# 1996–97 Washington Bullets season

The 1996–97 NBA season was the Bullets' 36th season in the National Basketball Association. During the off-season, the Bullets acquired Rod Strickland and former Bullets forward Harvey Grant from the Portland Trail Blazers, and signed free agents Tracy Murray, Jaren Jackson and Lorenzo Williams. Despite a stellar season last year, Juwan Howard signed a 7-year $100 million contract with the Miami Heat. However, the deal was voided claiming that Miami exceeded their salary cap; the Bullets quickly re-signed Howard, but would lose their first-round draft pick next year.
After 46 games into the season, the Bullets fired head coach Jim Lynam, then after playing one game under assistant Bob Staak, and holding a 22–25 record at the All-Star break, they hired former Bullets assistant Bernie Bickerstaff as their new coach. Under Bickerstaff, the Bullets finished the season winning 16 of their final 21 games. On the final day of the regular season on April 20, 1997, the Bullets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 85–81 at the Gund Arena to capture the #8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 44–38 record, ending an eight-year playoff drought, and making the playoffs for the first time since 1988.
Chris Webber averaged 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1997 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio, which was his first ever All-Star appearance. In addition, Howard averaged 19.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Strickland provided the team with 17.2 points, 8.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Meanwhile, Calbert Cheaney and last season's Most Improved Player, Gheorghe Mureșan both contributed 10.6 points per game each, while Mureșan provided with 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Murray contributed 10.0 points per game off the bench.
In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Bullets were swept by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the defending champion Chicago Bulls in three straight games, losing Game 3 at home by one point, 96–95 after taking a 14–2 lead early in the first quarter. This would be their final playoff appearance until 2005. The Bulls would go on to defeat the Utah Jazz in six games in the NBA Finals, winning their fifth championship in seven years. Following the season, Jackson signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.
For Washington, Game 3 of that series at US Airways Arena was officially their final game as the "Bullets". In 1995, Bullets owner Abe Pollin decided to change the team's name due to gun violence in Washington D.C., and after the assassination of his friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. On May 15, 1997, the team officially changed its name to the "Wizards", and became known as the "Washington Wizards" the following season. However, the Bullets were held up by a copyright lawsuit filed by the Harlem Wizards, a traveling comedy basketball team with the same name. Still, the Bullets won the trademark infringement case, as a court ruling allowed them to change their name to the "Wizards".

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 2 | 55 | Ronnie Henderson | | United States | LSU |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | – | 29–12 | 32–9 | 16–8 |
| x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 4 | 31–10 | 26–15 | 19–6 |
| x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 16 | 26–15 | 19–22 | 13–11 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 17 | 25–16 | 19–22 | 14–10 |
| New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 35 | 16–25 | 10–31 | 11–13 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 39 | 11–30 | 11–30 | 11–14 |
| Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 46 | 11–30 | 4–37 | 1–23 |
1996–97 NBA East standings :
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Chicago Bulls | 69 | 13 | .841 | – |
| 2 | y-Miami Heat | 61 | 21 | .744 | 8 |
| 3 | x-New York Knicks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 12 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 56 | 26 | .683 | 13 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Charlotte Hornets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Orlando Magic | 45 | 37 | .549 | 24 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 25 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 42 | 40 | .512 | 27 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 30 |
| 11 | Milwaukee Bucks | 33 | 49 | .402 | 36 |
| 12 | Toronto Raptors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 39 |
| 13 | New Jersey Nets | 26 | 56 | .317 | 43 |
| 14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 22 | 60 | .268 | 47 |
| 15 | Boston Celtics | 15 | 67 | .183 | 54 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1996–97 NBA records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | VAN | WAS |
| Atlanta | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 |
| Charlotte | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Chicago | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | – | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Cleveland | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | – | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | – | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Miami | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Milwaukee | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | – | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Minnesota | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–3 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | – | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| New York | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 |
| Orlando | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | – | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | – | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 2–2 | – | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | – | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | – | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Toronto | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 2–0 |
| Vancouver | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | – | 1–1 |
| Washington | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1996–97 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 25–16; road: 19–22) :
November: 7–8 (home: 4–5; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 1, 1996
@ Orlando
W 96–92
Orlando Arena
1–0
2
November 2, 1996
Cleveland
L 96–98 (OT)
US Airways Arena
1–1
3
November 6, 1996
San Antonio
W 96–86
US Airways Arena
2–1
4
November 8, 1996
Charlotte
L 87–102
US Airways Arena
2–2
5
November 9, 1996
@ Indiana
L 100–103 (OT)
Market Square Arena
2–3
6
November 12, 1996
Detroit
L 79–92
US Airways Arena
2–4
7
November 13, 1996
@ New Jersey
W 106–91
Continental Airlines Arena
3–4
8
November 15, 1996
@ Detroit
L 84–95
The Palace of Auburn Hills
3–5
9
November 16, 1996
Boston
W 106–92
US Airways Arena
4–5
10
November 20, 1996
Seattle
L 110–115 (2OT)
US Airways Arena
4–6
11
November 22, 1996
Philadelphia
W 88–76
US Airways Arena
5–6
12
November 23, 1996
@ Milwaukee
W 95–90
Bradley Center
6–6
13
November 25, 1996
Minnesota
W 105–98
US Airways Arena
7–6
14
November 29, 1996
@ Atlanta
L 81–110
The Omni
7–7
15
November 30, 1996
Houston
L 99–103
US Airways Arena
7–8 :
December: 8–6 (home: 4–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
December 5, 1996
@ Toronto
L 80–82
SkyDome
7–9
17
December 7, 1996
Milwaukee
L 118–126
US Airways Arena
7–10
18
December 10, 1996
@ New York
L 73–85
Madison Square Garden
7–11
19
December 11, 1996
Cleveland
W 106–95
US Airways Arena
8–11
20
December 13, 1996
Denver
W 108–104
US Airways Arena
9–11
21
December 15, 1996
@ Golden State
W 110–102
San Jose Arena
10–11
22
December 16, 1996
@ Sacramento
W 97–89
ARCO Arena
11–11
23
December 18, 1996
@ Phoenix
L 107–114
America West Arena
11–12
24
December 19, 1996
@ L.A. Clippers
W 102–93
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
12–12
25
December 22, 1996
@ Vancouver
L 87–91
General Motors Place
12–13
26
December 23, 1996
@ Portland
W 106–84
Rose Garden Arena
13–13
27
December 27, 1996
Toronto
W 100–82
US Airways Arena
14–13
28
December 28, 1996
Atlanta (at Baltimore, MD)
W 97–86
Baltimore Arena
15–13
29
December 30, 1996
Charlotte
L 92–101
US Airways Arena
15–14 :
January: 7–8 (home: 4–2; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 2, 1997
New York
L 80–92
US Airways Arena
15–15
31
January 4, 1997
@ Charlotte
W 104–93
Charlotte Coliseum
16–15
32
January 8, 1997
Phoenix
W 115–113 (OT)
US Airways Arena
17–15
33
January 10, 1997
L.A. Clippers
W 102–98
US Airways Arena
18–15
34
January 11, 1997
@ Cleveland
W 98–85
Gund Arena
19–15
35
January 13, 1997
@ Miami
L 95–93
Miami Arena
19–16
36
January 14, 1997
@ Chicago
L 107–108
United Center
19–17
37
January 17, 1997
Miami (at Baltimore, MD)
L 92–103
Baltimore Arena
19–18
38
January 18, 1997
@ Boston
W 112–106
FleetCenter
20–18
39
January 20, 1997
@ New York
L 79–95
Madison Square Garden
20–19
40
January 21, 1997
@ Orlando
L 88–93
Orlando Arena
20–20
41
January 24, 1997
@ Atlanta
L 105–117 (OT)
The Omni
20–21
42
January 25, 1997
Sacramento
W 113–105
US Airways Arena
21–21
43
January 28, 1997
Orlando
W 102–82
US Airways Arena
22–21
44
January 31, 1997
@ Seattle
L 95–97
KeyArena
22–22 :
February: 3–9 (home: 3–4; road: 0–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
45
February 2, 1997
@ L.A. Lakers
L 99–129
Great Western Forum
22–23
46
February 3, 1997
@ Utah
L 89–111
Delta Center
22–24
47
February 5, 1997
@ Denver
L 104–106
McNichols Sports Arena
22–25
All-Star Break
48
February 11, 1997
New York
L 92–97
US Airways Arena
22–26
49
February 14, 1997
New Jersey (at Baltimore, MD)
W 125–107
Baltimore Arena
23–26
50
February 15, 1997
@ New Jersey
L 86–107
Continental Airlines Arena
23–27
51
February 17, 1997
Milwaukee
W 95–93
US Airways Arena
24–27
52
February 19, 1997
@ Detroit
L 85–100
The Palace of Auburn Hills
24–28
53
February 21, 1997
Chicago
L 99–103
US Airways Arena
24–29
54
February 23, 1997
Detroit
L 79–85
US Airways Arena
24–30
55
February 25, 1997
Indiana
W 108–87
US Airways Arena
25–30
56
February 27, 1997
L.A. Lakers
L 107–122
US Airways Arena
25–31 :
March: 11–4 (home: 6–3; road: 5–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
57
March 1, 1997
Golden State
W 118–108
US Airways Arena
26–31
58
March 4, 1997
@ Philadelphia
W 107–106
CoreStates Center
27–31
59
March 6, 1997
@ Miami
W 99–95
Miami Arena
28–31
60
March 7, 1997
Miami
L 105–108 (OT)
US Airways Arena
28–32
61
March 9, 1997
Philadelphia
L 93–99
US Airways Arena
28–33
62
March 12, 1997
Vancouver
W 104–82
US Airways Arena
29–33
63
March 14, 1997
@ Milwaukee
W 105–96
Bradley Center
30–33
64
March 15, 1997
Utah
L 93–100
US Airways Arena
30–34
65
March 17, 1997
@ San Antonio
W 109–85
Alamodome
31–34
66
March 18, 1997
@ Dallas
W 86–85
Reunion Arena
32–34
67
March 20, 1997
@ Houston
L 90–96
The Summit
32–35
68
March 22, 1997
Portland
W 108–104
US Airways Arena
33–35
69
March 26, 1997
Boston
W 105–92
US Airways Arena
34–35
70
March 28, 1997
Toronto
W 113–86
US Airways Arena
35–35
71
March 29, 1997
Dallas (at Baltimore, MD)
W 94–87
Baltimore Arena
36–35 :
April: 8–3 (home: 4–0; road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 1, 1997
@ Indiana
W 104–100
Market Square Arena
37–35
73
April 3, 1997
Chicago
W 110–102
US Airways Arena
38–35
74
April 4, 1997
@ Minnesota
L 95–97
Target Center
38–36
75
April 6, 1997
@ Boston
W 120–114
FleetCenter
39–36
76
April 8, 1997
@ Toronto
L 94–100
SkyDome
39–37
77
April 11, 1997
New Jersey
W 109–90
US Airways Arena
40–37
78
April 12, 1997
@ Charlotte
L 97–99
Charlotte Coliseum
40–38
79
April 14, 1997
@ Philadelphia
W 131–110
CoreStates Center
41–38
80
April 16, 1997
Indiana
W 103–90
US Airways Arena
42–38
81
April 18, 1997
Orlando
W 104–93
US Airways Arena
43–38
82
April 20, 1997
@ Cleveland
W 85–81
Gund Arena
44–38 :
1996–97 schedule :

### Playoffs

1997 playoff game log :
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 25, 1997
@ Chicago
L 86–98
Juwan Howard (21)
Rod Strickland (10)
Rod Strickland (8)
United Center 24,122
0–1
2
April 27, 1997
@ Chicago
L 104–109
Calbert Cheaney (26)
Chris Webber (12)
Rod Strickland (8)
United Center 24,267
0–2
3
April 30, 1997
Chicago
L 95–96
Rod Strickland (24)
Chris Webber (8)
Rod Strickland (9)
US Airways Arena 18,756
0–3 :
1997 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season

Washington Bullets statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Ashraf Amaya | 31 | 0 | 4.6 | .300 | 1.000 | .536 | 1.7 | .1 | .2 | .1 | 1.3 |
| Calbert Cheaney | 79 | 79 | 30.5 | .505 | .133 | .693 | 3.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .2 | 10.6 |
| Matt Fish$^†$ | 5 | 0 | 1.4 | .333 | | | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .4 |
| Harvey Grant | 78 | 25 | 20.6 | .411 | .315 | .769 | 3.3 | .9 | .6 | .6 | 4.1 |
| Juwan Howard | 82 | 82 | 40.5 | .486 | .000 | .756 | 8.0 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .3 | 19.1 |
| Jaren Jackson | 75 | 0 | 15.1 | .407 | .335 | .768 | 1.8 | .9 | .6 | .2 | 5.0 |
| Tim Legler | 15 | 0 | 12.1 | .313 | .276 | .857 | 1.4 | .5 | .2 | .3 | 2.9 |
| Gheorghe Mureșan | 73 | 69 | 25.3 | .604 | | .618 | 6.6 | .4 | .6 | 1.3 | 10.6 |
| Tracy Murray | 82 | 1 | 22.1 | .425 | .353 | .839 | 3.1 | 1.0 | .8 | .2 | 10.0 |
| Gaylon Nickerson$^†$ | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | .333 | .000 | | 1.0 | .0 | 1.0 | .0 | 2.0 |
| Rod Strickland | 82 | 81 | 36.5 | .466 | .169 | .738 | 4.1 | 8.9 | 1.7 | .2 | 17.2 |
| Ben Wallace | 34 | 0 | 5.8 | .348 | | .300 | 1.7 | .1 | .2 | .3 | 1.1 |
| Chris Webber | 72 | 72 | 39.0 | .518 | .397 | .565 | 10.3 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 20.1 |
| Chris Whitney | 82 | 1 | 13.6 | .421 | .356 | .832 | 1.3 | 2.2 | .6 | .0 | 5.2 |
| Lorenzo Williams | 19 | 0 | 13.9 | .645 | | .714 | 3.6 | .2 | .3 | .4 | 2.4 |

### Playoffs

Washington Bullets statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Calbert Cheaney | 3 | 3 | 40.0 | .439 | .000 | .750 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .7 | 15.0 |
| Harvey Grant | 3 | 0 | 9.7 | .000 | .000 | | 1.3 | .0 | .0 | .7 | .0 |
| Juwan Howard | 3 | 3 | 43.0 | .465 | | .889 | 6.0 | 1.7 | .7 | .7 | 18.7 |
| Jaren Jackson | 3 | 0 | 3.7 | | | .000 | .7 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Tim Legler | 3 | 0 | 6.3 | .000 | .000 | .500 | .3 | .7 | .0 | .0 | .3 |
| Gheorghe Mureșan | 3 | 3 | 23.3 | .444 | | .875 | 6.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.3 | 5.0 |
| Tracy Murray | 3 | 0 | 29.0 | .567 | .500 | .941 | 3.0 | .7 | 1.3 | .7 | 18.3 |
| Rod Strickland | 3 | 3 | 41.3 | .423 | .500 | .737 | 6.0 | 8.3 | 1.0 | .0 | 19.7 |
| Chris Webber | 3 | 3 | 35.3 | .633 | .455 | .500 | 8.0 | 3.3 | .7 | 2.3 | 15.7 |
| Chris Whitney | 3 | 0 | 6.7 | .400 | .500 | 1.000 | .7 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 2.3 |
| Lorenzo Williams | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | | | | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
* $^†$ Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Bullets only.
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records

No Awards.