Overview
The Seattle SuperSonics defeated the Washington Bullets four games to one in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1978-79 NBA season. The victory gave the SuperSonics their only NBA championship in their 41 seasons in Seattle. The franchise moved to Oklahoma City prior to the 2008-09 season and became the Thunder.
The Bullets entered the series as the defending champions, having defeated the SuperSonics in the 1978 NBA Finals. This was the first Finals rematch since the Lakers and Knicks met in both 1972 and 1973. As of 2009, this was the last time the Bullets/Wizards franchise reached the NBA Finals.
Dennis Johnson won NBA Finals MVP honors, bouncing back from his scoreless performance in Game 7 of the 1978 Finals.
The Bullets had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The two teams split their four regular-season meetings in 1978-79, with each team winning once at home and once on the road.
The Bullets entered the series as the defending champions, having defeated the SuperSonics in the 1978 NBA Finals. This was the first Finals rematch since the Lakers and Knicks met in both 1972 and 1973. As of 2009, this was the last time the Bullets/Wizards franchise reached the NBA Finals.
Dennis Johnson won NBA Finals MVP honors, bouncing back from his scoreless performance in Game 7 of the 1978 Finals.
The Bullets had home-court advantage for the Finals, which were played under the 2-2-1-1-1 format. The two teams split their four regular-season meetings in 1978-79, with each team winning once at home and once on the road.
Road to the Finals
| Team | SuperSonics | Bullets |
| Regular Season | 52-30, 1st in Pacific Division | 54-28, 1st in Atlantic Division |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (5) Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1 | Def. (5) Atlanta Hawks, 4-3 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (3) Phoenix Suns, 4-3 | Def. (2) San Antonio Spurs, 4-3 |
Game 1 - Bullets 99, Sonics 97
Seattle stormed back from 18 points down to tie the game in the final minute, but the Bullets earned a controversial win on a pair of Larry Wright free throws with no time left on the clock. Ed Rush called a foul on Dennis Johnson on Wright's final shot attempt, which the Bullets argued was goaltended by Gus Williams.
Wright finished with a playoff career-high 26 points in just 23 minutes of action. He scored 12 of Washington's 17 points in the fourth quarter. Williams led the Sonics with 32 points, while Johnson chipped in with 23.
Wright finished with a playoff career-high 26 points in just 23 minutes of action. He scored 12 of Washington's 17 points in the fourth quarter. Williams led the Sonics with 32 points, while Johnson chipped in with 23.
Game 2 - Sonics 92, Bullets 82
The Sonics survived an eight-minute stretch without a made basket, thanks to their strong defense, and evened the series at one game apiece. After allowing the Bullets to score 29 points in the second quarter to take a 3-point halftime lead, Seattle held Washington to just 30 points on 32 percent shooting in the second half.
Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson led Seattle with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Bob Dandridge and Elvin Hayes matched Williams and Johnson, but no other Bullets player had more than 10 points.
Gus Williams and Dennis Johnson led Seattle with 21 and 20 points, respectively. Bob Dandridge and Elvin Hayes matched Williams and Johnson, but no other Bullets player had more than 10 points.
Game 3 - Sonics 105, Bullets 95
The Bullets' shooting struggles carried over to Game 3 in Seattle, as more than 35,000 people piled into the Kingdome to watch the Sonics take a 2-1 series lead. Washington attempted 106 shots in the game but made just 35, while Seattle shot 50.6 percent.
Gus Williams had 31 points and Dennis Johnson approached a triple-double (17 points, nine rebounds, nine assists). Jack Sikma added 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Sonics and helped slow down the Bullets' frontcourt. Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld combined for 70 of the Bullets' 95 points, but shot a combined 37.5 percent from the field.
Gus Williams had 31 points and Dennis Johnson approached a triple-double (17 points, nine rebounds, nine assists). Jack Sikma added 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Sonics and helped slow down the Bullets' frontcourt. Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld combined for 70 of the Bullets' 95 points, but shot a combined 37.5 percent from the field.
Game 4 - Sonics 114, Bullets 112 (OT)
Wes Unseld's follow layup with 18 seconds left forced the game into overtime, where Seattle took a four-point lead in the final minute and held on for a victory when Dennis Johnson blocked a potential game-tying shot by Kevin Grevey at the buzzer.
Gus Williams, who missed a potential game-winning jumper at the end of regulation, finished with 36 points to lead all scorers. Johnson added 32 and Jack Sikma had 20 points and 17 rebounds. Sikma and the rest of the Sonics' frontcourt had the Bullets in foul trouble all game long. Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld all ended up fouling out, after combining for 50 points.
Gus Williams, who missed a potential game-winning jumper at the end of regulation, finished with 36 points to lead all scorers. Johnson added 32 and Jack Sikma had 20 points and 17 rebounds. Sikma and the rest of the Sonics' frontcourt had the Bullets in foul trouble all game long. Bob Dandridge, Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld all ended up fouling out, after combining for 50 points.
Game 5 - Sonics 97, Bullets 93
The Sonics outscored the Bullets 21-10 over the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, turning a three-point deficit into an eight-point lead and never trailing again, earning the first championship in franchise history.
Seattle had six different players in double figures, led by Gus Williams, who scored 23 points. Dennis Johnson added 21 points and finished the series averaging 22.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game and 6.0 assists per game to earn MVP honors.
Reigning Finals MVP Wes Unseld had just six points and three rebounds in Game 5, and finished the series averaging just 11.0 PPG, thanks in large part to the defense of Jack Sikma, who'd moved from power forward to center during the 1978-79 season.
Seattle had six different players in double figures, led by Gus Williams, who scored 23 points. Dennis Johnson added 21 points and finished the series averaging 22.6 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game and 6.0 assists per game to earn MVP honors.
Reigning Finals MVP Wes Unseld had just six points and three rebounds in Game 5, and finished the series averaging just 11.0 PPG, thanks in large part to the defense of Jack Sikma, who'd moved from power forward to center during the 1978-79 season.