# 1986–87 Houston Rockets season

The 1986–87 NBA season was the Rockets' 20th season in the NBA and 16th season in the city of Houston. The Rockets entered the season as runner-ups in the 1986 NBA Finals, having lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in four games in the First Round before losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in six games in the Semifinals.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 1 | 20 | Buck Johnson | United States | Alabama |
| 2 | 43 | Dave Feitl | United States | UTEP |
| 3 | 66 | Anthony Bowie | United States | Oklahoma |
| 4 | 89 | Conner Henry | United States | UC Santa Barbara |
| 5 | 112 | Andre Banks | United States | Iowa |
| 6 | 135 | Robert Worthy | United States | Myers |
| 7 | 158 | Rick Olson | United States | Wisconsin |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Dallas Mavericks | 55 | 27 | .671 | – | 35–6 | 20–21 | 19–11 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 44 | 38 | .537 | 11 | 31–10 | 13–28 | 19–11 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 13 | 25–16 | 17–24 | 19–11 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 18 | 27–14 | 10–31 | 14–16 |
| Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 26 | 20–21 | 9–32 | 10–20 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 28 | 54 | .341 | 27 | 21–20 | 7–34 | 9–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 65 | 17 | .793 | – |
| 2 | y-Dallas Mavericks | 55 | 27 | .671 | 10 |
| 3 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 49 | 33 | .598 | 16 |
| 4 | x-Utah Jazz | 44 | 38 | .537 | 21 |
| 5 | x-Golden State Warriors | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 42 | 40 | .512 | 23 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 39 | 43 | .476 | 26 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 37 | 45 | .451 | 28 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 36 | 46 | .439 | 29 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 29 | 53 | .354 | 36 |
| 11 | San Antonio Spurs | 28 | 54 | .341 | 37 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 12 | 70 | .146 | 53 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1986-87 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 |
| Boston | 3–3 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–6 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 1–1 | — | 4–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–4 | — | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Indiana | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Philadelphia | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–3 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 0–5 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1986–87 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 25–16; road: 17–24) :
November: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
November 1, 1986
L.A. Lakers
W 112–102
The Summit
1–0
6
November 12, 1986
@ Dallas
8
November 18, 1986
Portland
9
November 20, 1986
Utah
10
November 21, 1986
@ Washington
11
November 23, 1986
@ Philadelphia
13
November 26, 1986
@ Indiana :
December: 4–9 (home: 2–5; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
15
December 2, 1986
@ Golden State
L 99–104
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
7–8
16
December 4, 1986
Atlanta
L 93–109
The Summit
7–9
17
December 6, 1986
Seattle
L 80–136
The Summit
7–10
19
December 11, 1986
Golden State
L 104–111
The Summit
8–11
22
December 18, 1986
@ Seattle
L 100–114
Seattle Center Coliseum
9–13
23
December 19, 1986
@ Portland
24
December 21, 1986
L.A. Lakers
L 96–103
The Summit
9–15
26
December 26, 1986
@ L.A. Lakers
L 111–134
The Forum
10–16
27
December 27, 1986
@ Utah :
January: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
29
January 2, 1987
@ Denver
30
January 3, 1987
Seattle
W 138–114
The Summit
13–17
31
January 6, 1987
@ Golden State
L 100–118
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
13–18
32
January 8, 1987
Indiana
33
January 10, 1987
Dallas
35
January 15, 1987
@ Chicago
36
January 16, 1987
@ Detroit
W 112–106
Pontiac Silverdome
18–18
37
January 18, 1987
@ Boston
L 99–122
Boston Garden
18–19
41
January 24, 1987
Washington
42
January 27, 1987
Utah
43
January 29, 1987
Milwaukee
L 93–99
The Summit
22–21 :
February: 8–4 (home: 5–2; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 1, 1987
@ Atlanta
W 106–104
The Omni
23–21
45
February 3, 1987
Denver
46
February 5, 1987
Golden State
W 120–110
The Summit
24–22
All-Star Break
49
February 14, 1987
@ Milwaukee
L 101–116
MECCA Arena
26–23
50
February 16, 1987
Dallas
51
February 19, 1987
Boston
L 92–99
The Summit
27–24
52
February 21, 1987
Utah
53
February 23, 1987
Denver
54
February 24, 1987
@ Denver
55
February 26, 1987
@ Utah :
March: 7–10 (home: 4–3; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
56
March 1, 1987
Philadelphia
59
March 5, 1987
@ Golden State
L 96–105
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
32–27
60
March 7, 1987
@ Seattle
L 115–118
Seattle Center Coliseum
32–28
61
March 8, 1987
@ Portland
62
March 10, 1987
Seattle
L 127–136 (2OT)
The Summit
32–30
64
March 14, 1987
@ Dallas
65
March 16, 1987
Chicago
68
March 21, 1987
@ Utah
69
March 23, 1987
Detroit
L 110–114
The Summit
36–33
71
March 26, 1987
Portland
72
March 28, 1987
L.A. Lakers
L 109–123
The Summit
37–35
73
March 31, 1987
@ L.A. Lakers
L 96–111
The Forum
37–36 :
April: 5–4 (home: 3–0; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
76
April 6, 1987
@ Portland
79
April 11, 1987
Denver
80
April 15, 1987
@ Dallas
81
April 17, 1987
Dallas
82
April 18, 1987
@ Denver :
1986–87 schedule :

## Playoffs

1987 playoff game log :
First Round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 24, 1987
@ Portland
W 125–115
Olajuwon (30)
Olajuwon (10)
Leavell (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–0
2
April 26, 1987
@ Portland
L 98–111
Leavell, Sampson (28)
McCray (12)
Leavell (8)
Memorial Coliseum 12,666
1–1
3
April 28, 1987
Portland
W 117–108
Olajuwon (35)
Olajuwon (11)
Leavell (13)
The Summit 16,279
2–1
4
April 30, 1987
Portland
W 113–101
Olajuwon (27)
McCray, Sampson (10)
Leavell (8)
The Summit 16,279
3–1 :
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 2, 1987
Seattle
L 106–111 (OT)
Olajuwon (28)
Olajuwon (16)
McCray (8)
The Summit 16,279
0–1
2
May 5, 1987
Seattle
L 97–99
Olajuwon (27)
Olajuwon, Sampson (13)
Leavell, McCray (8)
The Summit 16,279
0–2
3
May 7, 1987
@ Seattle
W 102–84
Olajuwon (33)
Olajuwon (11)
Reid (9)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,587
1–2
4
May 9, 1987
@ Seattle
L 102–117
McCray, Olajuwon (20)
McCray (12)
Leavell (5)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,559
1–3
5
May 12, 1987
Seattle
W 112–107
Olajuwon (26)
McCray (10)
McCray (11)
The Summit 16,279
2–3
6
May 14, 1987
@ Seattle
L 125–128 (2OT)
Olajuwon (49)
Olajuwon (25)
Reid (12)
Seattle Center Coliseum 14,751
2–4 :
1987 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
* Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive First Team
* Rodney McCray, NBA All-Defensive Second Team