1977–78 Milwaukee Bucks season

The 1977–78 NBA season was the Bucks' tenth season in the NBA. The Bucks had drafted Marques Johnson from UCLA in the 1977 NBA draft.

Season standings

 * z – clinched division title
 * y – clinched division title
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 1 || October 18, 1977 || Los Angeles
 * W 117–112
 * MECCA Arena
 * 1–0
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 2 || October 19, 1977 || @ Denver
 * L 115–133
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * 1—1
 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 3 || October 22, 1977 || Chicago
 * W 113–95
 * MECCA Arena
 * 2–1
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 4 || October 27, 1977 || @ Houston
 * L 110–133
 * The Summit
 * 2—2
 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 5 || October 30, 1977 || Seattle
 * W 108–95
 * MECCA Arena
 * 3–2
 * 4 || October 27, 1977 || @ Houston
 * L 110–133
 * The Summit
 * 2—2
 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 5 || October 30, 1977 || Seattle
 * W 108–95
 * MECCA Arena
 * 3–2
 * W 108–95
 * MECCA Arena
 * 3–2
 * MECCA Arena
 * 3–2
 * 3–2


 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 6 || November 1, 1977 || Kansas City
 * W 115–95
 * MECCA Arena
 * 4–2
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 7 || November 3, 1977 || @ Cleveland
 * L 91—100
 * Coliseum at Richfield
 * 4–3
 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 8 || November 4, 1977 || Houston
 * W 110–108
 * MECCA Arena
 * 5–3
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 9 || November 8, 1977 || Denver
 * L 101–111
 * MECCA Arena
 * 5–4
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 11 || November 11, 1977 || Cleveland
 * L 82–88
 * MECCA Arena
 * 6–5
 * 9 || November 8, 1977 || Denver
 * L 101–111
 * MECCA Arena
 * 5–4
 * -style="background:#fcc;"
 * 11 || November 11, 1977 || Cleveland
 * L 82–88
 * MECCA Arena
 * 6–5
 * L 82–88
 * MECCA Arena
 * 6–5
 * MECCA Arena
 * 6–5
 * 6–5


 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 24 || December 4, 1977 || New Jersey
 * W 134–118 OT
 * MECCA Arena
 * 13–11
 * MECCA Arena
 * 13–11
 * 13–11


 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 42 || January 10, 1978 || Indiana
 * W 125–103
 * MECCA Arena
 * 25–19
 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 48 || January 22, 1978 || Chicago
 * W 112–90
 * MECCA Arena
 * 26–22
 * W 112–90
 * MECCA Arena
 * 26–22
 * MECCA Arena
 * 26–22
 * 26–22


 * -style="background:#bbffbb;"
 * 57 || February 15, 1978 || New Orleans
 * W 112–99
 * MECCA Arena
 * 29–28
 * MECCA Arena
 * 29–28
 * 29–28

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 1
 * April 11
 * @ Phoenix
 * W 111–103
 * Brian Winters (31)
 * Marques Johnson (16)
 * Quinn Buckner (8)
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,161
 * 1–0
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * April 14
 * Phoenix
 * W 94–90
 * Marques Johnson (33)
 * Dave Meyers (14)
 * Quinn Buckner (10)
 * MECCA Arena 10,938
 * 2–0


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * April 18
 * @ Denver
 * L 103–119
 * Alex English (26)
 * Dave Meyers (15)
 * Brian Winters (11)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,297
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * April 21
 * @ Denver
 * L 111–127
 * Marques Johnson (22)
 * Johnson, Meyers (5)
 * Lloyd Walton (8)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
 * 0–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * April 23
 * Denver
 * W 143–112
 * Marques Johnson (35)
 * Marques Johnson (10)
 * Lloyd Walton (11)
 * MECCA Arena 10,938
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * April 25
 * Denver
 * L 104–118
 * Johnson, Winters (14)
 * Marques Johnson (7)
 * Brian Winters (6)
 * MECCA Arena 10,938
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * April 28
 * @ Denver
 * W 117–112
 * Marques Johnson (34)
 * Marques Johnson (17)
 * Winters, Buckner (9)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
 * 2–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 6
 * April 30
 * Denver
 * W 119–91
 * Alex English (21)
 * Marques Johnson (17)
 * Marques Johnson (9)
 * MECCA Arena 10,938
 * 3–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * May 3
 * @ Denver
 * L 110–116
 * Brian Winters (27)
 * Marques Johnson (16)
 * Quinn Buckner (10)
 * McNichols Sports Arena 17,838
 * 3–4

Awards and records

 * Quinn Buckner, NBA All-Defensive Second Team
 * Marques Johnson, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team
 * On Friday, November 25, 1977, the day after Thanksgiving, and on the road, the Bucks overcame the largest 4th quarter deficit in NBA history, defeating the Atlanta Hawks after being down by 29 points with only 8:43 left in the game. Atlanta led 111–82 before Milwaukee went on a 35–4 run to win 117–115 in regulation.  This record was set without the use of the three-point field goal, since its NBA inception was not until the 1979–80 season.