NBA standings at the end of December 31, 1971
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Boston Celtics |
27 | 12 | .692 | 4437 | 4226 | 211 | -0.03 | 5.38 | 15-5 | 12-7 | 10-0 | Won 10 | |||||||
 New York Knicks |
23 | 14 | .622 | 3997 | 3761 | 236 | -1.15 | 5.22 | 12-9 | 11-5 | 8-2 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Philadelphia 76ers |
15 | 24 | .385 | 4337 | 4500 | -163 | -0.07 | -4.25 | 6-10 | 9-14 | 1-9 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Buffalo Braves |
12 | 24 | .333 | 3692 | 3987 | -295 | 0.56 | -7.64 | 8-13 | 4-11 | 1-9 | Lost 8 | |||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baltimore Bullets |
15 | 22 | .405 | 3930 | 4047 | -117 | 0.41 | -2.75 | 10-9 | 5-13 | 4-6 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
15 | 24 | .385 | 3993 | 4230 | -237 | -0.84 | -6.91 | 9-12 | 6-12 | 5-5 | Won 4 | |||||||
 Atlanta Hawks |
13 | 25 | .342 | 4087 | 4233 | -146 | 0.05 | -3.79 | 8-11 | 5-14 | 5-5 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Cincinnati Royals |
10 | 26 | .278 | 3736 | 3950 | -214 | 0.18 | -5.76 | 7-13 | 3-13 | 1-9 | Lost 9 | |||||||
| Midwest Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
32 | 7 | .821 | 4460 | 3939 | 521 | -1.82 | 11.54 | 19-2 | 13-5 | 7-3 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Chicago Bulls |
27 | 10 | .730 | 4129 | 3784 | 345 | -0.28 | 9.04 | 14-5 | 13-5 | 8-2 | Won 7 | |||||||
 Phoenix Suns |
22 | 16 | .579 | 4449 | 4181 | 268 | -0.82 | 6.23 | 13-6 | 9-10 | 7-3 | Won 3 | |||||||
 Detroit Pistons |
14 | 24 | .368 | 4063 | 4334 | -271 | 0.60 | -6.54 | 8-10 | 6-14 | 3-7 | Lost 2 | |||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
36 | 3 | .923 | 4749 | 4199 | 550 | -1.27 | 12.83 | 17-2 | 19-1 | 10-0 | Won 30 | |||||||
 Seattle Supersonics |
22 | 18 | .550 | 4267 | 4222 | 45 | 1.16 | 2.28 | 12-7 | 10-11 | 3-7 | Lost 4 | |||||||
 Golden State Warriors |
20 | 19 | .513 | 4060 | 4116 | -56 | 0.70 | -0.74 | 10-8 | 10-11 | 4-6 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Houston Rockets |
14 | 25 | .359 | 4178 | 4366 | -188 | 1.45 | -3.37 | 5-11 | 9-14 | 7-3 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Portland Trail Blazers |
8 | 32 | .200 | 4260 | 4749 | -489 | 1.11 | -11.11 | 5-14 | 3-18 | 2-8 | Lost 7 | |||||||