# 1997–98 Denver Nuggets season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Nuggets’ 22nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season as a franchise. The Nuggets received the fifth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft, and selected Tony Battie out of Texas Tech University. During the off-season, the team acquired Eric Williams from the Boston Celtics, acquired Johnny Newman, Joe Wolf, and top draft pick Danny Fortson out of the University of Cincinnati from the Milwaukee Bucks, first-round draft pick Bobby Jackson out of the University of Minnesota from the Seattle SuperSonics, second-round draft pick Eric Washington out of the University of Alabama from the Orlando Magic, and signed free agent Dean Garrett.
However, Williams suffered a devastating knee injury after only just four games, and was out for the remainder of the season, averaging 19.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while Bryant Stith only played just 31 games due to ankle and foot injuries. At mid-season, the team signed free agent Cory Alexander, who was previously released by the San Antonio Spurs.
The Nuggets set numerous unwanted records during this season, which started off with the team losing their first twelve games under new head coach, former Nuggets player Bill Hanzlik. The Nuggets finished with the league's worst record at 11–71, which was also the team's worst record in franchise history. Their eleven wins equaled the third-fewest in an 82-game NBA season along with the 1992–93 Dallas Mavericks, and just like the Mavericks were for a long time viewed as likely to beat the 1972–73 Philadelphia 76ers record of winning only nine games in a full season, and the 2015–16 76ers, who only won just ten games. Incidentally, the NFL's Denver Broncos had won the Super Bowl earlier in 1998 and would go towards the Super Bowl again in the same year when this occurred.
After 40 games and a dreadful 23-game losing streak, which was tied with the 1995–96 Vancouver Grizzlies, the Nuggets had a 2–38 record (winning percentage .050), a mark equalled only by the 1993–94 Mavericks. With the team holding a 4–42 record at the All-Star break, General Manager Allan Bristow was fired. The Nuggets later on lost sixteen consecutive games between February and March, before finally avoiding a possibility of the worst-ever NBA record against the Golden State Warriors on March 27, 1998.
Newman played a sixth man role, leading the team in scoring with 14.7 points per game off the bench, while LaPhonso Ellis averaged 14.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and Jackson provided the team with 11.6 points, 4.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Fortson averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while Anthony Goldwire contributed 9.2 points and 3.4 assists per game, Battie provided with 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, Garrett averaged 7.3 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, Washington contributed 7.7 points per game, and Stith contributed 7.6 points per game. The Nuggets had the worst team defensive rating in the NBA.
The unfortunate season meant Hanzlik was fired after a single season in charge of the team. Following the season, Ellis signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks, while Newman re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Garrett and Jackson were both traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Battie was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers, who then traded him to the Boston Celtics several months later, and Goldwire and Wolf were both released to free agency.
In his 2007 study The NBA from Top to Bottom, basketball enthusiast Kyle Wright argued that in fact the 1997–98 Nuggets were a worse team than the 1972–73 76ers, saying that they played a worse schedule in the Midwest Division than the 1972–73 76ers did in their Atlantic Division where a dominant Boston Celtics team was played seven times by the 76ers. In contrast, Wright says, "the Nuggets got to play the 62–20 Utah Jazz only four times".

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 5 | Tony Battie | PF/C | United States | Texas Tech |
| 2 | 33 | James Cotton | SG | United States | Long Beach State |
| 2 | 42 | Jason Lawson | C | United States | Villanova |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 36–5 | 26–15 | 22–2 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 | 31–10 | 25–16 | 18–6 |
| x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 | 24–17 | 17–24 | 14–10 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 | 13–28 | 7–34 | 9–15 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 | 14–27 | 5–36 | 4–20 |
| Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 | 9–32 | 2–39 | 3–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Utah Jazz | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Seattle SuperSonics | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1 |
| 4 | x-Phoenix Suns | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 56 | 26 | .683 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Minnesota Timberwolves | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 8 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 11 | Vancouver Grizzlies | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 19 | 63 | .232 | 43 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
| 14 | Denver Nuggets | 11 | 71 | .134 | 51 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Boston | 1–2 | – | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Charlotte | 0–4 | 2–1 | – | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Minnesota | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New York | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Orlando | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 0–4 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Philadelphia | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | – | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | – | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | – | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–4 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |

### Game log

1997–98 game log Total: 11–71 (home: 9–32; road: 2–39) :
October: 0–1 (home: 0–1; road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 31San Antonio Spurs96–107McNichols Sports Arena0–1 :
November: 1–11 (home: 1–4; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
2November 1@ Utah Jazz84–102Delta Center0–2
3November 4Washington Wizards96–120McNichols Sports Arena0–3
4November 7Utah Jazz89–91McNichols Sports Arena0–4
5November 11@ New York Knicks90–93Madison Square Garden0–5
6November 12@ Boston Celtics86–96Fleet Center0–6
7November 14@ Orlando Magic85–103Orlando Arena0–7
8November 15@ Miami Heat93–96Miami Arena0–8
9November 18Vancouver Grizzlies87–100McNichols Sports Arena0–9
10November 21@ Vancouver Grizzlies96–99General Motors Place0–10
11November 22Seattle SuperSonics80–84McNichols Sports Arena0–11
12November 25@ Sacramento Kings93–97ARCO Arena0–12
13November 28Minnesota Timberwolves95–84McNichols Sports Arena1–12 :
December: 1–14 (home: 1–7; road: 0–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
14December 2@ Houston Rockets101–112The Summit1–13
15December 3Los Angeles Lakers89–107McNichols Sports Arena1–14
16December 5Indiana Pacers85–96McNichols Sports Arena1–15
17December 7Los Angeles Clippers100–92McNichols Sports Arena2–15
18December 9@ Detroit Pistons83–92The Palace of Auburn Hills2–16
19December 10@ Cleveland Cavaliers106–119Gund Arena2–17
20December 12@ Phoenix Suns81–102America West Arena2–18
21December 13@ New Jersey95–133Continental Airlines Arena2–19
22December 16San Antonio Spurs85–99McNichols Sports Arena2–20
23December 18@ Seattle SuperSonics106–119KeyArena2–21
24December 20Phoenix Suns81–102McNichols Sports Arena2–22
25December 23@ Golden State Warriors75–87The Arena in Oakland2–23
26December 26Golden State Warriors120–131McNichols Sports Arena2–24
27December 27@ Los Angeles Clippers103–105Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena2–25
28December 30Utah Jazz99–132McNichols Sports Arena2–26 :
January: 2–14 (home: 1–7; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
29January 2Houston Rockets115–116 OTMcNichols Sports Arena2–27
30January 3@ Minnesota Timberwolves87–109Target Center2–28
31January 6@ Dallas Mavericks90–108Reunion Arena2–29
32January 7@ San Antonio Spurs89–96Alamodome2–30
33January 9Miami Heat79–98McNichols Sports Arena2–31
34January 13Orlando Magic84–98McNichols Sports Arena2–32
35January 14@ Los Angeles Lakers114–132Great Western Forum2–33
36January 16Cleveland Cavaliers74–99McNichols Sports Arena2–34
37January 18@ Portland Trail Blazers82–94Rose Garden Arena2–35
38January 20@ Vancouver Grizzlies77–88General Motors Place2–36
39January 21Detroit Pistons67–87McNichols Sports Arena2–37
40January 23@ Phoenix Suns77–93America West Arena2–38
41January 24@ Los Angeles Clippers99–81Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena3–38
42January 27New Jersey Nets87–120McNichols Sports Arena3–39
43January 29Toronto Raptors80–84McNichols Sports Arena3–40
44January 31Dallas Mavericks110–98McNichols Sports Arena4–40 :
February: 1–11 (home: 1–6; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
45February 2Chicago Bulls72–111McNichols Sports Arena4–41
46February 4Sacramento Kings99–101McNichols Sports Arena4–42
47February 10Boston Celtics112–99McNichols Sports Arena5–42
48February 12@ Sacramento Kings84–87ARCO Arena5–43
49February 13Minnesota Timberwolves80–107McNichols Sports Arena5–44
50February 15@ Portland Trail Blazers82–117Rose Garden Arena5–45
51February 17New York Knicks77–91McNichols Sports Arena5–46
52February 19@ Los Angeles Lakers114–132Great Western Forum5–47
53February 20@ Golden State Warriors88–95The Arena in Oakland5–48
54February 22@ Seattle SuperSonics68–88KeyArena5–49
55February 23Charlotte Hornets98–118McNichols Sports Arena5–50
56February 25Atlanta Hawks88–112McNichols Sports Arena5–51
57February 27Philadelphia 76ers78–79McNichols Sports Arena5–52 :
March: 4–11 (home: 3–4; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
58March 1@ Indiana Pacers63–90Market Square Arena5–53
59March 3@ Chicago Bulls90–118United Center5–54
60March 5@ Milwaukee Bucks87–104Bradley Center5–55
61March 6@ Atlanta Hawks94–115Georgia Dome5–56
62March 8Los Angeles Clippers89–100McNichols Sports Arena5–57
63March 10Phoenix Suns106–104McNichols Sports Arena5–58
64March 12Vancouver Grizzlies98–93McNichols Sports Arena6–58
65March 14Portland Trail Blazers92–82McNichols Sports Arena7–58
66March 16Charlotte Hornets87–109Charlotte Coliseum7–59
67March 17@ Washington Wizards90–89MCI Center8–59
68March 19@ Toronto Raptors103–104 OTSkyDome8–60
69March 20@ Minnesota Timberwolves88–104Target Center8–61
70March 23Los Angeles Lakers86–107McNichols Sports Arena8–62
71March 25Dallas Mavericks94–105McNichols Sports Arena8–63
72March 27Golden State Warriors97–89McNichols Sports Arena9–63 :
April: 2–8 (home: 2–3; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
73April 1Milwaukee Bucks100–106McNichols Sports Arena9–64
74April 3@ Utah Jazz75–97Delta Center9–65
75April 5Seattle SuperSonics83–87McNichols Sports Arena9–66
76April 7Houston Rockets87–104McNichols Sports Arena9–67
77April 9Sacramento Kings128–103McNichols Sports Arena10–67
78April 11@ Dallas Mavericks81–99Reunion Arena10–68
79April 14@ Houston Rockets88–94The Summit10–69
80April 15@ Phoenix Suns89–96America West Arena10–70
81April 17Portland Trail Blazers109–101McNichols Sports Arena11–70
82April 19@ San Antonio Spurs82–96Alamodome11–71 :
1997–98 schedule :

## Player statistics

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Dean Garrett | 82 | 82 | 32.1 | .428 | N/A | .648 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 7.3 |
| Anthony Goldwire | 82 | 32 | 27.0 | .423 | .384 | .806 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 9.2 |
| Danny Fortson | 80 | 23 | 22.6 | .452 | .333 | .776 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 10.2 |
| LaPhonso Ellis | 76 | 71 | 33.9 | .407 | .284 | .805 | 7.2 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| Johnny Newman | 74 | 15 | 29.4 | .431 | .343 | .820 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 14.7 |
| Bobby Jackson | 68 | 53 | 30.0 | .392 | .259 | .814 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 11.6 |
| Eric Washington | 66 | 36 | 23.3 | .404 | .321 | .783 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 7.7 |
| Tony Battie | 65 | 49 | 23.2 | .446 | .214 | .702 | 5.4 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 8.4 |
| Joe Wolf | 57 | 8 | 10.9 | .331 | .200 | .500 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.5 |
| Priest Lauderdale | 39 | 0 | 8.8 | .417 | N/A | .551 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 3.7 |
| Bryant Stith | 31 | 15 | 23.2 | .333 | .208 | .872 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 7.6 |
| Kiwane Garris | 28 | 0 | 8.0 | .338 | .357 | .760 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
| Harold Ellis | 27 | 3 | 12.7 | .559 | .000 | .635 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 6.1 |
| Cory Alexander | 23 | 19 | 34.7 | .435 | .411 | .846 | 4.3 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 14.0 |
| George Zidek | 6 | 0 | 7.0 | .267 | N/A | .833 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.0 |
| Eric Williams | 4 | 4 | 36.3 | .393 | N/A | .689 | 5.3 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 19.8 |

## Awards and records

* Bobby Jackson, NBA All-Rookie Team 2nd Team