# 1997–98 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1997–98 NBA season was the Hawks' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season in Atlanta. Due to the demolition of the Omni Coliseum during the off-season, the Hawks played their home games between the Georgia Dome, home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, home of the NCAA's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball team. The Alexander Memorial Coliseum (known as "Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald's Center" at the time) was also the Hawks' original home from 1968 to 1972. In the off-season, the team signed free agent Chucky Brown, and re-signed Greg Anderson, who previously played for the Hawks during the 1994–95 season.
The Hawks got off to a fast start winning their first eleven games of the season. However, after a 19–5 start, they would struggle losing seven straight games between December and January, but then won six straight afterwards and held a 29–20 record at the All-Star break. The Hawks won eight of their final eleven games, finishing in fourth place in the Central Division with a solid 50–32 record.
Dikembe Mutombo averaged 13.4 points, 11.4 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game, and was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, and was also named to the All-NBA Third Team, and NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Steve Smith led the Hawks in scoring averaging 20.1 points per game for the second straight season. Mutombo and Smith were both selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game in New York City, New York.
In addition, Alan Henderson averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, after replacing Christian Laettner as the team's starting power forward at mid-season, and was named Most Improved Player of the Year, while Laettner provided the team with 13.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Mookie Blaylock contributed 13.2 points, 6.7 assists, led the league with 2.6 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. Tyrone Corbin provided with 10.2 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Eldridge Recasner contributed 9.3 points per game off the bench. Blaylock also finished tied in fifth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
However, in the playoffs, the Hawks lost in four games to the Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference First Round, despite a 32-point margin in a Game 3 home win over the Hornets, 96–64.
The Hawks finished 24th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 610,615 at the Georgia Dome, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Laettner was traded to the Detroit Pistons, while Recasner and Brown both signed as free agents with the Charlotte Hornets, and Anderson was released to free agency.
On March 27, 1998, the Hawks set a single-game regular season attendance record of 62,046 fans at the Georgia Dome in a game against Michael Jordan, and the 2-time defending champion Chicago Bulls, who defeated the Hawks, 89–74. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals for their third consecutive championship, and sixth overall in eight years.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 22 | Ed Gray | SG | United States | California |
| 2 | 49 | Alain Digbeu | SG/SF | France | |
| 2 | 50 | Chris Crawford | PF/SF | United States | Marquette |

## Roster
### Roster Notes

* Rookie shooting guard Ed Gray was suspended indefinitely after playing 30 games for missing medical appointments; Gray was on the injured reserve list with a sprained right foot.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Chicago Bulls | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 37–4 | 25–16 | 21–7 |
| x-Indiana Pacers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 | 32–9 | 26–15 | 19–9 |
| x-Charlotte Hornets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 | 32–9 | 19–22 | 16–12 |
| x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 | 29–12 | 21–20 | 19–9 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 27–14 | 20–21 | 14–14 |
| Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 12–16 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 | 21–20 | 15–26 | 9–19 |
| Toronto Raptors | 16 | 66 | .195 | 46 | 9–32 | 7–34 | 2–26 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Chicago Bulls | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Miami Heat | 55 | 27 | .671 | 7 |
| 3 | x-Indiana Pacers | 58 | 24 | .707 | 4 |
| 4 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 5 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 7 | x-New York Knicks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 19 |
| 8 | x-New Jersey Nets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 19 |
| 9 | Washington Wizards | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 10 | Orlando Magic | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 12 | Boston Celtics | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 12 | Milwaukee Bucks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 15 | Toronto Raptors | 16 | 66 | .195 | 46 |
    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: 50–32 (home: 29–12; road: 21–20) :
October: 1–0 (home: 0–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
1October 31@ Orlando MagicW 105–99Orlando Arena1–0 :
November: 13–2 (home: 9–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
2November 1Toronto RaptorsW 90–85Alexander Memorial Coliseum2–0
3November 4Detroit PistonsW 82–71Georgia Dome3–0
4November 5@ Philadelphia 76ersW 93–88CoreStates Center4–0
5November 7Chicago BullsW 80–78Georgia Dome5–0
6November 8@ Cleveland CavaliersW 99–97 (OT)Gund Arena6–0
7November 11Seattle SuperSonicsW 89–87Georgia Dome7–0
8November 12@ Indiana PacersW 89–86Market Square Arena8–0
9November 14Sacramento KingsW 104–103Georgia Dome9–0
10November 16Los Angeles ClippersW 89–83Alexander Memorial Coliseum10–0
11November 18Washington WizardsW 98–89 (OT)Georgia Dome11–0
12November 20New York KnicksL 79–100Georgia Dome11–1
13November 22@ Detroit PistonsL 85–87The Palace of Auburn Hills11–2
14November 26@ Toronto RaptorsW 109–104 (2OT)SkyDome12–2
15November 29Charlotte HornetsW 98–80Georgia Dome13–2
16November 30San Antonio SpursW 108–96Georgia Dome14–2 :
December: 5–8 (home: 1–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
17December 2@ Dallas MavericksW 112–79Reunion Arena15–2
18December 4@ Houston RocketsL 87–94The Summit15–3
19December 9Miami HeatL 81–97Alexander Memorial Coliseum15–4
20December 11@ Phoenix SunsL 78–94America West Arena15–5
21December 12@ Los Angeles ClippersW 83–74Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena16–5
22December 14@ Sacramento KingsW 93–89ARCO Arena17–5
23December 15@ Portland Trail BlazersW 99–90Rose Garden18–5
24December 17Cleveland CavaliersW 94–83Georgia Dome19–5
25December 19Los Angeles LakersL 96–98Georgia Dome19–6
26December 20@ Miami HeatL 92–99Miami Arena19–7
27December 22Utah JazzL 99–101Georgia Dome19–8
28December 26@ Milwaukee BucksL 94–99 (OT)Bradley Center19–9
29December 27@ Chicago BullsL 90–97United Center19–10 :
January: 9–8 (home: 5–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
30January 2@ Los Angeles LakersL 106–116Great Western Forum19–11
31January 3@ Utah JazzL 82–97Delta Center
19–12
32January 7@ Golden State WarriorsW 106–86Oakland Arena20–12
33January 9Washington WizardsW 82–77Alexander Memorial Coliseum21–12
34January 11@ Washington WizardsW 107–102 (OT)MCI Center22–12
35January 13@ New York KnicksW 91–89Madison Square Garden23–12
36January 14Dallas MavericksW 108–82Alexander Memorial Coliseum24–12
37January 16Golden State WarriorsW 102–89Alexander Memorial Coliseum25–12
38January 17@ New Jersey NetsL 81–97Continental Airlines Arena25–13
39January 20Milwaukee BucksW 103–89Georgia Dome26–13
40January 21@ San Antonio SpursL 76–90Alamodome26–14
41January 23Boston CelticsL 85–89Georgia Dome26–15
42January 24Portland Trail BlazersL 77–92Georgia Dome26–16
43January 26Phoenix SunsL 91–96Georgia Dome26–17
44January 27@ Minnesota TimberwolvesL 96–113Target Center26–18
45January 29Philadelphia 76ersW 109–99 (OT)Alexander Memorial Coliseum27–18
46January 31@ Charlotte HornetsW 103–83Charlotte Coliseum28–18 :
February: 5–6 (home: 2–2; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
47February 2@ Miami HeatL 83–90Miami Arena28–19
48February 3@ Orlando MagicL 90–91Orlando Arena28–20
49February 5@ Cleveland CavaliersW 108–94Gund Arena29–20
50February 10@ Milwaukee BucksW 108–100Bradley Center30–20
51February 13@ Chicago BullsL 110–112United Center30–21
52February 14Indiana PacersL 92–96Georgia Dome30–22
53February 16Orlando MagicL 81–85Georgia Dome30–23
54February 18New Jersey NetsW 114–104Alexander Memorial Coliseum31–23
55February 20Vancouver GrizzliesW 115–92Alexander Memorial Coliseum32–23
56February 25@ Denver NuggetsW 112–88McNichols Arena33–23
57February 27@ Seattle SuperSonicsL 88–90KeyArena at Seattle Center33–24 :
March: 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
58March 1@ Vancouver GrizzliesW 101–76General Motors Place34–24
59March 6Denver NuggetsW 115–94Alexander Memorial Coliseum35–24
60March 8Cleveland CavaliersW 101–96Alexander Memorial Coliseum36–24
61March 11@ Boston CelticsW 110–105FleetCenter37–24
62March 13@ Philadelphia 76ersL 86–107CoreStates Center37–25
63March 15Boston CelticsW 93–77Alexander Memorial Coliseum38–25
64March 17@ Toronto RaptorsW 117–105SkyDome39–25
65March 19Milwaukee BucksW 84–81Alexander Memorial Coliseum40–25
66March 20@ New York KnicksL 108–109Madison Square Garden40–26
67March 22@ Detroit PistonsL 98–105The Palace of Auburn Hills40–27
68March 24Orlando MagicW 85–73Georgia Dome41–27
69March 27Chicago BullsL 74–89Georgia Dome41–28
70March 29Detroit PistonsW 118–95Georgia Dome42–28
71March 31@ New Jersey NetsW 90–105Continental Airlines Arena42–29 :
April: 8–3 (home: 6–2; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreLocation AttendanceRecord
72April 1Toronto RaptorsW 105–91Georgia Dome43–29
73April 3Houston RocketsW 107–87Georgia Dome44–29
74April 5Minnesota TimberwolvesL 96–97Georgia Dome44–30
75April 7New York KnicksW 92–79Georgia Dome45–30
76April 9Indiana PacersL 102–105 (OT)Georgia Dome45–31
77April 10@ Charlotte HornetsW 99–87Charlotte Coliseum46–31
78April 12@ Washington WizardsW 91–81MCI Center47–31
79April 14Philadelphia 76ersW 95–94Georgia Dome48–31
80April 15@ Indiana PacersL 70–82Market Square Arena48–32
81April 17Charlotte HornetsW 121–104Georgia Dome49–32
82April 19Miami HeatW 101–89Georgia Dome50–32 :
1997–98 schedule :

## Playoffs

1998 playoff game log :
First round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 23
@ Charlotte
L 87–97
Steve Smith (35)
Dikembe Mutombo (15)
Mookie Blaylock (9)
Charlotte Coliseum 19,176
0–1
2
April 25
@ Charlotte
L 85–92
Henderson, Smith (22)
Henderson, Mutombo (9)
Mookie Blaylock (13)
Charlotte Coliseum 20,390
0–2
3
April 28
Charlotte
W 96–64
Mookie Blaylock (16)
Dikembe Mutombo (11)
Mookie Blaylock (7)
Georgia Dome 19,745
1–2
4
May 1
Charlotte
L 82–91
Steve Smith (27)
Dikembe Mutombo (16)
Mookie Blaylock (4)
Georgia Dome 22,074
1–3 :
1998 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Greg Anderson | 50 | 0 | 8.0 | .444 | .000 | .390 | 2.4 | .3 | .4 | .2 | 1.8 |
| Drew Barry | 27 | 0 | 9.5 | .474 | .429 | .846 | 1.3 | 1.8 | .4 | .0 | 2.1 |
| Mookie Blaylock | 70 | 69 | 38.6 | .392 | .269 | .709 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 2.6 | .3 | 13.2 |
| Chucky Brown | 77 | 8 | 15.6 | .433 | .250 | .724 | 2.4 | .7 | .3 | .2 | 5.0 |
| Tyrone Corbin | 79 | 79 | 34.2 | .439 | .348 | .789 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.3 | .1 | 10.2 |
| Chris Crawford | 40 | 0 | 6.4 | .418 | .333 | .838 | 1.0 | .2 | .3 | .2 | 3.8 |
| Ed Gray | 30 | 3 | 15.7 | .381 | .391 | .846 | 1.5 | 1.1 | .5 | .4 | 7.6 |
| Alan Henderson | 69 | 33 | 29.0 | .485 | .500 | .652 | 6.4 | 1.1 | .6 | .5 | 14.3 |
| Christian Laettner | 74 | 49 | 30.8 | .485 | .222 | .864 | 6.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 13.8 |
| Randy Livingston | 12 | 0 | 6.8 | .250 | . | .800 | .5 | .4 | .6 | .2 | .8 |
| Anthony Miller | 37 | 0 | 6.2 | .558 | . | .538 | 1.9 | .1 | .4 | .1 | 2.1 |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 82 | 82 | 35.6 | .537 | . | .670 | 11.4 | 1.0 | .4 | 3.4 | 13.4 |
| Brian Oliver | 5 | 0 | 12.2 | .368 | . | .250 | 1.8 | .4 | .2 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Eldridge Recasner | 59 | 14 | 24.6 | .456 | .419 | .937 | 2.4 | 2.0 | .7 | .0 | 9.3 |
| Steve Smith | 73 | 73 | 39.1 | .444 | .351 | .855 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 20.1 |
| Donald Whiteside | 3 | 0 | 5.3 | .500 | . | . | .3 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .7 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Greg Anderson | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | . | . | .000 | 2.0 | . | . | 1.0 | . |
| Drew Barry | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | .000 | .000 | . | .5 | . | . | . | . |
| Mookie Blaylock | 4 | 4 | 38.3 | .415 | .296 | .583 | 5.0 | 8.3 | 2.3 | .3 | 14.8 |
| Chucky Brown | 4 | 0 | 12.5 | .467 | .500 | .500 | 1.5 | 1.0 | . | . | 4.0 |
| Tyrone Corbin | 4 | 4 | 28.3 | .280 | .167 | . | 3.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | .3 | 3.8 |
| Chris Crawford | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | . | . | 1.000 | 2.0 | . | . | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Alan Henderson | 4 | 4 | 31.5 | .526 | .000 | .611 | 5.5 | 1.0 | .8 | .3 | 12.8 |
| Christian Laettner | 4 | 0 | 21.8 | .343 | .000 | .882 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | .3 | 9.8 |
| Anthony Miller | 4 | 0 | 8.3 | .375 | . | 1.000 | 2.3 | .3 | .5 | .3 | 2.0 |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 4 | 4 | 34.0 | .458 | . | .625 | 12.8 | .3 | .3 | 2.3 | 8.0 |
| Eldridge Recasner | 4 | 0 | 22.3 | .400 | .583 | 1.000 | 1.0 | 2.0 | .5 | . | 7.3 |
| Steve Smith | 4 | 4 | 40.0 | .574 | .500 | .688 | 2.8 | 2.3 | .5 | .8 | 24.8 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records

* Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
* Alan Henderson, NBA Most Improved Player Award
* Dikembe Mutombo, All-NBA Third Team
* Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Mookie Blaylock, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

## Transactions
### Trades

September 29, 1997
* Traded Priest Lauderdale to the Denver Nuggets for Efthimios Rentzias and a 2000 second round draft pick.

### Free agents

September 26, 1997
* Signed Anthony Miller as a free agent.
* Signed Donald Whiteside as a free agent.
* Signed Drew Barry as a free agent.
October 2, 1997
* Signed Chucky Brown as a free agent.
* Signed Chris King as a free agent.
October 8, 1997
* Waived Chris King.
October 10, 1997
* Signed Greg Anderson as a free agent.
October 19, 1997
* Waived Drew Barry
November 7, 1997
* Signed Randy Livingston as a free agent.
* Waived Donald Whiteside.
November 20, 1997
* Waived Randy Livingston.
December 9, 1997
* Signed Randy Livingston as a free agent.
January 10, 1998
* Waived Randy Livingston.
January 20, 1998
* Signed Drew Barry to a 10-day contract.
February 11, 1998
* Signed Drew Barry to a contract for the rest of the season.
February 13, 1998
* Signed Lloyd Daniels to a 10-day contract.
February 15, 1998
* Released Lloyd Daniels.
February 17, 1998
* Signed Brian Oliver to the first of two 10-day contracts.
Player Transactions Citation: