The NBA Belt · reign 729
Cincinnati Royals
Took the belt from St. Louis Hawks, 130–114, on January 3, 1966. Lost it to Boston Celtics, 113–96, on January 21, 1966.
6Defenses
18Days
70thReign for the franchise
+2Closest call · Jan 16, 1966
9.2Average winning margin
154thLongest of 3,250 reigns, by days
109thMost defenses of 3,250 reigns
Defended against
Pistons ×3Baltimore BulletsSt. Louis HawksLakers
The season
- 1965–66: Philadelphia 76ers had the best record (55–25–0); Boston Celtics won the NBA title; 8 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 41 times that season.
Reign leaders
Most points for Cincinnati Royals across the 8 belt games of this reign with a box score.
| Player | PTS | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Robertson | 236 | 8 |
| 2 | Adrian Smith | 164 | 8 |
| 3 | Jerry Lucas | 161 | 8 |
| 4 | Happy Hairston | 152 | 8 |
| 5 | Wayne Embry | 69 | 8 |
Every game of the reign
margins from Cincinnati Royals’ side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,603 | Jan 3, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat St. Louis Hawks 130–114 Game → | +16 | Title change |
| 1,604 | Jan 5, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat Detroit Pistons 117–103 | +14 | Defense |
| 1,605 | Jan 6, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat Detroit Pistons 109–97 | +12 | Defense |
| 1,606 | Jan 8, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat Baltimore Bullets 126–115 | +11 | Defense |
| 1,607 | Jan 13, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat St. Louis Hawks 107–102 | +5 | Defense |
| 1,608 | Jan 16, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat Detroit Pistons 108–106 | +2 | Defense |
| 1,609 | Jan 18, 1966 | Cincinnati Royals beat Los Angeles Lakers 119–108 | +11 | Defense |
| 1,610 | Jan 21, 1966 | Boston Celtics beat Cincinnati Royals 113–96 Game → | −17 | Title change |