Every 2016-17 NBA race charted day by day: East, Atlantic, Central, Southeast, West, Northwest, Pacific and Southwest. Final standings, from a season that ran October 25, 2016 to April 12, 2017.
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East standings, 2016-17
Team
W
L
Pct
GB
L10
Streak
Boston Celtics (BOS)
53
29
.646
-
7-3
W3
Cleveland Cavaliers (CLE)
51
31
.622
2
4-6
L4
Toronto Raptors (TOR)
51
31
.622
2
8-2
W4
Washington Wizards (WAS)
49
33
.598
4
5-5
L1
Atlanta Hawks (ATL)
43
39
.524
10
6-4
L1
Indiana Pacers (IND)
42
40
.512
11
6-4
W5
Milwaukee Bucks (MIL)
42
40
.512
11
5-5
L1
Chicago Bulls (CHI)
41
41
.500
12
7-3
W2
Miami Heat (MIA)
41
41
.500
12
6-4
W3
Detroit Pistons (DET)
37
45
.451
16
3-7
L2
Charlotte Hornets (CHA)
36
46
.439
17
4-6
L5
New York Knicks (NYK)
31
51
.378
22
4-6
W1
Orlando Magic (ORL)
29
53
.354
24
3-7
W1
Philadelphia 76ers (PHI)
28
54
.341
25
1-9
L8
Brooklyn Nets (BKN)
20
62
.244
33
5-5
L2
The dashed line on the chart is the pace of the final playoff spot.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 5 times.
The Boston Celtics trailed by as many as 6.5 games on January 2, 2017.
The Boston Celtics took first place for good on April 10, 2017.
The Miami Heat won 13 games in a row from January 17, 2017 to February 10, 2017, the longest run of the race.
The Cleveland Cavaliers led by 4.5 games as late as January 9, 2017.
The Boston Celtics went 15-7 from February 28, 2017 to April 12, 2017, turning a deficit of 4 games into a lead of 2 games.
The top two ended the day within one game of each other on 58 of the 161 days played.
Eight teams held first place.
The Boston Celtics spent 13 of the season's 170 charted days in first place.