1970-71 NBA Season

As originally posted by Tony Miller:

In the summer of 1970, the NBA grew again. The Buffalo Braves (Buffalo Memorial Auditorium), Cleveland Cavaliers (Cleveland Arena) and Portland Trail Blazers (Memorial Coliseum) joined the league. Cleveland and Buffalo were placed in the Eastern Conference, while Portland became the ninth team in the West. Detroit and Milwaukee moved to the West, Atlanta went East, and geographic order was restored.

The existing Eastern and Western Divisions became conferences. The East was split into Atlantic and Central Divisions, while the West split into Midwest and Pacific. The top two teams in each division made the playoffs, with the division champs being seeded 1 and 2 in each conference.

The entire Midwest division finished above .500, while the only Central Division team above water was the Bullets.

Data taken from ”The NBA on ABC 1964-65 to 1972-73”. Additional listings and significant clarifications on which games have been confirmed came from jtgrace1 and Jeff79.

OCTOBER

Saturday 10/17:

Bucks-Hawks, 1:30, ABC. Jerry Gross, Jack Twyman

NOVEMBER

Friday 11/27:

Knicks-Bucks, 2:30, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

DECEMBER

Monday 12/21:

Lakers-Bucks, 9:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Friday 12/25:

Hawks-Suns, 3:30, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

JANUARY

Sunday 1/10:

76ers-Celtics, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Tuesday 1/12:

NBA All-Star Game at San Diego

East-West, 10:00, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Sunday 1/24:

Knicks-Pistons, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 1/31:

Knicks-Bullets (at College Park, Md.), 2:00, ABC. Curt Gowdy, Jack Twyman

Game likely pre-empted in second half for Apollo 14 launch.

FEBRUARY

Sunday 2/7:

Bulls-Celtics, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 2/14:

Bucks-Hawks, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 2/21:

Bullets-Hawks, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 2/28:

Knicks-Bullets, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

MARCH

Sunday 3/7:

Knicks-Celtics, 2:00, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Sunday 3/14:

76ers-Hawks, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 3/21:

Bullets-76ers, 2:00, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Sunday 3/28:

East semis, g3: 76ers-Bullets, 2:00, ABC regional. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

West semis, g3: Lakers-Bulls, 2:00, ABC regional. Keith Jackson, Jerry West

APRIL

Sunday 4/4:

East semis, g7: 76ers-Bullets, 2:00, ABC regional. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

West semis, g6: Lakers-Bulls, 2:00, ABC regional. Keith Jackson, Jerry West

Friday 4/9:

West finals, g1: Lakers-Bucks, 9:00, ABC.  Keith Jackson, Jerry West

Sunday 4/11:

East finals, g3: Knicks-Bullets, 2:00, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Friday 4/16:

East finals, g5: Bullets-Knicks, 7:30, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Sunday 4/18:

East finals, g6: Knicks-Bullets, 2:00, ABC regional. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

West finals, g5: Lakers-Bucks, 2:00, ABC regional. Keith Jackson, Jerry West

Monday 4/19:

East finals, g7: Bullets-Knicks, 7:30, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Wednesday 4/21:

NBA Finals, g1: Bullets-Bucks, 9:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Sunday 4/25:

NBA Finals, g2: Bucks-Bullets, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jack Twyman

Wednesday 4/28:

NBA Finals, g3: Bullets-Bucks, 9:00, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman

Friday 4/30:

NBA Finals, g4: Bucks-Bullets, 8:30, ABC. Chris Schenkel, Jack Twyman