1970–71 Baltimore Bullets season

NBA professional basketball team season March 2026 August 2023 Washington WizardsBaltimore Bullets yes yes 1971 42 40 Central 1 2 Gene Shue Baltimore Civic Center WBAL-TV WBAL NBA Finals(lost to Bucks 0–4) BAL Baltimore Bullets Baltimore Bullets The 1970–71 season was the 10th season of the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA and eighth season under the Baltimore Bullets name. This would be its first year in the newly created Central Division inside the Eastern Conference.Baltimore Bullets Despite playing close to .500 basketball all season, the Bullets would capture the Central Division with a 42–40 record.http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html Washington Wizards (1963–Present) April 23, 2008 December 8, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081208132443/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/dc/wizards.html dead Despite their pedestrian season, the Bullets would knock off the higher-seeded Philadelphia 76ers and established rival New York Knicks in seven games apiece to advance to their first NBA championship, where they were swept in four straight by the Milwaukee Bucks. This would be the only Finals appearance for the Bullets/Wizards franchise while based in Baltimore; the next time they would advance to the Finals would come four years later, in 1975, by which point the franchise moved to Washington, D.C. Draft picks 1970 NBA draft The Baltimore Bullets made seventeen selections in the 1970 NBA draft.https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1970.html 1970 NBA Draft Basketball Reference August 28, 2020 RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege/Club team 1 9 George E. Johnson United States Stephen F. Austin 3 49 Seaburn Hill United States Arizona State 4 54 Bill Stricker United States Pacific 4 66 Billy Jones United States Louisiana College 5 83 Gary Zeller United States Drake 6 100 Marvin Polnick United States Stephen F. Austin 7 117 Charlie Wallace United States Oklahoma City 8 134 Tom Dyksera United States Wheaton (IL) 9 151 Will Hetzel United States Maryland 10 168 Ron Becker United States New Mexico Lobos 11 183 Mel Bell United States Houston 12 193 Ben McGilmer United States Iowa 13 203 Dan Debardabi United States Northern Arizona 14 213 Mike Williams United States Northern Arizona 15 222 Ted Rose United States Northern Michigan 16 229 Don Rather United States Northern Arizona 17 233 Vince Fritz United States Oregon State Roster Baltimore Bullets 1970–71 12 Jim Barnes basketball PF 6 8 210 1941–04–13 UTEP 3 Fred Carter G 6 3 185 1945–02–14 Mount St. Mary's 31 George E. Johnson basketball F 6 11 245 1947–06–19 Stephen F. Austin 25 Gus Johnson basketball F 6 6 230 1938–12–13 Idaho 22 Kevin Loughery G 6 3 190 1940–03–28 St. John's 24 Jack Marin F 6 6 210 1944–10–12 Duke 15 Eddie Miles G 6 4 195 1940–07–05 Seattle 10 Earl Monroe G 6 3 185 1944–11–21 Winston-Salem State 40 Dorie Murrey PF 6 8 229 1943–09–07 Detroit Mercy 40 Dennis Stewart basketball F 6 6 220 1947–04–11 Michigan 12 John Tresvant PF 6 7 215 1939–11–06 Seattle 35 Al Tucker SF 6 8 190 1943–02–24 Oklahoma Baptist 41 Wes Unseld F 6 7 245 1946–03–14 Louisville 11 Gary Zeller G 6 3 205 1947–11–20 Drake Gene Shue Bob Ferry https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BAL/1971.html Regular season Season standings BAL BAL Game log 1970–71 game log # Date Opponent Score High points Record 1 October 14 San Diego W 123–105 Jack Marin (28) 1–0 2 October 17 Los Angeles W 118–116 (OT) Jack Marin (25) 2–0 3 October 20 San Francisco L 105–125 Fred Carter (24) 2–1 4 October 21 @ Cincinnati W 117–105 Gus Johnson (27) 3–1 5 October 23 New York W 98–92 Carter, Monroe (21) 4–1 6 October 24 @ Milwaukee L 120–122 (2OT) Wes Unseld (27) 4–2 7 October 28 Detroit L 103–109 Marin, Unseld (21) 4–3 8 October 30 @ Philadelphia W 123–110 Earl Monroe (30) 5–3 9 October 31 Phoenix W 106–103 Kevin Loughery (21) 6–3 10 November 4 @ San Francisco L 100–111 Earl Monroe (30) 6–4 11 November 5 @ Portland L 131–135 Gus Johnson (43) 6–5 12 November 6 @ San Diego W 125–118 Earl Monroe (27) 7–5 13 November 8 @ Los Angeles L 105–124 Gus Johnson (28) 7–6 14 November 1 Philadelphia L 107–119 Wes Unseld (28) 7–7 15 November 12 @ New York W 110–108 Eddie Miles (25) 8–7 16 November 14 Boston W 122–101 Eddie Miles (22) 9–7 17 November 15 @ Milwaukee L 90–105 Jack Marin (20) 9–8 18 November 16 Cleveland W 98–86 Gus Johnson (33) 10–8 19 November 18 @ Cleveland W 111–98 Kevin Loughery (20) 11–8 20 November 20 Phoenix W 121–110 Earl Monroe (30) 12–8 21 November 21 @ Atlanta L 103–130 Johnson, Miles, Monroe (16) 12–9 22 November 24 Portland W 156–104 Jack Marin (25) 13–9 23 November 27 @ Boston L 107–153 Gus Johnson (22) 13–10 24 November 28 Chicago W 99–91 Gus Johnson (21) 14–10 25 November 30 @ Philadelphia L 98–104 Gus Johnson (20) 14–11 26 December 1 Los Angeles L 93–97 Earl Monroe (33) 14–12 27 December 4 Seattle W 131–116 Johnson, Marin (28) 15–12 28 December 6 Cincinnati W 126–118 Earl Monroe (28) 16–12 29 December 9 Milwaukee W 127–97 Marin, Unseld (25) 17–12 30 December 12 San Francisco W 119–96 Earl Monroe (32) 18–12 31 December 15 @ Chicago L 97–115 Jack Marin (25) 18–13 32 December 18 vs. Atlanta L 112–116 Earl Monroe (24) 18–14 33 December 19 Boston W 134–128 Gus Johnson (30) 19–14 34 December 23 @ Cincinnati L 115–120 Earl Monroe (37) 19–15 35 December 25 Chicago W 128–112 Earl Monroe (25) 20–15 36 December 27 @ New York L 105–110 Earl Monroe (31) 20–16 37 December 30 vs. Buffalo W 106–90 Jack Marin (24) 21–16 38 January 1 @ Cleveland W 128–105 Marin, Monroe (22) 22–16 39 January 2 @ Detroit W 108–99 Jack Marin (29) 23–16 40 January 5 Seattle W 109–101 Johnson, Monroe (24) 24–16 41 January 7 @ Atlanta W 110–102 Earl Monroe (32) 25–16 42 January 8 Atlanta W 115–104 Gus Johnson (31) 26–16 43 January 10 @ Milwaukee L 99–151 Gus Johnson (17) 26–17 44 January 14 @ Seattle L 110–114 Earl Monroe (22) 26–18 45 January 15 @ San Diego W 124–117 Jack Marin (29) 27–18 46 January 16 @ Phoenix L 100–117 Earl Monroe (23) 27–19 47 January 17 @ Seattle W 111–96 Fred Carter (22) 28–19 48 January 20 Milwaukee L 116–120 Earl Monroe (24) 28–20 49 January 22 @ Boston W 136–117 Earl Monroe (26) 29–20 50 January 23 San Diego W 120–127 Gus Johnson (31) 30–20 51 January 26 San Francisco W 103–98 Earl Monroe (26) 31–20 52 January 27 @ Cincinnati L 113–115 Jack Marin (26) 31–21 53 January 29 Cincinnati W 145–118 Jack Marin (22) 32–21 54 January 31 vs. New York L 95–125 Earl Monroe (25) 32–22 55 February 2 @ Detroit L 113–116 Earl Monroe (30) 32–23 56 February 3 Chicago L 102–124 Earl Monroe (19) 32–24 57 February 5 @ Buffalo W 98–90 Fred Carter (29) 33–24 58 February 7 Detroit W 108–105 Earl Monroe (25) 34–24 59 February 9 Phoenix L 115–120 Earl Monroe (38) 34–25 60 February 12 Boston L 109–113 (OT) Jack Marin (24) 34–26 61 February 14 vs. Philadelphia W 112–103 Earl Monroe (33) 35–26 62 February 16 @ Detroit L 95–110 Wes Unseld (25) 35–27 63 February 17 Buffalo L 114–118 Earl Monroe (26) 35–28 64 February 19 @ Buffalo W 120–113 Earl Monroe (34) 36–28 65 February 20 Atlanta L 115–122 Earl Monroe (33) 36–29 66 February 21 @ Atlanta W 121–119 Jack Marin (34) 37–29 67 February 23 Los Angeles L 107–114 Wes Unseld (28) 37–30 68 February 26 Portland W 114–97 Kevin Loughery (26) 38–30 69 February 28 New York L 104–110 Fred Carter (30) 38–31 70 March 2 @ New York L 95–109 Earl Monroe (22) 38–32 71 March 3 Cincinnati L 132–133 (OT) Fred Carter (33) 38–33 72 March 6 @ San Francisco L 103–109 Jack Marin (29) 38–34 73 March 7 @ Phoenix W 117–108 Jack Marin (28) 39–34 74 March 9 @ Los Angeles W 107–95 Earl Monroe (25) 40–34 75 March 11 @ Portland L 118–136 Fred Carter (24) 40–35 76 March 13 @ San Diego L 115–121 Jack Marin (27) 40–36 77 March 14 @ Seattle L 121–124 Earl Monroe (29) 40–37 78 March 16 @ Chicago L 99–113 Earl Monroe (24) 40–38 79 March 17 Cleveland L 109–113 Earl Monroe (32) 41–38 80 March 19 @ Boston L 117–125 Kevin Loughery (32) 41–39 81 March 20 Philadelphia W 124–112 Kevin Loughery (32) 42–39 82 March 21 @ Philadelphia L 108–120 Kevin Loughery (24) 42–40 Playoffs In the playoffs the Bullets would get off to a quick start as they grabbed a 3–1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Bullets would find themselves in a 7th game and that game the Bullets would emerge victorious 128–120. The Bullets would face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The Bullets would finally break through in Game 5 and break the tie in the series by beating the Knicks at Madison Square Garden 89–84. The Bullets would have a chance to close the series out at home, but the Knicks would bounce back with a 113–96 win to force a 7th and deciding game in New York. In the seventh game, the Bullets would triumph, winning in New York by 2 points to reach the NBA Finals. However, the Bullets would be swept in 4 straight games by the Milwaukee Bucks. Baltimore Bullets 1971 yes #F36730 black Baltimore Bullets Conference semifinals yes yes no #0344AD black 2 2 2 1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | March 24 | Philadelphia | L 112–126 | Loughery, Gus Johnson (19) | Wes Unseld (20) | Kevin Loughery (4) | Baltimore Civic Center6,707 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | March 26 | @ Philadelphia | W 119–107 | Marin, Monroe (24) | Wes Unseld (18) | Earl Monroe (6) | Spectrum10,369 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | March 28 | Philadelphia | W 111–103 | Earl Monroe (29) | Wes Unseld (24) | Kevin Loughery (7) | Baltimore Civic Center5,589 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | March 30 | @ Philadelphia | W 120–105 | Jack Marin (27) | Gus Johnson (14) | Earl Monroe (6) | Spectrum8,909 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | April 1 | Philadelphia | L 103–104 | Earl Monroe (26) | Wes Unseld (18) | Kevin Loughery (5) | Baltimore Civic Center10,998 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | April 3 | @ Philadelphia | L 94–98 | Earl Monroe (30) | Wes Unseld (18) | Kevin Loughery (5) | Spectrum7,059 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | April 4 | Philadelphia | W 128–120 | Jack Marin (33) | Wes Unseld (22) | Gus Johnson (8) | Baltimore Civic Center6,662 | 4–3 |- Baltimore Bullets Conference finals yes no #0344AD black 3 0 1 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 6 | @ New York | L 111–112 | Earl Monroe (29) | Wes Unseld (22) | Earl Monroe (4) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 9 | @ New York | L 88–107 | John Tresvant (20) | Wes Unseld (20) | Kevin Loughery (16) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 11 | New York | W 114–88 | Earl Monroe (31) | Wes Unseld (26) | Wes Unseld (9) | Baltimore Civic Center8,083 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 14 | New York | W 101–80 | Jack Marin (27) | John Tresvant (17) | Wes Unseld (6) | Baltimore Civic Center12,289 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | April 16 | @ New York | L 84–89 | Jack Marin (25) | John Tresvant (17) | Wes Unseld (3) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | April 18 | New York | W 113–96 | Earl Monroe (27) | Wes Unseld (15) | Earl Monroe (7) | Baltimore Civic Center11,211 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | April 19 | @ New York | W 93–91 | Earl Monroe (26) | Wes Unseld (20) | Earl Monroe (6) | Madison Square Garden19,500 | 4–3 |- Baltimore Bullets NBA Finals yes no #0344AD black 0 2 0 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 21 | @ Milwaukee | L 88–98 | Earl Monroe (26) | John Tresvant (14) | Fred Carter (4) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 25 | Milwaukee | L 83–102 | Jack Marin (22) | Wes Unseld (20) | Earl Monroe (6) | Baltimore Civic Center12,289 | 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | April 28 | @ Milwaukee | L 99–107 | Jack Marin (21) | Wes Unseld (23) | Wes Unseld (6) | Milwaukee Arena10,746 | 0–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | April 30 | Milwaukee | L 106–118 | Fred Carter (28) | Wes Unseld (23) | Wes Unseld (10) | Baltimore Civic Center11,842 | 0–4 |- BAL 1971 yes Awards and honors Gus Johnson, All-NBA Second Team Gus Johnson, NBA All-Defensive First Team References Bullets on Basketball Reference Baltimore Category:Washington Wizards seasons Category:Eastern Conference (NBA) championship seasons Baltimore Bullets Baltimore Bullets Category:1970s in Baltimore