The Portland Trail Blazers were one of three new teams to join the NBA for the 1970–71 season. The franchise played its inaugural regular season game on a Friday night in Portland, beating the fellow expansion Cleveland Cavaliers 115–112 on October 16, with 4,273 in attendance. The Trail Blazers played a regular season home game at McArthur Court in Eugene, Oregon on February 19, 1971 against the Cincinnati Royals. Portland was defeated by Cincinnati, 102–109. Portland finished last in the Pacific Division with a record of . Of the three expansion teams, their record was the best; with seven more wins than the Buffalo Braves and fourteen more than the Cavaliers. The leading scorer for the Blazers was Geoff Petrie; he averaged 24.8 points per game and shared Rookie of the Year honors with Boston Celtics star Dave Cowens. Offseason NBA Draft Expansion Draft Roster Pre-season The Trail Blazers convened their preseason camp on September 14, 1970. Sixteen players reported to camp, which was held in the gymnasium at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Pat Riley was unable to attend the camp due to the death in his father. Players reported to drills at 10 am and 4 pm. The first players to be cut from camp were third round draft pick Bill Cain and Tim Robinson, who had played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1961 to 1965. Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Game log Footnotes The game was held at the Oakland Civic Auditorium in Oakland, California. The game was held at Seattle Center Coliseum in Seattle, Washington. The game was held at San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The game was held at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game was held at War Memorial in Rochester, New York. The game was held at McArthur Court in Eugene, Oregon. The game was held at Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The game was held a Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. Transactions March 27, 1970: signed first round draft pick Geoff Petrie April 1, 1970: signed second round draft pick Walt Gilmore April 6, 1970: signed third round draft pick Bill Cain and tenth round draft pick Israel Oliver April 21, 1970: hired Rolland Todd as head coach April 27, 1970: hired Stu Inman chief scout and director of player personnel April 30, 1970: signed eighth round draft pick Doug Boyd May 10, 1970: