# 1985–86 Washington Bullets season

The 1985–86 NBA season was the Bullets 25th season in the NBA and their 13th season in the city of Washington, D.C.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 12 | Kenny Green | SF | United States | Wake Forest |
| 2 | 31 | Manute Bol | C | Sudan | Bridgeport |
| 3 | 58 | Vernon Moore | | United States | Creighton |
| 3 | 65 | Ken Perry | | United States | Southern Illinois |
| 4 | 81 | Richie Adams | | United States | Nevada-Las Vegas |
| 5 | 104 | Dean Shaffer | | United States | Florida State |
| 6 | 127 | Matt England | | United States | Houston Baptist |
| 7 | 150 | Keith Gray | | United States | Detroit Mercy |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Atlantic Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | .817 | – | 40–1 | 27–14 | 18–6 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13 | 31–10 | 23–18 | 15–9 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 11–13 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 11–13 |
| New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | .280 | 44 | 15–26 | 8–33 | 5–19 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 67 | 15 | .817 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 57 | 25 | .695 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 54 | 28 | .659 | 13 |
| 4 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 17 |
| 5 | x-Detroit Pistons | 46 | 36 | .561 | 21 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 7 | x-New Jersey Nets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 28 |
| 8 | x-Chicago Bulls | 30 | 52 | .366 | 37 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 29 | 53 | .354 | 38 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 41 |
| 11 | New York Knicks | 23 | 59 | .280 | 44 |
Notes
* z, y – division champions
* x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1985–86 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 | — | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1985–86 game log Total: 39–43 (home: 26–15; road: 13–28) :
October: 2–1 (home: 0–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 25, 1985 7:30 p.m. EDT
@ Atlanta
W 100–91
Robinson (22)
Ruland (14)
Ruland (9)
The Omni 10,129
1–0
2
October 29, 1985
@ Cleveland
W 97–90
Richfield Coliseum
2–0
3
October 31, 1985
Cleveland
L 107–114
Capital Centre
2–1 :
November: 5–9 (home: 5–3; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
4
November 2, 1985
Boston
L 73–88
Capital Centre
2–2
5
November 5, 1985
@ New Jersey
L 106–112
Brendan Byrne Arena
2–3
6
November 6, 1985
San Antonio
L 80–81
Capital Centre
2–4
7
November 8, 1985
Detroit
L 110–117
Capital Centre
2–5
8
November 12, 1985
@ Detroit
L 122–124 (OT)
Pontiac Silverdome
2–6
9
November 15, 1985
@ Boston
L 114–118
Boston Garden
2–7
10
November 16, 1985
Philadelphia
W 118–97
Capital Centre
3–7
11
November 19, 1985
@ New York
L 94–98
Madison Square Garden
3–8
12
November 20, 1985
Cleveland
W 101–98
Capital Centre
4–8
13
November 22, 1985
New York
W 102–94
Capital Centre
5–8
14
November 24, 1985
Chicago
W 115–106
Capital Centre
6–8
15
November 26, 1985
@ Dallas
L 99–112
Reunion Arena
6–9
16
November 27, 1985
@ San Antonio
L 97–104
HemisFair Arena
6–10
17
November 30, 1985
Detroit
W 133–119
Capital Centre
7–10 :
December: 8–5 (home: 5–4; road: 3–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 3, 1985
Portland
W 118–115
Capital Centre
8–10
19
December 4, 1985
@ Philadelphia
L 110–115 (OT)
The Spectrum
8–11
20
December 6, 1985
Seattle
W 115–109
Capital Centre
9–11
21
December 8, 1985
Sacramento
W 111–89
Capital Centre
10–11
22
December 11, 1985
@ Detroit
W 108–100
Pontiac Silverdome
11–11
23
December 12, 1985
Milwaukee
W 110–108 (OT)
Capital Centre
12–11
24
December 17, 1985
Utah
L 98–106
Capital Centre
12–12
25
December 19, 1985
@ Chicago
W 98–92
Chicago Stadium
13–12
26
December 21, 1985
L.A. Lakers
L 84–96
Capital Centre
13–13
27
December 22, 1985
New York
L 93–100
Capital Centre
13–14
28
December 27, 1985 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 111–109
Malone (31)
Roundfield (8)
Johnson (7)
Capital Centre 8,178
14–14
29
December 28, 1985
@ New Jersey
W 98–93
Brendan Byrne Arena
15–14
30
December 30, 1985
Indiana
L 80–97
Capital Centre
15–15 :
January: 7–8 (home: 5–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
31
January 2, 1986
@ New York
W 115–109
Madison Square Garden
16–15
32
January 3, 1986
Milwaukee
L 100–107
Capital Centre
16–16
33
January 5, 1986
@ L.A. Lakers
L 88–118
The Forum
16–17
34
January 6, 1986
@ Sacramento
L 87–106
ARCO Arena
16–18
35
January 8, 1986
@ Phoenix
L 97–109
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
16–19
36
January 9, 1986
@ Utah
W 95–89
Salt Palace Acord Arena
17–19
37
January 11, 1986
@ Houston
L 86–87
The Summit
17–20
38
January 13, 1986
L.A. Clippers
W 90–77
Capital Centre
18–20
39
January 14, 1986
@ Chicago
W 117–113
Chicago Stadium
19–20
40
January 16, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 98–114
MECCA Arena
19–21
41
January 17, 1986
New Jersey
W 116–96
Capital Centre
20–21
42
January 19, 1986
Chicago
W 112–98
Capital Centre
21–21
43
January 23, 1986
Phoenix
W 114–112
Capital Centre
22–21
44
January 25, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 111–103
Robinson (38)
Robinson (11)
Williams (6)
Capital Centre 7,038
23–21
45
January 29, 1986
@ Indiana
L 88–92
Market Square Arena
23–22
46
January 31, 1986
Boston
L 88–97
Capital Centre
23–23 :
February: 5–9 (home: 2–1; road: 3–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
47
February 1, 1986
@ Detroit
L 101–116
Pontiac Silverdome
23–24
48
February 5, 1986
@ Boston
L 88–103
Boston Garden
23–25
49
February 6, 1986
Detroit
L 109–111 (OT)
Capital Centre
23–26
All-Star Break
50
February 11, 1986
@ Portland
W 124–116
Memorial Coliseum
24–26
51
February 13, 1986
@ Golden State
L 105–109
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena
24–27
52
February 15, 1986
@ Seattle
L 106–112
Seattle Center Coliseum
24–28
53
February 17, 1986
@ L.A. Clippers
W 96–94
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
25–28
54
February 18, 1986
@ Denver
L 90–101
McNichols Sports Arena
25–29
55
February 21, 1986
@ Philadelphia
L 87–97
The Spectrum
25–30
56
February 22, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 110–102
Richfield Coliseum
26–30
57
February 24, 1986
New Jersey
W 99–89
Capital Centre
27–30
58
February 25, 1986
@ Indiana
L 87–100
Market Square Arena
27–31
59
February 27, 1986
Golden State
W 114–102
Capital Centre
28–31
60
February 28, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 84–102
MECCA Arena
28–32 :
March: 7–8 (home: 6–3; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
61
March 2, 1986
Milwaukee
W 125–104
Capital Centre
29–32
62
March 4, 1986
@ New York
L 83–119
Madison Square Garden
29–33
63
March 6, 1986
New York
W 113–111 (OT)
Capital Centre
30–33
64
March 8, 1986
Boston
W 110–108 (OT)
Capital Centre
31–33
65
March 12, 1986
@ Cleveland
W 128–114
Richfield Coliseum
32–33
66
March 14, 1986
Denver
L 91–101
Capital Centre
32–34
67
March 15, 1986
@ Indiana
L 100–105
Market Square Arena
32–35
68
March 17, 1986
New Jersey
L 102–130
Capital Centre
32–36
69
March 18, 1986
@ Milwaukee
L 87–116
MECCA Arena
32–37
70
March 21, 1986
@ Philadelphia
L 105–112
The Spectrum
32–38
71
March 22, 1986
Indiana
W 111–110
Capital Centre
33–38
72
March 24, 1986
Philadelphia
W 100–93
Capital Centre
34–38
73
March 26, 1986
Dallas
W 120–112
Capital Centre
35–38
74
March 28, 1986
@ Boston
L 97–116
Boston Garden
35–39
75
March 29, 1986
Houston
L 109–114
Capital Centre
35–40 :
April: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 1, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
@ Atlanta
L 91–107
Malone (32)
Robinson (10)
Malone, Williams (5)
The Omni 6,835
35–41
77
April 3, 1986
@ New Jersey
W 120–108
Brendan Byrne Arena
36–41
78
April 4, 1986 7:30 p.m. EST
Atlanta
W 135–129 (OT)
Robinson (31)
Roundfield (16)
Williams (15)
Capital Centre 9,113
37–41
79
April 6, 1986
Cleveland
W 106–95
Capital Centre
38–41
80
April 8, 1986
Indiana
L 104–111
Capital Centre
38–42
81
April 11, 1986
@ Chicago
L 103–105
Chicago Stadium
38–43
82
April 13, 1986
Philadelphia
W 98–97
Capital Centre
39–43 :
1985–86 schedule :

### Playoffs

1986 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 18, 1986
@ Philadelphia
W 95–94
Jeff Malone (21)
Cliff Robinson (8)
Gus Williams (7)
Spectrum 9,148
1–0
2
April 20, 1986
@ Philadelphia
L 97–102
Jeff Malone (25)
Cliff Robinson (11)
Gus Williams (12)
Spectrum 9,057
1–1
3
April 22, 1986
Philadelphia
L 86–91
Gus Williams (28)
Bol, Roundfield (10)
Williams, Roundfield (4)
Capital Centre 17,137
1–2
4
April 24, 1986
Philadelphia
W 116–111
Cliff Robinson (31)
Manute Bol (12)
Jeff Ruland (5)
Capital Centre 12,588
2–2
5
April 27, 1986
@ Philadelphia
L 109–134
Cliff Robinson (30)
Cliff Robinson (11)
Gus Williams (6)
Spectrum 15,162
2–3 :
1986 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Manute Bol, NBA All-Defensive Second Team