NBA standings at the end of December 21, 1971
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Boston Celtics |
22 | 12 | .647 | 3884 | 3702 | 182 | 0.05 | 5.40 | 13-5 | 9-7 | 8-2 | Won 5 | |||||||
 New York Knicks |
19 | 13 | .594 | 3422 | 3241 | 181 | -0.84 | 4.82 | 11-8 | 8-5 | 6-4 | Won 3 | |||||||
 Philadelphia 76ers |
14 | 20 | .412 | 3765 | 3917 | -152 | 0.13 | -4.34 | 6-7 | 8-13 | 2-8 | Lost 5 | |||||||
 Buffalo Braves |
12 | 20 | .375 | 3274 | 3498 | -224 | 0.30 | -6.70 | 8-12 | 4-8 | 4-6 | Lost 4 | |||||||
| Central Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Baltimore Bullets |
12 | 20 | .375 | 3362 | 3509 | -147 | 0.46 | -4.14 | 9-8 | 3-12 | 2-8 | Lost 2 | |||||||
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
11 | 23 | .324 | 3461 | 3701 | -240 | -0.14 | -7.20 | 6-12 | 5-11 | 2-8 | Lost 3 | |||||||
 Atlanta Hawks |
10 | 22 | .312 | 3389 | 3534 | -145 | 0.66 | -3.87 | 6-11 | 4-11 | 5-5 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Cincinnati Royals |
10 | 22 | .312 | 3350 | 3519 | -169 | 0.24 | -5.04 | 7-10 | 3-12 | 2-8 | Lost 5 | |||||||
| Midwest Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
30 | 4 | .882 | 3902 | 3423 | 479 | -1.86 | 12.23 | 17-1 | 13-3 | 9-1 | Won 9 | |||||||
 Chicago Bulls |
22 | 10 | .688 | 3567 | 3289 | 278 | -0.38 | 8.31 | 12-5 | 10-5 | 6-4 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Phoenix Suns |
19 | 15 | .559 | 3978 | 3770 | 208 | -0.94 | 5.18 | 11-5 | 8-10 | 6-4 | Won 1 | |||||||
 Detroit Pistons |
12 | 22 | .353 | 3617 | 3875 | -258 | 0.34 | -7.25 | 6-8 | 6-14 | 2-8 | Lost 4 | |||||||
| Pacific Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W | L | PCT | PF | PA | MOV | SOS | SRS | HOME | ROAD | LAST 10 | STRK | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
32 | 3 | .914 | 4258 | 3771 | 487 | -1.01 | 12.90 | 15-2 | 17-1 | 10-0 | Won 26 | |||||||
 Seattle Supersonics |
22 | 14 | .611 | 3869 | 3761 | 108 | 0.44 | 3.44 | 12-4 | 10-10 | 6-4 | Won 2 | |||||||
 Golden State Warriors |
18 | 17 | .514 | 3639 | 3679 | -40 | 0.79 | -0.35 | 10-8 | 8-9 | 2-8 | Lost 1 | |||||||
 Houston Rockets |
13 | 23 | .361 | 3828 | 3990 | -162 | 1.05 | -3.45 | 4-10 | 9-13 | 7-3 | Won 4 | |||||||
 Portland Trail Blazers |
8 | 26 | .235 | 3647 | 4033 | -386 | 0.64 | -10.71 | 5-12 | 3-14 | 4-6 | Lost 1 | |||||||