# 1986–87 Washington Bullets season

The 1986–87 NBA season was the Bullets 26th season in the NBA and their 14th season in the city of Washington, D.C.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 12 | John Williams | PF/C | United States | Louisiana State |
| 1 | 21 | Anthony Jones | SG/SF | United States | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 2 | 36 | Steve Mitchell | PG | United States | Alabama-Birmingham |
| 3 | 58 | David Henderson | PG | United States | Duke |
| 4 | 82 | Barry Mungar | F | United States | St. Bonaventure |
| 5 | 104 | Paul Fortier | | United States | Washington |
| 6 | 128 | Lorenzo Duncan | | United States | Sam Houston State |
| 7 | 150 | Joe Price | | United States | Notre Dame |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 59 | 23 | .720 | – | 39–2 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 | 28–13 | 17–24 | 12–12 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 13–11 |
| New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 | 19–22 | 5–36 | 12–12 |
| New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 | 18–23 | 6–35 | 8–16 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Boston Celtics | 59 | 23 | .720 | – |
| 2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2 |
| 3 | x-Detroit Pistons | 52 | 30 | .634 | 7 |
| 4 | x-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 45 | 37 | .549 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Indiana Pacers | 41 | 41 | .500 | 18 |
| 8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 40 | 42 | .488 | 19 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 51 | .378 | 28 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 24 | 58 | .293 | 35 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1986-87 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 | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Boston | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–6 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1986–87 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 27–14; road: 15–26) :
October: 0–1 (home: 0–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 31
@ Boston
L 102–120
Boston Garden
0–1 :
November: 7–7 (home: 7–1; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
November 1
@ Cleveland
L 106–113
Richfield Coliseum
0–2
3
November 4
New Jersey
W 102–101
Capital Centre
1–2
4
November 5
@ Detroit
L 96–97
Pontiac Silverdome
1–3
5
November 7
Boston
L 86–88
Capital Centre
1–4
6
November 8
@ Atlanta
L 91–110
The Omni
1–5
7
November 12
Chicago
W 101–99
Capital Centre
2–5
8
November 15
@ New York
L 97–104
Madison Square Garden
2–6
9
November 16
Indiana
W 124–111
Capital Centre
3–6
10
November 19
Detroit
W 119–105
Capital Centre
4–6
11
November 21
Houston
W 115–99
Capital Centre
5–6
12
November 22
@ Chicago
L 84–93
Chicago Stadium
5–7
13
November 25
Portland
W 111–99
Capital Centre
6–7
14
November 26
@ Milwaukee
L 103–122
MECCA Arena
6–8
15
November 29
San Antonio
W 116–103
Capital Centre
7–8 :
December: 7–7 (home: 2–4; road: 5–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
December 2
@ Boston
W 117–109
Hartford Civic Center
8–8
17
December 3
@ Indiana
L 103–116
Market Square Arena
8–9
18
December 5
Milwaukee
L 87–91
Capital Centre
8–10
19
December 10
New York
W 106–105
Capital Centre
9–10
20
December 12
@ Detroit
W 116–115
Pontiac Silverdome
10–10
21
December 13
Boston
L 98–105
Capital Centre
10–11
22
December 16
Utah
L 106–109
Capital Centre
10–12
23
December 18
@ Golden State
W 128–110
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
11–12
24
December 20
@ L.A. Clippers
W 113–101
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
12–12
25
December 21
@ Portland
L 101–128
Memorial Coliseum
12–13
26
December 25
@ Philadelphia
W 102–97
The Spectrum
13–13
27
December 27
Detroit
L 105–107
Capital Centre
13–14
28
December 29
Golden State
W 125–105
Capital Centre
14–14
29
December 30
@ New York
L 97–103
Madison Square Garden
14–15 :
January: 8–6 (home: 6–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 2
Atlanta
L 101–118
Capital Centre
14–16
31
January 6
L.A. Clippers
W 112–97
Capital Centre
15–16
32
January 7
@ New Jersey
L 96–118
Brendan Byrne Arena
15–17
33
January 9
@ Milwaukee
W 100–92
MECCA Arena
16–17
34
January 10
Philadelphia
W 117–111
Capital Centre
17–17
35
January 12
Sacramento
W 113–109
Capital Centre
18–17
36
January 14
New Jersey
W 118–100
Capital Centre
19–17
37
January 15
@ Indiana
L 105–113
Market Square Arena
19–18
38
January 18
L.A. Lakers
L 101–115
Capital Centre
19–19
39
January 23
Phoenix
W 109–90
Capital Centre
20–19
40
January 24
@ Houston
L 92–115
The Summit
20–20
41
January 27
@ Dallas
W 118–113
Reunion Arena
21–20
42
January 29
@ Detroit
L 101–112
Pontiac Silverdome
21–21
43
January 31
Philadelphia
W 106–105
Capital Centre
22–21 :
February: 9–4 (home: 4–0; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 2
New York
W 104–98
Capital Centre
23–21
45
February 3
@ Chicago
L 91–98
Chicago Stadium
23–22
46
February 5
Cleveland
W 94–85
Capital Centre
24–22
47
February 11
@ San Antonio
W 133–108
HemisFair Arena
25–22
48
February 12
@ Denver
W 121–115
McNichols Sports Arena
26–22
49
February 14
@ Sacramento
L 111–136
ARCO Arena
26–23
50
February 16
@ Phoenix
W 124–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
27–23
51
February 17
@ L.A. Lakers
W 114–99
The Forum
28–23
52
February 20
@ Utah
W 118–113
Salt Palace
29–23
53
February 21
@ Seattle
L 93–110
Seattle Center Coliseum
29–24
54
February 23
@ Cleveland
L 105–109
Richfield Coliseum
29–25
55
February 26
Indiana
W 100–94
Capital Centre
30–25
56
February 28
New York
W 106–105
Capital Centre
31–25 :
March: 5–10 (home: 5–4; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57
March 2
@ Atlanta
L 99–121
The Omni
31–26
58
March 4
New Jersey
W 117–114
Capital Centre
32–26
59
March 6
@ Philadelphia
L 113–123
The Spectrum
32–27
60
March 10
@ New Jersey
L 79–121
Brendan Byrne Arena
32–28
61
March 11
Milwaukee
L 107–115
Capital Centre
32–29
62
March 14
Chicago
W 106–105 (OT)
Capital Centre
33–29
63
March 15
Cleveland
W 97–89
Capital Centre
34–29
64
March 17
@ Atlanta
L 98–118
The Omni
34–30
65
March 19
Seattle
W 110–106
Capital Centre
35–30
66
March 21
Denver
L 107–117
Capital Centre
35–31
67
March 23
@ Indiana
L 92–101
Market Square Arena
35–32
68
March 24
Atlanta
L 87–96
Capital Centre
35–33
69
March 26
Boston
W 106–103
Capital Centre
36–33
70
March 28
Dallas
L 107–114
Capital Centre
36–34
71
March 31
@ Chicago
L 75–101
Chicago Stadium
36–35 :
April: 6–5 (home: 3–3; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 1
@ Boston
L 86–103
Boston Garden
36–36
73
April 3
Chicago
W 122–118
Capital Centre
37–36
74
April 4
@ Cleveland
W 127–111
Richfield Coliseum
38–36
75
April 7
Milwaukee
L 94–95
Capital Centre
38–37
76
April 8
@ New Jersey
W 118–109
Brendan Byrne Arena
39–37
77
April 10
Indiana
L 101–115
Capital Centre
39–38
78
April 12
Detroit
W 103–98
Capital Centre
40–38
79
April 13
@ Philadelphia
L 105–113
The Spectrum
40–39
80
April 15
Cleveland
W 110–101
Capital Centre
41–39
81
April 17
@ New York
W 142–110
Madison Square Garden
42–39
82
April 19
Philadelphia
L 102–108
Capital Centre
42–40 :
1986–87 schedule :

### Playoffs

1987 playoff game log :
First Round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24
@ Detroit
L 92–106
Terry Catledge (24)
Malone, Catledge (12)
Moses Malone (3)
Pontiac Silverdome 15,419
0–1
2
April 26
@ Detroit
L 85–128
Terry Catledge (19)
Moses Malone (10)
Ennis Whatley (4)
Pontiac Silverdome 14,389
0–2
3
April 29
Detroit
L 96–97
Moses Malone (31)
Moses Malone (16)
Michael Adams (8)
Capital Centre 10,831
0–3 :
1987 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Moses Malone, All-NBA Second Team