# 1976–77 Houston Rockets season

The 1976–77 NBA season was the Rockets' 10th season in the NBA and 6th season in the city of Houston.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Washington Bullets in six games in the Semifinals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the conference finals.

## Offseason
### Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
| 1 | 1 | John Lucas (from Atlanta) | G | United States | Maryland |
| 2 | 27 | Phil Hicks | F | United States | Tulane |
* $^{a1}$ $^2$ On June 7, 1976, the Houston Rockets acquired Dwight Jones and the first pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gus Bailey, Joe Meriweather and the ninth pick. The Rockets used the pick to draft John Lucas. The Hawks used the pick to draft Armond Hill.

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Houston Rockets | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 34–7 | 15–26 | 13–7 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1 | 32–9 | 16–25 | 11–9 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 44 | 38 | .537 | 5 | 31–10 | 13–28 | 9–11 |
| x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 6 | 29–12 | 14–27 | 8–12 |
| New Orleans Jazz | 35 | 47 | .427 | 14 | 26–15 | 9–32 | 10–10 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 18 | 19–22 | 12–29 | 9–11 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Philadelphia 76ers | 50 | 32 | .610 | – |
| 2 | y-Houston Rockets | 49 | 33 | .598 | 1 |
| 3 | x-Washington Bullets | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Boston Celtics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 44 | 38 | .537 | 6 |
| 6 | x-Cleveland Cavaliers | 43 | 39 | .524 | 7 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 10 |
| 8 | New Orleans Jazz | 35 | 47 | .427 | 15 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 19 |
| 10 | Buffalo Braves | 30 | 52 | .366 | 20 |
| 11 | New York Nets | 22 | 60 | .268 | 28 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1976–77 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NOJ | NYK | NYN | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SEA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 0–4 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 |
| Boston | 4–0 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Buffalo | 0–4 | 1–3 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–4 |
| Chicago | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Denver | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 |
| Detroit | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Golden State | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 |
| Houston | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 |
| Indiana | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| Los Angeles | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 |
| Milwaukee | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| New Orleans | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–1 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 |
| N.Y. Knicks | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| N.Y. Nets | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 |
| Philadelphia | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 |
| Phoenix | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–3 |
| Portland | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–4 | 0–4 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Seattle | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | — | 3–1 |
| Washington | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | — |

### Game log

| Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Record |
| Oct 21, 1976 | @Atlanta Hawks | W | 120–104 | 1–0 |
| Oct 23, 1976 | vs.Phoenix Suns | W | 129–126 | 2–0 |
| Oct 27, 1976 | vs.Philadelphia 76ers | L | 94–116 | 2–1 |
| Oct 30, 1976 | Washington Bullets | W | 105–92 | 3–1 |
| Nov 3, 1976 | Boston Celtics | W | 117–111 OT | 4–1 |
| Nov 5, 1976 | @New York Nets | L | 91–95 | 4–2 |
| Nov 6, 1976 | @Buffalo Braves | L | 102–117 | 4–3 |
| Nov 9, 1976 | @Chicago Bulls | W | 111–92 | 5–3 |
| Nov 10, 1976 | Seattle SuperSonics | W | 99–97 | 6–3 |
| Nov 12, 1976 | @Milwaukee Bucks | L | 99–111 | 6–4 |
| Nov 13, 1976 | New York Nets | L | 110–114 | 6–5 |
| Nov 17, 1976 | Buffalo Braves | W | 120–114 OT | 7–5 |
| Nov 20, 1976 | Kansas City Kings | W | 127–126 OT | 8–5 |
| Nov 24, 1976 | Golden State Warriors | W | 113–107 OT | 9–5 |
| Nov 25, 1976 | @New Orleans Jazz | W | 105–99 | 10–5 |
| Nov 27, 1976 | San Antonio Spurs | W | 125–116 | 11–5 |
| Dec 1, 1976 | Detroit Pistons | W | 110–104 | 12–5 |
| Dec 2, 1976 | Milwaukee Bucks | W | 137–110 | 13–5 |
| Dec 4, 1976 | Indiana Pacers | W | 120–108 | 14–5 |
| Dec 8, 1976 | @Phoenix Suns | L | 95–116 | 14–6 |
| Dec 10, 1976 | @Los Angeles Lakers | L | 99–109 | 14–7 |
| Dec 11, 1976 | @Golden State Warriors | L | 112–124 | 14–8 |
| Dec 12, 1976 | @Seattle SuperSonics | W | 96–92 | 15–8 |
| Dec 14, 1976 | @Portland Trail Blazers | L | 84–104 | 15–9 |
| Dec 16, 1976 | Atlanta Hawks | W | 118–107 | 16–9 |
| Dec 18, 1976 | New Orleans Jazz | L | 106–110 | 16–10 |
| Dec 22, 1976 | Washington Bullets | W | 111–90 | 17–10 |
| Dec 26, 1976 | @Indiana Pacers | W | 93–79 | 18–10 |
| Dec 28, 1976 | @New York Knicks | L | 99–111 | 18–11 |
| Dec 29, 1976 | Philadelphia 76ers | W | 93–91 | 19–11 |
| Jan 1, 1977 | @Washington Bullets | L | 89–104 | 19–12 |
| Jan 2, 1977 | @Cleveland Cavaliers | L | 80–104 | 19–13 |
| Jan 5, 1977 | New York Knicks | W | 108–107 | 20–13 |
| Jan 7, 1977 | Denver Nuggets | L | 107–117 | 20–14 |
| Jan 8, 1977 | @Kansas City Kings | L | 94–106 | 20–15 |
| Jan 11, 1977 | @Boston Celtics | L | 101–105 | 20–16 |
| Jan 12, 1977 | @Philadelphia 76ers | L | 97–102 | 20–17 |
| Jan 14, 1977 | @Milwaukee Bucks | W | 111–84 | 21–17 |
| Jan 15, 1977 | Los Angeles Lakers | W | 122–116 | 22–17 |
| Jan 18, 1977 | Chicago Bulls | W | 103–85 | 23–17 |
| Jan 19, 1977 | Boston Celtics | L | 102–112 | 23–18 |
| Jan 21, 1977 | @Detroit Pistons | L | 86–109 | 23–19 |
| Jan 22, 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | W | 110–107 | 24–19 |
| Jan 27, 1977 | Detroit Pistons | W | 114–107 | 25–19 |
| Jan 28, 1977 | Atlanta Hawks | W | 118–104 | 26–19 |
| Jan 29, 1977 | @Atlanta Hawks | L | 97–101 | 26–20 |
| Feb 3, 1977 | @New York Knicks | L | 90–108 | 26–21 |
| Feb 5, 1977 | New York Knicks | W | 105–103 | 27–21 |
| Feb 6, 1977 | @New Orleans Jazz | L | 90–99 | 27–22 |
| Feb 8, 1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers | W | 97–81 | 28–22 |
| Feb 9, 1977 | Chicago Bulls | W | 108–103 | 29–22 |
| Feb 11, 1977 | San Antonio Spurs | L | 104–107 | 29–23 |
| Feb 16, 1977 | Seattle SuperSonics | W | 124–95 | 30–23 |
| Feb 17, 1977 | @San Antonio Spurs | W | 113–99 | 31–23 |
| Feb 19, 1977 | @Kansas City Kings | L | 109–115 | 31–24 |
| Feb 22, 1977 | @Denver Nuggets | L | 106–118 | 31–25 |
| Feb 24, 1977 | @Phoenix Suns | W | 109–106 | 32–25 |
| Feb 25, 1977 | @Portland Trail Blazers | W | 123–106 | 33–25 |
| Feb 27, 1977 | @Los Angeles Lakers | L | 101–106 | 33–26 |
| Mar 2, 1977 | Los Angeles Lakers | W | 120–113 | 34–26 |
| Mar 5, 1977 | Milwaukee Bucks | W | 119–106 | 35–26 |
| Mar 6, 1977 | @New York Nets | W | 99–91 | 36–26 |
| Mar 7, 1977 | @Buffalo Braves | W | 128–107 | 37–26 |
| Mar 9, 1977 | Phoenix Suns | W | 105–100 | 38–26 |
| Mar 11, 1977 | @Indiana Pacers | W | 124–109 | 39–26 |
| Mar 12, 1977 | New Orleans Jazz | W | 120–104 | 40–26 |
| Mar 16, 1977 | New York Nets | W | 100–86 | 41–26 |
| Mar 17, 1977 | @Cleveland Cavaliers | W | 88–87 | 42–26 |
| Mar 18, 1977 | @Philadelphia 76ers | L | 104–124 | 42–27 |
| Mar 19, 1977 | Buffalo Braves | W | 110–104 | 43–27 |
| Mar 22, 1977 | Indiana Pacers | W | 106–99 | 44–27 |
| Mar 23, 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | W | 109–104 | 45–27 |
| Mar 24, 1977 | @San Antonio Spurs | L | 112–118 | 45–28 |
| Mar 26, 1977 | Kansas City Kings | W | 107–97 | 46–28 |
| Mar 27, 1977 | @Detroit Pistons | L | 100–115 | 46–29 |
| Mar 29, 1977 | @Golden State Warriors | L | 92–109 | 46–30 |
| Mar 30, 1977 | @Seattle SuperSonics | L | 105–111 | 46–31 |
| Apr 1, 1977 | @Washington Bullets | W | 91–85 | 47–31 |
| Apr 2, 1977 | Cleveland Cavaliers | W | 106–93 | 48–31 |
| Apr 6, 1977 | @Boston Celtics | W | 104–93 | 49–31 |
| Apr 8, 1977 | @Chicago Bulls | L | 109–113 | 49–32 |
| Apr 9, 1977 | Denver Nuggets | L | 110–118 | 49–33 |

## Playoffs

1977 playoff game log :
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 19
Washington
L 101–111
Mike Newlin (24)
Moses Malone (10)
John Lucas (7)
The Summit 15,458
0–1
2
April 21
Washington
W 124–118 (OT)
Moses Malone (31)
Moses Malone (26)
Mike Newlin (9)
The Summit 15,676
1–1
3
April 24
@ Washington
L 90–93
Malone, Lucas (18)
Moses Malone (15)
John Lucas (8)
Capital Centre 16,842
1–2
4
April 26
@ Washington
W 107–103
Rudy Tomjanovich (28)
Moses Malone (13)
Mike Newlin (7)
Capital Centre 19,035
2–2
5
April 29
Washington
W 123–115
Calvin Murphy (40)
Moses Malone (22)
Mike Newlin (6)
The Summit 15,676
3–2
6
May 1
@ Washington
W 108–103
Rudy Tomjanovich (26)
Moses Malone (14)
Calvin Murphy (9)
Capital Centre 12,393
4–2 :
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 5
@ Philadelphia
L 117–128
Moses Malone (32)
Moses Malone (12)
Calvin Murphy (13)
Spectrum 17,507
0–1
2
May 8
@ Philadelphia
L 97–106
Calvin Murphy (32)
Moses Malone (18)
Mike Newlin (11)
Spectrum 14,855
0–2
3
May 11
Philadelphia
W 118–94
Moses Malone (30)
Moses Malone (25)
John Lucas (9)
The Summit 15,676
1–2
4
May 13
Philadelphia
L 95–107
Rudy Tomjanovich (24)
Kevin Kunnert (17)
John Lucas (14)
The Summit 15,676
1–3
5
May 15
@ Philadelphia
W 118–115
Tomjanovich, Lucas (21)
Moses Malone (19)
Calvin Murphy (10)
Spectrum 18,276
2–3
6
May 17
Philadelphia
L 109–112
John Lucas (24)
Moses Malone (16)
Tomjanovich, Murphy (5)
The Summit 15,676
2–4 :
1977 schedule :

## Awards and records

* Tom Nissalke, NBA Coach of the Year Award
* Ray Patterson, NBA Executive of the Year Award
* John Lucas, NBA All-Rookie Team 1st Team