1978–79 San Diego Clippers season

The 1978–79 San Diego Clippers season was the 9th season of the team formerly known as the Buffalo Braves in the NBA.1978-79 San Diego Clippers They had moved from Buffalo, New York to San Diego, California and rechristened themselves as the San Diego Clippers.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club team 2 41 Jerome Whitehead Forward Marquette 3 48 Mike Santos Forward Utah State 3 51 Ricky Gallon Center Louisville 3 65 Marvin Delph Guard Arkansas 4 68 Jim Boylan Guard Marquette 4 73 Larry Harris Forward Pittsburgh 4 76 Leroy McDonald Guard Wake Forest 5 90 David Thompson Forward Florida State 6 112 Bob Misevicius Forward Providence 7 133 Stan Pietkiewicz Guard Auburn 8 154 Felton Young Center Jacksonville 9 172 Bobby White Forward Centenary (LA)

Roster

Roster notes This was Kevin Kunnert's second stint with the franchise; he previously played for the Buffalo Braves in 1973–74.

Regular season

Game log

| 1 || October 13 || @ Suns || L 114–128 || Kermit Washington (25) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Randy Smith (11) || Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 11,217 || 0–1 || |- | 2 || October 14 || @ Warriors || L 89–117 || Tied (21) || Kermit Washington (14)|| Randy Smith (7) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 10,254 || 0–2 || |- | 3 || October 15 || Nuggets || L 94–98|| Randy Smith (28) || Swen Nater (12)|| Lloyd Free (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,362 || 0–3 || |- | 4 || October 17 || Bulls || W 99–94 || Lloyd Free (29) || Tied (14)|| Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 4,944 || 1–3 || |- | 5 || October 18 || Spurs || L 125–127 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kermit Washington (16)|| Lloyd Free (8) || San Diego Sports Arena 5,614 || 1–4 || |- | 6 || October 20 || @ Bulls || W 110–94 || Nick Weatherspoon (19) || Kermit Washington (13)|| World B. Free (9) || Chicago Stadium 12,412 || 2–4 || |- | 7 || October 21 || @ Pacers || L 119–125 || Lloyd Free (35) || Tied (12)|| Lloyd Free (6) || Market Square Arena 9,243 || 2–5 || |- | 8 || October 24 || Lakers || W 124–123 || Lloyd Free (35) || Kevin Kunnert (9)|| Lloyd Free (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 11,637 || 3–5 || |- | 9 || October 25 || Bucks || W 125–116 || Lloyd Free (38) || Swen Nater (15)|| Lloyd Free (9) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,051 || 4–5 || |- | 10 || October 27 || @ Lakers || L 101–113 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (10)|| Lloyd Free (5) || The Forum 9,246 || 4–6 || |- | 11 || October 29|| SuperSonics || W 103–100 || Randy Smith (26) || Kevin Kunnert (10)|| Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 9,469 || 5–6 ||

| 12 || November 2 || Knicks || L 122–127 || Lloyd Free (42) || Kermit Washington (10)|| Lloyd Free (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 9,744 || 5–7 || |- | 13 || November 3 || @ Trail Blazers || L 98–119 || Randy Smith (22) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Randy Smith (4) || Memorial Coliseum 12,666 || 5–8 || |- | 14 || November 4 || Cavaliers || L 106–112 || Lloyd Free (24) || Kermit Washington (14)|| Lloyd Free (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 9,791 || 5–9 || |- | 15 || November 7 || @ Jazz || W 121–115 || Lloyd Free (29) || Nick Weatherspoon (16)|| Lloyd Free (6) || New Orleans Superdome 6,411 || 6–9 || |- | 16 || November 8 || @ Spurs || L 125–163 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (9)|| Tied (5) || HemisFair Arena 11,358 || 6–10 || |- | 17 || November 9 || @ Hawks || L 101–125 || Nick Weatherspoon (25) || Swen Nater (10)|| Tied (4) || Omni Coliseum 5,082 || 6–11 || |- | 18 || November 11 || @ Rockets || L 123–136 || Lloyd Free (31) || Tied (6)|| Randy Smith (11) || The Summit 9,179 || 6–12 || |- | 19 || November 14 || Pacers || W 109–106 || Kermit Washington (29) || Swen Nater (12)|| Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,381 || 7–12 || |- | 20 || November 16 || Warriors || W 112–109 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kermit Washington (10)|| Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,483 || 8–12 || |- | 21 || November 18 || Jazz || W 114–111 || Randy Smith (36) || Swen Nater (17)|| Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,151 || 9–12 || |- | 22 || November 21 || Hawks || L 107–113 || Lloyd Free (26) || Kevin Kunnert (13)|| Lloyd Free (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,730 || 9–13 || |- | 23 || November 24 || @ 76ers || L 120–134 || Lloyd Free (33) || Kermit Washington (11)|| Lloyd Free (8) || The Spectrum 18,276 || 9–14 || |- | 24 || November 25 || @ Kings || W 87–86 || Lloyd Free (28) || Kevin Kunnert (15)|| Tied (4) || Kemper Arena 11,320 || 10–14 || |- | 25 || November 26 || Celtics || W 105–103 || LLoyd Free (28) || Kermit Washington (9)|| Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 7,042 || 11–14 || |- | 26 || November 30 || Rockets || L 104–113 || Nick Weatherspoon (22) || Nick Weatherspoon (11)|| Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,597 || 11–15 ||

| 27 || December 2 || Pistons || L 113–120 || Tied (25) || Tied (13)|| Randy Smith (9) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,433 || 11–16 || |- | 28 || December 6 || @ Celtics || L 111–117 || Lloyd Free (25) || Tied (11)|| Randy Smith (10) || Boston Garden 7,688 || 11–17 || |- | 29 || December 9 || @ Nets || L 120–125 || Lloyd Free (38) || Swen Nater (10)|| Lloyd Free (4) || Rutgers Athletic Center 4,286 || 11–18 || |- | 30 || December 10 || @ Bucks || W 107–106 || Lloyd Free (28) || Tied (12)|| Lloyd Free (5) || MECCA Arena 10,889 || 12–18 || |- | 31 || December 12 || @ Knicks || W 105–103 || Randy Smith (28) || Tied (9)|| Lloyd Free (8) || Madison Square Garden 11,981 || 13–18 || |- | 32 || December 13 || @ Bullets || L 117–134 || Randy Smith (29) || Swen Nater (9)|| Randy Smith (6) || Capital Centre 7,621 || 13–19 || |- | 33 || December 17 || Suns || W 116–100 || Lloyd Free (30) || Swen Nater (13)|| Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,068 || 14–19 || |- | 34 || December 19 || 76ers || L 113–124 || Lloyd Free (35) || Swen Nater (10) || Swen Nater (3) || San Diego Sports Arena 13,822 || 14–20 || |- | 35 || December 25 || @ SuperSonics || W 123–118 || Randy Smith (29) || Swen Nater (13) || Randy Smith (12) || Kingdome 11,910 || 15–20 || |- | 36 || December 26 || Bulls || W 115–109 || Lloyd Free (36) || Kermit Washington (10) || Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,582 || 16–20 || |- | 37 || December 28 || @ Cavaliers || L 114–116 || Lloyd Free (36) || Kevin Kunnert (9) || Lloyd Free (6) || Richfield Coliseum 11,091 || 16–21 || |- | 38 || December 29 || @ Pistons || W 111–107 || Lloyd Free (35) || Swen Nater (14) || Randy Smith (8) || Pontiac Silverdome 10,284 || 17–21 || |- | 39 || December 30 || @ Pacers || W 114–111 || Lloyd Free (30) || Kevin Kunnert (13) || Sidney Wicks (6) || Market Square Arena 7,263 || 18–21 ||

| 40 || January 2 || Pistons || W 137–119 || Lloyd Free (33) || Kermit Washington (17) || Kermit Washington (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,139 || 19–21 || |- | 41 || January 4 || @ Kings || L 99–108 || Randy Smith (37) || Kermit Washington (15) || Randy Smith (3) || Kemper Arena 6,647 || 19–22 || |- | 42 || January 6 || @ Bucks || L 93–104 || Freeman Williams (26) || Kermit Washington (14) || Randy Smith (6) || MECCA Arena 10,938 || 19–23 || |- | 43 || January 9 || @ Jazz || W 114–107 || Lloyd Free (34) || Kermit Washington (10) || Tied (7) || New Orleans Superdome 6,342 || 20–23 || |- | 44 || January 11 || @ Spurs || L 111–140 || Nick Weatherspoon (38) || Nick Weatherspoon (9) || Randy Smith (12) || HemisFair Arena 11,008 || 20–24 || |- | 45 || January 13 || @ Hawks || L 119–124 || Lloyd Free (46) || Kermit Washington (17) || Tied (3) || Omni Coliseum 7,681 || 20–25 || |- | 46 || January 14 || @ Bullets || L 91–125 || Randy Smith (24) || Kermit Washington (13) || Randy Smith (8) || Capital Centre 9,588 || 20–26 || |- | 47 || January 17 || Lakers || W 119–117 || Lloyd Free (31) || Tied (11) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 13,073 || 21–26 || |- | 48 || January 24 || Trail Blazers || W 122–121 || Lloyd Free (35) || Nick Weatherspoon (11) || Lloyd Free (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 9,659 || 22–26 || |- | 49 || January 26 || @ Bulls || W 107–91 || Lloyd Free (28) || Swen Nater (15) || Tied (5) || Chicago Stadium 8,523 || 23–26 || |- | 50 || January 27 || @ Cavaliers || W 111–110 || Lloyd Free (38) || Kermit Washington (15) || Lloyd Free (4) || Richfield Coliseum 10,523 || 24–26 || |- | 51 || January 28 || @ Pistons || L 118–128 || Lloyd Free (23) || Swen Nater (10) || Sidney Wicks (6) || Pontiac Silverdome 9,279 || 24–27 || |- | 52 || January 30 || Bucks || W 117–113 || Randy Smith (26) || Kevin Kunnert (14) || Tied (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,431 || 25–27 || |- | 53 || January 31 || Nets || W 112–104 || Lloyd Free (25) || Kermit Washington (14) || Randy Smith (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 7,227 || 26–27 ||

| 54 || February 2 || Nuggets || W 124–100 || Lloyd Free (49) || Kevin Kunnert (12) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 11,763 || 27–28 || |- | 55 || February 7 || Spurs || L 113–126 || Lloyd Free (25) || Kermit Washington (10) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,498 || 27–28 || |- | 56 || February 9 || @ 76ers || L 106–117 || Randy Smith (25) || Nick Weatherspoon (13) || Nick Weatherspoon (5) || The Spectrum 15,823 || 27–29 || |- | 57 || February 11 || @ Nets || L 98–104 || Lloyd Free (22) || Swen Nater (18) || Lloyd Free (6) || Rutgers Athletic Center 14,749 || 27–30 || |- | 58 || February 13 || Bullets || L 136–138 2OT || Lloyd Free (45) || Nick Weatherspoon (10) || Lloyd Free (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 8,111 || 27–31 || |- | 59 || February 15 || Jazz || W 122–112 || Lloyd Free (30) || Swen Nater (10) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 5,827 || 28–31 || |- | 60 || February 16 || @ Nuggets || W 118–104 || Randy Smith (25) || Kermit Washington (14) || Tied (5) || McNichols Sports Arena 15,119 || 29–31 || |- | 61 || February 18 || Hawks || W 116–101 || Lloyd Free (26) || Sidney Wicks (13) || Randy Smith (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,959 || 30–31 || |- | 62 || February 23 || 76ers || W 117–116 || Lloyd Free (26) || Swen Nater (10) || Tied (3) || San Diego Sports Arena 13,783 || 31–31 || |- | 63 || February 25 || Celtics || W 131–116 || Lloyd Free (38) || Kevin Kunnert (10) || Tied (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 10,671 || 32–31 || |- | 64 || February 27 || Pacers || W 124–107 || Lloyd Free (28) || Tied (9) || Kermit Washington (6) || San Diego Sports Arena 6,156 || 33–31 || |- | 65 || February 28 || Kings || W 122–120 || Randy Smith (22) || Swen Nater (8) || Randy Smith (7) || San Diego Sports Arena 9,051 || 34–31 ||

| 66 || March 2 || @ Celtics || W 106–99 || Lloyd Free (28) || Kermit Washington (15) || Randy Smith (6) || Boston Garden 14,345 || 35–31 || |- | 67 || March 3 || @ Knicks || L 108–111 || Lloyd Free (34) || Kevin Kunnert (23) || Tied (6) || Madison Square Garden 11,488 || 35–32 || |- | 68 || March 7 || Rockets || W 138–115 || Lloyd Free (34) || Swen Nater (10) || Tied (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 19,911 || 36–32 || |- | 69 || March 10 || Cavaliers || W 121–115 || Lloyd Free (33) || Swen Nater (12) || Tied (3) || San Diego Sports Arena 13,783 || 37–32 || |- | 70 || March 14 || Trail Blazers || W 110–105 || Lloyd Free (29) || Kevin Kunnert (12) || Randy Smith (9) || San Diego Sports Arena 13,401 || 38–32 || |- | 71 || March 17 || Warriors || W 106–103 || Lloyd Free (23) || Kevin Kunnert (11) || Tied (4) || San Diego Sports Arena 11,332 || 39–32 || |- | 72 || March 18 || Nets || W 110–98 || Lloyd Free (31) || Nick Weatherspoon (17) || Randy Smith (5) || San Diego Sports Arena 18,538 || 40–32 || |- | 73 || March 20 || @ Trail Blazers || L 109–115 || Randy Smith (28) || Swen Nater (12) || Randy Smith (12) || Memorial Coliseum 12,666 || 40–33 || |- | 74 || March 21 || @ Warriors || W 106–103 || Lloyd Free (35) || Kevin Kunnert (17) || Tied (5) || Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7,813 || 41–33 || |- | 75 || March 23 || @ Lakers || L 119–156 || Randy Smith (33) || Kermit Washington (17) || Kermit Washington (6) || The Forum 14,212 || 41–34 || |-