Belt game 2,717 · December 16, 1977
New Jersey Nets take the belt
New Jersey Nets beat Cleveland Cavaliers 116–106 at home to start reign 1,216 of the NBA belt, the 1st for the franchise.
Cleveland Cavaliers had held it since December 13, 1977, with 0 defenses over 3 days.
New Jersey Nets held it for 5 days and 0 defenses, then lost it to Houston Rockets on December 21, 1977.
1,216Reign number
1Team's reign
0Defenses
5Days held
Box score
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campy Russell | 43 | 19 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6-18 | — | 7-9 |
| Austin Carr | 31 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8-11 | — | 3-4 |
| Dick Snyder | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6-9 | — | 2-3 |
| Jim Chones | 38 | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5-16 | — | 2-2 |
| Walt Frazier | 24 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6-15 | — | 0-0 |
| Jim Brewer | 39 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4-11 | — | 2-2 |
| Elmore Smith | 15 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3-5 | — | 2-7 |
| Bingo Smith | 14 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3-7 | — | 1-1 |
| Foots Walker | 23 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1-5 | — | 1-2 |
| John Lambert | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1-2 | — | 0-0 |
New Jersey Nets
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard King | 39 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10-33 | — | 6-7 |
| Eddie Jordan | 18 | 18 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6-9 | — | 6-6 |
| Kevin Porter | 35 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 6-13 | — | 6-7 |
| Darnell Hillman | 37 | 17 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7-15 | — | 3-5 |
| Bob Carrington | 45 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6-11 | — | 2-4 |
| Howard Porter | 16 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3-8 | — | 2-2 |
| Jan Van Breda Kolff | 19 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3-5 | — | 0-0 |
| George Johnson | 33 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1-8 | — | 2-3 |
| Louie Nelson | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1-2 | — | 1-2 |
| Tim Bassett | 15 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1-1 | — | 0-0 |
Player box scores: Historical NBA Data and Player Box Scores by Eoin Moore (CC0).