# 1978–79 Phoenix Suns season

The 1978–79 Phoenix Suns season was the 11th season for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association and the first time they reached the 50-win mark to end the regular season. The team repeated a second-place finish in an expanded Pacific division and the Western Conference's second-best record, thus earning a spot in the playoffs, the franchise's first time extending the season in back-to-back seasons. For the first time since the '75–'76 team, the Suns returned to the Western Conference finals, before being dispatched by Pacific division champion Seattle in seven games. The Suns were led by head coach John MacLeod and played all home games in Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Paul Westphal, whom led the Suns with his 24 points per game, made his third straight appearance in the All-Star Game and was again named to the All-NBA First Team. Walter Davis followed up his Rookie of the Year Award performance from the previous season with his second consecutive All-Star selection and by season's end, voted to the All-NBA Second Team. Fourth-year big man Alvan Adams hauled in a career-high 9.2 rebounds a game to go with an average of 17.8 points.

## Offseason
### NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 19 | Marty Byrnes | Forward | United States | Syracuse |
| 3 | 63 | Joel Kramer | Forward | United States | San Diego State |
| 4 | 85 | Bob Miller | Center | United States | Cincinnati |
| 4 | 88 | Wayne Smith | Guard | United States | California-Irvine |
| 5 | 107 | Andre Wakefield | Guard | United States | Loyola (IL) |
| 6 | 128 | Charles Thompson | Forward | United States | Houston |
| 7 | 149 | Steve Malovic | Center | United States | San Diego State |
| 8 | 167 | George Fowler | Center | United States | Pacific |
| 9 | 184 | Nate Stokes | Forward | United States | Grand Canyon |
| 10 | 199 | Lewis Cohen | Guard | United States | Cal Poly |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – | 31–10 | 21–20 | 11–9 |
| x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 | 32–9 | 18–23 | 11–9 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 | 31–10 | 16–25 | 11–9 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 | 33–8 | 12–29 | 8–12 |
| San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 11–9 |
| Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 | 23–18 | 15–26 | 8–12 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Seattle SuperSonics | 52 | 30 | .634 | – |
| 2 | y-Kansas City Kings | 48 | 34 | .585 | 4 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 50 | 32 | .610 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 5 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 7 |
| 7 | San Diego Clippers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 9 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 9 | Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 10 | Golden State Warriors | 38 | 44 | .463 | 14 |
| 11 | Chicago Bulls | 31 | 51 | .378 | 21 |

### Record vs. opponents

1978–79 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NOJ | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Boston | 2–2 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 1–3 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Denver | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Detroit | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Houston | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Indiana | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| Kansas City | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Los Angeles | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| New Jersey | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–4 |
| New York | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 |
| San Diego | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Seattle | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 2–2 |
| Washington | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | — |

### Game log

1978–79 game log Total: 50–32 (home: 32–9; road: 18–23) :
October: 7–3 (home: 4–1; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
1
October 13
San Diego
W 128–114
Paul Westphal (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,217
1–0
W 1
2
October 15
Golden State
W 129–110
Walter Davis (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,750
2–0
W 2
3
October 17
San Antonio
L 107–110
Paul Westphal (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 8,755
2–1
L 1
4
October 18
@ Golden State
W 122–112
Paul Westphal (33)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,139
3–1
W 1
5
October 22
@ Portland
W 124–116
Walter Davis (28)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
4–1
W 2
6
October 24
Milwaukee
W 124–116
Walter Davis (38)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,728
5–1
W 3
7
October 25
@ Denver
L 104–108
Paul Westphal (29)
McNichols Sports Arena 14,448
5–2
L 1
8
October 27
@ Chicago
W 115–110 (OT)
Paul Westphal (38)
Chicago Stadium 7,807
6–2
W 1
9
October 28
@ Kansas City
L 102–112
Alvan Adams, Walter Davis (23)
Kemper Arena 9,534
6–3
L 1
10
October 31
New York
W 120–108
Paul Westphal (35)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,197
7–3
W 1 :
November: 10–4 (home: 5–1; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
11
November 2
@ New Orleans
W 106–99
Paul Westphal (27)
Louisiana Superdome 6,943
8–3
W 2
12
November 4
@ Houston
L 103–110
Walter Davis (25)
The Summit 9,163
8–4
L 1
13
November 8
Cleveland
W 118–96
Ron Lee (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,311
9–4
W 1
14
November 10
Denver
L 132–150
Paul Westphal (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,277
9–5
L 1
15
November 12
New Orleans
W 128–122
Alvan Adams (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,158
10–5
W 1
16
November 15
@ San Antonio
W 125–119
Paul Westphal (39)
HemisFair Arena 10,489
11–5
W 2
17
November 17
@ Philadelphia
L 94–95
Paul Westphal (25)
The Spectrum 11,513
11–6
L 1
18
November 18
@ Detroit
W 119–105
Paul Westphal (28)
Pontiac Silverdome 10,789
12–6
W 1
19
November 21
@ Cleveland
W 110–108
Walter Davis (28)
Coliseum at Richfield 6,524
13–6
W 2
20
November 22
@ Indiana
W 115–110
Walter Davis (32)
Market Square Arena 9,432
14–6
W 3
21
November 24
Houston
W 120–113
Walter Davis (37)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
15–6
W 4
22
November 26
Chicago
W 125–109
Alvan Adams (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,921
16–6
W 5
23
November 28
@ Chicago
L 112–124
Walter Davis (26)
Chicago Stadium 7,826
16–7
L 1
24
November 30
Detroit
W 119–109
Paul Westphal (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,633
17–7
W 1 :
December: 7–7 (home: 5–2; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
25
December 1
@ Los Angeles
L 122–130
Paul Westphal (32)
The Forum 10,529
17–8
L 1
26
December 2
Golden State
L 108–116
Alvan Adams (29)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,167
17–9
L 2
27
December 6
Atlanta
W 136–109
Walter Davis (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,345
18–9
W 1
28
December 8
@ Boston
W 124–104
Paul Westphal (30)
Boston Garden 11,762
19–9
W 2
29
December 9
@ Washington
L 98–101
Paul Westphal (30)
Capital Centre 17,438
19–10
L 1
30
December 12
@ Milwaukee
L 114–120
Paul Westphal (36)
MECCA Arena 10,938
19–11
L 2
31
December 16
Los Angeles
W 119–100
Alvan Adams, Paul Westphal (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,327
20–11
W 1
32
December 17
@ San Diego
L 110–116
Alvan Adams (32)
San Diego Sports Arena 6,068
20–12
L 1
33
December 20
Washington
L 129–137
Paul Westphal (36)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 9,789
20–13
L 2
34
December 22
Kansas City
W 123–103
Alvan Adams (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,533
21–13
W 1
35
December 26
@ Denver
W 106–102
Walter Davis (31)
McNichols Sports Arena 16,325
22–13
W 2
36
December 28
Portland
W 129–127 (OT)
Walter Davis (42)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,510
23–13
W 3
37
December 29
@ Seattle
L 92–119
Mike Bratz (15)
Kingdome 20,565
23–14
L 1
38
December 30
Boston
W 112–109
Alvan Adams (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
24–14
W 1 :
January: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
39
January 2
@ New York
W 114–102
Alvan Adams (28)
Madison Square Garden 11,266
25–14
W 2
40
January 5
@ Washington
L 94–104
Ron Lee (19)
Capital Centre 14,929
25–15
L 1
41
January 6
@ Philadelphia
W 143–139 (OT)
Walter Davis (35)
The Spectrum 16,109
26–15
W 1
42
January 7
@ New Jersey
L 112–117
Alvan Adams (32)
Rutgers Athletic Center 3,439
26–16
L 1
43
January 11
Seattle
L 106–109
Walter Davis (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
26–17
L 2
44
January 13
Indiana
L 99–102
Walter Davis (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
26–18
L 3
45
January 17
@ Milwaukee
L 118–123
Truck Robinson (25)
MECCA Arena 10,661
26–19
L 4
46
January 18
@ Detroit
W 97–87
Walter Davis (26)
Pontiac Silverdome 5,839
27–19
W 1
47
January 20
Houston
W 116–97
Paul Westphal (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
28–19
W 2
48
January 24
Philadelphia
W 101–94
Truck Robinson (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
29–19
W 3
49
January 26
New York
W 108–107
Walter Davis (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,813
30–19
W 4
50
January 28
New Jersey
L 114–117
Alvan Adams, Walter Davis (25)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,357
30–20
L 1
51
January 31
Milwaukee
W 123–118
Paul Westphal (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,736
31–20
W 1 :
February: 6–6 (home: 5–1; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
52
February 2
San Antonio
W 133–108
Alvan Adams (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
32–20
W 2
53
February 6
@ Portland
L 93–110
Truck Robinson (19)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
32–21
L 1
54
February 9
Atlanta
L 102–105
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,928
32–22
L 2
55
February 11
Cleveland
W 136–101
Truck Robinson (24)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,972
33–22
W 1
56
February 15
Washington
W 119–108
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
34–22
W 2
57
February 16
@ Seattle
L 104–119
Mike Bratz (19)
Kingdome 23,103
34–23
L 1
58
February 17
New Orleans
W 136–112
Alvan Adams (22)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
35–23
W 1
59
February 20
@ New York
W 117–107
Paul Westphal (36)
Madison Square Garden 10,921
36–23
W 2
60
February 21
@ New Jersey
L 112–123
Paul Westphal (25)
Rutgers Athletic Center 3,812
36–24
L 1
61
February 23
@ Kansas City
L 112–121
Truck Robinson (28)
Kemper Arena 10,768
36–25
L 2
62
February 24
@ Atlanta
L 85–110
Truck Robinson (21)
Omni Coliseum 12,281
36–26
L 3
63
February 28
Indiana
W 103–102
Paul Westphal (27)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,735
37–26
W 1 :
March: 10–4 (home: 6–1; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
64
March 2
Denver
L 105–119
Paul Westphal (28)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,835
37–27
L 1
65
March 4
Philadelphia
W 119–94
Walter Davis (26)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,722
38–27
W 1
66
March 8
Chicago
W 132–117
Alvan Adams, Don Buse, Walter Davis (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,126
39–27
W 2
67
March 11
@ Indiana
L 111–112
Paul Westphal (24)
Market Square Arena 14,173
39–28
L 1
68
March 13
@ Cleveland
W 124–120
Walter Davis (36)
Coliseum at Richfield 7,690
40–28
W 1
69
March 14
@ Boston
W 126–117
Paul Westphal (39)
Boston Garden 10,308
41–28
W 2
70
March 16
@ San Antonio
W 128–122
Paul Westphal (43)
HemisFair Arena 14,864
42–28
W 3
71
March 17
@ Houston
L 122–134
Paul Westphal (22)
The Summit 12,557
42–29
L 1
72
March 18
@ New Orleans
L 117–121
Walter Davis, Paul Westphal (29)
Louisiana Superdome 5,108
42–30
L 2
73
March 21
Boston
W 134–113
Walter Davis (33)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,568
43–30
W 1
74
March 23
Kansas City
W 126–107
Paul Westphal (36)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
44–30
W 2
75
March 25
@ Golden State
W 111–95
Paul Westphal (25)
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,651
45–30
W 3
76
March 28
Los Angeles
W 112–106
Paul Westphal (32)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,805
46–30
W 4
77
March 30
Seattle
W 113–111 (OT)
Walter Davis (40)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
47–30
W 5 :
April: 3–2 (home: 3–0; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsLocation AttendanceRecordStreak
78
April 1
Detroit
W 116–105
Alvan Adams (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 10,550
48–30
W 6
79
April 4
Portland
W 106–95
Paul Westphal (21)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,305
49–30
W 7
80
April 6
San Diego
W 118–117
Alvan Adams (23)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
50–30
W 8
81
April 7
@ San Diego
L 116–120
Walter Davis, Paul Westphal (22)
San Diego Sports Arena 11,614
50–31
L 1
82
April 8
@ Los Angeles
L 103–111
Walter Davis (21)
The Forum 11,973
50–32
L 2 :
1978–79 schedule :

## Playoffs
### Game log

1979 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 10
Portland
W 107–103
Paul Westphal (28)
Adams, Davis (5)
Alvan Adams (9)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–0
2
April 13
@ Portland
L 92–96
Walter Davis (31)
Gar Heard (9)
Paul Westphal (6)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–1
3
April 15
Portland
W 101–91
Paul Westphal (26)
Gar Heard (12)
Walter Davis (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
2–1 :
Conference semifinals: 4–1 (home: 3–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 17
Kansas City
W 102–99
Paul Westphal (25)
Truck Robinson (12)
Don Buse (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–0
2
April 20
@ Kansas City
L 91–111
Truck Robinson (17)
Truck Robinson (13)
Walter Davis (5)
Kemper Arena 13,659
1–1
3
April 22
Kansas City
W 108–93
Walter Davis (22)
Alvan Adams (9)
Walter Davis (7)
Arizona State University Activity Center 14,301
2–1
4
April 25
@ Kansas City
W 108–94
Paul Westphal (26)
Gar Heard (14)
Alvan Adams (8)
Kemper Arena 13,184
3–1
5
April 27
Kansas City
W 120–99
Paul Westphal (32)
Joel Kramer (11)
Bratz, Kramer (5)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
4–1 :
Conference finals: 3–4 (home: 2–1; road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 1
@ Seattle
L 93–108
Alvan Adams (18)
Alvan Adams (12)
Adams, Davis (4)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,098
0–1
2
May 4
@ Seattle
L 97–103
Paul Westphal (29)
Truck Robinson (9)
Buse, Davis (5)
Kingdome 31,964
0–2
3
May 6
Seattle
W 113–103
Paul Westphal (25)
Walter Davis (10)
Paul Westphal (6)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
1–2
4
May 8
Seattle
W 100–91
Walter Davis (27)
Gar Heard (12)
Paul Westphal (10)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
2–2
5
May 11
@ Seattle
W 99–93
Paul Westphal (27)
Truck Robinson (14)
Paul Westphal (5)
Kingdome 28,935
3–2
6
May 13
Seattle
L 105–106
Paul Westphal (29)
Joel Kramer (8)
Paul Westphal (8)
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660
3–3
7
May 17
@ Seattle
L 110–114
Walter Davis (26)
Truck Robinson (14)
Paul Westphal (9)
Kingdome 37,552
4–3 :
1979 schedule :

## Awards and honors
### All-Star

* Paul Westphal was voted as a starter for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his third consecutive All-Star selection. Westphal finished second in voting among Western Conference guards with 251,829 votes.
* Walter Davis was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game. It was his second consecutive All-Star selection. Davis finished fifth in voting among Western Conference forwards with 118,546 votes.

### Season

* Paul Westphal was named to the All-NBA First Team.
* Walter Davis was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Davis also finished tenth in MVP voting.
* Don Buse was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 77 | 74 | 30.7 | .530 | .799 | 9.2 | 4.7 | 1.4 | .8 | 17.8 |
| Mike Bratz | 77 | 0 | 16.8 | .454 | .818 | 1.8 | 2.3 | .8 | .1 | 8.1 |
| Don Buse | 82 | 82 | 31.0 | .495 | .769 | 2.6 | 4.3 | 1.9 | .2 | 7.8 |
| Marty Byrnes* | 43 | 1 | 17.1 | .489 | .730 | 2.3 | 1.4 | .3 | .0 | 6.8 |
| Walter Davis | 79 | 78 | 30.8 | .561 | .831 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 1.9 | .3 | 23.6 |
| Bayard Forrest | 75 | 7 | 16.6 | .434 | .539 | 4.2 | 2.2 | .4 | .5 | 4.0 |
| Garfield Heard | 63 | 37 | 19.3 | .441 | .689 | 5.6 | 1.0 | .8 | .9 | 6.3 |
| Joel Kramer | 82 | 1 | 17.1 | .489 | .710 | 4.1 | 1.1 | .5 | .3 | 5.9 |
| Ron Lee* | 43 | 1 | 22.0 | .452 | .712 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 1.6 | .1 | 9.8 |
| Ted McClain | 36 | 0 | 12.9 | .470 | .913^ | 1.9 | 1.7 | .5 | .0 | 4.6 |
| Truck Robinson* | 26 | 20 | 29.1 | .508 | .642 | 8.7 | 1.5 | .7 | .5 | 16.0 |
| Alvin Scott | 81 | 28 | 21.4 | .535 | .714 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .8 | 6.7 |
| Paul Westphal | 81 | 81 | 32.6 | .535 | .837^ | 2.0 | 6.5 | 1.4 | .3 | 24.0 |
* – Stats with the Suns. ^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Alvan Adams | 12 | 12 | 31.0 | .475 | .710 | 7.5 | 4.4 | .9 | 1.0 | 12.8 |
| Mike Bratz | 15 | 0 | 19.5 | .496 | .763 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .2 | 10.6 |
| Don Buse | 15 | 15 | 34.1 | .405 | .727 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 1.5 | .3 | 7.9 |
| Walter Davis | 15 | 15 | 32.7 | .520 | .813 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 1.7 | .3 | 22.1 |
| Bayard Forrest | 14 | 0 | 7.9 | .556† | .200 | 2.1 | 0.8 | .3 | .1 | 1.6 |
| Garfield Heard | 15 | 9 | 21.3 | .372 | .600 | 7.1 | 0.9 | .8 | 1.7 | 5.5 |
| Joel Kramer | 15 | 3 | 17.1 | .542† | .722 | 3.8 | 1.3 | .6 | .5 | 6.0 |
| Ted McClain | 14 | 0 | 7.4 | .441 | .813 | 1.1 | 0.9 | .4 | .0 | 3.1 |
| Truck Robinson | 15 | 6 | 26.1 | .403 | .652 | 8.1 | 0.7 | .4 | .8 | 10.5 |
| Alvin Scott | 15 | 0 | 14.5 | .385 | .619 | 2.8 | 1.5 | .4 | 1.1 | 3.5 |
| Paul Westphal | 15 | 15 | 35.6 | .495 | .788 | 2.2 | 4.3 | 1.0 | .3 | 22.4 |
† – Minimum 20 field goals made.

## Transactions
### Trades

| October 11, 1978 | To Boston Celtics Dennis Awtrey | To Phoenix Suns 1979 second-round draft pick ( Johnny High) Cash considerations |
| January 12, 1979 | To New Orleans Jazz Marty Byrnes Ron Lee 1979 first-round draft pick ( Larry Knight) 1980 first-round draft pick ( John Duren) Cash considerations | To Phoenix Suns Truck Robinson |

### Free agents
#### Additions

| Date | Player | Contract | Old Team |
| January 15, 1979 | Ted McClain | Undisclosed | Philadelphia 76ers |

#### Subtractions

| Date | Player | Reason Left | New Team |
| August 23, 1978 | Greg Griffin | Suspended for signing overseas | |
| August 23, 1978 | Wayne Smith | Waived | |
| September 13, 1978 | Curtis Perry | Retired | |
| October 12, 1978 | Ira Terrell | Waived | New Orleans Jazz |
| October 12, 1978 | Andre Wakefield | Waived | Chicago Bulls |