1973–74 Capital Bullets season

The 1973–74 Capital Bullets season was the team's first in Washington, D.C. area, southwest from nearby Baltimore. Prior to the 1973–74 season, the Baltimore Bullets relocated to Landover, Maryland, a suburb east of Washington, and became the Capital Bullets. It was also their only season under the Capital Bullets name. They also rebranded their jerseys, eschewing the previous orange and blue look for red, white, and blue.

The Bullets finished with a 47–35 record and won the Central Division. Wes Unseld was limited to 56 games due to injuries. In the playoffs, the Bullets fell to the New York Knicks for the fifth time in six years, eliminated in seven games. Following the season, the team was renamed as the Washington Bullets.

The new Capital Centre opened on December 2, 1973; the Bullets played their earlier home games this season at Cole Field House at the University of Maryland in College Park. They played several home games at Cole during their last seasons in Baltimore.

Draft picks

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

Preseason

Regular season

|- | 1 | <br>8:05p.m. EDT | @ Atlanta | L 114–128 | Riordan (26) | Hayes (12) | Chenier (4) | The Omni<br>7,503 | 0–1 |- | 2 | <br>11:00p.m. EDT | @ Seattle | L 102–103 | Hayes (27) | Stallworth (10) | Porter (12) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,673 | 0–2 |- | 3 | <br>11:00p.m. EDT | @ Portland | L 87–132 | Chenier (21) | Hayes (14) | Hayes,<br>Porter (5) | Memorial Coliseum<br>9,502 | 0–3 |- | 4 | <br>8:30p.m. EDT | @ Chicago | L 103–117 | Chenier (36) | Hayes (14) | Riordan (6) | Chicago Stadium<br>3,000 | 0–4 |- | 5 | <br>8:05p.m. EDT | Boston | W 96–87 | Chenier (26) | Hayes (23) | Porter (12) | Cole Field House<br>7,711 | 1–4 |- | 6 | <br>7:35p.m. EDT | Chicago | L 99–107 | Chenier (25) | Hayes (19) | Chenier (6) | Cole Field House<br>7,641 | 1–5 |- | 7 | <br>8:00p.m. EDT | @ New York | W 101–84 | Porter (27) | Hayes,<br>Leaks (18) | Porter (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>18,722 | 2–5 |- | 8 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Philadelphia | W 119–99 | Chenier (32) | Hayes (23) | Porter (7) | Cole Field House<br>5,620 | 3–5

|- | 9 | <br>2:40p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | W 112–84 | Hayes (34) | Hayes (20) | Chenier (5) | The Spectrum<br>5,112 | 4–5 |- | 10 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 102–99 | Chenier,<br>Riordan (25) | Hayes (19) | Porter (9) | Cole Field House<br>5,316 | 5–5 |- | 11 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | W 111–97 | Riordan (29) | Hayes (23) | Porter (13) | Hofheinz Pavilion<br>2,758 | 6–5 |- | 12 | <br>8:35p.m. EST | @ Kansas City–Omaha<br> | W 109–96 | Riordan (29) | Hayes (15) | Porter (11) | Omaha Civic Auditorium<br>4,182 | 6–6 |- | 13 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | L 91–110 | Hayes (26) | Hayes (16) | Porter (5) | Cole Field House<br>11,638 | 7–6 |- | 14 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | W 115–109 | Hayes (43) | Hayes (32) | Clark (9) | The Omni<br>9,229 | 8–6 |- | 15 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Buffalo | L 101–112 | Porter (23) | Hayes (20) | Riordan (6) | Cole Field House<br>6,134 | 8–7 |- | 16 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Los Angeles | L 97–106 | Chenier (30) | Hayes (25) | Porter (8) | Cole Field House<br>8,841 | 8–8 |- | 17 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 101–86 | Chenier,<br>Hayes (20) | Hayes (18) | Clark,<br>Porter (6) | Cole Field House<br>9,046 | 9–8 |- | 18 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | New York | W 109–81 | Chenier (26) | Hayes (13) | Porter (10) | Cole Field House<br>11,855 | 10–8 |- | 19 | <br>7:30p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 104–111 | Hayes (23) | Hayes (21) | Chenier,<br>Clark,<br>Porter (6) | Boston Garden<br>6,810 | 10–9 |- | 20 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Buffalo | W 121–113 | Hayes (43) | Unseld (20) | Chenier (8) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>6,118 | 11–9

|- | 21 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Seattle | W 98–96 | Hayes (36) | Hayes (29) | Chenier (5) | Capital Centre<br>17,500 | 12–9 |- | 22 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 99–119 | Hayes (23) | Hayes (14) | Clark (4) | Hofheinz Pavilion<br>3,552 | 12–10 |- | 23 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 92–114 | Hayes (23) | Hayes (10) | Porter (8) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>6,089 | 12–11 |- | 24 | <br>10:00p.m. EST | @ Los Angeles | W 110–96 | Hayes (40) | Hayes (21) | Riordan (9) | The Forum<br>12,958 | 13–11 |- | 25 | <br>11:00p.m. EST | @ Portland | W 87–82 | Clark (24) | Hayes (16) | Clark (7) | Memorial Coliseum<br>6,818 | 14–11 |- | 26 | <br>11:00p.m. EST | @ Seattle | L 88–93 | Hayes (24) | Hayes (18) | Clark (7) | Seattle Center Coliseum<br>11,857 | 14–12 |- | 27 | <br>11:05p.m. EST | @ Golden State | W 106–93 | Riordan (33) | Hayes (22) | Clark (10) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>6,217 | 15–12 |- | 28 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Atlanta | L 91–98 | Porter (23) | Hayes (24) | Clark (8) | Capital Centre<br>9,135 | 15–13 |- | 29 | <br>8:35p.m. EST | @ Kansas City–Omaha | W 98–92 | Chenier (22) | Hayes (15) | Clark,<br>Porter,<br>Riordan (4) | Kansas City Municipal Auditorium<br>4,066 | 16–13 |- | 30 | br>8:05p.m. EST | Houston | W 98–91 | Weatherspoon (19) | Hayes (20) | Porter (8) | Capital Centre<br>7,552 | 17–13 |- | 31 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | N Buffalo<br> | W 110–85 | Chenier (27) | Hayes (21) | Clark (10) | Maple Leaf Gardens<br>7,112 | 18–13 |- | 32 | <br>7:30p.m. EST | @ New York | W 102–100 | Clark (28) | Hayes (20) | Clark (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 19–13 |- | 33 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Chicago | W 82–81 | Riordan (22) | Hayes (24) | Clark (11) | Capital Centre<br>13,566 | 20–13 |- | 34 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | @ Detroit | L 93–102 | Hayes (23) | Hayes (16) | Clark (6) | Cobo Arena<br>6,930 | 20–14 |- | 35 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Kansas City–Omaha | L 102–106 | Chenier,<br>Riordan (23) | Hayes (25) | Clark (6) | Capital Centre<br>9,140 | 21–14

|- | 36 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | New York | L 81–92 | Hayes (23) | Hayes (16) | Clark (4) | Capital Centre<br>17,328 | 20–16 |- | 37 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 94–91 | Hayes (31) | Hayes (15) | Porter (7) | Cleveland Arena<br>3,431 | 21–16 |- | 38 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Detroit | W 93–90 | Chenier (28) | Unseld (18) | Unseld (7) | Capital Centre<br>9,718 | 22–16 |- | 39 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Milwaukee | W 90–88 | Chenier (31) | Hayes (18) | Clark (7) | Capital Centre<br>17,246 | 23–16 |- | 40 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Los Angeles | W 94–92 | Chenier (27) | Hayes (24) | Clark,<br>Unseld (5) | Capital Centre<br>12,048 | 24–16 |- | 41 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 113–115 (OT) | Chenier (31) | Hayes (19) | Porter (7) | Milwaukee Arena<br>9,683 | 24–17 |- | 42 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Buffalo | L 96–97 | Chenier (22) | Leaks (16) | Riordan (8) | Capital Centre<br>12,206 | 24–18 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- | 43 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 101–86 | Chenier (26) | Hayes,<br>Unseld (17) | Clark (8) | Capital Centre<br>3,217 | 25–18 |- | 44 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Buffalo | L 94–98 | Hayes (43) | Hayes (23) | Clark,<br>Riordan (4) | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium<br>11,227 | 25–19 |- | 45 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Golden State | W 117–90 | Porter (22) | Hayes (17) | Hayes (6) | Capital Centre<br>6,112 | 26–19 |- | 46 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Houston | W 111–105 | Riordan (27) | Hayes,<br>Unseld (21) | Clark (9) | Capital Centre<br>8,161 | 27–19 |- | 47 | <br>11:05p.m. EST | @ Golden State | L 97–99 | Riordan (27) | Hayes (21) | Riordan (5) | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena<br>4,023 | 27–20 |- | 48 | <br>11:00p.m. EST | @ Los Angeles | L 124–143 | Clark (21) | Hayes (21) | Clark (5) | The Forum<br>14,253 | 27–21 |- | 49 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Phoenix | L 107–127 | Chenier (26) | Hayes (16) | Clark (7) | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum<br>5,277 | 27–22 |- | 50 | <br>8:30p.m. EST | @ Chicago | L 94–103 | Hayes (26) | Hayes (18) | Porter (6) | Chicago Stadium<br>5,201 | 27–23

|- | 51 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 107–99 | Chenier (38) | Hayes,<br>Wesley (12) | Chenier,<br>Porter (7) | Cleveland Arena<br>3,735 | 28–23 |- | 52 | <br>2:40p.m. EST | @ Boston | W 112–99 | Chenier (29) | Hayes (18) | Porter (3) | Boston Garden<br>10,095 | 29–23 |- | 53 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 103–121 | Hayes,<br>Riordan (25) | Hayes (15) | Clark,<br>Hayes (5) | The Omni<br>6,265 | 29–24 |- | 54 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Phoenix | W 109–101 | Hayes (33) | Hayes (21) | Porter (12) | Capital Centre<br>6,738 | 30–24 |- | 55 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Milwaukee | L 96–105 | Hayes (21) | Weatherspoon (18) | Porter (5) | Milwaukee Arena<br>10,121 | 30–25 |- | 56 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Philadelphia | W 108–75 | Chenier (20) | Hayes (22) | Porter (8) | Capital Centre<br>7,424 | 31–25 |- | 57 | <br>1:35p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 94–95 | Chenier (27) | Hayes (16) | Porter (8) | The Spectrum<br>4,039 | 31–26 |- | 58 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Cleveland | W 107–99 | Porter (27) | Weatherspoon (19) | Chenier (6) | Cleveland Arena<br>3,549 | 32–26 |- | 59 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Kansas City–Omaha | W 89–87 | Chenier (30) | Hayes (16) | Hayes,<br>Porter (5) | Capital Centre<br>5,842 | 33–26 |- | 60 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Buffalo | W 101–92 | Porter (27) | Hayes (21) | Porter (11) | Capital Centre<br>12,651 | 34–26 |- | 61 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Boston | W 99–95 | Hayes (27) | Hayes (20) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>17,500 | 35–26 |- | 62 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Portland | W 116–101 | Porter (28) | Hayes (19) | Porter (12) | Capital Centre<br>5,160 | 36–26 |- | 63 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | @ Detroit | L 83–84 | Riordan (25) | Hayes (22) | Porter (11) | Cobo Arena<br>9,049 | 36–27 |- | 64 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Cleveland | L 101–104 | Hayes (35) | Hayes (15) | Porter (16) | Capital Centre<br>9,247 | 36–28 |- | 65 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Detroit | W 94–84 | Riordan (22) | Hayes (21) | Hayes,<br>Riordan (7) | Capital Centre<br>14,783 | 37–28 |- | 66 | <br>7:30p.m. EST | @ New York | L 71–85 | Porter (17) | Hayes (17) | Porter (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 37–29 |- | 67 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Seattle | W 104–100 | Chenier (25) | Hayes (27) | Porter (9) | Capital Centre<br>5,140 | 38–29

|- | 68 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | New York | L 103–112 | Chenier (30) | Hayes (14) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>17,500 | 38–30 |- | 69 | <br>7:35p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 98–93 | Hayes (25) | Hayes (22) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>5,072 | 39–30 |- | 70 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 103–89 | Porter (28) | Hayes (21) | Porter (9) | Capital Centre<br>9,878 | 40–30 |- | 71 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | @ Philadelphia | L 99–112 | Chenier (26) | Hayes (20) | Porter (6) | The Spectrum<br>3,229 | 40–31 |- | 72 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Portland | W 106–103 | Chenier (30) | Hayes (16) | Porter (9) | Capital Centre<br>5,116 | 41–31 |- | 73 | <br>2:40p.m. EST | Golden State | W 117–107 | Chenier (33) | Hayes (16) | Chenier,<br>Clark (6) | Capital Centre<br>13,986 | 42–31 |- | 74 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Philadelphia | W 112–101 | Chenier (28) | Unseld (18) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>4,970 | 43–31 |- | 75 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 93–117 | Chenier (19) | Unseld (10) | Porter,<br>Unseld (7) | Hofheinz Pavilion<br>4,153 | 43–32 |- | 76 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ Houston | L 105–114 | Chenier,<br>Hayes (20) | Hayes (12) | Porter (6) | Hofheinz Pavilion<br>4,653 | 43–33 |- | 77 | <br>8:00p.m. EST | @ Boston | L 103–129 | Porter (16) | Unseld (18) | Porter (6) | Boston Garden<br>11,499 | 43–34 |- | 78 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Cleveland | W 101–91 | Hayes (34) | Hayes (16) | Unseld (7) | Capital Centre<br>7,943 | 44–34 |- | 79 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Houston | W 109–95 | Hayes (31) | Hayes,<br>Unseld (15) | Clark (10) | Capital Centre<br>10,306 | 45–34 |- | 80 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | @ Atlanta | L 108–119 (OT) | Riordan (26) | Hayes (12) | Clark (7) | The Omni<br>8,113 | 45–35 |- | 81 | <br>3:00p.m. EST | Atlanta | W 120–92 | Porter (26) | Hayes (16) | Porter,<br>Unseld (5) | Capital Centre<br>11,766 | 46–35 |- | 82 | <br>8:05p.m. EST | Boston | W 126–108 | Hayes (33) | Hayes,<br>Unseld (17) | Porter (9) | Capital Centre<br>11,449 | 47–35

Player stats

Note: GP=Games played; MP=Minutes Played; FG=Field Goals; FGA=Field Goal Attempts; FG%=Field Goal Percentage; FT=Free Throws; FTA=Free Throws Attempts; FT%=Free Throw Percentage; ORB=Offensive Rebounds; DRB=Defensive Rebounds; TRB=Total Rebounds; AST=Assists; STL=Steals; BLK=Blocks; PF=Personal Fouls; PTS=Points; AVG=Average

Team stats

Note: G=Games; MP=Minutes Played; FG=Field Goals; FGA=Field Goal Attempts; FG%=Field Goal Percentage; FT=Free Throws; FTA=Free Throw Attempts; FT%=Free Throw Percentage; ORB=Offensive Rebounds; DRB=Defensive Rebounds; TRB=Total Rebounds; AST=Assists; STL=Steals; BLK=Blocks; TOV=Turnovers; PF=Personal Fouls; PTS=Points

Playoffs

|- | 1 | <br>8:30p.m. EST | @ New York | L 91–102 | Hayes (40) | Hayes (14) | Hayes,<br>Porter (4) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 0–1 |- | 2 | <br>2:30p.m. EST | New York | W 99–87 | Chenier (35) | Hayes (21) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>16,522 | 1–1 |- | 3 | <br>8:30p.m. EST | @ New York | W 88–79 | Porter (22) | Hayes (13) | Porter (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 2–1 |- | 4 | <br>9:05p.m. EST | New York | L 93–101 (OT) | Hayes,<br>Porter (20) | Hayes (17) | Porter (7) | Capital Centre<br>19,035 | 2–2 |- | 5 | <br>1:00p.m. EST | @ New York | L 105–106 | Hayes (27) | Unseld (12) | Unseld (8) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 2–3 |- | 6 | <br>9:05p.m. EST | New York | W 109–92 | Hayes (31) | Hayes (23) | Unseld (5) | Capital Centre<br>19,025 | 3–3 |- | 7 | <br>9:00p.m. EST | @ New York | L 81–91 | Chenier (21) | Chenier (14) | Hayes (5) | Madison Square Garden<br>19,694 | 3–4 |-

Playoffs player stats

Note: GP=Games played; MP=Minutes Played; FG=Field Goals; FGA=Field Goal Attempts; FG%=Field Goal Percentage; FT=Free Throws; FTA=Free Throw Attempts; FT%=Free Throw Percentage; ORB=Offensive Rebounds; DRB=Defensive Rebounds; TRB=Total Rebounds; AST=Assists; STL=Steals; BLK=Blocks; PF=Personal Fouls; PTS=Points; AVG=Average

Awards and honors

• Elvin Hayes, All-NBA Second Team
• Nick Weatherspoon, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team

References

• on Basketball Reference