The 1970–71 NBA season was the Bulls' fifth season in the NBA.[1]
See main article: article and 1970 NBA draft.
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 | ||
| Chicago | 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 | ||
| 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 13 | 96–111 | Bob Love (28) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 14 | 107–110 | Chet Walker (30) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 16 | 106–102 | Bob Weiss (22) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 17 | 99–96 | Chet Walker (24) | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 25 | 131–116 | Bob Love (30) | 3–2 | ||
| 6 | October 28 | 118–105 | Bob Love (28) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 30 | 101–98 | Jerry Sloan (22) | 5–2 | ||
| 8 | October 31 | 119–122 | Chet Walker (39) | 5–3 | ||
| 9 | November 3 | Seattle | 101–113 | Chet Walker (31) | 6–3 | |
| 10 | November 6 | Phoenix | 105–102 | Chet Walker (29) | 6–4 | |
| 11 | November 7 | 99–125 | Jerry Sloan (25) | 7–4 | ||
| 12 | November 10 | Los Angeles | 96–118 | Jerry Sloan (32) | 8–4 | |
| 13 | November 13 | New York | 106–98 | Bob Love (20) | 8–5 | |
| 14 | November 14 | 120–116 | Bob Love (39) | 9–5 | ||
| 15 | November 17 | San Francisco | 111–105 | Bob Love (32) | 9–6 | |
| 16 | November 18 | 128–107 | Chet Walker (27) | 10–6 | ||
| 17 | November 21 | 107–110 | Bob Love (32) | 11–6 | ||
| 18 | November 24 | 117–108 | Jerry Sloan (23) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 27 | 104–121 | Bob Love (31) | 12–7 | ||
| 20 | November 28 | 91–99 | Chet Walker (23) | 12–8 | ||
| 21 | December 1 | Philadelphia | 91–107 | Chet Walker (28) | 13–8 | |
| 22 | December 3 | @ Milwaukee | 100–107 | Bob Love (22) | 13–9 | |
| 23 | December 4 | @ Detroit | 103–107 | Love, Walker (24) | 13–10 | |
| 24 | December 5 | Boston | 101–97 | Jerry Sloan (28) | 13–11 | |
| 25 | December 8 | San Francisco | 87–98 | Bob Love (30) | 14–11 | |
| 26 | December 10 | N Buffalo | 138–120 | Love, Sloan (34) | 15–11 | |
| 27 | December 11 | Atlanta | 86–87 | Chet Walker (27) | 16–11 | |
| 28 | December 12 | San Diego | 98–103 | Chet Walker (27) | 17–11 | |
| 29 | December 15 | Baltimore | 97–115 | Bob Love (37) | 18–11 | |
| 30 | December 18 | Cincinnati | 122–137 | Jerry Sloan (31) | 19–11 | |
| 31 | December 19 | @ New York | 87–98 | Bob Love (22) | 19–12 | |
| 32 | December 20 | 116–103 | Chet Walker (24) | 20–12 | ||
| 33 | December 22 | Cleveland | 80–121 | Bob Love (22) | 21–12 | |
| 34 | December 23 | @ Buffalo | 104–103 | Bob Love (31) | 22–12 | |
| 35 | December 25 | @ Baltimore | 112–128 | Bob Love (42) | 22–13 | |
| 36 | December 26 | Detroit | 117–114 | Jerry Sloan (28) | 22–14 | |
| 37 | December 27 | @ San Diego | 110–101 | Bob Love (32) | 23–14 | |
| 38 | December 29 | @ Los Angeles | 117–126 | Bob Love (31) | 23–15 | |
| 39 | December 30 | @ Seattle | 109–128 | Boerwinkle, Love (20) | 23–16 | |
| 40 | January 2 | @ Portland | 136–113 | Bob Love (36) | 24–16 | |
| 41 | January 5 | San Diego | 103–116 | Jerry Sloan (29) | 25–16 | |
| 42 | January 6 | N Milwaukee | 119–106 | Bob Love (29) | 25–17 | |
| 43 | January 8 | Portland | 113–105 | Chet Walker (33) | 25–18 | |
| 44 | January 10 | Buffalo | 113–141 | Bob Love (30) | 26–18 | |
| 45 | January 14 | Philadelphia | 103–108 | Bob Love (27) | 27–18 | |
| 46 | January 15 | @ Philadelphia | 96–99 | Jerry Sloan (23) | 27–19 | |
| 47 | January 16 | Milwaukee | 110–90 | Bob Love (27) | 27–20 | |
| 48 | January 19 | Portland | 111–123 | Chet Walker (32) | 28–20 | |
| 49 | January 20 | New York | 103–109 | Chet Walker (33) | 29–20 | |
| 50 | January 23 | @ San Francisco | 87–83 | Bob Love (34) | 30–20 | |
| 51 | January 24 | @ Phoenix | 112–113 | Bob Love (34) | 30–21 | |
| 52 | January 26 | @ Los Angeles | 111–136 | Chet Walker (21) | 30–22 | |
| 53 | January 27 | @ San Diego | 111–106 | Jerry Sloan (30) | 31–22 | |
| 54 | January 31 | Cincinnati | 99–131 | Bob Love (25) | 32–22 | |
| 55 | February 2 | Seattle | 101–118 | Love, Walker (27) | 33–22 | |
| 56 | February 3 | @ Baltimore | 124–102 | Bob Love (35) | 34–22 | |
| 57 | February 5 | Philadelphia | 102–114 | Bob Love (37) | 35–22 | |
| 58 | February 6 | @ New York | 109–102 | Bob Love (40) | 36–22 | |
| 59 | February 7 | @ Boston | 96–104 | Bob Love (32) | 36–23 | |
| 60 | February 9 | Boston | 90–88 | Bob Love (27) | 36–24 | |
| 61 | February 12 | Los Angeles | 88–107 | Jerry Sloan (23) | 37–24 | |
| 62 | February 13 | @ Milwaukee | 96–103 | Chet Walker (32) | 37–25 | |
| 63 | February 14 | Cleveland | 83–108 | Jerry Sloan (26) | 38–25 | |
| 64 | February 16 | Atlanta | 102–118 | Jerry Sloan (32) | 39–25 | |
| 65 | February 17 | @ Cleveland | 109–104 | Chet Walker (32) | 40–25 | |
| 66 | February 19 | Detroit | 114–115 (OT) | Chet Walker (44) | 41–25 | |
| 67 | February 21 | @ Detroit | 125–112 | Chet Walker (27) | 42–25 | |
| 68 | February 27 | @ Seattle | 129–114 | Bob Love (39) | 43–25 | |
| 69 | March 1 | N Cincinnati | 94–98 | Chet Walker (24) | 44–25 | |
| 70 | March 3 | @ Phoenix | 90–115 | Jim Fox (20) | 44–26 | |
| 71 | March 5 | N San Francisco | 103–130 | Bob Love (44) | 45–26 | |
| 72 | March 6 | N San Diego | 99–105 | Bob Love (28) | 46–26 | |
| 73 | March 7 | @ Los Angeles | 108–117 | Bob Love (28) | 46–27 | |
| 74 | March 9 | Milwaukee | 103–110 (OT) | Bob Love (23) | 47–27 | |
| 75 | March 12 | Phoenix | 92–116 | Bob Love (29) | 48–27 | |
| 76 | March 13 | Phoenix | 99–111 | Chet Walker (31) | 49–27 | |
| 77 | March 14 | @ Boston | 104–117 | Bob Love (23) | 49–28 | |
| 78 | March 16 | Baltimore | 99–113 | Tom Boerwinkle (26) | 50–28 | |
| 79 | March 18 | San Francisco | 91–85 | Bob Love (20) | 50–29 | |
| 80 | March 19 | @ Atlanta | 111–112 (OT) | Chet Walker (22) | 50–30 | |
| 81 | March 20 | Atlanta | 121–138 | Fox, Ruffner (19) | 51–30 | |
| 82 | March 21 | @ Detroit | 111–116 | Bob Love (27) | 51–31 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| March 24| @ Los Angeles| L 99–100| Bob Love (24)| Sloan, Boerwinkle (9)| Tom Boerwinkle (8)| The Forum
10,726| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 26| @ Los Angeles| L 95–105| Bob Love (34)| Jim Fox (13)| Bob Weiss (5)| The Forum
13,469| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| March 28| Los Angeles| W 106–98| Bob Love (27)| Chet Walker (12)| Bob Weiss (11)| Chicago Stadium
10,101| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| March 30| Los Angeles| W 112–102| Bob Love (36)| Jerry Sloan (12)| Bob Weiss (13)| Chicago Stadium
18,650| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 1| @ Los Angeles| L 89–115| Bob Love (21)| Jim Fox (11)| Weiss, King (7)| The Forum
13,935| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 4| Los Angeles| W 113–99| Bob Weiss (25)| Tom Boerwinkle (18)| Boerwinkle, Walker (6)| Chicago Stadium
14,211| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| April 6| @ Los Angeles| L 98–109| Sloan, Love (24)| Jim Fox (12)| Bob Weiss (8)| The Forum
17,505| 3–4|-