First, calculate the number of games played within each division:
5 teams in each division x 4 games against each team in the division = 20 division games
Next, calculate the number of games played against the other divisions:
6 teams from each of the other two divisions x 4 games against each team = 24 games against those teams
4 teams from each of the other two divisions x 3 games against each team = 12 games against those teams
Finally, calculate the number of games played against the Western Conference:
15 teams in the Western Conference x 2 games against each team = 30 games
Adding up all the games:
20 division games + 24 inter-division games + 12 inter-division games + 30 Western Conference games = 86 games
Therefore, a team in the Eastern Conference plays 86 games during the regular season.