Overview
The Washington Bullets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1977-78 season. The victory gave the Bullets their first NBA championship in their third appearance in the NBA Finals.
The SuperSonics were making the first finals appearance in franchise history. They would reach the finals twice more before moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Wes Unseld won NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming the third different player to accumulate the Rookie of the Year, MVP and Finals MVP awards during his career, joining Willis Reed and Wilt Chamberlain.
The Sonics had home-court advantage for the finals, which were played under a 1-2-2-1-1 format due to a scheduling conflict at the Seattle Coliseum. The Bullets won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams in the 1977-78 regular season, with the only loss coming in Seattle by 2 points in overtime.
The SuperSonics were making the first finals appearance in franchise history. They would reach the finals twice more before moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Wes Unseld won NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming the third different player to accumulate the Rookie of the Year, MVP and Finals MVP awards during his career, joining Willis Reed and Wilt Chamberlain.
The Sonics had home-court advantage for the finals, which were played under a 1-2-2-1-1 format due to a scheduling conflict at the Seattle Coliseum. The Bullets won three of the four regular-season meetings between the teams in the 1977-78 regular season, with the only loss coming in Seattle by 2 points in overtime.
Road to the Finals
| Team | SuperSonics | Bullets |
| Regular Season | 47-35, 3rd in Pacific Division | 44-38, 2nd in Central Division |
| First Round | Def. (5) Los Angeles Lakers, 2-1 | Def. (6) Atlanta Hawks (2-0) |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (1) Portland Trail Blazers, 4-2 | Def. (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-2 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (2) Denver Nuggets, 4-2 | Def. (1) Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2 |
Game 1 - Sonics 106, Bullets 102
The Sonics trailed by 9 points entering the final quarter, but Fred Brown scored 16 of his 30 points in the final 10 minutes to lead Seattle's comeback. Brown put the Sonics ahead for good with a 24-foot jumper with just under two minutes left.
In addition to Brown's 30 points, the Sonics got 18 from John Johnson, who also held Bob Dandridge to just 6 points on the other end. Kevin Grevey scored 27 points but injured his left ankle late in the fourth quarter.
In addition to Brown's 30 points, the Sonics got 18 from John Johnson, who also held Bob Dandridge to just 6 points on the other end. Kevin Grevey scored 27 points but injured his left ankle late in the fourth quarter.
Game 2 - Bullets 106, Sonics 98
The Bullets led by 16 in the fourth quarter but nearly let another lead slip away. The Sonics cut the lead all the way down to 2 points before Elvin Hayes keyed a late Bullets run.
Bob Dandridge bounced back from his struggles in Game 1, scoring 34 points while holding John Johnson to 4 points. Hayes added 25 points for the Bullets, who got a rare big game from Tom Henderson. Washington's point guard finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson led the Sonics with 24 and 21 points, respectively. The Sonics' starting frontcourt of Dandridge, Jack Sikma and Marvin Webster combined for just 26 points on 10-of-31 shooting, thanks in large part to the defense of Wes Unseld.
Bob Dandridge bounced back from his struggles in Game 1, scoring 34 points while holding John Johnson to 4 points. Hayes added 25 points for the Bullets, who got a rare big game from Tom Henderson. Washington's point guard finished with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson led the Sonics with 24 and 21 points, respectively. The Sonics' starting frontcourt of Dandridge, Jack Sikma and Marvin Webster combined for just 26 points on 10-of-31 shooting, thanks in large part to the defense of Wes Unseld.
Game 3 - Sonics 93, Bullets 92
The Sonics led by 9 points with four minutes left, but the Bullets cut the lead to 3 in the final minute. Wes Unseld scored with 12 seconds left to pull Washington within 1. On the ensuing inbounds pass, referee Earl Strom called Paul Silas for stepping on the baseline, turning the ball over to the Bullets. Bob Dandridge missed a jump shot and Elvin Hayes missed a tip-in before Silas secured the rebound and the win.
Marvin Webster and Gus Williams led Seattle with 20 points each. Elvin Hayes finished with 29 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Bullets, but was upset with the officiating after the game, calling it the worst he'd ever seen. The Sonics were called for 24 fouls in the game, compared to 29 for the Bullets, though Washington did attempt one more free throw than Seattle.
Marvin Webster and Gus Williams led Seattle with 20 points each. Elvin Hayes finished with 29 points and 20 rebounds to lead the Bullets, but was upset with the officiating after the game, calling it the worst he'd ever seen. The Sonics were called for 24 fouls in the game, compared to 29 for the Bullets, though Washington did attempt one more free throw than Seattle.
Game 4 - Bullets 120, Sonics 116 (OT)
The series shifted back to Seattle, though with the Coliseum still booked, the game was played in the Kingdome, in front of a record crowd of 39,457.
The Sonics led by 15 points late in the third quarter but got into foul trouble in the fourth, and the Bullets climbed back into the game, getting strong performances off the bench from Mitch Kupchak and Charles Johnson. Bob Dandridge gave the Bullets a 2-point lead with 20 seconds left to play, but Fred Brown came right back and made a 15-foot jumper to send the game into overtime.
In the extra session, the Bullets got eight of their 14 points from Johnson and led by 2 late. The Sonics missed a game-tying shot, and Wes Unseld secured the rebound and the win.
Dandridge led the Bullets with 23 points, and Elvin Hayes had 20 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out. Dennis Johnson led the Sonics with 33 points but missed a key portion of the fourth quarter after being elbowed in the ribs.
The Sonics led by 15 points late in the third quarter but got into foul trouble in the fourth, and the Bullets climbed back into the game, getting strong performances off the bench from Mitch Kupchak and Charles Johnson. Bob Dandridge gave the Bullets a 2-point lead with 20 seconds left to play, but Fred Brown came right back and made a 15-foot jumper to send the game into overtime.
In the extra session, the Bullets got eight of their 14 points from Johnson and led by 2 late. The Sonics missed a game-tying shot, and Wes Unseld secured the rebound and the win.
Dandridge led the Bullets with 23 points, and Elvin Hayes had 20 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out. Dennis Johnson led the Sonics with 33 points but missed a key portion of the fourth quarter after being elbowed in the ribs.
Game 5 - Sonics 98, Bullets 94
The Sonics again rode the hot hand of Fred Brown, who made 11 of his first 15 shots to stake Seattle to an early lead. The Sonics led 78-67 before the Bullets made a run to cut the lead to 1 point. However, Washington got no closer, thanks to perfect 8-of-8 free throw shooting down the stretch for the Sonics.
Brown finished with 26 points in 26 minutes to lead the Sonics, while Dennis Johnson chipped in 24. Kevin Grevey had 22 points to lead Washington. Elvin Hayes was held to 17 points, including just 5 in the second half.
Brown finished with 26 points in 26 minutes to lead the Sonics, while Dennis Johnson chipped in 24. Kevin Grevey had 22 points to lead Washington. Elvin Hayes was held to 17 points, including just 5 in the second half.
Game 6 - Bullets 117, Sonics 82
After falling behind by 2 points after the first quarter, the Bullets rolled over the Sonics the rest of the way, outscoring Seattle by at least 11 points in each of the last three quarters to earn a 35-point win.
Kevin Grevey left the game after six minutes with an injury, but Bob Dandridge slid down to guard and broke the game open when he scored 8 points in 59 seconds. Greg Ballard, who'd played 21 minutes in the first five games, moved in at forward for the Bullets, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Elvin Hayes led all scorers with 21 points. Of the 11 Bullets who played, only Phil Walker failed to score. Fred Brown led the Sonics with 17 points off the bench. Jack Sikma and Marvin Webster were again held in check by the defense of Wes Unseld, combining to go 7-of-25 from the field.
Kevin Grevey left the game after six minutes with an injury, but Bob Dandridge slid down to guard and broke the game open when he scored 8 points in 59 seconds. Greg Ballard, who'd played 21 minutes in the first five games, moved in at forward for the Bullets, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Elvin Hayes led all scorers with 21 points. Of the 11 Bullets who played, only Phil Walker failed to score. Fred Brown led the Sonics with 17 points off the bench. Jack Sikma and Marvin Webster were again held in check by the defense of Wes Unseld, combining to go 7-of-25 from the field.
Game 7 - Bullets 105, Sonics 99
The Bullets took an 8-point lead into halftime and stretched it to 13 heading into the fourth quarter before holding off a Sonics run, clinching the game with a pair of Wes Unseld free throws with 12 seconds left. As of 2008, the Bullets are the last NBA team to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals.
Unseld, who'd focused more on his defense in the series, finished with a series-high 15 points, earning MVP honors. He averaged just 9.0 PPG for the series and as of 2008 is the only Finals MVP to fail to average double digits in scoring during the series. Bob Dandridge and Charles Johnson led the Bullets with 19 points each in Game 7. Elvin Hayes had 12 points before fouling out, but still earned his first career championship.
Marvin Webster had his best game of the series, finishing with 27 points and 19 rebounds while shooting 8-of-12 from the field. However, it was the last game he played for the Sonics, as he signed with the Knicks in the offseason. Dennis Johnson had one of the worst games of his career, going 0-for-14 from the field and finishing with 4 points.
Unseld, who'd focused more on his defense in the series, finished with a series-high 15 points, earning MVP honors. He averaged just 9.0 PPG for the series and as of 2008 is the only Finals MVP to fail to average double digits in scoring during the series. Bob Dandridge and Charles Johnson led the Bullets with 19 points each in Game 7. Elvin Hayes had 12 points before fouling out, but still earned his first career championship.
Marvin Webster had his best game of the series, finishing with 27 points and 19 rebounds while shooting 8-of-12 from the field. However, it was the last game he played for the Sonics, as he signed with the Knicks in the offseason. Dennis Johnson had one of the worst games of his career, going 0-for-14 from the field and finishing with 4 points.