The 1979–80 NBA season was Indiana's fourth season in the NBA and 13th season as a franchise.[1]
See main article: article and 1979 NBA draft.
z - clinched division title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
| 1979-80 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 | |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 | |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 | |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 2| October 13, 1979| Atlanta| W 115–101|||| Market Square Arena| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| October 17, 1979| @ Houston| L 112–116|||| The Summit| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| October 18, 1979| @ Atlanta| L 85–115|||| The Omni| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| October 20, 1979| Boston| W 131–128 (OT)|||| Market Square Arena| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| October 24, 1979| @ Philadelphia| L 110–132|||| The Spectrum| 3–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| October 31, 1979| Houston| W 133–129 (OT)|||| Market Square Arena| 5–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 13| November 3, 1979| Philadelphia| L 114–120 (2OT)|||| Market Square Arena| 5–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 18| November 14, 1979| @ Phoenix| L 100–104|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 8–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| November 18, 1979| @ Los Angeles| L 104–127|||| The Forum| 8–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 22| November 23, 1979| @ Boston| L 103–118|||| Boston Garden| 9–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 24| November 26, 1979| @ Philadelphia| L 112–113|||| The Spectrum| 10–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 25| November 28, 1979| Milwaukee| L 79–87|||| Market Square Arena| 10–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| December 1, 1979| Boston| L 102–106 (OT)|||| Market Square Arena| 11–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 31| December 12, 1979| Seattle| L 107–112|||| Market Square Arena| 14–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| December 22, 1979| Atlanta| W 130–110|||| Market Square Arena| 16–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| January 2, 1980| Los Angeles| L 120–127|||| Market Square Arena| 17–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 40| January 3, 1980| @ Milwaukee| L 96–106|||| MECCA Arena| 17–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 43| January 9, 1980| @ Seattle| L 111–120|||| Kingdome| 18–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 52| January 29, 1980| Houston| W 133–112|||| Market Square Arena| 26–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 55| February 5, 1980| Philadelphia| L 120–127|||| Market Square Arena| 26–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 57| February 8, 1980| @ Boston| L 108–130|||| Boston Garden| 27–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 64| February 24, 1980| Phoenix| L 105–113|||| Market Square Arena| 31–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 65| February 26, 1980| @ Houston| L 88–93|||| The Summit| 31–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| February 27, 1980| @ Atlanta| L 111–116|||| The Omni| 31–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 69| March 5, 1980| @ Philadelphia| L 113–120|||| The Spectrum| 31–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 70| March 7, 1980| Atlanta| L 94–99|||| Market Square Arena| 31–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 72| March 11, 1980| Boston| W 114–108|||| Market Square Arena| 32–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 74| March 14, 1980| Philadelphia| W 104–94|||| Market Square Arena| 34–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 75| March 16, 1980| @ Atlanta| L 90–95|||| The Omni| 34–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 76| March 18, 1980| @ Boston| L 102–114|||| Hartford Civic Center| 34–42|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| March 22, 1980| @ Houston| L 110–125|||| The Summit| 35–44|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 82| March 30, 1980| Houston| L 106–121|||| Market Square Arena| 37–45
| Player | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 82 | 82 | 2,912 | 226 | 440 | 110 | 23 | 1,300 | 35.5 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 1.3 | .3 | 15.9 | ||
| C | 82 | 82 | 2,314 | 578 | 127 | 55 | 104 | 1,287 | 28.2 | 7.0 | 1.5 | .7 | 1.3 | 15.7 | ||
| PF | 82 | 2,647 | 681 | 344 | 153 | 112 | 1,566 | 32.3 | 8.3 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 19.1 | |||
| SG | 82 | 2,027 | 223 | 252 | 211 | 48 | 688 | 24.7 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.6 | .6 | 8.4 | |||
| C | 79 | 1,541 | 394 | 115 | 48 | 121 | 472 | 19.5 | 5.0 | 1.5 | .6 | 1.5 | 6.0 | |||
| SF | 77 | 2,330 | 456 | 279 | 85 | 49 | 908 | 30.3 | 5.9 | 3.6 | 1.1 | .6 | 11.8 | |||
| SF | 75 | 1,910 | 361 | 155 | 82 | 9 | 986 | 25.5 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | .1 | 13.1 | |||
| SG | 74 | 1,135 | 94 | 104 | 46 | 8 | 523 | 15.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 | .6 | .1 | 7.1 | |||
| † | SF | 54 | 1,526 | 380 | 142 | 45 | 33 | 806 | 28.3 | 7.0 | 2.6 | .8 | .6 | 14.9 | ||
| † | PF | 28 | 784 | 237 | 112 | 32 | 6 | 369 | 28.0 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 1.1 | .2 | 13.2 | ||
| PG | 24 | 100 | 14 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 29 | 4.2 | .6 | .7 | .3 | .0 | 1.2 | |||
| † | SG | 23 | 380 | 35 | 47 | 15 | 10 | 124 | 16.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | .7 | .4 | 5.4 | ||
| SG | 13 | 117 | 19 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 32 | 9.0 | 1.5 | .7 | .2 | .2 | 2.5 | |||
| SF | 8 | 59 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 14 | 7.4 | 1.8 | .1 | .5 | .4 | 1.8 | |||
| SF | 7 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4.3 | 1.4 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 1.1 | |||
| † | PG | 5 | 43 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 8.6 | .4 | 1.0 | .6 | .0 | 1.4 |