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.

1986–87 Washington Bullets season
Head coach	Kevin Loughery
General manager	Bob Ferry
Owner(s)	Abe Pollin
Arena	Capital Centre
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 3rd (Atlantic) Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	First round (lost to Pistons 0–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	WDCA Home Team Sports
Radio	WTOP

Draft picks

Main article: 1986 NBA draft

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

Roster

1986–87 Washington Bullets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From PG 14 Adams, Michael 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 162 lb (73 kg) 1963-01-19 Boston College C 10 Bol, Manute 7 ft 7 in (2.31 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1962-10-16 Bridgeport PF 33 Catledge, Terry 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1963-08-22 South Alabama SG 12 Cook, Darwin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 1958-08-06 Portland PG 15 Johnson, Frank 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1958-11-23 Wake Forest PF 23 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957-04-03 Albany State SG 24 Malone, Jeff 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1961-06-28 Mississippi State C 4 Malone, Moses 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1955-03-23 Petersburg HS (VA) PF 42 Murphy, Jay 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1962-06-26 Boston College PF 5 Roundfield, Dan 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1953-05-26 Central Michigan SF 31 Vincent, Jay 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1959-06-10 Michigan State PG 2 Whatley, Ennis 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 1962-08-11 Alabama SF 34 Williams, John 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1966-10-26 LSU

Head coach Kevin Loughery Assistant coach(es) Bill Blair Fred Carter Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Last transaction: February 26, 1987

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division	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 Conference
	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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 31 @ Boston L 102–120 Boston Garden 0–1
November: 7–7 (home: 7–1; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 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

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Awards and records

• Moses Malone, All-NBA Second Team

See also

• 1986-87 NBA season