah Jazz (UTA) | 64 | 18 | .780 | - | 9-1 | W4 |
| Houston Rockets (HOU) | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 | 8-2 | W4 |
| Seattle SuperSonics (SEA) | 57 | 25 | .695 | 7 | 7-3 | W3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers (LAL) | 56 | 26 | .683 | 8 | 7-3 | L1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers (POR) | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15 | 7-3 | W4 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves (MIN) | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 | 5-5 | L1 |
| Phoenix Suns (PHX) | 40 | 42 | .488 | 24 | 7-3 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers (LAC) | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28 | 5-5 | L3 |
| Sacramento Kings (SAC) | 34 | 48 | .415 | 30 | 5-5 | L1 |
| Golden State Warriors (GSW) | 30 | 52 | .366 | 34 | 4-6 | L2 |
| Dallas Mavericks (DAL) | 24 | 58 | .293 | 40 | 2-8 | L2 |
| Denver Nuggets (DEN) | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43 | 1-9 | W1 |
| San Antonio Spurs (SAS) | 20 | 62 | .244 | 44 | 2-8 | L6 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies (VAN) | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50 | 2-8 | W1 |
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
- The lead changed hands 5 times.
- The Utah Jazz trailed by as many as 4.5 games on January 19, 1997.
- The Utah Jazz took first place for good on March 3, 1997.
- The Utah Jazz won 15 games in a row from November 13, 1996 to December 10, 1996, the longest run of the race.
- The Houston Rockets led by 2.5 games as late as January 19, 1997.
- The Utah Jazz went 18-1 from March 2, 1997 to April 9, 1997, turning a level race into a lead of 7 games.
- The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 78 of the 163 days played.
- Eight teams held first place.
- The Utah Jazz spent 66 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.