The 1972–73 NBA season was the Detroit Pistons' 25th season in the NBA and 16th season in the city of Detroit.[1] The team played at Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit.
The Pistons finished with a 40-42 (.488) record, 3rd place in the Midwest Division. The team was led guard Dave Bing (22.4 ppg, 7.8 apg, NBA All-Star), center Bob Lanier (23.8 ppg, 14.9 rpg, NBA All-Star) and forward Curtis Rowe (16.1 ppg).[1] Coach Earl Lloyd was fired after 7 games, replaced by former Pistons player Ray Scott, who led the team to a 38–37 record under his direction. Lanier credited Scott with an improved culture, stating, “He took over and we started playing collectively as a unit. We had a good feeling, and we related well with one another.”[2]
Players
|
Coaches
|
|
- Head coach
- Legend
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
Roster Last transaction: February 5, 1973
|
- z, y – division champions
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
edit
1972–73 NBA Records
|
Team
|
ATL
|
BAL
|
BOS
|
BUF
|
CHI
|
CLE
|
DET
|
GSW
|
HOU
|
KCO
|
LAL
|
MIL
|
NYK
|
PHI
|
PHO
|
POR
|
SEA
|
Atlanta
|
— |
3–4 |
1–5 |
5–1 |
2–2 |
3–4 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
4–4 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
3–3 |
6–0 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
3–1
|
Baltimore
|
4–3 |
— |
1–5 |
5–1 |
0–4 |
8–0 |
2–2 |
3–1 |
5–2 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
3–3 |
5–1 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
4–0
|
Boston
|
5–1 |
5–1 |
— |
7–0 |
3–1 |
5–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
5–1 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
4–4 |
7–0 |
4–0 |
4–0 |
4–0
|
Buffalo
|
1–5 |
1–5 |
0–7 |
— |
2–2 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
1–6 |
7–1 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
2–2
|
Chicago
|
2–2 |
4–0 |
1–3 |
2–2 |
— |
3–1 |
3–4 |
3–3 |
4–0 |
5–2 |
1–5 |
2–4 |
3–1 |
4–0 |
4–2 |
5–1 |
5–1
|
Cleveland
|
4–3 |
0–8 |
1–5 |
5–1 |
1–3 |
— |
1–3 |
1–3 |
4–3 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
0–6 |
6–0 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
3–1
|
Detroit
|
2–2 |
2–2 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
4–3 |
3–1 |
— |
2–4 |
1–3 |
3–3 |
1–5 |
2–5 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
4–2 |
6–0 |
2–4
|
Golden State
|
3–1 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
3–3 |
3–1 |
4–2 |
— |
3–1 |
4–2 |
3–4 |
1–5 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
2–4 |
5–1 |
4–3
|
Houston
|
4–4 |
2–5 |
1–5 |
5–1 |
0–4 |
3–4 |
3–1 |
1–3 |
— |
0–4 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
1–5 |
5–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
2–2
|
Kansas City-Omaha
|
2–2 |
1–3 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–5 |
2–2 |
3–3 |
2–4 |
4–0 |
— |
1–5 |
1–6 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
3–3 |
4–2 |
4–2
|
Los Angeles
|
1–3 |
3–1 |
0–4 |
4–0 |
5–1 |
3–1 |
5–1 |
4–3 |
3–1 |
5–1 |
— |
3–3 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
6–1 |
6–0 |
6–0
|
Milwaukee
|
3–1 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
4–0 |
4–2 |
3–1 |
5–2 |
5–1 |
3–1 |
6–1 |
3–3 |
— |
2–2 |
3–1 |
5–1 |
5–1 |
5–1
|
New York
|
3–3 |
3–3 |
4–4 |
6–1 |
1–3 |
6–0 |
3–1 |
2–2 |
5–1 |
4–0 |
2–2 |
2–2 |
— |
6–1 |
3–1 |
3–1 |
4–0
|
Philadelphia
|
0–6 |
1–5 |
0–7 |
1–7 |
0–4 |
0–6 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
0–4 |
1–3 |
1–6 |
— |
0–4 |
1–3 |
1–3
|
Phoenix
|
1–3 |
2–2 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
2–4 |
3–1 |
2–4 |
4–2 |
2–2 |
3–3 |
1–6 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
4–0 |
— |
5–2 |
4–2
|
Portland
|
0–4 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–5 |
3–1 |
0–6 |
1–5 |
2–2 |
2–4 |
0–6 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
3–1 |
2–5 |
— |
3–4
|
Seattle
|
1–3 |
0–4 |
0–4 |
2–2 |
1–5 |
1–3 |
4–2 |
3–4 |
2–2 |
2–4 |
0–6 |
1–5 |
0–4 |
3–1 |
2–4 |
4–3 |
—
|
1972–73 Game log
|
# |
Date |
Opponent |
Score |
High points |
Record
|
1 |
October 11 |
Boston |
121–108 |
Bing, Lanier (28) |
0–1
|
2 |
October 13 |
Chicago |
91–100 |
Bob Lanier (21) |
1–1
|
3 |
October 14 |
@ Kansas City–Omaha |
101–113 |
Bob Lanier (31) |
1–2
|
4 |
October 20 |
@ Milwaukee |
86–109 |
Curtis Rowe (21) |
1–3
|
5 |
October 21 |
Cleveland |
96–103 |
Dave Bing (28) |
2–3
|
6 |
October 25 |
Baltimore |
115–105 |
Curtis Rowe (26) |
2–4
|
7 |
October 27 |
@ Houston |
118–130 |
Bob Lanier (36) |
2–5
|
8 |
October 29 |
@ Portland |
119–111 |
Bob Lanier (33) |
3–5
|
9 |
October 31 |
@ Golden State |
104–112 |
Dave Bing (25) |
3–6
|
10 |
November 1 |
@ Seattle |
116–106 |
Dave Bing (36) |
4–6
|
11 |
November 3 |
@ Los Angeles |
107–116 |
Bob Lanier (37) |
4–7
|
12 |
November 4 |
N Houston |
118–108 |
Bob Lanier (42) |
4–8
|
13 |
November 10 |
Golden State |
96–121 |
Curtis Rowe (31) |
5–8
|
14 |
November 11 |
@ Boston |
118–121 |
Bob Lanier (37) |
5–9
|
15 |
November 15 |
Los Angeles |
110–99 |
Bing, Foster, Lanier (20) |
5–10
|
16 |
November 17 |
Chicago |
96–109 |
Dave Bing (25) |
6–10
|
17 |
November 21 |
Atlanta |
110–113 (OT) |
Bob Lanier (34) |
7–10
|
18 |
November 23 |
@ Phoenix |
122–128 |
Curtis Rowe (26) |
7–11
|
19 |
November 24 |
@ Los Angeles |
123–140 |
Dave Bing (29) |
7–12
|
20 |
November 26 |
@ Seattle |
96–103 |
Fred Foster (23) |
7–13
|
21 |
November 28 |
Portland |
116–120 |
Bob Lanier (48) |
8–13
|
22 |
November 30 |
Buffalo |
116–127 |
Adams, Rowe (19) |
9–13
|
23 |
December 1 |
@ Cleveland |
114–113 |
Dave Bing (37) |
10–13
|
24 |
December 5 |
@ Chicago |
108–130 |
Bob Lanier (19) |
10–14
|
25 |
December 6 |
Phoenix |
105–114 |
Bob Lanier (34) |
11–14
|
26 |
December 8 |
Kansas City–Omaha |
100–113 |
Bob Lanier (37) |
12–14
|
27 |
December 9 |
@ Milwaukee |
107–103 |
Bob Lanier (22) |
13–14
|
28 |
December 13 |
Golden State |
110–107 |
Curtis Rowe (26) |
13–15
|
29 |
December 15 |
@ Kansas City–Omaha |
132–140 (OT) |
Bob Lanier (25) |
13–16
|
30 |
December 16 |
Houston |
123–112 |
Bob Lanier (36) |
13–17
|
31 |
December 20 |
Philadelphia |
113–141 |
Curtis Rowe (35) |
14–17
|
32 |
December 22 |
Seattle |
97–109 |
Bob Lanier (23) |
15–17
|
33 |
December 23 |
@ Baltimore |
97–104 |
Dave Bing (27) |
15–18
|
34 |
December 25 |
@ New York |
110–113 |
Dave Bing (35) |
15–19
|
35 |
December 26 |
Milwaukee |
105–112 |
Stu Lantz (37) |
16–19
|
36 |
December 28 |
@ Milwaukee |
91–115 |
Dave Bing (28) |
16–20
|
37 |
December 29 |
New York |
99–94 |
Bob Lanier (38) |
16–21
|
38 |
January 3 |
Phoenix |
105–119 |
Bob Lanier (38) |
17–21
|
39 |
January 5 |
@ Kansas City–Omaha |
100–103 |
Willie Norwood (19) |
17–22
|
40 |
January 6 |
Atlanta |
116–111 |
Dave Bing (26) |
17–23
|
41 |
January 7 |
@ Portland |
101–96 |
Bob Lanier (32) |
18–23
|
42 |
January 9 |
@ Golden State |
98–105 |
Curtis Rowe (27) |
18–24
|
43 |
January 10 |
@ Phoenix |
121–123 |
Dave Bing (29) |
18–25
|
44 |
January 12 |
@ Seattle |
104–113 |
Bob Lanier (25) |
18–26
|
45 |
January 15 |
Portland |
101–112 |
Dave Bing (31) |
19–26
|
46 |
January 16 |
@ Atlanta |
129–130 (OT) |
Dave Bing (32) |
19–27
|
47 |
January 17 |
Seattle |
106–104 |
Dave Bing (26) |
19–28
|
48 |
January 19 |
@ Buffalo |
98–108 |
Curtis Rowe (22) |
19–29
|
49 |
January 20 |
Chicago |
92–112 |
Bing, Norwood (21) |
20–29
|
50 |
January 26 |
Milwaukee |
117–105 |
Curtis Rowe (30) |
20–30
|
51 |
January 28 |
@ Chicago |
105–110 |
Dave Bing (32) |
20–31
|
52 |
January 30 |
@ Atlanta |
126–123 |
Bob Lanier (40) |
21–31
|
53 |
January 31 |
New York |
91–94 |
Bob Lanier (30) |
22–31
|
54 |
February 2 |
Philadelphia |
104–114 |
Bob Lanier (26) |
23–31
|
55 |
February 6 |
@ Buffalo |
107–105 |
Dave Bing (25) |
24–31
|
56 |
February 7 |
Phoenix |
107–113 |
Bob Lanier (26) |
25–31
|
57 |
February 9 |
@ Boston |
104–95 |
Bob Lanier (27) |
26–31
|
58 |
February 10 |
@ New York |
93–107 |
Bob Lanier (25) |
26–32
|
59 |
February 13 |
Milwaukee |
110–96 |
Bob Lanier (29) |
26–33
|
60 |
February 16 |
@ Philadelphia |
106–119 |
Dave Bing (42) |
26–34
|
61 |
February 17 |
Cleveland |
106–104 |
Bob Lanier (38) |
26–35
|
62 |
February 18 |
Kansas City–Omaha |
100–144 |
Bob Lanier (25) |
27–35
|
63 |
February 21 |
Los Angeles |
98–106 |
Bob Lanier (25) |
28–35
|
64 |
February 23 |
Baltimore |
105–107 |
Bob Lanier (30) |
29–35
|
65 |
February 25 |
Houston |
112–129 |
Bob Lanier (42) |
30–35
|
66 |
February 27 |
Golden State |
100–114 |
Curtis Rowe (25) |
31–35
|
67 |
March 2 |
Boston |
115–101 |
Bob Lanier (40) |
31–36
|
68 |
March 3 |
Seattle |
115–113 |
Dave Bing (26) |
31–37
|
69 |
March 4 |
@ Portland |
113–109 |
Bob Lanier (31) |
32–37
|
70 |
March 6 |
@ Golden State |
93–108 |
John Mengelt (23) |
32–38
|
71 |
March 10 |
@ Phoenix |
117–110 |
Bob Lanier (27) |
33–38
|
72 |
March 11 |
@ Los Angeles |
117–141 |
Don Adams (20) |
33–39
|
73 |
March 14 |
Los Angeles |
121–112 |
Dave Bing (23) |
33–40
|
74 |
March 16 |
Buffalo |
100–121 |
Don Adams (36) |
34–40
|
75 |
March 17 |
@ Chicago |
99–97 |
John Mengelt (29) |
35–40
|
76 |
March 18 |
Chicago |
119–107 |
Dave Bing (24) |
35–41
|
77 |
March 19 |
N Milwaukee |
118–99 |
Bob Lanier (24) |
35–42
|
78 |
March 21 |
Portland |
109–122 |
Bob Lanier (33) |
36–42
|
79 |
March 24 |
Kansas City–Omaha |
98–110 |
Ford, Rowe (20) |
37–42
|
80 |
March 25 |
N Philadelphia |
96–115 |
Bob Lanier (27) |
38–42
|
81 |
March 27 |
@ Baltimore |
112–98 |
Dave Bing (30) |
39–42
|
82 |
March 28 |
@ Cleveland |
131–119 (OT) |
Dave Bing (34) |
40–42
|