Every 2003-04 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, West, Midwest and Pacific. Final standings, from a season that ran October 28, 2003 to April 14, 2004.
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East standings, 2003-04
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Indiana Pacers (IND)
61
21
.744
-
8-2
W5
Detroit Pistons (DET)
54
28
.659
7
8-2
L1
New Jersey Nets (NJN)
47
35
.573
14
5-5
L2
Miami Heat (MIA)
42
40
.512
19
7-3
W2
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
41
41
.500
20
5-5
L3
New Orleans Hornets (NOH)
41
41
.500
20
4-6
W1
New York Knicks (NYK)
39
43
.476
22
6-4
L1
Boston Celtics (BOS)
36
46
.439
25
4-6
W1
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
35
47
.427
26
3-7
W3
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
33
49
.402
28
3-7
L4
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
33
49
.402
28
3-7
W2
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
28
54
.341
33
5-5
L1
Washington Wizards (WAS)
25
57
.305
36
2-8
L3
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
23
59
.280
38
3-7
L2
Orlando Magic (ORL)
21
61
.256
40
2-8
W2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands twice.
The Indiana Pacers trailed by as many as 1 game on October 31, 2003.
The Indiana Pacers took first place for good on November 8, 2003.
The New Jersey Nets won 14 games in a row from January 25, 2004 to February 24, 2004, the longest run of the race.
The New Orleans Hornets led by 1 game as late as November 2, 2003.
The Indiana Pacers went 12-2 from February 5, 2004 to March 9, 2004, turning a lead of 3 games into a lead of 8 games.
Seven teams held first place.
The Indiana Pacers spent 163 of the season's 170 charted days in first place.