The 2021 first round matchup marks the first time that the Philadelphia 76ers have taken on the Washington Wizards in the NBA playoffs. Don’t worry, though this retrospective has plenty of Sixers versus Bullets action.
Five times between 1971 and 1986, we took on the Washington/Baltimore Bullets in the playoffs winning three of those series. Here’s a brief recap of those showdowns:
1971
The first-ever playoff meeting between our franchises took place in 1971. The Sixers finished that season with 47 wins. The victories were second-most in the Eastern Conference behind only the New York Knicks. However, the NBA’s playoff seeding at the time gave the top two playoff seeds to division winners. New York won the Atlantic Division over the Sixers with 52 wins. Meanwhile the Baltimore Bullets won the Central Division with 42 wins; therefore, they were awarded the No. 2 seed in the East and home court advantage over the Sixers in the dramatic series.
In Game 1, 34-year-old Hal Greer produced 30 points and six assists as the Sixers gave Baltimore a thrashing on the road, 125-112. The Bullets then proceeded to win three straight games.
On the brink of elimination, the Sixers staved off an unwanted vacation thanks to Billy Cunningham. In one of the great playoff performances in team history, the Kangaroo Kid scored 32 points and grabbed 20 rebounds. Guard Archie Clark was riding shotgun with 31 points. With their powers combined, the Sixers held on for a 104-103 victory.
Cunningham was again magnificent in Game 6 (33 points, 16 rebounds, five assists), as the Sixers again squeezed out a win, 98-94.
With a do-or-die Game 7, the NBA’s seeding rules ruefully made an impact. Despite having the better regular season record, the Sixers played this game on the road in Baltimore.
In Game 7, Cunningham again played possessed with 30 points and 19 rebounds, while the shaking-and-baking Clark notched a remarkable 37 points.
But the brawn and homecourt of Baltimore were decisive.
Their powerful and athletic frontline of Wes Unseld, Gus Johnson, and Jack Marin combined for 68 points, 55 rebounds, and 16 assists as Baltimore pulled out a 128-120 win.
After that Game 1 stunner, the Sixers reversed the situation in Game 2. Down 88-81 with 7:56 left in the game, the team finished the game on a 21-9 run to win by a final score of 102-97. Barkley had 27 points and 20 rebounds. Fourteen of Sir Charles’ points came in the fourth quarter.
Game 3 was another rally-from-behind win. The Sixers used a 33-10 second-half surge to put away the Bullets by a final tally of 91-86. The rollercoaster series continued in Game 4, as the Bullets silenced Erving & Co. by scoring the final seven points of the game. Jeff Malone sank a runner with 43 seconds left to give Washington the lead for good. Final score, 116-111.
After all that drama, this series ended pretty flat with a 134-109 blowout victory for the 76ers. Barkley was again a bruising force going for 19 points, 15 boards, and 12 assists in the win. Rookie forward Terry Catledge was the high man with 27 points for the Sixers.
And since then, the two franchises haven’t met in the playoffs.
This 2021 series puts an end to that 35-year drought.