1977–78 Washington Bullets season

1977–78 Washington Bullets season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Head coach	Dick Motta
Arena	Capital Centre
Results
Record	44–38 (.537)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finish	NBA Champions (Defeated SuperSonics 4–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WDCA–TV 20 (Jim Karvellas, Gus Johnson)
Radio	WTOP–AM 1500 (Frank Herzog)

The 1977–78 Washington Bullets were the world champions of professional basketball, beating the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA Finals, 4 games to 3.

The Bullets got off to a slow start in the regular season, losing 6 of their first 10 games. On January 13, the Bullets beat the defending Champion Portland Trail Blazers to improve to 24–15, capping an 18–5 run over 23 games. Injuries would begin to have an effect on the team as the Bullets struggled, as they would lose 13 of their next 18 games. Hovering a few games above .500 for the rest of the season, the Bullets managed to make the playoffs with a 44–38 record. This would be considered the worst team in NBA history to win a championship with its record of 44–38. The 1968-69 Boston Celtics, 1974-75 Golden State Warriors, 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers, and 1994-95 Houston Rockets are the only other NBA championship teams to have won below 50 games in non-lockout seasons since 1958; all of them won more than 44 games.

Offseason

NBA Draft

Main article: 1977 NBA Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/HS/Club Team
1	4	Greg Ballard (SF) (from Atlanta)	United States	Oregon
1	17	Bo Ellis (F)	United States	Marquette
2	39	Phil Walker (G)	United States	Millersville
3	57	Steve Puidokas (from Chicago)	United States	Washington State
3	61	Jerry Schellenberg	United States	Wake Forest
4	83	David Reavis	United States	Georgia
5	105	Bruce Parkinson	United States	Purdue
6	127	Ernie Wansley	United States	Virginia Tech
7	147	Calvin Brown	United States	American
8	166	Pat McKinley	United States	Towson State

Roster

Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 42 Ballard, Greg 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Oregon G 45 Chenier, Phil 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) California SF 10 Dandridge, Bob 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Norfolk State F 35 Grevey, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Kentucky G 14 Henderson, Tom 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Hawaiʻi C 11 Hayes, Elvin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Houston PF 25 Kupchak, Mitch 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) North Carolina G 15 Johnson, Charles 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) California C 44 Pace, Joe 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Coppin State F 41 Unseld, Wes 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Louisville G 32 Wright, Larry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Grambling State

Head coach Dick Motta Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Season standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-San Antonio Spurs	52	30	.634	–	32–9	20–21	15–5
x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	8	29–12	15–26	14–6
x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	9	27–14	16–25	9–11
x-Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	11	29–12	12–29	8–12
New Orleans Jazz	39	43	.476	13	27–14	12–29	8–12
Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	24	21-20	7-34	6–14

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Philadelphia 76ers	55	27	.671	–
2	y-San Antonio Spurs	52	30	.634	3
3	x-Washington Bullets	44	38	.537	11
4	x-Cleveland Cavaliers	43	39	.524	12
5	x-New York Knicks	43	39	.524	12
6	x-Atlanta Hawks	41	41	.500	14
7	New Orleans Jazz	39	43	.476	16
8	Boston Celtics	32	50	.390	23
9	Houston Rockets	28	54	.341	27
10	Buffalo Braves	27	55	.329	28
11	New Jersey Nets	24	58	.293	31

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

1977–78 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	BUF	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NOJ	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SEA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–1	1–3
Boston	2–2	—	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	2–2	1–3	0–4	0–4	1–3
Buffalo	1–3	1–3	—	3–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–3	3–1	1–3	1–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	0–4	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3
Chicago	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–2	2–2	1–3	3–0	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–1
Cleveland	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	—	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–2	0–4	0–4	3–1	2–2
Denver	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	—	2–2	2–2	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	3–1	2–1	1–3	3–1
Detroit	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	—	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–0	0–4	0–4	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2
Golden State	3–1	2–2	3–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	—	2–1	3–1	3–1	0–4	2–2	3–1	0–4	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	2–2	2–2
Houston	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	0–3	1–3	1–2	—	3–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	0–4	1–3
Indiana	1–3	1–2	3–1	1–3	1–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	1–3	—	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	3–1
Kansas City	1–2	2–2	2–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	—	2–2	0–4	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	0–4	0–4	0–4	1–3	2–2
Los Angeles	1–3	2–1	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	—	3–1	4–0	2–1	3–1	2–2	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–3	2–2
Milwaukee	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–0	4–0	1–3	—	3–1	2–1	3–1	1–2	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1
New Jersey	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–1	1–3	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2	0–4	1–3	—	0–4	1–3	0–4	2–2	0–3	0–4	2–2	2–2
New Orleans	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	1–2	1–2	4–0	—	1–3	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–3	2–2	0–4
New York	2–2	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–3	3–1	3–0	2–2	2–2	3–1	4–0	1–3	1–3	3–1	3–1	—	1–3	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–1	2–2
Philadelphia	2–2	4–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	2–1	4–0	2–2	3–1	—	2–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	2–2
Phoenix	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	3–1	1–2	—	1–3	2–2	2–2	2–2
Portland	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	3–1	4–0	4–0	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–0	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–1	2–1
San Antonio	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–2	2–1	1–3	3–1	3–1	4–0	2–2	2–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	—	2–2	2–2
Seattle	1–2	4–0	3–1	2–2	1–3	3–1	3–1	2–2	4–0	3–1	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–2	2–1	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	2–2	—	1–3
Washington	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	2–2	3–1	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–3	2–2	4–0	2–2	2–2	2–2	1–2	2–2	3–1	—

Game log

Key:   Win   Loss

1977–78 Regular Season Game Log (44–38) (Home: 29–12; Road: 15–26)
October (1–3) (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–3) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 1 October 21 Detroit 117–109 1–0 Kupchak (29) Capital Centre 13,276 8:05 p.m. EDT WTOP–AM 2 October 22 @ New York 115–141 1–1 Hayes (26) Madison Square Garden 15,261 8:05 p.m. EDT WDCA WTOP–AM 3 October 28 @ Indiana 127–136 1–2 Wright (43) Market Square Arena 12,542 8:05 p.m. EDT WTOP–AM 4 October 29 @ Kansas City 106–120 1–3 Wright (19) Kemper Arena 9,220 8:35 p.m. EDT WTOP–AM
November (9–4) (Home: 6–2; Road: 3–2) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 5 November 4 Phoenix 113–96 2–3 Dandridge (24) Capital Centre 8,742 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 6 November 5 @ Houston 105–116 2–4 Wright (20) The Summit 9,449 9:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 7 November 6 @ New Orleans 108–97 3–4 Dandridge, Hayes (21) Louisiana Superdome 26,474 8:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 8 November 10 Milwaukee 103–106 3–5 Dandridge (25) Capital Centre 7,139 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 9 November 12 Philadelphia 116–98 4–5 Dandridge (28) Capital Centre 18,355 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 10 November 13 @ Detroit 102–104 4–6 Hayes (29) Cobo Arena 5,149 7:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 11 November 15 Seattle 111–109 5–6 Hayes (22) Capital Centre 5,593 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 12 November 18 New York 123–103 6–6 Hayes (27) Capital Centre 17,242 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 13 November 19 @ Kansas City 131–125 7–6 Kupchak (32) OT Kemper Arena 6,534 8:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 14 November 21 @ Buffalo 114–97 8–6 Kupchak (21) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 6,125 7:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 15 November 22 Denver 114–119 8–7 Dandridge (29) Capital Centre 8,363 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 16 November 26 Houston 93–91 9–7 Hayes (24) Capital Centre 18,387 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 17 November 30 San Antonio 116–105 10–7 Cupchak (26) Capital Centre 7,092 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM
December (10–6) (Home: 6–1; Road: 4–5) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 18 December 2 @ Milwaukee 108–95 11–7 Hayes (29) MECCA Arena 10,938 9:05 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 19 December 3 Boston 103–93 12–7 Dandridge (21) Capital Centre 18,424 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 20 December 4 @ Cleveland 100–94 13–7 Chenier (28) Richfield Coliseum 9,765 7:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 21 December 6 @ Chicago 108–116 13–8 Chenier, Hayes (22) Chicago Stadium 10,093 8:30 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 22 December 7 Cleveland 96–95 14–8 Dandridge (21) Capital Centre 7,627 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 23 December 9 New Orleans 101–97 15–8 Henderson (22) Capital Centre 10,292 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 24 December 11 New Jersey 95–106 15–9 Hayes (27) Capital Centre 5,744 7:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 25 December 13 Golden State 102–96 16–9 Chenier (25) Capital Centre 8,693 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 26 December 16 @ Denver 117–112 17–9 Hayes (33) OT McNichols Sports Arena 15,922 9:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 27 December 17 @ Portland 104–117 17–10 Dandridge (17) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 10:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 28 December 18 @ Seattle 109–111 17–11 Henderson (24) OT Seattle Center Coliseum 13,563 10:00 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 29 December 20 @ Los Angeles 115–120 17–12 Kupchak (23) The Forum 13,475 11:00 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 30 December 25 Atlanta 100–93 18–12 Dandridge (24) Capital Centre 8,358 7:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 31 December 26 @ Atlanta 113–106 19–12 Henderson (21) The Omni 8,321 8:10 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 32 December 28 Buffalo 106–87 20–12 Hayes (18) Capital Centre 11,394 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 33 December 30 @ Philadelphia 119–126 20–13 Kupchak (22) The Spectrum 18,276 8:05 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM
January (6–8) (Home: 5–2; Road: 1–6) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 34 January 3 Denver 100–101 20–14 Chenier (23) Capital Centre 9,457 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 35 January 6 Indiana 146–114 21–14 Dandridge (29) Capital Centre 9,215 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 36 January 8 @ New Jersey 99–98 22–14 Dandridge (20) Rutgers Athletic Center 4,196 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 37 January 10 Kansas City 123–115 23–14 Hayes (27) Capital Centre 7,700 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 38 January 11 @ Atlanta (at Charlotte, North Carolina) 95–100 23–15 Hayes (24) Charlotte Coliseum 2,162 8:10 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 39 January 13 Portland 102–93 24–15 Dandridge (22) Capital Centre 17,610 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 40 January 14 @ Buffalo 93–130 24–16 Dandridge (22) Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 5,036 7:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 41 January 18 @ Golden State 106–113 24–17 Dandridge (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 10,155 10:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 42 January 20 @ Los Angeles 99–121 24–18 Walker (23) The Forum 13,064 11:00 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 43 January 22 @ Phoenix 101–114 24–19 Hayes (26) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,660 6:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 44 January 24 Detroit 101–104 24–20 Grevey (24) Capital Centre 6,717 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 45 January 26 Chicago 135–107 25–20 Dandridge (37) Capital Centre 7,442 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 46 January 29 Los Angeles 119–112 26–20 Dandridge (29) Capital Centre 17,779 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 47 January 31 @ San Antonio 109–129 26–21 Hayes (21) HemisFair Arena 9,000 8:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM
February (5–8) (Home: 4–1; Road: 1–7) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 48 February 2 @ Cleveland 93–110 26–22 Dandridge (25) Richfield Coliseum 7,553 8:00 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 49 February 3 @ Boston 94–116 26–23 Grevey (25) Boston Garden 12,206 7:30 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 50 February 7 @ Golden State 102–105 26–24 Hayes (25) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 9,935 10:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 51 February 8 @ Seattle 106–100 27–24 Hayes (25) Seattle Center Coliseum 12,126 11:00 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 52 February 12 @ Phoenix 109–121 27–25 Hayes (34) Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12,467 6:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 53 February 14 @ Denver 98–103 27–26 Grevey (24) McNichols Sports Arena 15,636 9:35 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 54 February 16 Buffalo 123–109 28–26 Hayes (25) Capital Centre 6,857 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 55 February 17 @ Indiana 111–123 28–27 Hayes (26) Market Square Arena 10,637 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 56 February 19 New Orleans 130–111 29–27 Hayes (31) Capital Centre 16,505 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 57 February 22 Portland 97–105 29–28 Hayes' (26) Capital Centre 11,554 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 58 February 24 Phoenix 121–120 30–28 Hayes (23) OT Capital Centre 12,432 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 59 February 26 Golden State 121–110 31–28 Hayes (37) Capital Centre 13,814 1:45 p.m.EST CBS WTOP–AM 60 February 28 @ Milwaukee 135–136 31–29 Johnson (25) OT MECCA Arena 10,938 9:05 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM
March (10–7) (Home: 5–5; Road: 5–2) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 61 March 1 San Antonio 125–110 32–29 Grevey (29) Capital Centre 8,425 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 62 March 3 @ Detroit 124–108 33–29 Grevey (32) Cobo Arena 5,033 8:05 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 63 March 5 Houston 106–88 34–29 Dandridge (26) Capital Centre 14,344 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 64 March 10 @ Houston 117–114 35–29 Grevey (43) The Summit 7,506 9:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 65 March 11 @ San Antonio 101–116 35–30 Grevey (28) HemisFair Arena 9,465 8:30 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 66 March 14 Seattle 120–115 36–30 Dandridge, Hayes, Kupchak (24) Capital Centre 7,804 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 67 March 16 @ Chicago 107–111 36–31 Dandridge (23) Chicago Stadium 11,972 8:30 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 68 March 17 Indiana 99–105 36–32 Kupchak (30) Capital Centre 8,196 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 69 March 19 Milwaukee 106–117 36–33 Hayes (32) Capital Centre 9,492 7:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 70 March 21 Boston 119–107 37–33 Hayes (34) Capital Centre 17,252 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 71 March 22 @ New Orleans 124–109 38–33 Grevey (30) Louisiana Superdome 13,143 8:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 72 March 24 @ New Jersey 107–104 39–33 Dandridge (30) Rutgers Athletic Center 5,833 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 73 March 25 Atlanta 98–95 40–33 Dandridge (18) Capital Centre 8,190 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 74 March 26 New Jersey 104–118 40–34 Grevey Hayes Kupchak (25) Capital Centre 5,750 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 75 March 29 Kansas City 105–108 40–35 Grevey (30) OT Capital Centre 6,717 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 76 March 30 @ New York 123–108 41–35 Dandridge (28) Madison Square Garden 12,702 8:35 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 77 March 31 Cleveland 101–102 41–36 Hayes (26) Capital Centre 8,660 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM
April (3–2) (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Record Lead Scorer Lead Rebounder Lead Assist Lead Steals Lead Blocks OT Location Attendance Time Local TV National TV Local Radio 78 April 2 New York 109–114 41–37 Kupchak (30) Capital Centre 7,193 1:45 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM 79 April 5 Los Angeles 125–119 42–37 Unseld (25) Capital Centre 14,761 8:05 p.m. EST WTOP–AM 80 April 6 @ Boston (at Providence, Rhode Island) 112–103 43–37 Hayes (21) Providence Civic Center 10,755 7:30 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 81 April 8 @ Philadelphia 114–131 43–38 Kupchak (31) The Spectrum 14,711 8:05 p.m. EST WDCA WTOP–AM 82 April 9 Philadelphia 123–113 44–38 Johnson (29) Capital Centre 17,952 1:30 p.m. EST CBS WTOP–AM

Notes:

^a All times are EASTERN time. (UTC–4 and UTC–5 starting October 30)

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Elvin Hayes	81	1075	149	96	159	1598	19.7
Bob Dandridge	75	442	287	101	44	1450	19.3
Mitch Kupchak	67	460	71	28	42	1066	15.9
Kevin Grevey	81	290	155	61	17	1253	15.5
Phil Chenier	36	102	73	36	9	509	14.1
Tom Henderson	75	193	406	93	15	857	11.4
Larry Wright	70	102	260	68	15	642	9.2
Charles Johnson	39	93	82	31	1	324	8.3
Wes Unseld	80	955	326	98	45	607	7.6
Greg Ballard	76	266	62	30	13	372	4.9
Phil Walker	40	52	54	14	5	178	4.5
Joe Pace	49	134	23	12	24	191	3.9
Total	82	4164	1948	668	386	9047	110.3

Playoffs

East First Round

As the playoffs began, the Bullets began to get healthy. They started to play solid basketball at the right time as they swept the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

(3) Washington Bullets vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks: Bullets win series 2–0

• Game 1 @ Washington: Washington 103, Atlanta 94
• Game 2 @ Atlanta: Washington 107, Atlanta 103 (OT)

East Conference Semifinals

In the second round, the Bullets stunned the Central Division champion San Antonio Spurs in 6 games. Game 6 started out oddly as Spurs guard Mike Gale was forced to a wear an inside out Bullets uniform after losing his uniform at the airport. In the 3rd period the Spurs would make a run and take a 62–61 lead when the lights went out at the Cap Centre. When the lights came back on the Bullets would come out shooting on the way to a 103–100 win.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (3) Washington Bullets: Bullets win series 4–2

• Game 1 @ San Antonio: San Antonio 114, Washington 103
• Game 2 @ San Antonio: Washington 121, San Antonio 117
• Game 3 @ Washington: Washington 118, San Antonio 105
• Game 4 @ Washington: Washington 98, San Antonio 95
• Game 5 @ San Antonio: San Antonio 116, Washington 105
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 103, San Antonio 100

East Conference Finals

In the Eastern Finals, the Bullets took a 3–1 series lead against the defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers. The Bullets lost Game 5 on the road and returned home to play Game 6. In the closing seconds, Wes Unseld would rebound a shot of his own miss to give the Bullets a dramatic 101–99 victory.

(1) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (3) Washington Bullets: Bullets win series 4–2

• Game 1 @ Philadelphia: Washington 122, Philadelphia 117 (OT)
• Game 2 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 110, Washington 104
• Game 3 @ Washington: Washington 123, Philadelphia 108
• Game 4 @ Washington: Washington 121, Philadelphia 105
• Game 5 @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia 107, Washington 94
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 101, Philadelphia 99

NBA Finals

After being swept in their previous two trips to the NBA Finals (by Milwaukee in 1971 and Golden State in 1975), the Bullets lost Game 1 on the road against the Seattle SuperSonics, and a 19-point lead vanished in the process. In Game 4, the Bullets rose to the occasion beating the Sonics 120–116 to even the series at 2 games apiece. After losing Game 5 in Seattle, the Bullets kept their hopes alive with a dominating 117–82 win at the Capital Centre. Game 7 returned to Seattle and the Bullets were a heavy underdog. Kevin Grevey suffered a sprained wrist above his shooting hand, and Bob Dandridge was forced to see some action at guard. Dandridge would play strongly and scored 19 points to tie with Charles Johnson, who hit a half court shot at the end of the 3rd quarter, for the team high. Wes Unseld scored 15 points while pulling down 9 rebounds as the Bullets emerged with a 105–99 victory to win their first NBA Championship.

Main article: 1978 NBA Finals

(E3) Washington Bullets vs. (W4) Seattle SuperSonics: Bullets win series 4–3

• Game 1 @ Seattle: Seattle 106, Washington 102
• Game 2 @ Washington: Washington 106, Seattle 98
• Game 3 @ Washington: Seattle 93, Washington 92
• Game 4 @ Seattle: Washington 120, Seattle 116 (OT)
• Game 5 @ Seattle: Seattle 98, Washington 94
• Game 6 @ Washington: Washington 117, Seattle 82
• Game 7 @ Seattle: Washington 105, Seattle 99

Game Log

Key:   Win   Loss

Notes:

^a All times are EASTERN time. (UTC–3 and UTC–4 starting April 30)

Playoffs player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Player	GP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	AVG
Elvin Hayes	21	279	43	32	52	457	21.8
Bob Dandridge	19	123	74	30	14	402	21.1
Kevin Grevey	21	61	42	11	3	325	15.5
Charles Johnson	21	53	48	30	0	215	10.2
Mitch Kupchak	21	127	22	4	3	213	10.1
Tom Henderson	21	47	106	27	5	202	9.6
Wes Unseld	18	216	79	17	7	169	9.4
Larry Wright	21	31	67	17	2	171	8.1
Greg Ballard	19	79	18	9	3	74	3.9
Joe Pace	9	20	1	1	6	25	2.8
Phil Walker	4	2	2	0	0	6	1.5
Total	21	1038	502	178	95	2259	114.1

Awards and honors

• Wes Unseld, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award

References

• Bullets on Basketball Reference