The NBA Belt · season
The 1997–98 season
105 belt games · 52 title changesChicago Bulls carried the belt into the 1997–98 season. It changed hands 52 times among 23 franchises, 8 of those in the playoffs, and Chicago Bulls finished the season with it. Most defenses: Miami Heat, 11.
Who held it, in order
CelticsMagicBucksSunsTimberwolvesLakersHeatBucksSunsPistonsThunderBucksCelticsPistonsKnicksPacersSpursTrail BlazersSpursSunsKingsPacersKnicksCelticsHornetsHawksHeatPacersMavericksTimberwolvesHeatThunderMagicKnicksHornetsWizardsNuggetsRaptorsPistonsCavaliersLakersSunsJazzLakersTrail BlazersLakersThunderLakersJazzBullsJazzBulls
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,657 | Oct 31, 1997 | Boston Celtics beat Chicago Bulls 92–85 | Title change |
| 4,658 | Nov 2, 1997 | Orlando Magic beat Boston Celtics 107–96 | Title change |
| 4,659 | Nov 4, 1997 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Orlando Magic 110–76 | Title change |
| 4,660 | Nov 6, 1997 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Philadelphia 76ers 100–93 | Defense |
| 4,661 | Nov 8, 1997 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Boston Celtics 105–96 | Defense |
| 4,662 | Nov 12, 1997 | Phoenix Suns beat Milwaukee Bucks 103–95 | Title change |
| 4,663 | Nov 14, 1997 | Phoenix Suns beat Portland Trail Blazers 140–139 | Defense |
| 4,664 | Nov 16, 1997 | Phoenix Suns beat Houston Rockets 96–94 | Defense |
| 4,665 | Nov 18, 1997 | Minnesota Timberwolves beat Phoenix Suns 108–90 | Title change |
| 4,666 | Nov 19, 1997 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Minnesota Timberwolves 118–93 | Title change |
| 4,667 | Nov 23, 1997 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Los Angeles Clippers 119–102 | Defense |
| 4,668 | Nov 25, 1997 | Miami Heat beat Los Angeles Lakers 103–86 | Title change |
| 4,669 | Nov 26, 1997 | Miami Heat beat Orlando Magic 84–60 | Defense |
| 4,670 | Nov 29, 1997 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Miami Heat 93–87 | Title change |
| 4,671 | Dec 2, 1997 | Phoenix Suns beat Milwaukee Bucks 90–86 | Title change |
| 4,672 | Dec 3, 1997 | Detroit Pistons beat Phoenix Suns 108–103 | Title change |
| 4,673 | Dec 5, 1997 | Seattle SuperSonics beat Detroit Pistons 94–89 | Title change |
| 4,674 | Dec 7, 1997 | Milwaukee Bucks beat Seattle SuperSonics 97–91 | Title change |
| 4,675 | Dec 10, 1997 | Boston Celtics beat Milwaukee Bucks 96–91 | Title change |
| 4,676 | Dec 12, 1997 | Boston Celtics beat Washington Wizards 97–88 | Defense |
| 4,677 | Dec 13, 1997 | Detroit Pistons beat Boston Celtics 93–77 | Title change |
| 4,678 | Dec 16, 1997 | New York Knicks beat Detroit Pistons 83–78 | Title change |
| 4,679 | Dec 17, 1997 | Indiana Pacers beat New York Knicks 87–80 | Title change |
| 4,680 | Dec 19, 1997 | Indiana Pacers beat Detroit Pistons 98–90 | Defense |
| 4,681 | Dec 20, 1997 | Indiana Pacers beat Orlando Magic 95–92 | Defense |
| 4,682 | Dec 23, 1997 | San Antonio Spurs beat Indiana Pacers 91–79 | Title change |
| 4,683 | Dec 26, 1997 | San Antonio Spurs beat Boston Celtics 101–86 | Defense |
| 4,684 | Dec 28, 1997 | Portland Trail Blazers beat San Antonio Spurs 82–79 | Title change |
| 4,685 | Dec 30, 1997 | Portland Trail Blazers beat Philadelphia 76ers 96–86 | Defense |
| 4,686 | Jan 2, 1998 | San Antonio Spurs beat Portland Trail Blazers 85–69 | Title change |
| 4,687 | Jan 3, 1998 | San Antonio Spurs beat Miami Heat 84–77 | Defense |
| 4,688 | Jan 5, 1998 | San Antonio Spurs beat Orlando Magic 74–69 | Defense |
| 4,689 | Jan 7, 1998 | San Antonio Spurs beat Denver Nuggets 96–89 | Defense |
| 4,690 | Jan 9, 1998 | Phoenix Suns beat San Antonio Spurs 100–79 | Title change |
| 4,691 | Jan 12, 1998 | Sacramento Kings beat Phoenix Suns 96–90 | Title change |
| 4,692 | Jan 14, 1998 | Sacramento Kings beat Orlando Magic 108–96 | Defense |
| 4,693 | Jan 16, 1998 | Indiana Pacers beat Sacramento Kings 117–92 | Title change |
| 4,694 | Jan 18, 1998 | Indiana Pacers beat Boston Celtics 103–96 | Defense |
| 4,695 | Jan 21, 1998 | New York Knicks beat Indiana Pacers 97–89 | Title change |
| 4,696 | Jan 24, 1998 | New York Knicks beat Detroit Pistons 99–92 | Defense |
| 4,697 | Jan 26, 1998 | Boston Celtics beat New York Knicks 94–85 | Title change |
| 4,698 | Jan 28, 1998 | Boston Celtics beat Washington Wizards 104–102 | Defense |
| 4,699 | Jan 30, 1998 | Charlotte Hornets beat Boston Celtics 97–95 | Title change |
| 4,700 | Jan 31, 1998 | Atlanta Hawks beat Charlotte Hornets 103–83 | Title change |
| 4,701 | Feb 2, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Atlanta Hawks 90–83 | Title change |
| 4,702 | Feb 4, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Philadelphia 76ers 98–84 | Defense |
| 4,703 | Feb 5, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Milwaukee Bucks 91–87 | Defense |
| 4,704 | Feb 10, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Cleveland Cavaliers 91–81 | Defense |
| 4,705 | Feb 11, 1998 | Indiana Pacers beat Miami Heat 110–101 | Title change |
| 4,706 | Feb 13, 1998 | Dallas Mavericks beat Indiana Pacers 85–82 | Title change |
| 4,707 | Feb 15, 1998 | Minnesota Timberwolves beat Dallas Mavericks 105–99 | Title change |
| 4,708 | Feb 17, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Minnesota Timberwolves 110–84 | Title change |
| 4,709 | Feb 19, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Los Angeles Clippers 89–80 | Defense |
| 4,710 | Feb 20, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Sacramento Kings 91–77 | Defense |
| 4,711 | Feb 22, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Golden State Warriors 90–82 | Defense |
| 4,712 | Feb 24, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Utah Jazz 104–102 | Defense |
| 4,713 | Feb 26, 1998 | Miami Heat beat Dallas Mavericks 91–72 | Defense |
| 4,714 | Feb 28, 1998 | Miami Heat beat New Jersey Nets 95–93 | Defense |
| 4,715 | Mar 1, 1998 | Miami Heat beat New Jersey Nets 85–84 | Defense |
| 4,716 | Mar 3, 1998 | Seattle SuperSonics beat Miami Heat 97–91 | Title change |
| 4,717 | Mar 4, 1998 | Orlando Magic beat Seattle SuperSonics 96–83 | Title change |
| 4,718 | Mar 6, 1998 | Orlando Magic beat Cleveland Cavaliers 91–89 | Defense |
| 4,719 | Mar 9, 1998 | Orlando Magic beat Philadelphia 76ers 88–78 | Defense |
| 4,720 | Mar 10, 1998 | New York Knicks beat Orlando Magic 85–78 | Title change |
| 4,721 | Mar 11, 1998 | Charlotte Hornets beat New York Knicks 85–78 | Title change |
| 4,722 | Mar 13, 1998 | Charlotte Hornets beat Orlando Magic 100–82 | Defense |
| 4,723 | Mar 14, 1998 | Washington Wizards beat Charlotte Hornets 83–80 | Title change |
| 4,724 | Mar 17, 1998 | Denver Nuggets beat Washington Wizards 90–89 | Title change |
| 4,725 | Mar 19, 1998 | Toronto Raptors beat Denver Nuggets 104–103 | Title change |
| 4,726 | Mar 20, 1998 | Detroit Pistons beat Toronto Raptors 105–99 | Title change |
| 4,727 | Mar 22, 1998 | Detroit Pistons beat Atlanta Hawks 105–98 | Defense |
| 4,728 | Mar 23, 1998 | Detroit Pistons beat Philadelphia 76ers 94–79 | Defense |
| 4,729 | Mar 25, 1998 | Detroit Pistons beat San Antonio Spurs 103–94 | Defense |
| 4,730 | Mar 27, 1998 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit Pistons 88–87 | Title change |
| 4,731 | Mar 29, 1998 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Charlotte Hornets 97–82 | Defense |
| 4,732 | Mar 31, 1998 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Orlando Magic 93–86 | Defense |
| 4,733 | Apr 1, 1998 | Cleveland Cavaliers beat Detroit Pistons 92–90 | Defense |
| 4,734 | Apr 3, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Cleveland Cavaliers 105–93 | Title change |
| 4,735 | Apr 5, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Detroit Pistons 105–103 | Defense |
| 4,736 | Apr 8, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Vancouver Grizzlies 113–102 | Defense |
| 4,737 | Apr 10, 1998 | Phoenix Suns beat Los Angeles Lakers 114–105 | Title change |
| 4,738 | Apr 12, 1998 | Phoenix Suns beat Vancouver Grizzlies 129–106 | Defense |
| 4,739 | Apr 13, 1998 | Phoenix Suns beat Golden State Warriors 105–97 | Defense |
| 4,740 | Apr 15, 1998 | Phoenix Suns beat Denver Nuggets 96–89 | Defense |
| 4,741 | Apr 17, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Phoenix Suns 102–99 | Title change |
| 4,742 | Apr 19, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Utah Jazz 102–98 | Title change |
| 4,743 | Apr 24, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers 104–102 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,744 | Apr 26, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers 108–99 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,745 | Apr 28, 1998 | Portland Trail Blazers beat Los Angeles Lakers 99–94 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,746 | Apr 30, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Portland Trail Blazers 110–99 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,747 | May 4, 1998 | Seattle SuperSonics beat Los Angeles Lakers 106–92 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,748 | May 6, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics 92–68 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,749 | May 8, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics 119–103 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,750 | May 10, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics 112–100 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,751 | May 12, 1998 | Los Angeles Lakers beat Seattle SuperSonics 110–95 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,752 | May 16, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Los Angeles Lakers 112–77 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,753 | May 18, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Los Angeles Lakers 99–95 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,754 | May 22, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Los Angeles Lakers 109–98 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,755 | May 24, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Los Angeles Lakers 96–92 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,756 | Jun 3, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Chicago Bulls 88–85 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,757 | Jun 5, 1998 | Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 93–88 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,758 | Jun 7, 1998 | Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 96–54 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,759 | Jun 10, 1998 | Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 86–82 Playoffs | Defense |
| 4,760 | Jun 12, 1998 | Utah Jazz beat Chicago Bulls 83–81 Playoffs | Title change |
| 4,761 | Jun 14, 1998 | Chicago Bulls beat Utah Jazz 87–86 Playoffs | Title change |