# 1988–89 Houston Rockets season

The 1988–89 NBA season was the Rockets' 22nd season in the NBA and 18th season in the city of Houston. Houston hosted the All-Star Game this season. During the off-season, the Rockets acquired Otis Thorpe from the Sacramento Kings, signed free agent Mike Woodson, and hired Don Chaney as their new head coach. At mid-season, the team signed free agent Walter Berry, who was previously released by the New Jersey Nets. The Rockets posted a six-game winning streak in December, and held a 28–18 record at the All-Star break. Despite a 7-game losing streak between February and March, the team finished in second place in the Midwest Division with a 45–37 record.
Akeem Olajuwon averaged 24.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game, and was named to the All-NBA First Team, and selected for the 1989 NBA All-Star Game. In addition, Thorpe averaged 16.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while Sleepy Floyd contributed 14.2 points, 8.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game, Woodson provided the team with 12.9 points per game, and Buck Johnson contributed 9.6 points per game. Olajuwon also finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
In the playoffs, the Rockets lost to the Seattle SuperSonics in four games in the Western Conference First Round, losing Game 4 at home by just two points, 98–96.
Following the season, Purvis Short signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets, and Berry left to play overseas in Italy after only three seasons in the NBA.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 1 | 16 | Derrick Chievous | SF | United States | Missouri |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Utah Jazz | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 34–7 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 6 | 31–10 | 14–27 | 19–11 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7 | 35–6 | 9–32 | 18–12 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 13 | 24–17 | 14–27 | 19–11 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 21 | 61 | .256 | 30 | 18–23 | 3–38 | 9–21 |
| Miami Heat | 15 | 67 | .183 | 36 | 12–29 | 3–38 | 6–24 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 57 | 25 | .695 | – |
| 2 | y-Utah Jazz | 51 | 31 | .622 | 6 |
| 3 | x-Phoenix Suns | 55 | 27 | .671 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10 |
| 5 | x-Houston Rockets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 12 |
| 6 | x-Denver Nuggets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 13 |
| 7 | x-Golden State Warriors | 43 | 39 | .524 | 14 |
| 8 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 39 | 43 | .476 | 18 |
| 9 | Dallas Mavericks | 38 | 44 | .463 | 19 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30 |
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36 |
| 13 | Miami Heat | 15 | 67 | .183 | 42 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1988-89 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIA | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Boston | 1–3 | — | 6–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Charlotte | 1–4 | 0–6 | — | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 3–1 | 4–1 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 6–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 0–4 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–0 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–5 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Miami | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Milwaukee | 0–6 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 1–4 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| New York | 2–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Philadelphia | 2–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–5 | 1–3 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | — | 0–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 1–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1988–89 game log Total: 45–37 (home: 31–10; road: 14–27) :
November: 9–6 (home: 6–3; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 4
@ Denver
L 117–120
McNichols Sports Arena
0–1
2
November 5
Dallas
L 113–114 (OT)
The Summit
0–2
3
November 8
San Antonio
W 120–102
The Summit
1–2
4
November 10
Utah
W 106–99
The Summit
2–2
5
November 11
@ Miami
W 121–100
Miami Arena
3–2
6
November 13
Sacramento
W 129–127
The Summit
4–2
7
November 15
New York
L 121–126
The Summit
4–3
8
November 17
Miami
W 113–107
The Summit
5–3
9
November 19
Detroit
W 109–98
The Summit
6–3
10
November 21
Atlanta
W 117–113
The Summit
7–3
11
November 23
@ Utah
L 99–102
Salt Palace
7–4
12
November 25
@ Portland
L 94–111
Memorial Coliseum
7–5
13
November 26
@ Golden State
W 119–109
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
8–5
14
November 29
Phoenix
L 107–124
The Summit
8–6
15
November 30
@ Dallas
W 101–89
Reunion Arena
9–6 :
December: 9–5 (home: 7–0; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
16
December 2
@ Phoenix
L 95–110
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
9–7
17
December 3
Charlotte
W 108–104
The Summit
10–7
18
December 6
Cleveland
W 106–105
The Summit
11–7
19
December 8
@ L.A. Clippers
L 116–120
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
11–8
20
December 10
Seattle
W 110–91
The Summit
12–8
21
December 13
@ Denver
L 101–126
McNichols Sports Arena
12–9
22
December 15
Golden State
W 124–115 (2OT)
The Summit
13–9
23
December 18
San Antonio
W 120–109
The Summit
14–9
24
December 20
Sacramento
W 105–104
The Summit
15–9
25
December 22
L.A. Clippers
W 125–109
The Summit
16–9
26
December 26
@ Charlotte
W 97–95
Charlotte Coliseum
17–9
27
December 27
@ Miami
W 101–93
Miami Arena
18–9
28
December 29
@ Washington
L 109–126
Capital Centre
18–10
29
December 30
@ Detroit
L 83–95
The Palace of Auburn Hills
18–11 :
January: 7–6 (home: 5–2; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
30
January 3
Utah
W 104–102
The Summit
19–11
31
January 7
Philadelphia
L 95–96
The Summit
19–12
32
January 11
@ San Antonio
W 122–117 (OT)
HemisFair Arena
20–12
33
January 12
Portland
W 116–106
The Summit
21–12
34
January 14
Dallas
W 110–98
Olajuwon (29)
Thorpe (11)
Floyd (9)
The Summit 16,611
22–12
35
January 16
@ L.A. Lakers
L 113–124
Great Western Forum
22–13
36
January 17
@ Sacramento
L 109–123
ARCO Arena
22–14
37
January 19
@ Seattle
L 108–124
Seattle Center Coliseum
22–15
38
January 20
@ Golden State
L 114–121
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
22–16
39
January 24
Miami
W 118–93
The Summit
23–16
40
January 26
L.A. Clippers
W 106–100
The Summit
24–16
42
January 28
@ San Antonio
W 96–91
HemisFair Arena
25–17
42
January 31
L.A. Lakers
L 114–125
The Summit
25–17 :
February: 6–6 (home: 4–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
43
February 3
Chicago
W 105–98
The Summit
26–17
44
February 5
Denver
W 124–112
The Summit
27–17
45
February 8
@ L.A. Clippers
L 111–114
Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
27–18
46
February 9
@ Portland
W 113–110
Memorial Coliseum
28–18
All-Star Break
47
February 14
Boston
W 137–123
The Summit
29–18
48
February 17
Denver
W 121–111
The Summit
30–18
49
February 18
@ Dallas
W 105–94
Reunion Arena
31–18
50
February 20
@ Cleveland
L 90–110
Richfield Coliseum
31–19
51
February 21
@ New York
L 115–120
Madison Square Garden
31–20
52
February 24
@ Chicago
L 97–106
Chicago Stadium
31–21
53
February 25
@ Milwaukee
L 105–121
Bradley Center
31–22
54
February 27
Washington
L 98–104
The Summit
31–23 :
March: 8–8 (home: 7–2; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
55
March 2
@ Denver
L 103–113
McNichols Sports Arena
31–24
56
March 3
@ Seattle
L 108–118
Seattle Center Coliseum
31–25
57
March 5
L.A. Lakers
W 88–83
The Summit
32–25
58
March 8
@ Utah
L 80–117
Salt Palace
32–26
59
March 10
Dallas
W 96–86
The Summit
33–26
60
March 11
New Jersey
W 124–94
The Summit
34–26
61
March 13
@ L.A. Lakers
L 96–97
Great Western Forum
34–27
62
March 14
@ Sacramento
L 90–95
ARCO Arena
34–28
63
March 16
Milwaukee
W 120–104
The Summit
35–28
64
March 18
Portland
W 127–113
The Summit
36–28
65
March 21
Denver
L 110–112
The Summit
36–29
66
March 24
Utah
L 99–102
The Summit
36–30
67
March 25
Golden State
W 144–104
The Summit
37–30
68
March 28
Seattle
W 120–117
The Summit
38–30
69
March 30
@ New Jersey
W 109–101
Brendan Byrne Arena
39–30
70
March 31
@ Boston
L 109–126
Boston Garden
39–31 :
April: 6–6 (home: 2–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
71
April 2
@ Philadelphia
L 99–108
The Spectrum
39–32
72
April 4
@ Indiana
W 90–88
Market Square Arena
40–32
73
April 7
@ Atlanta
L 112–120 (OT)
The Omni
40–33
74
April 8
@ Miami
L 104–107 (OT)
Miami Arena
40–34
75
April 11
Indiana
W 108–99
The Summit
41–35
76
April 13
Phoenix
L 111–119
The Summit
41–35
77
April 14
@ Utah
L 96–122
Salt Palace
41–36
78
April 16
@ Dallas
W 114–112 (OT)
Reunion Arena
42–36
79
April 17
San Antonio
W 99–91
The Summit
43–36
80
April 19
@ San Antonio
W 99–84
HemisFair Arena
44–36
81
April 21
@ Phoenix
W 112–101
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
45–36
82
April 22
Miami
L 89–91
The Summit
45–37 :
1988–89 schedule :

## Playoffs

1989 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 1–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
@ Seattle
L 107–111
Olajuwon (28)
Olajuwon (9)
Floyd (7)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,250
0–1
2
April 30
@ Seattle
L 97–109
Olajuwon (30)
Olajuwon (12)
Floyd (6)
Seattle Center Coliseum 12,887
0–2
3
May 3
Seattle
W 126–107
Floyd (28)
Olajuwon (18)
Floyd (6)
The Summit 16,611
1–2
4
May 5
Seattle
L 96–98
Olajuwon (24)
Olajuwon (13)
Floyd, Woodson (7)
The Summit 16,611
1–3 :
1989 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |

## Awards and records

* Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA First Team