Every 1998-99 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran February 5 to May 5, 1999.
Loading season data…
East standings, 1998-99
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Indiana Pacers (IND)
33
17
.660
-
7-3
W4
Miami Heat (MIA)
33
17
.660
-
6-4
L1
Orlando Magic (ORL)
33
17
.660
-
5-5
W4
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
31
19
.620
2
8-2
W1
Detroit Pistons (DET)
29
21
.580
4
6-4
L1
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
28
22
.560
5
6-4
L1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
28
22
.560
5
7-3
W1
New York Knicks (NYK)
27
23
.540
6
6-4
W2
Charlotte Hornets (CHH)
26
24
.520
7
6-4
W2
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
23
27
.460
10
3-7
W1
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
22
28
.440
11
1-9
L3
Boston Celtics (BOS)
19
31
.380
14
3-7
L3
Washington Wizards (WAS)
18
32
.360
15
2-8
L1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
16
34
.320
17
4-6
W1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
13
37
.260
20
3-7
L2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 11 times.
The Indiana Pacers trailed by as many as 3.5 games on April 10, 1999.
The Charlotte Hornets won 9 games in a row from April 7, 1999 to April 21, 1999, the longest run of the race.
The Orlando Magic led by 3 games as late as April 10, 1999.
The Indiana Pacers went 7-2 from April 18, 1999 to May 5, 1999, turning a deficit of 3 games into a level race.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 61 of the 88 days played.
Eight teams held first place.
The Orlando Magic held first place for 22 straight days, the season's longest run.
The Indiana Pacers spent 7 of the season's 90 charted days in first place.