The 1971–72 NBA season was the Hawks' 23rd season in the NBA and fourth season in Atlanta.[1]
See main article: article and 1971 NBA draft.
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1971–72 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 | |
| 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | ||
| 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | ||
| 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 | ||
| 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | ||
| 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | ||
| 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | ||
| 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | ||
| 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 | ||
| 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | ||
| 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 | ||
| 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — | ||
| 1971–72 Game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 12 | 113–127 | Lou Hudson (26) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 16 | 104–102 | Lou Hudson (32) | 0–2 | ||
| 3 | October 20 | 126–104 | Lou Hudson (37) | 0–3 | ||
| 4 | October 22 | 115–108 | Lou Hudson (31) | 0–4 | ||
| 5 | October 23 | 95–89 | Lou Hudson (27) | 1–4 | ||
| 6 | October 25 | @ Boston | 116–136 | Herm Gilliam (25) | 1–5 | |
| 7 | October 27 | New York | 96–110 | Lou Hudson (28) | 2–5 | |
| 8 | October 29 | 98–97 | Don May (28) | 3–5 | ||
| 9 | October 30 | 104–99 | Walt Bellamy (41) | 3–6 | ||
| 10 | November 3 | 113–100 | Lou Hudson (32) | 3–7 | ||
| 11 | November 5 | 122–117 (OT) | George Trapp (34) | 3–8 | ||
| 12 | November 6 | @ Philadelphia | 96–101 | Milt Williams (24) | 3–9 | |
| 13 | November 10 | 116–110 | Lou Hudson (41) | 3–10 | ||
| 14 | November 12 | 104–106 | Lou Hudson (28) | 4–10 | ||
| 15 | November 17 | 112–104 | Walt Bellamy (28) | 4–11 | ||
| 16 | November 20 | 109–115 | Walt Bellamy (29) | 5–11 | ||
| 17 | November 23 | @ Buffalo | 97–102 | Jim Washington (25) | 5–12 | |
| 18 | November 24 | @ Milwaukee | 107–141 | Walt Bellamy (26) | 5–13 | |
| 19 | November 26 | 118–105 | Jim Washington (23) | 5–14 | ||
| 20 | November 27 | Cleveland | 103–95 | Jim Washington (22) | 5–15 | |
| 21 | November 28 | @ Boston | 108–130 | Bellamy, Hudson (15) | 5–16 | |
| 22 | November 30 | @ Chicago | 85–86 | Lou Hudson (30) | 5–17 | |
| 23 | December 1 | @ Detroit | 117–103 | Lou Hudson (26) | 6–17 | |
| 24 | December 4 | Philadelphia | 109–126 | Lou Hudson (30) | 7–17 | |
| 25 | December 7 | N Golden State | 113–116 | Lou Hudson (30) | 8–17 | |
| 26 | December 9 | @ Phoenix | 115–135 | Lou Hudson (41) | 8–18 | |
| 27 | December 10 | 88–95 | Lou Hudson (27) | 8–19 | ||
| 28 | December 12 | @ Los Angeles | 95–104 | Walt Bellamy (22) | 8–20 | |
| 29 | December 15 | Houston | 117–115 (OT) | Lou Hudson (34) | 8–21 | |
| 30 | December 17 | @ Baltimore | 103–114 | Pete Maravich (31) | 8–22 | |
| 31 | December 18 | Baltimore | 94–123 | Walt Bellamy (23) | 9–22 | |
| 32 | December 19 | Cincinnati | 99–101 | Pete Maravich (27) | 10–22 | |
| 33 | December 22 | @ Cincinnati | 106–103 | Pete Maravich (28) | 11–22 | |
| 34 | December 23 | @ Cleveland | 110–115 | Walt Bellamy (21) | 11–23 | |
| 35 | December 25 | Buffalo | 117–140 | Walt Bellamy (40) | 12–23 | |
| 36 | December 26 | @ Milwaukee | 92–114 | Lou Hudson (27) | 12–24 | |
| 37 | December 27 | 121–135 | Lou Hudson (31) | 13–24 | ||
| 38 | December 30 | @ Houston | 115–129 | Lou Hudson (28) | 13–25 | |
| 39 | January 2 | @ Phoenix | 116–111 | Walt Bellamy (30) | 14–25 | |
| 40 | January 4 | @ Portland | 103–91 | Walt Bellamy (24) | 15–25 | |
| 41 | January 5 | @ Seattle | 116–127 | Walt Bellamy (30) | 15–26 | |
| 42 | January 7 | Los Angeles | 134–90 | Pete Maravich (17) | 15–27 | |
| 43 | January 8 | @ Baltimore | 102–110 | Pete Maravich (26) | 15–28 | |
| 44 | January 12 | Milwaukee | 102–104 | Walt Bellamy (29) | 16–28 | |
| 45 | January 14 | @ Cincinnati | 102–126 | Lou Hudson (28) | 16–29 | |
| 46 | January 15 | Boston | 122–106 | Jim Washington (27) | 16–30 | |
| 47 | January 16 | Philadelphia | 116–124 | Pete Maravich (50) | 17–30 | |
| 48 | January 21 | Golden State | 113–111 | Lou Hudson (36) | 17–31 | |
| 49 | January 23 | @ Milwaukee | 118–113 | Pete Maravich (35) | 18–31 | |
| 50 | January 25 | @ Buffalo | 123–110 | Pete Maravich (28) | 19–31 | |
| 51 | January 26 | Seattle | 131–119 | Walt Bellamy (36) | 19–32 | |
| 52 | January 28 | Detroit | 106–124 | Lou Hudson (30) | 20–32 | |
| 53 | January 30 | @ Phoenix | 103–105 | Walt Bellamy (27) | 20–33 | |
| 54 | February 3 | @ Golden State | 115–132 | George Trapp (26) | 20–34 | |
| 55 | February 5 | Cleveland | 117–120 | Pete Maravich (50) | 21–34 | |
| 56 | February 6 | @ Houston | 113–120 | Lou Hudson (27) | 21–35 | |
| 57 | February 9 | Los Angeles | 117–113 | Pete Maravich (28) | 21–36 | |
| 58 | February 11 | @ Chicago | 91–102 | Walt Bellamy (18) | 21–37 | |
| 59 | February 12 | Chicago | 117–106 | Lou Hudson (36) | 21–38 | |
| 60 | February 13 | Buffalo | 119–133 | Lou Hudson (41) | 22–38 | |
| 61 | February 15 | @ Detroit | 113–105 | Lou Hudson (26) | 23–38 | |
| 62 | February 16 | Baltimore | 103–105 | Pete Maravich (30) | 24–38 | |
| 63 | February 18 | @ Baltimore | 81–106 | Walt Bellamy (23) | 24–39 | |
| 64 | February 20 | Cincinnati | 101–92 | Lou Hudson (20) | 24–40 | |
| 65 | February 23 | Phoenix | 118–120 | Jim Washington (28) | 25–40 | |
| 66 | February 25 | N Philadelphia | 114–110 | Lou Hudson (23) | 25–41 | |
| 67 | February 27 | Portland | 110–113 | Lou Hudson (32) | 26–41 | |
| 68 | February 29 | @ Buffalo | 99–89 | Pete Maravich (33) | 27–41 | |
| 69 | March 3 | @ Los Angeles | 104–114 | Adams, Bellamy (21) | 27–42 | |
| 70 | March 4 | @ Portland | 120–101 | Lou Hudson (34) | 28–42 | |
| 71 | March 5 | @ Seattle | 110–112 | Lou Hudson (29) | 28–43 | |
| 72 | March 8 | Chicago | 98–96 | Lou Hudson (33) | 28–44 | |
| 73 | March 12 | Cleveland | 114–135 | Lou Hudson (31) | 29–44 | |
| 74 | March 14 | @ New York | 107–115 | Walt Bellamy (26) | 29–45 | |
| 75 | March 15 | Seattle | 96–134 | Lou Hudson (30) | 30–45 | |
| 76 | March 17 | @ Detroit | 112–121 | Walt Bellamy (30) | 30–46 | |
| 77 | March 18 | Cincinnati | 106–115 | Pete Maravich (32) | 31–46 | |
| 78 | March 19 | @ Cleveland | 115–105 | Herm Gilliam (30) | 32–46 | |
| 79 | March 21 | @ Philadelphia | 117–111 | Lou Hudson (36) | 33–46 | |
| 80 | March 22 | Houston | 106–107 | Lou Hudson (27) | 34–46 | |
| 81 | March 24 | Golden State | 102–118 | Pete Maravich (23) | 35–46 | |
| 82 | March 26 | New York | 106–120 | Pete Maravich (27) | 36–46 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| March 29| @ Boston| L 108–126| Lou Hudson (29)| Don Adams (12)| Herm Gilliam (8)| Boston Garden
12,815| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| March 31| Boston| W 113–104| Lou Hudson (41)| Walt Bellamy (18)| Herm Gilliam (9)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
6,955| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 2| @ Boston| L 113–136| Pete Maravich (37)| Jim Washington (11)| Pete Maravich (6)| Boston Garden
12,094| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 4| Boston| W 112–110| Pete Maravich (36)| Walt Bellamy (15)| Don Adams (4)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 7| @ Boston| L 114–124| three players tied (21)| Walt Bellamy (13)| Pete Maravich (8)| Boston Garden
15,315| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| April 9| Boston| L 118–127| Pete Maravich (37)| Walt Bellamy (15)| Pete Maravich (5)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192| 2–4|-