| Phase | N ↓ | Date | Weekday | Day | R (rec) | L | Opponent | Score | Diff | Strk | Rank | GB |
|---|
| Day #1 | 1 | 1996-11-01 | Friday | 1st | L(r=0‑1) | @ | Minnesota Timberwolves (1‑0) | 78‑82 | -4 | L 1 | | 1 |
| Day #3 | 2 | 1996-11-03 | Sunday | 3rd | L(r=0‑2) | | Denver Nuggets (1‑1) | 79‑88 | -9 | L 2 | t5 → t6 | 2 |
| Day #5 | 3 | 1996-11-05 | Tuesday | 5th | W(r=1‑2) | @ | Cleveland Cavaliers (2‑1) | 74‑68 | +6 | W 1 | t6 → t4 | 2½ |
| Day #6 | 4 | 1996-11-06 | Wednesday | 6th | L(r=1‑3) | @ | Washington Bullets (2‑1) | 86‑96 | -10 | L 1 | t4 → 5 | 3 |
| Day #8 | 5 | 1996-11-08 | Friday | 8th | L(r=1‑4) | | Seattle SuperSonics (3‑2) | 75‑87 | -12 | L 2 | t4 → 6 | 4 |
| Day #10 | 6 | 1996-11-10 | Sunday | 10th | L(r=1‑5) | @ | Portland Trail Blazers (4‑3) | 81‑94 | -13 | L 3 | 5 → 6 | 5 |
| Day #13 | 7 | 1996-11-13 | Wednesday | 13th | W(r=2‑5) | | Los Angeles Lakers (5‑3) | 95‑83 | +12 | W 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Day #15 | 8 | 1996-11-15 | Friday | 15th | L(r=2‑6) | | Indiana Pacers (2‑5) | 78‑93 | -15 | L 1 | 5 → 6 | 5 |
| Day #17 | 9 | 1996-11-17 | Sunday | 17th | L(r=2‑7) | | Golden State Warriors (3‑6) | 92‑102 | -10 | L 2 | 5 → 6 | 6 |
| Day #20 | 10 | 1996-11-20 | Wednesday | 20th | L(r=2‑8) | | Los Angeles Clippers (6‑4) | 81‑93 | -12 | L 3 | 5 → 6 | 7 |
| Day #22 | 11 | 1996-11-22 | Friday | 22nd | L(r=2‑9) | @ | Los Angeles Lakers (9‑4) | 86‑96 | -10 | L 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Day #24 | 12 | 1996-11-24 | Sunday | 24th | L(r=2‑10) | @ | Vancouver Grizzlies (2‑11) | 91‑96 | -5 | L 5 | 6 | 9½ |
| Day #26 | 13 | 1996-11-26 | Tuesday | 26th | L(r=2‑11) | @ | Dallas Mavericks (4‑9) | 101‑105 | -4 | L 6 | 6 | 10½ |
| Day #27 | 14 | 1996-11-27 | Wednesday | 27th | L(r=2‑12) | | Portland Trail Blazers (9‑6) | 109‑120 | -11 | L 7 | 6 | 11 |
| Day #30 | 15 | 1996-11-30 | Saturday | 30th | L(r=2‑13) | | Chicago Bulls (15‑1) | 88‑97 | -9 | L 8 | 6 | 12½ |
| Day #34 | 16 | 1996-12-04 | Wednesday | 4th | W(r=3‑13) | | Philadelphia 76ers (7‑9) | 113‑103 | +10 | W 1 | 6 | 12 |
| Day #36 | 17 | 1996-12-06 | Friday | 6th | L(r=3‑14) | | Vancouver Grizzlies (3‑16) | 89‑105 | -16 | L 1 | 6 | 12½ |
| Day #38 | 18 | 1996-12-08 | Sunday | 8th | L(r=3‑15) | @ | Golden State Warriors (7‑13) | 88‑114 | -26 | L 2 | 6 | 13½ |
| Day #40 | 19 | 1996-12-10 | Tuesday | 10th | L(r=3‑16) | @ | Phoenix Suns (5‑14) | 76‑93 | -17 | L 3 | 6 | 14½ |
| Day #42 | 20 | 1996-12-12 | Thursday | 12th | L(r=3‑17) | @ | Los Angeles Clippers (8‑14) | 94‑97 | -3 | L 4 | 6 | 15½ |
| Day #44 | 21 | 1996-12-14 | Saturday | 14th | W(r=4‑17) | | Dallas Mavericks (8‑13) | 106‑105 | +1 | W 1 | 7 → 6 | 15½ |
| Day #49 | 22 | 1996-12-19 | Thursday | 19th | W(r=5‑17) | @ | Houston Rockets (21‑4) | 115‑101 | +14 | W 2 | 7 → 6 | 14½ |
| Day #51 | 23 | 1996-12-21 | Saturday | 21st | W(r=6‑17) | | Phoenix Suns (8‑17) | 101‑88 | +13 | W 3 | 6 | 13½ |
| Day #53 | 24 | 1996-12-23 | Monday | 23rd | L(r=6‑18) | | Miami Heat (20‑7) | 79‑90 | -11 | L 1 | 6 | 13½ |
| Day #55 | 25 | 1996-12-26 | Thursday | 26th | L(r=6‑19) | @ | Seattle SuperSonics (21‑9) | 86‑94 | -8 | L 2 | 6 | 14½ |
| Day #58 | 26 | 1996-12-29 | Sunday | 29th | L(r=6‑20) | @ | Portland Trail Blazers (16‑15) | 86‑110 | -24 | L 3 | 6 | 15½ |
| Day #59 | 27 | 1996-12-30 | Monday | 30th | W(r=7‑20) | @ | Vancouver Grizzlies (6‑25) | 95‑88 | +7 | W 1 | 6 | 15½ |
| Day #60 | 28 | 1997-01-02 | Thursday | 2nd | W(r=8‑20) | | Utah Jazz (22‑8) | 83‑80 | +3 | W 2 | 6 → 5 | 14½ |
| Day #61 | 29 | 1997-01-03 | Friday | 3rd | W(r=9‑20) | @ | Denver Nuggets (8‑23) | 93‑91 | +2 | W 3 | 5 | 14 |
| Day #63 | 30 | 1997-01-05 | Sunday | 5th | L(r=9‑21) | | Los Angeles Clippers (13‑19) | 84‑93 | -9 | L 1 | 5 | 14 |
| Day #65 | 31 | 1997-01-07 | Tuesday | 7th | L(r=9‑22) | @ | New Jersey Nets (9‑21) | 74‑90 | -16 | L 2 | 5 | 15 |
| Day #66 | 32 | 1997-01-08 | Wednesday | 8th | L(r=9‑23) | @ | Boston Celtics (8‑23) | 83‑107 | -24 | L 3 | 5 | 16 |
| Day #68 | 33 | 1997-01-10 | Friday | 10th | L(r=9‑24) | @ | Detroit Pistons (25‑8) | 78‑84 | -6 | L 4 | 5 | 17 |
| Day #69 | 34 | 1997-01-11 | Saturday | 11th | L(r=9‑25) | @ | Atlanta Hawks (21‑11) | 82‑87 | -5 | L 5 | 5 | 17 |
| Day #73 | 35 | 1997-01-15 | Wednesday | 15th | L(r=9‑26) | | New York Knicks (27‑10) | 77‑94 | -17 | L 6 | 5 | 18 |
| Day #75 | 36 | 1997-01-17 | Friday | 17th | W(r=10‑26) | | Sacramento Kings (16‑24) | 96‑76 | +20 | W 1 | 6 → 5 | 18½ |
| Day #78 | 37 | 1997-01-20 | Monday | 20th | L(r=10‑27) | @ | Minnesota Timberwolves (18‑21) | 83‑96 | -13 | L 1 | 5 → 6 | 19½ |
| Day #80 | 38 | 1997-01-22 | Wednesday | 22nd | L(r=10‑28) | | New Jersey Nets (11‑27) | 95‑103 | -8 | L 2 | 6 | 19½ |
| Day #82 | 39 | 1997-01-24 | Friday | 24th | W(r=11‑28) | | Dallas Mavericks (13‑26) | 97‑87 | +10 | W 1 | 6 | 19½ |
| Day #84 | 40 | 1997-01-26 | Sunday | 26th | L(r=11‑29) | @ | Milwaukee Bucks (21‑21) | 76‑94 | -18 | L 1 | 6 | 19½ |
| Day #87 | 41 | 1997-01-29 | Wednesday | 29th | L(r=11‑30) | | Los Angeles Lakers (33‑12) | 92‑99 | -7 | L 2 | 6 | 20 |
| Day #89 | 42 | 1997-01-31 | Friday | 31st | L(r=11‑31) | | Minnesota Timberwolves (21‑24) | 95‑97 | -2 | L 3 | 6 | 19½ |
| Day #92 | 43 | 1997-02-03 | Monday | 3rd | L(r=11‑32) | | Sacramento Kings (21‑26) | 79‑85 | -6 | L 4 | 6 | 19½ |
| Day #94 | 44 | 1997-02-05 | Wednesday | 5th | L(r=11‑33) | @ | Philadelphia 76ers (12‑34) | 97‑113 | -16 | L 5 | 6 | 20½ |
| Day #95 | 45 | 1997-02-06 | Thursday | 6th | L(r=11‑34) | @ | New York Knicks (34‑14) | 84‑96 | -12 | L 6 | 6 | 21 |
| Day #96 | 46 | 1997-02-11 | Tuesday | 11th | W(r=12‑34) | @ | Dallas Mavericks (16‑29) | 111‑97 | +14 | W 1 | 6 | 21 |
| Day #97 | 47 | 1997-02-12 | Wednesday | 12th | L(r=12‑35) | | Vancouver Grizzlies (10‑43) | 101‑106 | -5 | L 1 | 6 | 21½ |
| Day #99 | 48 | 1997-02-14 | Friday | 14th | L(r=12‑36) | | Golden State Warriors (19‑29) | 94‑108 | -14 | L 2 | 6 | 22½ |
| Day #100 | 49 | 1997-02-15 | Saturday | 15th | L(r=12‑37) | | Atlanta Hawks (33‑16) | 89‑109 | -20 | L 3 | 6 | 23½ |
| Day #103 | 50 | 1997-02-18 | Tuesday | 18th | L(r=12‑38) | @ | Utah Jazz (37‑14) | 105‑113 | -8 | L 4 | 6 | 24½ |
| Day #104 | 51 | 1997-02-19 | Wednesday | 19th | L(r=12‑39) | | Toronto Raptors (18‑34) | 92‑125 | -33 | L 5 | 6 | 25 |
| Day #106 | 52 | 1997-02-21 | Friday | 21st | W(r=13‑39) | | Milwaukee Bucks (25‑28) | 98‑93 | +5 | W 1 | 6 | 25 |
| Day #108 | 53 | 1997-02-23 | Sunday | 23rd | L(r=13‑40) | @ | Houston Rockets (36‑19) | 85‑95 | -10 | L 1 | 6 | 25 |
| Day #109 | 54 | 1997-02-24 | Monday | 24th | L(r=13‑41) | | Charlotte Hornets (35‑21) | 84‑96 | -12 | L 2 | 6 | 25½ |
| Day #111 | 55 | 1997-02-26 | Wednesday | 26th | L(r=13‑42) | | Minnesota Timberwolves (28‑27) | 89‑108 | -19 | L 3 | 6 | 26½ |
| Day #113 | 56 | 1997-02-28 | Friday | 28th | L(r=13‑43) | @ | Orlando Magic (30‑25) | 73‑94 | -21 | L 4 | 6 | 27 |
| Day #115 | 57 | 1997-03-02 | Sunday | 2nd | L(r=13‑44) | @ | Miami Heat (43‑15) | 72‑79 | -7 | L 5 | 6 | 28 |
| Day #117 | 58 | 1997-03-04 | Tuesday | 4th | L(r=13‑45) | @ | Charlotte Hornets (38‑22) | 98‑105 | -7 | L 6 | 6 | 29 |
| Day #118 | 59 | 1997-03-05 | Wednesday | 5th | L(r=13‑46) | @ | Chicago Bulls (52‑7) | 69‑111 | -42 | L 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Day #120 | 60 | 1997-03-07 | Friday | 7th | W(r=14‑46) | @ | Toronto Raptors (20‑40) | 106‑103 | +3 | W 1 | 6 | 30 |
| Day #121 | 61 | 1997-03-08 | Saturday | 8th | W(r=15‑46) | @ | Indiana Pacers (29‑32) | 102‑98 | +4 | W 2 | 6 | 29½ |
| Day #124 | 62 | 1997-03-11 | Tuesday | 11th | L(r=15‑47) | | Houston Rockets (43‑20) | 79‑103 | -24 | L 1 | 6 | 30 |
| Day #127 | 63 | 1997-03-14 | Friday | 14th | W(r=16‑47) | | Boston Celtics (12‑53) | 103‑92 | +11 | W 1 | 6 | 30½ |
| Day #128 | 64 | 1997-03-15 | Saturday | 15th | L(r=16‑48) | @ | Denver Nuggets (19‑45) | 105‑121 | -16 | L 1 | 6 | 31½ |
| Day #130 | 65 | 1997-03-17 | Monday | 17th | L(r=16‑49) | | Washington Bullets (31‑34) | 85‑109 | -24 | L 2 | 6 | 32½ |
| Day #133 | 66 | 1997-03-20 | Thursday | 20th | L(r=16‑50) | @ | Phoenix Suns (28‑39) | 106‑113 | -7 | L 3 | 6 | 33½ |
| Day #134 | 67 | 1997-03-21 | Friday | 21st | L(r=16‑51) | @ | Sacramento Kings (29‑39) | 110‑114 | -4 | L 4 | 6 | 34 |
| Day #136 | 68 | 1997-03-23 | Sunday | 23rd | L(r=16‑52) | @ | Los Angeles Clippers (30‑37) | 91‑106 | -15 | L 5 | 6 | 35½ |
| Day #138 | 69 | 1997-03-25 | Tuesday | 25th | W(r=17‑52) | | Cleveland Cavaliers (36‑32) | 64‑59 | +5 | W 1 | 6 | 35 |
| Day #140 | 70 | 1997-03-27 | Thursday | 27th | W(r=18‑52) | | Orlando Magic (40‑30) | 97‑93 | +4 | W 2 | 6 | 34½ |
| Day #142 | 71 | 1997-03-29 | Saturday | 29th | L(r=18‑53) | | Utah Jazz (54‑17) | 102‑115 | -13 | L 1 | 6 | 36 |
| Day #145 | 72 | 1997-04-02 | Wednesday | 2nd | L(r=18‑54) | | Detroit Pistons (51‑22) | 92‑99 | -7 | L 2 | 6 | 37 |
| Day #147 | 73 | 1997-04-04 | Friday | 4th | W(r=19‑54) | @ | Los Angeles Lakers (50‑24) | 94‑83 | +11 | W 1 | 6 | 37 |
| Day #148 | 74 | 1997-04-05 | Saturday | 5th | L(r=19‑55) | @ | Golden State Warriors (28‑46) | 103‑120 | -17 | L 1 | 6 | 37½ |
| Day #150 | 75 | 1997-04-07 | Monday | 7th | L(r=19‑56) | @ | Utah Jazz (58‑17) | 93‑116 | -23 | L 2 | 6 | 39 |
| Day #151 | 76 | 1997-04-08 | Tuesday | 8th | W(r=20‑56) | | Denver Nuggets (20‑56) | 96‑90 | +6 | W 1 | 6 → t5 | 38½ |
| Day #153 | 77 | 1997-04-10 | Thursday | 10th | L(r=20‑57) | | Portland Trail Blazers (46‑33) | 81‑98 | -17 | L 1 | t5 | 39½ |
| Day #155 | 78 | 1997-04-12 | Saturday | 12th | L(r=20‑58) | | Seattle SuperSonics (54‑24) | 91‑96 | -5 | L 2 | t5 | 40½ |
| Day #157 | 79 | 1997-04-14 | Monday | 14th | L(r=20‑59) | @ | Sacramento Kings (33‑46) | 106‑120 | -14 | L 3 | t5 | 40½ |
| Day #158 | 80 | 1997-04-15 | Tuesday | 15th | L(r=20‑60) | @ | Seattle SuperSonics (55‑25) | 88‑108 | -20 | L 4 | t5 → 6 | 41½ |
| Day #161 | 81 | 1997-04-18 | Friday | 18th | L(r=20‑61) | | Phoenix Suns (40‑41) | 95‑106 | -11 | L 5 | 5 → t5 | 42½ |
| Day #163 | 82 | 1997-04-20 | Sunday | 20th | L(r=20‑62) | | Houston Rockets (57‑25) | 99‑103 | -4 | L 6 | 6 | 44 |