1979–80 Washington Bullets season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Bullets 19th season in the NBA and their 7th season in the city of Washington, D.C.

Season standings
Notes
 * z, y – division champions
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * Philadelphia
 * L 92–93
 * Hayes (25)
 * Unseld (12)
 * Porter (11)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * October 13
 * @ New York
 * Madison Square Garden
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 3
 * Atlanta
 * W 100–97
 * Capital Centre 5,804
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * @ Boston
 * L 93–130
 * Hayes (23)
 * Unseld (9)
 * Wright (5)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 1–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * October 20
 * Detroit
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * October 24
 * @ Detroit
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 26
 * @ Indiana
 * Market Square Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 31
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 6
 * October 24
 * @ Detroit
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 7
 * October 26
 * @ Indiana
 * Market Square Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 31
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * Market Square Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 31
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 8
 * October 31
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9
 * Boston
 * L 97–118
 * Ballard (23)
 * Hayes (12)
 * Porter (9)
 * Capital Centre 17,635
 * 3–6
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 10
 * November 9
 * San Antonio
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 11
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 105–109
 * The Omni 15,413
 * 4–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 12
 * November 13
 * @ New York
 * Madison Square Garden
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 13
 * November 14
 * Chicago
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 14
 * November 16
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 15
 * November 17
 * Utah
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 16
 * November 21
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 23
 * @ San Antonio
 * HemisFair Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * November 24
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * November 27
 * Denver
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–120
 * Phegley (22)
 * Ballard (10)
 * Dandridge, Unseld (8)
 * The Spectrum 10,105
 * 9–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 17
 * November 23
 * @ San Antonio
 * HemisFair Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * November 24
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 19
 * November 27
 * Denver
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–120
 * Phegley (22)
 * Ballard (10)
 * Dandridge, Unseld (8)
 * The Spectrum 10,105
 * 9–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 20
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 102–120
 * Phegley (22)
 * Ballard (10)
 * Dandridge, Unseld (8)
 * The Spectrum 10,105
 * 9–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * 9–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 21
 * November 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 22
 * December 1
 * New Jersey
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 23
 * December 5
 * New York
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 24
 * Atlanta
 * W 96–95
 * Capital Centre 14,139
 * 11–13
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 25
 * December 11
 * Phoenix
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 26
 * December 13
 * @ Cleveland
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 27
 * December 14
 * @ Indiana
 * Market Square Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * December 15
 * @ Chicago
 * Chicago Stadium
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 29
 * December 19
 * Kansas City
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 22
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * Philadelphia
 * L 92–95
 * Hayes (29)
 * Unseld (14)
 * Cleamons (7)
 * Capital Centre 18,184
 * 14–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 32
 * December 26
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * Milwaukee
 * W 117–108
 * Ballard (27)
 * Ballard (13)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Capital Centre 9,693
 * 15–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * December 29
 * San Diego
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 30
 * December 22
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 31
 * Philadelphia
 * L 92–95
 * Hayes (29)
 * Unseld (14)
 * Cleamons (7)
 * Capital Centre 18,184
 * 14–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 32
 * December 26
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * Milwaukee
 * W 117–108
 * Ballard (27)
 * Ballard (13)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Capital Centre 9,693
 * 15–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * December 29
 * San Diego
 * Capital Centre
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 33
 * Milwaukee
 * W 117–108
 * Ballard (27)
 * Ballard (13)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Capital Centre 9,693
 * 15–18
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 34
 * December 29
 * San Diego
 * Capital Centre
 * San Diego
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 35
 * January 1
 * @ Portland
 * Memorial Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 36
 * @ Seattle
 * W 139–134 (2OT)
 * Hayes (34)
 * Unseld (19)
 * Dandridge (6)
 * Kingdome 21,665
 * 16–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 37
 * January 4
 * @ Golden State
 * Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 38
 * January 5
 * @ Utah
 * Salt Palace
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 39
 * Los Angeles
 * W 103–101
 * Hayes (25)
 * Ballard (13)
 * Cleamons, Wright (9)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 19–20
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 40
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 106–119
 * Ballard (31)
 * Unseld (14)
 * Unseld (7)
 * The Spectrum 15,571
 * 19–21
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 41
 * January 13
 * Portland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 42
 * Seattle
 * L 100–120
 * Wright (20)
 * Unseld (9)
 * Unseld (8)
 * Capital Centre 13,408
 * 20–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 43
 * January 17
 * @ Detroit
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 44
 * January 18
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 45
 * January 19
 * @ San Antonio
 * HemisFair Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 46
 * January 22
 * @ Cleveland
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 24
 * New Jersey
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * @ Boston
 * W 118–107
 * Dandridge, Hayes (25)
 * Unseld (19)
 * Cleamons Unseld (6)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 21–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * January 27
 * Golden State
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 82–98
 * The Omni 10,269
 * 22–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * Boston
 * L 103–119
 * Dandridge (20)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Porter (5)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 23–29
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 47
 * January 24
 * New Jersey
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 48
 * @ Boston
 * W 118–107
 * Dandridge, Hayes (25)
 * Unseld (19)
 * Cleamons Unseld (6)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 21–27
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 49
 * January 27
 * Golden State
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 50
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 82–98
 * The Omni 10,269
 * 22–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * Boston
 * L 103–119
 * Dandridge (20)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Porter (5)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 23–29
 * The Omni 10,269
 * 22–28
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 51
 * January 30
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 52
 * Boston
 * L 103–119
 * Dandridge (20)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Porter (5)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 23–29
 * 52
 * Boston
 * L 103–119
 * Dandridge (20)
 * Unseld (11)
 * Porter (5)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 23–29
 * 23–29


 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 53
 * February 7
 * @ Indiana
 * Market Square Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 54
 * @ Milwaukee
 * L 90–115
 * Grevey (23)
 * Ballard (9)
 * Cleamons (9)
 * MECCA Arena 10,938
 * 23–31
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 55
 * February 10
 * @ Kansas City
 * Kemper Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 56
 * February 12
 * @ Denver
 * McNichols Sports Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 57
 * February 13
 * @ San Diego
 * San Diego Sports Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 58
 * February 15
 * @ Phoenix
 * Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 59
 * @ Los Angeles
 * L 107–111
 * Hayes (31)
 * Ballard (13)
 * Porter (8)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 25–34
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * February 21
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 22
 * San Antonio
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 24
 * New York
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 27
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 25–34
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 60
 * February 21
 * Cleveland
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 61
 * February 22
 * San Antonio
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 62
 * February 24
 * New York
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 27
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 63
 * February 27
 * @ Houston
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * The Summit
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 64
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * February 28
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre
 * Capital Centre


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 65
 * March 2
 * Indiana
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 66
 * March 4
 * Detroit
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 67
 * March 6
 * New Jersey
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 68
 * March 7
 * @ Detroit
 * Pontiac Silverdome
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 69
 * @ Boston
 * W 133–128 (OT)
 * Hayes (35)
 * Hayes (17)
 * Wright (5)
 * Boston Garden 15,320
 * 33–36
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 70
 * March 11
 * San Antonio
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 71
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 98–105
 * Ballard (32)
 * Unseld (16)
 * Unseld (8)
 * The Spectrum 11,327
 * 33–38
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 72
 * March 14
 * Houston
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 73
 * March 16
 * New York
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 74
 * March 18
 * @ San Antonio
 * HemisFair Arena
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 75
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 93–109
 * The Omni 10,140
 * 34–41
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * Philadelphia
 * W 119–113 (OT)
 * Ballard (30)
 * Hayes (13)
 * Porter (11)
 * Capital Centre 17,649
 * 35–41
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * March 22
 * @ New York
 * Madison Square Garden
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * March 23
 * Detroit
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * Boston
 * L 95–96
 * Ballard (28)
 * Ballard (11)
 * Porter (15)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 37–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * March 27
 * @ Cleveland
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * Atlanta
 * W 100–80
 * Capital Centre 18,186
 * 38–43
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 30
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * The Omni 10,140
 * 34–41
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 76
 * Philadelphia
 * W 119–113 (OT)
 * Ballard (30)
 * Hayes (13)
 * Porter (11)
 * Capital Centre 17,649
 * 35–41
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 77
 * March 22
 * @ New York
 * Madison Square Garden
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * March 23
 * Detroit
 * Capital Centre
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * Boston
 * L 95–96
 * Ballard (28)
 * Ballard (11)
 * Porter (15)
 * Capital Centre 19,035
 * 37–42
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 80
 * March 27
 * @ Cleveland
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * Atlanta
 * W 100–80
 * Capital Centre 18,186
 * 38–43
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 30
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Richfield Coliseum
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 81
 * Atlanta
 * W 100–80
 * Capital Centre 18,186
 * 38–43
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 30
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Capital Centre 18,186
 * 38–43
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 82
 * March 30
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * @ New Jersey
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Rutgers Athletic Center
 * Rutgers Athletic Center

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * @ Philadelphia
 * L 96–111
 * Grevey (34)
 * Unseld (18)
 * Porter (7)
 * The Spectrum 12,567
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * Philadelphia
 * L 104–112
 * Hayes (26)
 * Hayes (12)
 * Grevey (5)
 * Capital Centre 18,397
 * 0–2
 * Capital Centre 18,397
 * 0–2