The 1970–71 NBA season was the 76ers 22nd season in the NBA and 8th season in Philadelphia. They improved to a record of 47–35. In the playoffs, they lost a hard-fought series with the Baltimore Bullets 4–3, who represented the Eastern Conference in the Finals. This was the final season for forward Bailey Howell, who was signed by Philadelphia & was a vital part in 2 Celtics championships in 1968 and 1969.
The Sixers also tried a new uniform style. Instead of the traditional PHILA in block lettering, they used a design that wrote out Seventy Sixers in cursive writing. These uniforms did not last the entire year.[1]
See main article: article and 1970 NBA draft. This table only displays picks through the second round.
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1970–71 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SDR | SFW | SEA |
| — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–2 | ||
| 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | ||
| 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 5–7 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | ||
| 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–0 | — | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 1–4 | ||
| 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 7–5 | 0–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–10 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | ||
| 5–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–1 | ||
| 2–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–2 | — | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 4–1 | — | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–0 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–4 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | ||
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | |
| 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | — | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
| 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 6–6 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 10–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | ||
| 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 0–6 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–4 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | ||
| 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | ||
| 1970–71 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 14 | 107–110 | Billy Cunningham (24) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 16 | 119–127 | Archie Clark (28) | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | October 17 | 123–105 | Archie Clark (24) | 3–0 | ||
| 4 | October 20 | 98–89 | Hal Greer (20) | 4–0 | ||
| 5 | October 21 | 141–117 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 4–1 | ||
| 6 | October 23 | @ Los Angeles | 127–122 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 5–1 | |
| 7 | October 24 | @ San Diego | 111–116 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 5–2 | |
| 8 | October 28 | 111–108 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 6–2 | ||
| 9 | October 30 | 123–110 | Archie Clark (24) | 6–3 | ||
| 10 | October 31 | 133–102 | Billy Cunningham (19) | 6–4 | ||
| 11 | November 2 | 87–141 | Archie Clark (21) | 7–4 | ||
| 12 | November 4 | @ Boston | 113–115 | Billy Cunningham (25) | 7–5 | |
| 13 | November 6 | 112–118 | Billy Cunningham (38) | 8–5 | ||
| 14 | November 7 | 128–134 | Bailey Howell (27) | 9–5 | ||
| 15 | November 10 | @ Atlanta | 104–109 | Hal Greer (25) | 9–6 | |
| 16 | November 11 | @ Baltimore | 119–107 | Archie Clark (30) | 10–6 | |
| 17 | November 13 | Buffalo | 111–119 | Cunningham, Greer, Howell (20) | 11–6 | |
| 18 | November 14 | 94–126 | Billy Cunningham (18) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 17 | 113–91 | Archie Clark (24) | 12–7 | ||
| 20 | November 18 | New York | 106–113 | Billy Cunningham (29) | 13–7 | |
| 21 | November 20 | Detroit | 120–112 | Hal Greer (31) | 13–8 | |
| 22 | November 21 | 125–119 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 13–9 | ||
| 23 | November 22 | @ Atlanta | 115–125 | Cunningham, Greer (26) | 13–10 | |
| 24 | November 24 | San Francisco | 104–96 | Archie Clark (26) | 13–11 | |
| 25 | November 25 | N Buffalo | 99–92 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 14–11 | |
| 26 | November 27 | Cincinnati | 113–109 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 14–12 | |
| 27 | November 30 | Baltimore | 98–104 | Billy Cunningham (19) | 15–12 | |
| 28 | December 1 | @ Chicago | 91–107 | Dennis Awtrey (17) | 15–13 | |
| 29 | December 4 | 122–128 (OT) | Billy Cunningham (33) | 15–14 | ||
| 30 | December 5 | @ Cincinnati | 131–106 | Archie Clark (29) | 16–14 | |
| 31 | December 8 | Seattle | 107–104 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 16–15 | |
| 32 | December 11 | San Francisco | 102–101 | Clark, Cunningham (18) | 16–16 | |
| 33 | December 12 | @ New York | 101–118 | Archie Clark (21) | 16–17 | |
| 34 | December 15 | San Diego | 98–122 | Jim Washington (20) | 17–17 | |
| 35 | December 17 | @ Seattle | 125–117 | Archie Clark (29) | 18–17 | |
| 36 | December 19 | @ San Francisco | 108–99 | Hal Greer (33) | 19–17 | |
| 37 | December 20 | 134–132 (OT) | Cunningham, Greer (31) | 20–17 | ||
| 38 | December 22 | @ Phoenix | 133–129 (OT) | Archie Clark (26) | 21–17 | |
| 39 | December 25 | Detroit | 100–105 | Hal Greer (28) | 22–17 | |
| 40 | December 27 | @ Cleveland | 101–114 | Clark, Cunningham (25) | 22–18 | |
| 41 | December 29 | @ Buffalo | 124–113 | Archie Clark (35) | 23–18 | |
| 42 | December 30 | Milwaukee | 107–119 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 24–18 | |
| 43 | January 2 | Boston | 125–120 | Billy Cunningham (29) | 24–19 | |
| 44 | January 5 | San Francisco | 92–97 | Archie Clark (22) | 25–19 | |
| 45 | January 8 | Los Angeles | 123–117 | Archie Clark (29) | 25–20 | |
| 46 | January 9 | Phoenix | 112–123 | Archie Clark (33) | 26–20 | |
| 47 | January 10 | @ Boston | 115–107 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 27–20 | |
| 48 | January 14 | @ Chicago | 103–108 | Bailey Howell (22) | 27–21 | |
| 49 | January 15 | Chicago | 96–99 | Hal Greer (22) | 28–21 | |
| 50 | January 16 | Cleveland | 96–115 | Hal Greer (29) | 29–21 | |
| 51 | January 17 | @ San Diego | 106–105 | Bailey Howell (28) | 30–21 | |
| 52 | January 19 | @ Los Angeles | 114–134 | Archie Clark (38) | 30–22 | |
| 53 | January 22 | @ Phoenix | 117–116 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 31–22 | |
| 54 | January 24 | @ Seattle | 145–119 | Billy Cunningham (33) | 32–22 | |
| 55 | January 26 | Atlanta | 122–129 | Hal Greer (36) | 33–22 | |
| 56 | January 29 | Milwaukee | 142–118 | Clark, Greer (21) | 33–23 | |
| 57 | January 30 | @ New York | 106–105 | Jim Washington (24) | 34–23 | |
| 58 | January 31 | @ Boston | 126–132 | Archie Clark (32) | 34–24 | |
| 59 | February 2 | Boston | 105–108 | Billy Cunningham (31) | 35–24 | |
| 60 | February 5 | @ Chicago | 102–114 | Archie Clark (30) | 35–25 | |
| 61 | February 6 | @ Cincinnati | 118–109 | Hal Greer (29) | 36–25 | |
| 62 | February 7 | New York | 99–127 | Archie Clark (33) | 37–25 | |
| 63 | February 12 | @ Detroit | 109–118 | Billy Cunningham (26) | 37–26 | |
| 64 | February 14 | N Baltimore | 103–112 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 37–27 | |
| 65 | February 17 | N Milwaukee | 114–119 | Billy Cunningham (26) | 37–28 | |
| 66 | February 19 | @ Los Angeles | 118–104 | Jim Washington (28) | 38–28 | |
| 67 | February 20 | @ Portland | 118–105 | Archie Clark (30) | 39–28 | |
| 68 | February 21 | @ Seattle | 128–135 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 39–29 | |
| 69 | February 23 | Portland | 113–119 | Billy Cunningham (35) | 40–29 | |
| 70 | February 26 | Phoenix | 108–94 | Billy Cunningham (27) | 40–30 | |
| 71 | February 28 | Cincinnati | 121–131 | Billy Cunningham (28) | 41–30 | |
| 72 | March 1 | @ Milwaukee | 103–127 | Archie Clark (20) | 41–31 | |
| 73 | March 2 | San Diego | 111–103 | Billy Cunningham (22) | 41–32 | |
| 74 | March 3 | N Portland | 104–120 | Archie Clark (28) | 42–32 | |
| 75 | March 5 | New York | 116–121 | Billy Cunningham (34) | 43–32 | |
| 76 | March 6 | Detroit | 115–121 | Clark, Greer (28) | 44–32 | |
| 77 | March 9 | @ Cleveland | 124–113 | Billy Cunningham (23) | 45–32 | |
| 78 | March 14 | @ Atlanta | 101–108 | Archie Clark (29) | 45–33 | |
| 79 | March 16 | Atlanta | 130–125 | Clark, Jackson (26) | 45–34 | |
| 80 | March 19 | Cincinnati | 127–147 | Archie Clark (24) | 46–34 | |
| 81 | March 20 | @ Baltimore | 112–124 | Bailey Howell (28) | 46–35 | |
| 82 | March 21 | Baltimore | 108–120 | Hal Greer (23) | 47–35 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 24| @ Baltimore| W 126–112| Hal Greer (30)| Luke Jackson (13)| Archie Clark (7)| Baltimore Civic Center
6,707| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 26| Baltimore| L 107–119| Archie Clark (26)| Billy Cunningham (11)| Archie Clark (6)| Spectrum
10,369| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| March 28| @ Baltimore| L 103–111| Hal Greer (30)| Billy Cunningham (19)| Billy Cunningham (10)| Baltimore Civic Center
5,589| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| March 30| Baltimore| L 105–120| Archie Clark (24)| Billy Cunningham (17)| Billy Cunningham (8)| Spectrum
8,909| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 1| @ Baltimore| W 104–103| Billy Cunningham (32)| Billy Cunningham (20)| Hal Greer (6)| Baltimore Civic Center
10,998| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 3| Baltimore| W 98–94| Billy Cunningham (33)| Billy Cunningham (16)| Billy Cunningham (5)| Spectrum
7,059| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 4| @ Baltimore| L 120–128| Archie Clark (37)| Billy Cunningham (19)| Clark, Greer (5)| Baltimore Civic Center
6,662| 3–4|-