1980-81 Chicago Bulls Game-by-Game Results
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Team Record: 45-37
Finishing 2nd in the NBA's Central Division of the Eastern Conference
Postseason: 2-4 Lost conference semifinals
Conference First Round - Defeated New York Knicks 2-0
Conference Semifinals - Lost to Boston Celtics 4-0
Coach: Jerry Sloan (45-37)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 389,718, Avg. 9,505 in 41 home dates
1980-81 Chicago Bulls StatisticsTeam Record: 45-37
Finishing 2nd in the NBA's Central Division of the Eastern Conference
Postseason: 2-4 Lost conference semifinals
Conference First Round - Defeated New York Knicks 2-0
Conference Semifinals - Lost to Boston Celtics 4-0
Coach: Jerry Sloan (45-37)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Attendance: 389,718, Avg. 9,505 in 41 home dates
1980-81 Chicago Bulls Roster
The Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association ended the 1980-81 season with a record of 45 wins and 37 losses, finishing second in the NBA's Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team compiled a postseason mark of 2-4.
Chicago racked up 8,937 points and yielded 8,775. Reggie Theus netted a team-leading 1,549 points for the Bulls, and Artis Gilmore scored 17 or more per game, too. Artis Gilmore contributed 828 rebounds. Reggie Theus dished out 426 assists for the squad.
Defensively, Reggie Theus added 122 steals, while Artis Gilmore blocked 198 shots.
Jerry Sloan coached the team. The 1980-81 Chicago Bulls lost in the conference semifinals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Points For: 8937
Regular Season Points Against: 8775
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 11, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 93 at Atlanta Hawks 101 | L | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | ||
| October 15, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 108 at Indiana Pacers 97 | W | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | ||
| October 17, 1980 | Cleveland Cavaliers 79 at Chicago Bulls 98 | W | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2-1 | ||
| October 18, 1980 | New Jersey Nets 107 at Chicago Bulls 90 | L | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2-2 | ||
| October 21, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 97 at New York Knicks 105 | L | 1-1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | ||
| October 24, 1980 | Washington Bullets 96 at Chicago Bulls 104 | W | 2-1 | 1-2 | 3-3 | ||
| October 25, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 93 at Milwaukee Bucks 109 | L | 2-1 | 1-3 | 3-4 | ||
| October 28, 1980 | Milwaukee Bucks 106 at Chicago Bulls 99 | L | 2-2 | 1-3 | 3-5 | ||
| October 29, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 102 at Philadelphia 76ers 115 | L | 2-2 | 1-4 | 3-6 | ||
| October 31, 1980 | Indiana Pacers 121 at Chicago Bulls 114 | L | 2-3 | 1-4 | 3-7 | ||
| November 1, 1980 | Detroit Pistons 100 at Chicago Bulls 122 | W | 3-3 | 1-4 | 4-7 | ||
| November 5, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 120 at New Jersey Nets 105 | W | 3-3 | 2-4 | 5-7 | ||
| November 7, 1980 | Atlanta Hawks 100 at Chicago Bulls 103 | W | 4-3 | 2-4 | 6-7 | ||
| November 8, 1980 | Denver Nuggets 130 at Chicago Bulls 126 | L | 4-4 | 2-4 | 6-8 | 2OT | |
| November 9, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 105 at Boston Celtics 111 | L | 4-4 | 2-5 | 6-9 | at Hartford, CT | |
| November 11, 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers 121 at Chicago Bulls 80 | L | 4-5 | 2-5 | 6-10 | ||
| November 14, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 99 at Detroit Pistons 106 | L | 4-5 | 2-6 | 6-11 | ||
| November 16, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 114 at Milwaukee Bucks 108 | W | 4-5 | 3-6 | 7-11 | ||
| November 18, 1980 | Boston Celtics 113 at Chicago Bulls 112 | L | 4-6 | 3-6 | 7-12 | ||
| November 21, 1980 | New York Knicks 121 at Chicago Bulls 130 | W | 5-6 | 3-6 | 8-12 | ||
| November 22, 1980 | Washington Bullets 101 at Chicago Bulls 114 | W | 6-6 | 3-6 | 9-12 | ||
| November 26, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 122 at San Antonio Spurs 125 | L | 6-6 | 3-7 | 9-13 | ||
| November 28, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 101 at Phoenix Suns 102 | L | 6-6 | 3-8 | 9-14 | ||
| November 30, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 122 at Los Angeles Lakers 108 | W | 6-6 | 4-8 | 10-14 | ||
| December 2, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 129 at Denver Nuggets 124 | W | 6-6 | 5-8 | 11-14 | ||
| December 3, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 105 at Seattle Supersonics 113 | L | 6-6 | 5-9 | 11-15 | ||
| December 5, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 115 at Portland Trail Blazers 116 | L | 6-6 | 5-10 | 11-16 | ||
| December 9, 1980 | Phoenix Suns 123 at Chicago Bulls 108 | L | 6-7 | 5-10 | 11-17 | ||
| December 10, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 100 at Philadelphia 76ers 113 | L | 6-7 | 5-11 | 11-18 | ||
| December 12, 1980 | Utah Jazz 98 at Chicago Bulls 118 | W | 7-7 | 5-11 | 12-18 | ||
| December 13, 1980 | Boston Celtics 106 at Chicago Bulls 95 | L | 7-8 | 5-11 | 12-19 | ||
| December 16, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 96 at Washington Bullets 94 | W | 7-8 | 6-11 | 13-19 | ||
| December 17, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 98 at Boston Celtics 115 | L | 7-8 | 6-12 | 13-20 | ||
| December 19, 1980 | Milwaukee Bucks 106 at Chicago Bulls 129 | W | 8-8 | 6-12 | 14-20 | ||
| December 20, 1980 | Houston Rockets 109 at Chicago Bulls 133 | W | 9-8 | 6-12 | 15-20 | ||
| December 23, 1980 | New York Knicks 114 at Chicago Bulls 117 | W | 10-8 | 6-12 | 16-20 | ||
| December 26, 1980 | Chicago Bulls 100 at Cleveland Cavaliers 98 | W | 10-8 | 7-12 | 17-20 | ||
| December 27, 1980 | Detroit Pistons 97 at Chicago Bulls 104 | W | 11-8 | 7-12 | 18-20 | ||
| December 30, 1980 | New Jersey Nets 110 at Chicago Bulls 121 | W | 12-8 | 7-12 | 19-20 | ||
| January 2, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 92 at Washington Bullets 82 | W | 12-8 | 8-12 | 20-20 | ||
| January 3, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 119 at Chicago Bulls 111 | L | 12-9 | 8-12 | 20-21 | ||
| January 6, 1981 | San Diego Clippers 93 at Chicago Bulls 108 | W | 13-9 | 8-12 | 21-21 | ||
| January 9, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 111 at Boston Celtics 117 | L | 13-9 | 8-13 | 21-22 | OT | |
| January 10, 1981 | Philadelphia 76ers 117 at Chicago Bulls 102 | L | 13-10 | 8-13 | 21-23 | ||
| January 13, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 106 at Dallas Mavericks 112 | L | 13-10 | 8-14 | 21-24 | ||
| January 14, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 105 at Houston Rockets 109 | L | 13-10 | 8-15 | 21-25 | ||
| January 16, 1981 | Portland Trail Blazers 113 at Chicago Bulls 112 | L | 13-11 | 8-15 | 21-26 | ||
| January 17, 1981 | Cleveland Cavaliers 110 at Chicago Bulls 98 | L | 13-12 | 8-15 | 21-27 | ||
| January 20, 1981 | Indiana Pacers 105 at Chicago Bulls 121 | W | 14-12 | 8-15 | 22-27 | ||
| January 22, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 125 at Detroit Pistons 92 | W | 14-12 | 9-15 | 23-27 | ||
| January 23, 1981 | Dallas Mavericks 98 at Chicago Bulls 106 | W | 15-12 | 9-15 | 24-27 | ||
| January 24, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 104 at Atlanta Hawks 102 | W | 15-12 | 10-15 | 25-27 | ||
| January 27, 1981 | Golden State Warriors 101 at Chicago Bulls 118 | W | 16-12 | 10-15 | 26-27 | ||
| January 29, 1981 | Boston Celtics 85 at Chicago Bulls 108 | W | 17-12 | 10-15 | 27-27 | ||
| February 4, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 109 at Cleveland Cavaliers 96 | W | 17-12 | 11-15 | 28-27 | ||
| February 6, 1981 | New York Knicks 112 at Chicago Bulls 94 | L | 17-13 | 11-15 | 28-28 | ||
| February 7, 1981 | Detroit Pistons 90 at Chicago Bulls 98 | W | 18-13 | 11-15 | 29-28 | ||
| February 8, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 109 at Milwaukee Bucks 128 | L | 18-13 | 11-16 | 29-29 | ||
| February 10, 1981 | Kansas City Kings 115 at Chicago Bulls 116 | W | 19-13 | 11-16 | 30-29 | ||
| February 11, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 133 at New Jersey Nets 135 | L | 19-13 | 11-17 | 30-30 | OT | |
| February 14, 1981 | Seattle Supersonics 117 at Chicago Bulls 134 | W | 20-13 | 11-17 | 31-30 | ||
| February 15, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 107 at Indiana Pacers 113 | L | 20-13 | 11-18 | 31-31 | ||
| February 17, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 95 at San Diego Clippers 128 | L | 20-13 | 11-19 | 31-32 | ||
| February 18, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 100 at Golden State Warriors 103 | L | 20-13 | 11-20 | 31-33 | ||
| February 20, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 92 at Utah Jazz 84 | W | 20-13 | 12-20 | 32-33 | ||
| February 22, 1981 | Atlanta Hawks 121 at Chicago Bulls 116 | L | 20-14 | 12-20 | 32-34 | ||
| February 24, 1981 | Los Angeles Lakers 107 at Chicago Bulls 97 | L | 20-15 | 12-20 | 32-35 | ||
| February 27, 1981 | Washington Bullets 100 at Chicago Bulls 112 | W | 21-15 | 12-20 | 33-35 | ||
| February 28, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 101 at New York Knicks 97 | W | 21-15 | 13-20 | 34-35 | ||
| March 3, 1981 | New Jersey Nets 102 at Chicago Bulls 128 | W | 22-15 | 13-20 | 35-35 | ||
| March 4, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 111 at Philadelphia 76ers 100 | W | 22-15 | 14-20 | 36-35 | ||
| March 8, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 99 at Washington Bullets 103 | L | 22-15 | 14-21 | 36-36 | ||
| March 10, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 118 at Atlanta Hawks 116 | W | 22-15 | 15-21 | 37-36 | ||
| March 13, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 117 at New York Knicks 127 | L | 22-15 | 15-22 | 37-37 | ||
| March 15, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 97 at Kansas City Kings 87 | W | 22-15 | 16-22 | 38-37 | ||
| March 17, 1981 | Milwaukee Bucks 106 at Chicago Bulls 116 | W | 23-15 | 16-22 | 39-37 | ||
| March 19, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 116 at Cleveland Cavaliers 111 | W | 23-15 | 17-22 | 40-37 | ||
| March 20, 1981 | Philadelphia 76ers 108 at Chicago Bulls 120 | W | 24-15 | 17-22 | 41-37 | ||
| March 22, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 109 at Detroit Pistons 103 | W | 24-15 | 18-22 | 42-37 | ||
| March 24, 1981 | Cleveland Cavaliers 108 at Chicago Bulls 121 | W | 25-15 | 18-22 | 43-37 | ||
| March 27, 1981 | Atlanta Hawks 83 at Chicago Bulls 108 | W | 26-15 | 18-22 | 44-37 | ||
| March 29, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 101 at Indiana Pacers 97 | W | 26-15 | 19-22 | 45-37 | ||
| March 31, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 90 at New York Knicks 80 | W | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | ||
| April 3, 1981 | New York Knicks 114 at Chicago Bulls 115 | W | 1-0 | 1-0 | 2-0 | OT | |
| April 5, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 109 at Boston Celtics 121 | L | 1-0 | 1-1 | 2-1 | ||
| April 7, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 97 at Boston Celtics 106 | L | 1-0 | 1-2 | 2-2 | ||
| April 10, 1981 | Boston Celtics 113 at Chicago Bulls 107 | L | 1-1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | ||
| April 12, 1981 | Boston Celtics 109 at Chicago Bulls 103 | L | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-4 |
