1981–82 Indiana Pacers season

The 1981–82 NBA season was Indiana's sixth season in the NBA and 15th season as a franchise.^[1]

1981–82 Indiana Pacers season
Head coach	Jack McKinney
Arena	Market Square Arena
Results
Record	35–47 (.427)
Place	Division: 4th (Central) Conference: 8th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WTTV
Radio	WIBC
< 1980–81 1982–83 >

Offseason

Draft picks

Main article: 1981 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	14	Herb Williams	C	United States	Ohio State
2	36	Ray Blume	C	United States	Oregon State
2	37	Al Leslie	SG	United States	Bucknell
3	60	Purvis Miller	SF	United States	USC

Roster

1981-82 Indiana Pacers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. From F 42 Mike Bantom 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1951–12–3 Saint Joseph's G 10 Don Buse 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1950–8–10 Evansville G 12 Butch Carter 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1958–6–11 Indiana G 16 Johnny Davis 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1955–10–21 Dayton F/C 45 Clemon Johnson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1956–09–12 Florida A&M F 24 George Johnson  6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1956–12–8 St. John's G/F 25 Billy Knight 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1952–06–9 Pittsburgh F 30 George McGinnis 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1950-08-12 Indiana F 55 Louis Orr 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1958–05–7 Syracuse F/C 26 Tom Owens 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1949–06–28 South Carolina G 14 Jerry Sichting 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1956–11–29 Purdue G 11 Raymond Townsend 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1955–12–20 UCLA F/C 32 Herb Williams 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 242 lb (110 kg) 1958–02–16 Ohio State	Head coach Jack McKinney Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: 2012–10–10

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	–	31–10	24–17	24–6
x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	13.0	24–17	18–23	15–14
Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	16.0	23–18	16–25	19–11
Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	20.0	25–16	10–31	14–16
Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	21.0	22–19	12–29	12–17
Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	40.0	9–32	6–35	5–25

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	63	19	.768	–
2	y-Milwaukee Bucks	55	27	.671	8
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	58	24	.707	5
4	x-New Jersey Nets	44	38	.537	19
5	x-Washington Bullets	43	39	.524	20
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	42	40	.512	21
7	Detroit Pistons	39	43	.476	24
8	Indiana Pacers	35	47	.427	28
9	Chicago Bulls	34	48	.415	29
10	New York Knicks	33	49	.402	30
11	Cleveland Cavaliers	15	67	.183	48

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1981-82 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	1–5	2–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	0–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–2	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–4
Boston	5–1	—	4–2	5–0	2–0	1–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	2–0	1–1	3–3	5–1	5–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	6–0
Chicago	3–2	2–4	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	0–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	1–5	2–4	3–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–4
Cleveland	2–4	0–5	1–5	—	2–0	0–2	1–5	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	0–6	0–6	0–6	0–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–5
Dallas	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	—	1–5	1–1	0–5	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–3	2–3	1–5	2–3	1–4	3–3	1–1
Denver	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	—	1–1	3–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–3	2–4	5–0	2–3	3–3	2–0
Detroit	4–2	0–6	6–0	5–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	2–0	2–4	2–0	0–2	2–4	2–4	3–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–4
Golden State	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	5–0	2–3	0–2	—	1–4	2–0	3–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	3–2	5–1	1–5	3–2	1–1
Houston	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	1–5	0–2	4–1	—	2–0	3–3	1–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	4–1	3–3	4–1	2–3	6–0	2–0
Indiana	2–4	1–5	3–3	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–2	0–2	0–2	—	1–1	0–2	0–6	4–2	3–2	0–6	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–5
Kansas City	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	2–4	0–2	2–3	3–3	1–1	—	1–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	0–5	1–5	4–1	2–3	3–3	0–2
Los Angeles	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	4–1	4–1	2–0	3–3	4–1	2–0	4–1	—	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	5–1	2–3	5–1	4–2	5–0	2–0
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	5–1	6–0	1–1	1–1	4–2	0–2	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	—	4–1	3–3	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	3–2
New Jersey	2–3	1–5	4–2	6–0	0–2	1–1	4–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–4	—	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
New York	1–5	1–5	2–3	6–0	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	2–3	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	—	1–5	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–5
Philadelphia	3–3	2–4	5–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	1–1	6–0	2–0	1–1	2–4	3–3	5–1	—	1–1	2–0	0–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	6–0
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–2	3–2	2–0	2–4	2–3	1–1	3–2	2–4	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	—	3–3	4–1	4–2	3–3	3–2	1–1
Portland	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–2	3–2	2–0	4–2	1–4	1–1	5–0	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–3	—	3–2	4–2	3–3	4–1	0–2
San Antonio	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	4–2	2–0	2–3	3–3	0–2	5–1	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–4	2–3	—	3–2	4–1	3–3	1–1
San Diego	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–2	0–5	0–2	1–5	1–4	0–2	1–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	2–3	—	1–5	1–4	0–2
Seattle	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	4–1	3–2	1–1	5–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	2–4	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–4	5–1	—	5–0	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–1	2–3	0–6	1–1	3–3	0–5	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	2–3	1–4	3–3	4–1	0–5	—	1–1
Washington	4–2	0–6	4–2	5–1	1–1	0–2	4–1	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	0–2	2–3	2–4	5–1	0–6	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1981–82 game log Total: 35–47 (Home: 25–16; Road: 10–31)
October: 2–0 (home: 1–0; road: 1–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record
November: 6–8 (home: 3–2; road: 3–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 4 @ Philadelphia L 99–107 Knight (21) Bantom (10) Buse (13) The Spectrum 11,257 2–1 4 November 6 @ Boston L 94–111 Owens (16) Owens (7) Davis (5) Boston Garden 15,320 2–2 9 November 15 @ Los Angeles L 123–124 (2OT) Owens (26) Knight (8) Buse, Davis (7) The Forum 14,140 4–5 15 November 27 Philadelphia L 112–124 (OT) Orr (24) C Johnson (14) McGinnis (5) Market Square Arena 15,613 7–8
December: 8–6 (home: 6–3; road: 2–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 17 December 1 Boston W 90–87 Davis (21) Williams (10) Davis, Williams (4) Market Square Arena 12,634 9–8 21 December 11 @ Milwaukee 23 December 15 Milwaukee 30 December 29 Milwaukee
January: 3–10 (home: 2–3; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 37 January 15 Los Angeles L 92–97 Davis (18) Williams (16) Davis (6) Market Square Arena 11,029 17–20 40 January 20 @ Boston L 103–112 Knight (20) Williams (9) Buse, Davis, C Johnson, Orr (3) Boston Garden 15,320 18–22 41 January 22 Philadelphia L 105–112 Williams (22) C Johnson (12) Davis (7) Market Square Arena 11,411 18–23 42 January 23 @ San Antonio W 107–98 Davis (24) Orr (11) Buse (7) HemisFair Arena 10,236 19–23 All-Star Break
February: 8–7 (home: 7–3; road: 1–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 2 Boston L 105–109 Buse, Orr (18) Williams (12) Buse (7) Market Square Arena 13,435 19–25 48 February 9 @ Milwaukee 49 February 10 @ Philadelphia L 96–102 Knight (19) Knight (8) Buse (5) The Spectrum 9,292 20–29 52 February 17 Milwaukee 57 February 26 San Antonio W 108–100 Buse (23) Owens (9) Buse (10) Market Square Arena 8,372 26–31
March: 6–9 (home: 4–3; road: 2–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 63 March 10 @ Boston L 100–121 C Johnson (20) C Johnson (11) Buse (6) Boston Garden 15,320 29–34 67 March 19 @ Philadelphia L 95–112 Knight (22) C Johnson (18) Buse (6) The Spectrum 12,522 30–37
April: 2–7 (home: 2–2; road: 0–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 75 April 4 @ Milwaukee 79 April 13 Philadelphia L 89–93 Davis (23) Knight (10) McGinnis (7) Market Square Arena 6,643 34–45
1981–82 schedule

Player statistics

Ragular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Don Buse	PG	82	78	2,529	223	407	164	27	797	30.8	2.7	5.0	2.0	.3	9.7
Herb Williams	C	82	75	2,277	605	139	53	178	942	27.8	7.4	1.7	.6	2.2	11.5
Johnny Davis	SG	82	70	2,664	178	346	76	11	1,396	32.5	2.2	4.2	.9	.1	17.0
Billy Knight	SF	81	19	1,803	257	118	63	14	998	22.3	3.2	1.5	.8	.2	12.3
Louis Orr	SF	80	41	1,951	331	134	56	26	918	24.4	4.1	1.7	.7	.3	11.5
Clemon Johnson	C	79	42	1,979	571	127	60	112	747	25.1	7.2	1.6	.8	1.4	9.5
George McGinnis	PF	76	4	1,341	398	204	96	28	354	17.6	5.2	2.7	1.3	.4	4.7
Butch Carter	SG	75	0	1,035	79	60	34	11	442	13.8	1.1	.8	.5	.1	5.9
Tom Owens	PF	74	40	1,599	372	127	41	37	780	21.6	5.0	1.7	.6	.5	10.5
George L. Johnson	PF	59	4	720	217	40	36	25	300	12.2	3.7	.7	.6	.4	5.1
Jerry Sichting	PG	51	0	800	55	117	33	1	212	15.7	1.1	2.3	.6	.0	4.2
Mike Bantom†	SF	39	37	1,037	214	68	38	24	458	26.6	5.5	1.7	1.0	.6	11.7
Raymond Townsend	SG	14	0	95	13	10	3	0	35	6.8	.9	.7	.2	.0	2.5

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Pacers only.

Awards and records

Transactions