# 1987–88 Washington Bullets season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Bullets' 27th season in the NBA and their 15th season in the city of Washington, D.C. After Kevin Loughery was replaced by Wes Unseld during the season, the Bullets finished second in the Atlantic Division with a 38–44 record. In the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the Detroit Pistons in five games. This would be their final playoff appearance until 1997. Following the season, Moses Malone, who was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game, signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Atlanta Hawks.
This season saw the team draft 5'3 Muggsy Bogues with the 12th overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft. He is the shortest player in NBA history. After his rookie season, Bogues left for the 1988 Expansion Draft.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 12 | Muggsy Bogues | PG | United States | Wake Forest |
| 2 | 36 | Duane Washington | | United States | Middle Tennessee State |
| 2 | 37 | Derrick Dowell | | United States | Southern California |
| 3 | 59 | Danny Pearson | | United States | Jacksonville |
| 4 | 81 | Scott Thompson | C | United States | San Diego |
| 5 | 106 | Patrick Fairs | | United States | Texas |
| 6 | 128 | Dwayne Scholten | | United States | Washington State |
| 7 | 150 | Jamie Dixon | | United States | Texas Christian |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 36–5 | 21–20 | 19–5 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 25–16 | 13–28 | 13–11 |
| x-New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 | 29–12 | 9–32 | 10–14 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 | 27–14 | 9–32 | 12–12 |
| New Jersey Nets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 38 | 16–25 | 3–38 | 6–18 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Boston Celtics | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7 |
| 5 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Washington Bullets | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 8 | x-New York Knicks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 9 | Indiana Pacers | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 36 | 46 | .439 | 21 |
| 11 | New Jersey Nets | 19 | 63 | .232 | 38 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1987-88 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | – | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | – | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | – | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | – | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | – | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | – | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 38–44 (home: 25–16; road: 13–28) :
November: 4–8 (home: 2–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 6, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 97–114
M. Malone (32)
M. Malone (12)
Bogues (6)
The Omni 16,064
0–1
2
November 7, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Boston
L 139–140 (2OT)
M. Malone (32)
M. Malone (13)
Bogues (7)
Capital Centre 19,643
0–2
3
November 10, 1987 8:30 p.m. CST
@ Milwaukee
L 100–115
J. Malone (18)
M. Malone (14)
Bogues (11)
MECCA Arena 10,586
0–3
4
November 13
New York
W 108–101
Capital Centre
1–3
5
November 15
@ New Jersey
W 113–109
Brendan Byrne Arena
2–3
6
November 17, 1987 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 101–105
J. Malone (26)
M. Malone (9)
Bogues (6)
Chicago Stadium 17,081
2–4
7
November 18, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago
L 82–84
Williams (17)
Williams (14)
Bogues (6)
Capital Centre 13,721
2–5
8
November 20
@ Portland
L 101–120
Memorial Coliseum
2–6
9
November 21
@ Seattle
L 103–124
Seattle Center Coliseum
2–7
10
November 24, 1987 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Utah
L 83–100
M. Malone (17)
M. Malone (10)
Walker (4)
Salt Palace 12,212
2–8
11
November 25
@ L.A. Clippers
W 101–96
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
3–8
12
November 28, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 124–102
Williams (21)
M. Malone (9)
Johnson (7)
Capital Centre 13,028
4–8 :
December: 4–9 (home: 3–5; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
13
December 2
@ Indiana
L 102–108
Market Square Arena
4–9
14
December 3, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
L 94–102
J. Malone (28)
M. Malone (15)
Bogues (7)
Capital Centre 6,464
4–10
15
December 5
Seattle
L 99–115
Capital Centre
4–11
16
December 8
@ New York
L 92–116
Madison Square Garden
4–12
17
December 9, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
L.A. Lakers
W 120–112 (OT)
J. Malone (29)
Catledge (15)
Bogues (9)
Capital Centre 18,643
5–12
18
December 11, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 108–114
Catledge (26)
Bol, Catledge, M. Malone (8)
Bogues, Johnson, Walker (4)
Pontiac Silverdome 17,884
5–13
19
December 12
@ New Jersey
W 122–107
Brendan Byrne Arena
6–13
20
December 15, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Boston
L 102–122
M. Malone (21)
M. Malone (10)
Walker (5)
Capital Centre 15,890
6–14
21
December 17
Indiana
W 115–111 (OT)
Capital Centre
7–14
22
December 19, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 109–96
King (28)
M. Malone (9)
Johnson (11)
Capital Centre 14,353
8–14
23
December 22, 1987 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
L 102–106
J. Malone (27)
M. Malone (12)
Johnson (9)
Capital Centre 4,464
8–15
24
December 26, 1987 9:00 p.m. EST
@ Milwaukee
L 97–102
King (24)
Bol (8)
J. Malone, Williams (5)
MECCA Arena 11,052
8–16
25
December 30
Portland
L 112–117
Capital Centre
8–17 :
January: 9–6 (home: 8–2; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
26
January 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Denver
L 109–124
Catledge (27)
M. Malone (15)
Bogues (10)
Capital Centre 5,326
8–18
27
January 2
Houston
L 100–111
Capital Centre
8–19
28
January 5
New Jersey
W 101–97
Capital Centre
9–19
29
January 8, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 109–125
J. Malone (31)
M. Malone (13)
Colter, J. Malone (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
9–20
30
January 9
L.A. Clippers
W 108–76
Capital Centre
10–20
31
January 14, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
W 136–107
M. Malone (36)
M. Malone (14)
Bogues (9)
Capital Centre 8,316
11–20
32
January 17
Sacramento
W 130–113
Capital Centre
12–20
33
January 18, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Chicago
L 103–117
King (25)
Catledge, M. Malone (8)
Colter (7)
Chicago Stadium 17,767
12–21
34
January 20
@ Philadelphia
W 110–98
The Spectrum
13–21
35
January 22
Golden State
W 115–91
Capital Centre
14–21
36
January 24
Philadelphia
W 131–99
Capital Centre
15–21
37
January 25
Philadelphia
W 118–117 (OT)
Capital Centre
16–21
38
January 27, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 100–106
King (32)
M. Malone (11)
Bogues (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
16–22
39
January 28
New York
W 104–90
Capital Centre
17–22
40
January 30, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 126–128 (OT)
Catledge (23)
Catledge (13)
Bogues (12)
Richfield Coliseum 18,749
17–23 :
February: 5–9 (home: 1–2; road: 4–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
41
February 2
@ New York
L 106–110
Madison Square Garden
17–24
42
February 3, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
L 106–107
J. Malone (27)
M. Malone (13)
Colter, King (5)
Capital Centre 6,806
17–25
All-Star Break
43
February 9
New Jersey
W 126–117 (OT)
Capital Centre
18–25
44
February 10, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Cleveland
L 102–118
J. Malone (34)
Catledge (10)
J. Malone (7)
Richfield Coliseum 9,179
18–26
45
February 13, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 103–105
J. Malone (29)
Williams (10)
Colter (5)
The Omni 16,451
18–27
46
February 15, 1988 1:00 p.m. EST
Milwaukee
L 110–114
Williams (28)
Williams (8)
Bogues (4)
Capital Centre 9,564
18–28
47
February 17, 1988 8:30 p.m. EST
@ Dallas
L 108–123
Williams (22)
Jones, M. Malone (10)
Catledge, Colter, King, J. Malone (4)
Reunion Arena 17,007
18–29
48
February 19
@ San Antonio
W 106–102
HemisFair Arena
19–29
49
February 20
@ Houston
L 109–115
The Summit
19–30
50
February 22, 1988 9:30 p.m. EST
@ Denver
L 87–100
Johnson, M. Malone (17)
M. Malone (13)
Johnson (6)
McNichols Sports Arena 10,553
19–31
51
February 23, 1988 10:30 p.m. EST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 100–111
J. Malone (26)
Jones (14)
Colter (8)
The Forum 17,505
19–32
52
February 25
@ Sacramento
W 129–110
ARCO Arena
20–32
53
February 27
@ Phoenix
W 116–106
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
21–32
54
February 29
@ Golden State
W 110–105
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
22–32 :
March: 8–7 (home: 7–3; road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
March 2
Indiana
W 111–102
Capital Centre
23–32
56
March 4
@ Indiana
W 95–88
Market Square Arena
24–32
57
March 5, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Detroit
W 101–97
J. Malone, M. Malone (21)
M. Malone (13)
Bogues (6)
Capital Centre 15,656
25–32
58
March 9
Phoenix
W 115–111
Capital Centre
26–32
59
March 11, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Utah
L 107–109
J. Malone (31)
M. Malone (17)
Colter, Williams (5)
Capital Centre 10,775
26–33
60
March 13
@ Philadelphia
L 96–104
The Spectrum
26–34
61
March 14
San Antonio
W 112–106
Capital Centre
27–34
62
March 16, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Chicago
W 106–103
J. Malone, Williams (28)
M. Malone (13)
Colter (8)
Capital Centre 16,515
28–34
63
March 17
@ Indiana
L 95–99
Market Square Arena
28–35
64
March 19
Philadelphia
L 89–94
Capital Centre
28–36
65
March 20, 1988 7:00 p.m. EST
@ Detroit
L 110–118
J. Malone (39)
M. Malone (11)
Colter (8)
Pontiac Silverdome 22,075
28–37
66
March 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Boston
L 89–104
Williams (27)
M. Malone (8)
Bogues (8)
Boston Garden 14,890
28–38
67
March 24, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 94–91
J. Malone (21)
M. Malone (11)
J. Malone (5)
Capital Centre 13,629
29–38
68
March 26
New Jersey
W 99–88
Capital Centre
30–38
69
March 30, 1988 7:30 p.m. EST
Cleveland
L 96–107
J. Malone (20)
M. Malone (15)
Bogues, Colter, Williams (5)
Capital Centre 8,387
30–39 :
April: 7–5 (home: 3–2; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
70
April 1, 1988 8:00 p.m. EST
Dallas
W 118–103
M. Malone (27)
M. Malone (9)
Bogues (7)
Capital Centre 13,783
31–39
71
April 3
@ New Jersey
W 105–103
Brendan Byrne Arena
32–39
72
April 5, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
@ Chicago
W 105–94
Williams (23)
M. Malone (13)
Bogues (12)
Chicago Stadium 17,773
33–39
73
April 6, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Cleveland
L 87–98
Colter (29)
Jones (8)
Williams (5)
Richfield Coliseum 10,165
33–40
74
April 8
Indiana
W 107–100
Capital Centre
34–40
75
April 10
New York
L 98–118
Capital Centre
35–40
76
April 11, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
W 86–85
Walker (19)
Williams (14)
J. Malone (9)
The Omni 10,473
35–41
77
April 13
@ Philadelphia
L 97–98 (OT)
The Spectrum
35–42
78
April 15
@ New York
W 106–97
Madison Square Garden
36–42
79
April 17, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
Boston
W 98–92
M. Malone (24)
M. Malone (14)
Walker (7)
Capital Centre 18,643
37–42
80
April 20, 1988 8:30 p.m. EDT
@ Milwaukee
L 94–132
Alarie, King (14)
Bol (8)
Bogues (9)
MECCA Arena 11,052
37–43
81
April 21, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Detroit
L 87–99
M. Malone (23)
M. Malone (11)
Walker (7)
Capital Centre 11,713
37–44
82
April 23, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
Atlanta
W 106–96
J. Malone, M. Malone (24)
Jones, M. Malone (7)
J. Malone (7)
Capital Centre 15,638
38–44 :
1987–88 schedule :

## Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
Eastern Conference First Round: 2–3 (home: 2–0; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28, 1988 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
L 87–96
J. Malone (33)
M. Malone (13)
Williams (9)
Pontiac Silverdome 17,356
0–1
2
April 30, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
L 101–102
J. Malone (31)
M. Malone (14)
J. Malone (4)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,293
0–2
3
May 2, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 114–106 (OT)
J. Malone (35)
M. Malone (9)
Colter (6)
Capital Centre 9,673
1–2
4
May 4, 1988 8:00 p.m. EDT
Detroit
W 106–103
J. Malone (25)
M. Malone (8)
Walker (5)
Capital Centre 10,513
2–2
5
May 8, 1988 3:30 p.m. EDT
@ Detroit
L 78–99
KIng (18)
M. Malone (12)
M. Malone, Walker, Williams (3)
Pontiac Silverdome 18,403
2–3 :
1988 schedule :