The 1977-78 Philadelphia 76ers had a solid season, finishing with a 55-27 record. They were led by Julius Erving, who provided both scoring and leadership. The team also featured strong performances from players like George McGinnis and Doug Collins. Despite their regular-season success, the 76ers faced challenges in the playoffs.
In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they went up against the Washington Bullets. The 76ers put up a strong fight but ultimately fell to the Bullets in six games. This outcome was disappointing for a team that had reached the NBA Finals the previous year. The season highlighted the 76ers’ potential, but also underscored the need for further development to become championship contenders once again.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Eastern Conference Finals: 2-4
Philadelphia 76ers Roster and Stats for 1977-78 Season
POINTS
Julius Erving
20.6
REBOUNDS
George McGinnis
10.4
ASSISTS
Henry Bibby
5.7
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Julius Erving | 74 | 20.6 | 6.5 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 10 | 21.8 | 9.7 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| George McGinnis | 78 | 20.3 | 10.4 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 14.7 | 7.8 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Doug Collins | 79 | 19.7 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 20.4 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| World B. Free | 76 | 15.7 | 2.8 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 16.1 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Darryl Dawkins | 70 | 11.7 | 7.9 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.3 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Steve Mix | 82 | 9.2 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 13.6 | 4.6 | 3.6 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Henry Bibby | 82 | 9.1 | 3.1 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10 | 8.6 | 3.0 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Bryant | 81 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Caldwell Jones | 80 | 5.4 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.4 | 10.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Ted McClain | 29 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Harvey Catchings | 61 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Glenn Mosley | 6 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Dunleavy | 4 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wilson Washington | 14 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Philadelphia 76ers in the 1978 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. New York Knicks
In the 1978 NBA Playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series was a close contest, but the 76ers ultimately triumphed, winning 4-0, thanks in large part to the stellar performance of Julius Erving. Dr. J's leadership and scoring prowess were instrumental in propelling Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference Finals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 130-90 | |
| Apr 18, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 119-100 | |
| Apr 20, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | W 137-126 | |
| Apr 23, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | W 112-107 |
1978 Conference Championship vs. Washington Bullets
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 122-117 | |
| May 03, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 110-104 | |
| May 05, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 123-108 | |
| May 07, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 121-105 | |
| May 10, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 107-94 | |
| May 12, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 101-99 |
Philadelphia 76ers 1977-78 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1977-78 season for the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 1977 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 113-96 | |
| Oct 22, 1977 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 104-103 | |
| Oct 25, 1977 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 112-104 | |
| Oct 28, 1977 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 98-94 | |
| Oct 29, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-110 | |
| Nov 02, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 103-102 | |
| Nov 04, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 107-104 | |
| Nov 05, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 132-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1977 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 130-107 | |
| Nov 11, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | W 127-119 | |
| Nov 12, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 116-98 | |
| Nov 15, 1977 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 114-93 | |
| Nov 16, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-96 | |
| Nov 18, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | W 121-112 | |
| Nov 19, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-100 | |
| Nov 22, 1977 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 105-99 | |
| Nov 23, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 25, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 125-119 | |
| Nov 26, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 112-107 | |
| Nov 29, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 129-117 | |
| Nov 30, 1977 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 117-114 | |
| Dec 03, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | L 120-116 | |
| Dec 07, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 122-100 | |
| Dec 09, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 120-116 | |
| Dec 10, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 114-108 | |
| Dec 13, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 129-117 | |
| Dec 14, 1977 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 108-99 | |
| Dec 16, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 115-110 | |
| Dec 17, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 129-116 | |
| Dec 21, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 125-119 | |
| Dec 25, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-110 | |
| Dec 28, 1977 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 129-125 | |
| Dec 30, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 126-119 | |
| Jan 04, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 06, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 123-110 | |
| Jan 08, 1978 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 94-91 | |
| Jan 10, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 95-80 | |
| Jan 13, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 118-93 | |
| Jan 14, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 136-120 | |
| Jan 18, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 126-106 | |
| Jan 19, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 117-109 | |
| Jan 22, 1978 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 24, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-102 | |
| Jan 25, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 128-125 | |
| Jan 27, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 110-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 118-117 | |
| Feb 01, 1978 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 104-101 | |
| Feb 03, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 116-104 | |
| Feb 07, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-106 | |
| Feb 08, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 117-104 | |
| Feb 10, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 116-110 | |
| Feb 12, 1978 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 109-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 119-116 | |
| Feb 15, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 116-113 | |
| Feb 17, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 125-116 | |
| Feb 19, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 120-110 | |
| Feb 21, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 127-114 | |
| Feb 25, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 124-115 | |
| Feb 26, 1978 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 28, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-92 | |
| Mar 01, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 125-119 | |
| Mar 03, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 96-95 | |
| Mar 05, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 104-92 | |
| Mar 08, 1978 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 10, 1978 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 120-109 | |
| Mar 12, 1978 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-103 | |
| Mar 15, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-93 | |
| Mar 17, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 123-112 | |
| Mar 18, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | W 141-127 | |
| Mar 19, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 125-118 | |
| Mar 22, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 120-108 | |
| Mar 24, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 131-122 | |
| Mar 26, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 116-100 | |
| Mar 29, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 149-118 | |
| Mar 31, 1978 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 111-110 | |
| Apr 01, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | L 116-112 | |
| Apr 02, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 111-107 | |
| Apr 04, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 120-119 | |
| Apr 05, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 126-115 | |
| Apr 07, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 127-118 | |
| Apr 08, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 131-114 | |
| Apr 09, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 123-113 |