# 1985–86 Philadelphia 76ers season

The 1985–86 NBA season was the 76ers 37th season in the NBA and 23rd season in Philadelphia. The Sixers ended the regular season with a 54–28 record. In the first round off the playoffs they would beat the Washington Bullets in five games, but then lost a tough seven-game series to the Milwaukee Bucks, a team that the Sixers had beaten in the playoffs in 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1985.
This would be the last season for Bobby Jones, who would retire, and the last season for Moses Malone in a Philadelphia uniform, who was dealt away in the Summer of 1986. Due to an eye injury sustained towards the end of the regular season, Malone did not participate in the 1986 NBA playoffs. Andrew Toney only played in six regular season games due to a foot injury and never was able to make it back to his previous All-Star form.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 21 | Terry Catledge | PF | United States | South Alabama |
| 2 | 33 | Greg Stokes | PF/C | United States | Iowa |
| 2 | 44 | Voise Winters | | United States | Bradley |
| 3 | 67 | Steve Black | | United States | La Salle |
| 4 | 90 | Derrick Gervin | SF | United States | Texas-San Antonio |
| 5 | 113 | Carl Wright | | United States | Southern Methodist |
| 6 | 136 | Daryl Lloyd | | United States | Drake |
| 7 | 159 | Jaye Andrews | | United States | Bucknell |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | .817 | – | 40–1 | 27–14 | 18–6 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13 | 31–10 | 23–18 | 15–9 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 11–13 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 11–13 |
| New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | .280 | 44 | 15–26 | 8–33 | 5–19 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | .817 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 17 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 21 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 7 | x-New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 37 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 41 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | .280 | 44 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985–86 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1985–86 game log Total: 54-28 (home: 31-10; road: 23-18) :
October: 2–1 (home: 1–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 26, 1985
@ New York
W 99–89
Madison Square Garden
1–0
2
October 29, 1985
@ Milwaukee
L 117–119
MECCA Arena
1–1
3
October 30, 1985
Detroit
W 132–125 (OT)
The Spectrum
2–1 :
November: 7–7 (home: 4–3; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
November 1, 1985
@ New Jersey
L 102–106
Brendan Byrne Arena
2–2
5
November 2, 1985 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 113–114 (OT)
Barkley (21)
Malone (15)
Barkley (6)
The Omni 12,214
2–3
6
November 6, 1985
Indiana
W 105–97
The Spectrum
3–3
7
November 8, 1985
San Antonio
L 95–107
The Spectrum
3–4
8
November 10, 1985
Milwaukee
W 105–97
The Spectrum
4–4
9
November 13, 1985
Chicago
W 110–106
The Spectrum
5–4
10
November 16, 1985
@ Washington
L 97–118
Capital Centre
5–5
11
November 20, 1985
Golden State
W 117–113
The Spectrum
6–5
12
November 22, 1985
@ Boston
L 103–110
Boston Garden
6–6
13
November 23, 1985
Detroit
L 114–119
The Spectrum
6–7
14
November 26, 1985
Boston
L 91–98
The Spectrum
6–8
15
November 27, 1985
@ New Jersey
W 111–100
Brendan Byrne Arena
7–8
16
November 29, 1985
@ Indiana
W 110–109
Market Square Arena
8–8
17
November 30, 1985
@ New York
W 115–95
Madison Square Garden
9–8 :
December: 10–4 (home: 5–2; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 3, 1985
@ Detroit
W 127–107
Pontiac Silverdome
10–8
19
December 4, 1985
Washington
W 115–110 (OT)
The Spectrum
11–8
20
December 6, 1985
Denver
L 121–123
The Spectrum
11–9
21
December 8, 1985
Seattle
L 100–105
The Spectrum
11–10
22
December 11, 1985
Cleveland
W 125–110
The Spectrum
12–10
23
December 12, 1985
@ Chicago
L 102–106
Chicago Stadium
12–11
24
December 14, 1985 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 103–107
Malone (30)
Malone (11)
Cheeks (5)
The Omni 4,638
12–12
25
December 17, 1985
@ Indiana
W 102–96
Market Square Arena
13–12
26
December 18, 1985
Houston
W 126–108
The Spectrum
14–12
27
December 20, 1985
Utah
W 112–105
The Spectrum
15–12
28
December 21, 1985
Boston
W 108–102
The Spectrum
16–12
29
December 26, 1985
@ L.A. Clippers
W 117–108
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
17–12
30
December 28, 1985
@ Phoenix
W 100–98
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
18–12
31
December 30, 1985
@ Sacramento
W 87–84
ARCO Arena
19–12 :
January: 11–5 (home: 4–1; road: 7–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
32
January 1, 1986
@ Portland
W 121–119 (OT)
Memorial Coliseum
20–12
33
January 4, 1986
@ Houston
L 100–115
The Summit
20–13
34
January 6, 1986
@ San Antonio
W 108–102
HemisFair Arena
21–13
35
January 8, 1986
L.A. Clippers
W 116–114
The Spectrum
22–13
36
January 10, 1986
Sacramento
W 113–102
The Spectrum
23–13
37
January 11, 1986
@ Detroit
W 102–101
Pontiac Silverdome
24–13
38
January 14, 1986
@ New Jersey
W 123–105
Brendan Byrne Arena
25–13
39
January 15, 1986
New Jersey
L 89–123
The Spectrum
25–14
40
January 17, 1986
@ Chicago
W 120–118 (OT)
Chicago Stadium
26–14
41
January 20, 1986
New York
W 103–93
The Spectrum
27–14
42
January 22, 1986
Phoenix
W 118–111
The Spectrum
28–14
43
January 24, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 121–114
Richfield Coliseum
29–14
44
January 26, 1986
@ Boston
L 103–105
Boston Garden
29–15
45
January 28, 1986
@ Seattle
W 106–99
Seattle Center Coliseum
30–15
46
January 29, 1986
@ Utah
L 86–107
Salt Palace Acord Arena
30–16
47
January 31, 1986
@ L.A. Lakers
L 100–134
The Forum
30–17 :
February: 8–4 (home: 4–2; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
48
February 1, 1986
@ Golden State
L 121–125
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
30–18
49
February 5, 1986
New Jersey
W 142–107
The Spectrum
31–18
50
February 6, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 111–103
Richfield Coliseum
32–18
All-Star Break
51
February 12, 1986
Chicago
W 106–98
The Spectrum
33–18
52
February 13, 1986
@ New York
W 95–92
Madison Square Garden
34–18
53
February 15, 1986
@ Detroit
L 133–134 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
34–19
54
February 17, 1986
Milwaukee
L 106–111
The Spectrum
34–20
55
February 19, 1986
Portland
W 153–133
The Spectrum
35–20
56
February 21, 1986
Washington
W 97–87
The Spectrum
36–20
57
February 23, 1986
L.A. Lakers
L 111–117 (OT)
The Spectrum
36–21
58
February 25, 1986
@ Chicago
W 122–108
Chicago Stadium
37–21
59
February 28, 1986
@ Dallas
W 123–120
Reunion Arena
38–21 :
March: 11–6 (home: 8–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
60
March 1, 1986
@ Denver
W 118–107
McNichols Sports Arena
39–21
61
March 4, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 121–128
Malone (35)
Barkley (16)
Barkley, Cheeks (6)
The Omni 13,315
39–22
62
March 5, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
L 114–122 (OT)
Malone (29)
Malone (20)
Cheeks (8)
The Spectrum 15,192
39–23
63
March 7, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 95–125
MECCA Arena
39–24
64
March 9, 1986
Indiana
W 120–102
The Spectrum
40–24
65
March 11, 1986
@ Indiana
W 101–91
Market Square Arena
41–24
66
March 12, 1986
New York
W 105–95
The Spectrum
42–24
67
March 14, 1986
Cleveland
W 109–100
The Spectrum
43–24
68
March 16, 1986
@ Boston
L 101–118
Boston Garden
43–25
69
March 17, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 118–112 (OT)
Richfield Coliseum
44–25
70
March 19, 1986
Chicago
W 118–112
The Spectrum
45–25
71
March 21, 1986
Washington
W 112–105
The Spectrum
46–25
72
March 22, 1986
New Jersey
W 123–115
The Spectrum
47–25
73
March 24, 1986
@ Washington
L 93–100
Capital Centre
47–26
74
March 26, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 112–103
Malone (32)
Barkley (19)
Cheeks (11)
The Spectrum 14,125
48–26
75
March 28, 1986
Milwaukee
L 94–116
The Spectrum
48–27
76
March 30, 1986
Dallas
W 114–113
The Spectrum
49–27 :
April: 5–1 (home: 5–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
77
April 2, 1986
New York
W 93–87
The Spectrum
50–27
78
April 4, 1986
Cleveland
W 122–102
The Spectrum
51–27
79
April 6, 1986
Boston
W 95–94
The Spectrum
52–27
80
April 8, 1986
Detroit
W 116–112
The Spectrum
53–27
81
April 11, 1986
Indiana
W 130–122
The Spectrum
54–27
82
April 13, 1986
@ Washington
L 97–98
Capital Centre
54–28 :
1985–86 schedule :

### Playoffs

1986 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1986
Washington
L 94–95
Charles Barkley (26)
Charles Barkley (22)
Charles Barkley (9)
The Spectrum 9,148
0–1
2
April 20, 1986
Washington
W 102–97
Charles Barkley (27)
Charles Barkley (20)
Charles Barkley (6)
The Spectrum 9,057
1–1
3
April 22, 1986
@ Washington
W 91–86
Julius Erving (22)
Charles Barkley (14)
Julius Erving (6)
Capital Centre 17,137
2–1
4
April 24, 1986
@ Washington
L 111–116
Maurice Cheeks (30)
Charles Barkley (15)
Charles Barkley (7)
Capital Centre 12,588
2–2
5
April 27, 1986
Washington
W 134–109
Terry Catledge (27)
Charles Barkley (15)
Charles Barkley (12)
The Spectrum 15,162
3–2 :
Conference semifinals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 29, 1986
@ Milwaukee
W 118–112
Charles Barkley (31)
Charles Barkley (20)
Cheeks, Threatt (7)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–0
2
May 1, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 107–119
Charles Barkley (26)
Charles Barkley (15)
Maurice Cheeks (8)
MECCA Arena 11,052
1–1
3
May 3, 1986
Milwaukee
W 107–103
Charles Barkley (29)
Charles Barkley (13)
Maurice Cheeks (10)
The Spectrum 14,611
2–1
4
May 5, 1986
Milwaukee
L 104–109
Charles Barkley (37)
Charles Barkley (14)
Maurice Cheeks (10)
The Spectrum 17,941
2–2
5
May 7, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 108–113
Charles Barkley (29)
Clemon Johnson (9)
Barkley, Erving (5)
MECCA Arena 11,052
2–3
6
May 9, 1986
Milwaukee
W 126–108
Jones, Barkley (23)
Charles Barkley (21)
Maurice Cheeks (13)
The Spectrum 15,287
3–3
7
May 11, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 112–113
Sedale Threatt (28)
Charles Barkley (12)
Maurice Cheeks (6)
MECCA Arena 11,052
3–4 :
1986 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Charles Barkley, All-NBA Second Team
* Maurice Cheeks, NBA All-Defensive First Team