20 | Utah | L 89–91 | | | | First Union Center | 18–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 22 | New York | L 71–91 | | | | First Union Center | 18–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 26 | @ Utah | W 97–91 | | | | First Union Center | 19–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | December 27 | @ Golden State | W 118–110 | | | | The Arena in Oakland | 20–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 30 | @ Sacramento | W 107–104 (OT) | | | | ARCO Arena | 21–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | January 3 | Atlanta | W 98–80 | | | | First Union Center | 22–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 5 | Seattle | W 121–89 | | | | First Union Center | 23–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | January 6 | @ Cleveland | W 107–103 | | | | Gund Arena | 24–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | January 9 | @ New Jersey | W 104–87 | | | | Continental Airlines Arena | 25–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 10 | Portland | L 75–93 | | | | First Union Center | 25–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | January 12 | @ Washington | W 86–82 | | | | MCI Center | 26–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 13 | San Antonio | W 100–83 | | | | First Union Center | 27–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 15 | Charlotte | W 84–79 | | | | First Union Center | 28–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 17 | Chicago | W 99–88 | | | | First Union Center | 29–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 19 | New Jersey | W 97–86 | | | | First Union Center | 30–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 21 | Toronto | L 106–110 (OT) | | | | First Union Center | 30–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 23 | @ Dallas | W 114–98 | | | | Reunion Arena | 31–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 24 | @ Houston | L 85–84 (OT) | | | | Compaq Center |