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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

Roster

Regular season

Standings

Game log

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

Playoffs

Game log

|- | 1 | April 10 | Portland | W 107–103 | Paul Westphal (28) | Adams, Davis (5) | Alvan Adams (9) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 13 | @ Portland | L 92–96 | Walter Davis (31) | Gar Heard (9) | Paul Westphal (6) | Memorial Coliseum<br>12,666 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 15 | Portland | W 101–91 | Paul Westphal (26) | Gar Heard (12) | Walter Davis (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 2–1 |-

|- | 1 | April 17 | Kansas City | W 102–99 | Paul Westphal (25) | Truck Robinson (12) | Don Buse (5) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 20 | @ Kansas City | L 91–111 | Truck Robinson (17) | Truck Robinson (13) | Walter Davis (5) | Kemper Arena<br>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<br>14,301 | 2–1 |- | 4 | April 25 | @ Kansas City | W 108–94 | Paul Westphal (26) | Gar Heard (14) | Alvan Adams (8) | Kemper Arena<br>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<br>12,660 | 4–1 |-

|- | 1 | May 1 | @ Seattle | L 93–108 | Alvan Adams (18) | Alvan Adams (12) | Adams, Davis (4) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>14,098 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 4 | @ Seattle | L 97–103 | Paul Westphal (29) | Truck Robinson (9) | Buse, Davis (5) | Kingdome<br>31,964 | 0–2 |- | 3 | May 6 | Seattle | W 113–103 | Paul Westphal (25) | Walter Davis (10) | Paul Westphal (6) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 8 | Seattle | W 100–91 | Walter Davis (27) | Gar Heard (12) | Paul Westphal (10) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 11 | @ Seattle | W 99–93 | Paul Westphal (27) | Truck Robinson (14) | Paul Westphal (5) | Kingdome<br>28,935 | 3–2 |- | 6 | May 13 | Seattle | L 105–106 | Paul Westphal (29) | Joel Kramer (8) | Paul Westphal (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>12,660 | 3–3 |- | 7 | May 17 | @ Seattle | L 110–114 | Walter Davis (26) | Truck Robinson (14) | Paul Westphal (9) | Kingdome<br>37,552 | 4–3 |-

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

Player statistics

Season

<small>* – Stats with the Suns.</small><br> <small>^ – Minimum 125 free throws made.</small>

Playoffs

<small>† – Minimum 20 field goals made.</small>

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

References