Every 1997-98 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 31, 1997 to April 19, 1998.
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East standings, 1997-98
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
62
20
.756
-
7-3
W2
Indiana Pacers (IND)
58
24
.707
4
8-2
L1
Miami Heat (MIA)
55
27
.671
7
4-6
L3
Charlotte Hornets (CHH)
51
31
.622
11
5-5
W1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
50
32
.610
12
7-3
W2
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
47
35
.573
15
6-4
W1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
43
39
.524
19
6-4
W1
New York Knicks (NYK)
43
39
.524
19
3-7
L1
Washington Wizards (WAS)
42
40
.512
20
6-4
W4
Orlando Magic (ORL)
41
41
.500
21
4-6
L1
Detroit Pistons (DET)
37
45
.451
25
3-7
L1
Boston Celtics (BOS)
36
46
.439
26
5-5
L1
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
36
46
.439
26
5-5
L2
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
31
51
.378
31
5-5
W1
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
16
66
.195
46
1-9
L3
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 8 times.
The Chicago Bulls trailed by as many as 5.5 games on December 2, 1997.
The Chicago Bulls took first place for good on February 17, 1998.
The Chicago Bulls won 13 games in a row from March 14, 1998 to April 7, 1998, the longest run of the race.
The Atlanta Hawks led by 4 games as late as December 2, 1997.
The Chicago Bulls led by as many as 6 games on April 7, 1998.
The Chicago Bulls went 14-3 from December 2, 1997 to January 6, 1998, turning a deficit of 5.5 games into a lead of 1.5 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 60 of the 164 days played.
The Chicago Bulls spent 82 of the season's 171 charted days in first place.