The 1970–71 NBA season was the Lakers' 23rd season in the NBA and 11th season in Los Angeles.[1]
The Lakers, handicapped by the loss of star Jerry West to a season-ending injury with 13 games remaining in the regular season, would be eliminated by the eventual champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, in five games in the Western Conference finals.
The team's season roster is featured in the video games NBA 2K16,[2] NBA 2K17, and NBA 2K18.
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 |
| Atlanta | – | 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 | |
| Baltimore | 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 | |
| Boston | 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 | |
| Buffalo | 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 | |
| Cincinnati | 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 | |
| Cleveland | 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 | |
| Detroit | 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 | |
| Los Angeles | 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 | |
| Milwaukee | 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 | |
| New York | 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 | |
| Phoenix | 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 | |
| Portland | 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 | |
| San Diego | 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 | |
| San Francisco | 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 | |
| Seattle | 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 16 | 106–102 | Jerry West (29) | 1–0 | ||
| 2 | October 17 | 116–118 (OT) | Jerry West (34) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 20 | 100–115 | Jerry West (26) | 1–2 | ||
| 4 | October 21 | 141–117 | Jerry West (37) | 2–2 | ||
| 5 | October 23 | Philadelphia | 127–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (34) | 2–3 | |
| 6 | October 25 | 96–123 | Wilt Chamberlain (24) | 3–3 | ||
| 7 | October 30 | 90–104 | Wilt Chamberlain (20) | 4–3 | ||
| 8 | November 3 | 128–108 | Wilt Chamberlain (23) | 5–3 | ||
| 9 | November 6 | New York | 104–106 | Gail Goodrich (33) | 6–3 | |
| 10 | November 8 | Baltimore | 105–124 | Jerry West (41) | 7–3 | |
| 11 | November 10 | @ Chicago | 96–118 | Goodrich, West (22) | 7–4 | |
| 12 | November 11 | 117–115 | Wilt Chamberlain (27) | 8–4 | ||
| 13 | November 13 | Detroit | 109–122 | Goodrich, West (28) | 9–4 | |
| 14 | November 17 | 105–116 | Jerry West (34) | 10–4 | ||
| 15 | November 19 | 110–111 | Wilt Chamberlain (32) | 10–5 | ||
| 16 | November 20 | 117–100 | Wilt Chamberlain (28) | 10–6 | ||
| 17 | November 22 | Seattle | 124–149 | Wilt Chamberlain (31) | 11–6 | |
| 18 | November 27 | 116–105 | Jerry West (33) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 28 | 88–92 | Gail Goodrich (25) | 11–8 | ||
| 20 | November 29 | 112–130 | Jerry West (41) | 12–8 | ||
| 21 | December 1 | @ Baltimore | 97–93 | Jerry West (37) | 13–8 | |
| 22 | December 2 | 111–114 | Wilt Chamberlain (29) | 13–9 | ||
| 23 | December 4 | San Francisco | 101–123 | Jerry West (30) | 14–9 | |
| 24 | December 5 | @ San Diego | 116–119 | Wilt Chamberlain (36) | 14–10 | |
| 25 | December 6 | Portland | 120–131 | Chamberlain, West (31) | 15–10 | |
| 26 | December 8 | @ Phoenix | 121–112 | Wilt Chamberlain (36) | 16–10 | |
| 27 | December 11 | @ Seattle | 126–118 | Jerry West (37) | 17–10 | |
| 28 | December 13 | Detroit | 103–100 | Jerry West (33) | 17–11 | |
| 29 | December 15 | @ Buffalo | 111–113 (OT) | Jerry West (27) | 17–12 | |
| 30 | December 16 | 118–102 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 18–12 | ||
| 31 | December 19 | @ Atlanta | 116–104 | Jerry West (36) | 19–12 | |
| 32 | December 21 | @ Milwaukee | 88–113 | Wilt Chamberlain (25) | 19–13 | |
| 33 | December 22 | Atlanta | 119–115 | Jerry West (24) | 19–14 | |
| 34 | December 25 | Boston | 113–123 | Jerry West (32) | 20–14 | |
| 35 | December 27 | Phoenix | 110–128 | Jerry West (35) | 21–14 | |
| 36 | December 29 | Chicago | 117–126 | Wilt Chamberlain (34) | 22–14 | |
| 37 | December 30 | @ Phoenix | 114–132 | Wilt Chamberlain (32) | 22–15 | |
| 38 | January 1 | San Diego | 117–106 | Jerry West (41) | 22–16 | |
| 39 | January 2 | @ San Diego | 108–109 (OT) | Happy Hairston (30) | 22–17 | |
| 40 | January 5 | N Cincinnati | 112–146 | Wilt Chamberlain (41) | 22–18 | |
| 41 | January 7 | @ Cleveland | 110–105 | Happy Hairston (25) | 23–18 | |
| 42 | January 8 | @ Philadelphia | 123–117 | Gail Goodrich (29) | 24–18 | |
| 43 | January 10 | @ Detroit | 109–118 | Chamberlain, West (25) | 24–19 | |
| 44 | January 14 | N Cincinnati | 126–120 | Jerry West (33) | 25–19 | |
| 45 | January 16 | @ Atlanta | 123–127 | Jerry West (27) | 25–20 | |
| 46 | January 19 | Philadelphia | 114–134 | Jerry West (33) | 26–20 | |
| 47 | January 22 | San Francisco | 110–130 | Jerry West (28) | 27–20 | |
| 48 | January 24 | Cincinnati | 131–142 | Wilt Chamberlain (35) | 28–20 | |
| 49 | January 26 | Chicago | 111–136 | Jerry West (33) | 29–20 | |
| 50 | January 28 | @ Phoenix | 112–118 | Jerry West (27) | 29–21 | |
| 51 | January 29 | Seattle | 115–122 | Happy Hairston (29) | 30–21 | |
| 52 | January 30 | @ San Francisco | 85–87 | Jerry West (23) | 30–22 | |
| 53 | January 31 | Portland | 120–133 | Wilt Chamberlain (33) | 31–22 | |
| 54 | February 2 | San Diego | 105–133 | Jerry West (28) | 32–22 | |
| 55 | February 5 | Milwaukee | 93–116 | Happy Hairston (24) | 33–22 | |
| 56 | February 6 | @ San Diego | 115–108 | Jerry West (32) | 34–22 | |
| 57 | February 7 | San Francisco | 104–119 | Jerry West (37) | 35–22 | |
| 58 | February 9 | @ Cleveland | 116–111 | Gail Goodrich (42) | 36–22 | |
| 59 | February 11 | @ Milwaukee | 88–122 | Wilt Chamberlain (25) | 36–23 | |
| 60 | February 12 | @ Chicago | 88–107 | Gail Goodrich (21) | 36–24 | |
| 61 | February 14 | Cincinnati | 113–125 | Jerry West (22) | 37–24 | |
| 62 | February 16 | New York | 115–130 | Jerry West (31) | 38–24 | |
| 63 | February 18 | @ Portland | 136–114 | Gail Goodrich (28) | 39–24 | |
| 64 | February 19 | Philadelphia | 118–104 | Jerry West (25) | 39–25 | |
| 65 | February 21 | Boston | 116–124 | Jerry West (34) | 40–25 | |
| 66 | February 23 | @ Baltimore | 114–107 | Gail Goodrich (29) | 41–25 | |
| 67 | February 24 | @ Boston | 96–116 | Wilt Chamberlain (27) | 41–26 | |
| 68 | February 26 | Seattle | 121–145 | Wilt Chamberlain (30) | 42–26 | |
| 69 | February 27 | @ San Francisco | 112–107 | Jerry West (42) | 43–26 | |
| 70 | February 28 | Cleveland | 90–107 | Jerry West (24) | 44–26 | |
| 71 | March 2 | @ Buffalo | 131–118 | Gail Goodrich (31) | 45–26 | |
| 72 | March 3 | @ Milwaukee | 97–112 | Gail Goodrich (25) | 45–27 | |
| 73 | March 5 | Atlanta | 105–104 | Wilt Chamberlain (22) | 45–28 | |
| 74 | March 6 | @ Seattle | 109–121 | Willie McCarter (26) | 45–29 | |
| 75 | March 7 | Chicago | 108–117 | Gail Goodrich (23) | 46–29 | |
| 76 | March 9 | Baltimore | 107–95 | Wilt Chamberlain (28) | 46–30 | |
| 77 | March 12 | Buffalo | 116–109 | Jim McMillian (21) | 46–31 | |
| 78 | March 14 | Detroit | 100–110 | Keith Erickson (23) | 47–31 | |
| 79 | March 16 | @ New York | 82–115 | Willie McCarter (19) | 47–32 | |
| 80 | March 17 | @ Boston | 104–112 | Wilt Chamberlain (25) | 47–33 | |
| 81 | March 19 | Phoenix | 111–106 | Wilt Chamberlain (28) | 47–34 | |
| 82 | March 21 | New York | 98–101 | Gail Goodrich (29) | 48–34 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 24| Chicago| W 100–99| Jim McMillian (26)| Wilt Chamberlain (21)| Gail Goodrich (11)| The Forum
10,726| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| March 26| Chicago| W 105–95| Gail Goodrich (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (20)| Gail Goodrich (7)| The Forum
13,469| 2–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| March 28| @ Chicago| L 98–106| Gail Goodrich (39)| Wilt Chamberlain (18)| Goodrich, Chamberlain (6)| Chicago Stadium
10,101| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| March 30| @ Chicago| L 102–112| Gail Goodrich (32)| Wilt Chamberlain (23)| Wilt Chamberlain (7)| Chicago Stadium
18,650| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 1| Chicago| W 115–89| Gail Goodrich (33)| Wilt Chamberlain (14)| Gail Goodrich (11)| The Forum
13,935| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 4| @ Chicago| L 99–113| Gail Goodrich (25)| Wilt Chamberlain (33)| Wilt Chamberlain (9)| Chicago Stadium
14,211| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 7| April 6| Chicago| W 109–98| Gail Goodrich (29)| Wilt Chamberlain (19)| Goodrich, Chamberlain (9)| The Forum
17,505| 4–3|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 9| @ Milwaukee| L 85–106| Wilt Chamberlain (22)| Wilt Chamberlain (20)| Gail Goodrich (7)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 11| @ Milwaukee| L 73–91| Wilt Chamberlain (26)| Wilt Chamberlain (22)| Gail Goodrich (4)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 14| Milwaukee| W 118–107| four players tied (24)| Wilt Chamberlain (24)| Gail Goodrich (8)| The Forum
17,334| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 16| Milwaukee| L 94–117| Gail Goodrich (26)| Wilt Chamberlain (16)| Gail Goodrich (11)| The Forum
17,505| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 18| @ Milwaukee| L 98–116| Happy Hairston (27)| Wilt Chamberlain (12)| Gail Goodrich (9)| Milwaukee Arena
10,746| 1–4|-