# 1979–80 Houston Rockets season

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Rockets' 13th season in the NBA and 9th season in the city of Houston.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the San Antonio Spurs in three games in the First Round, before being swept by the Boston Celtics in four games in the Semifinals.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 1 | 17 | Lee Johnson | United States | East Texas State |
| 2 | 42 | Paul Mokeski | United States | Kansas |
| 3 | 59 | Ricardo Brown | United States | Pepperdine |
| 4 | 76 | Sam Drummer | United States | Georgia Tech |
| 4 | 80 | Lionel Green | United States | LSU |
| 5 | 104 | Allen Leavell | United States | Oklahoma City |
| 6 | 124 | Collie Davis | United States | Southern |
| 7 | 143 | Rich Valavicius | United States | Auburn |
| 8 | 161 | Delbert Watson | United States | East Tennessee State |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Central Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | – | 32–9 | 18–23 | 21–9 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 29–12 | 12–29 | 20–10 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 9 | 27–14 | 14–27 | 14–16 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 28–13 | 9–32 | 16–14 |
| Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 13 | 26–15 | 11–30 | 15–15 |
| Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 34 | 13–28 | 3–38 | 4–26 |
| # | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte | Eastern Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 61 | 21 | .744 | – |
| 2 | y-Atlanta Hawks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 59 | 23 | .720 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 5 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 41 | 41 | .500 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 39 | 43 | .476 | 22 |
| 8 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 8 | Indiana Pacers | 37 | 45 | .451 | 24 |
| 10 | New Jersey Nets | 34 | 48 | .415 | 27 |
| 11 | Detroit Pistons | 16 | 66 | .195 | 44 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records :
| Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| Atlanta | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Detroit | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| New York | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | — | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 0–2 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 41–41 (home: 29–12; road: 12–29) :
October: 2–7 (home: 2–1; road: 0–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
October 12, 1979
@ Boston
L 106–114
Boston Garden
0–1
2
October 13, 1979 7:05 p.m. CDT
@ Philadelphia
L 105–113
Malone (20)
Jones (10)
Dunleavy (8)
The Spectrum 13,503
0–2
3
October 16, 1979
@ New York
L 121–126
Madison Square Garden
0–3
4
October 17, 1979
Indiana
W 116–112
The Summit
1–3
5
October 20, 1979
Atlanta
W 107–102
The Summit
2–3
6
October 24, 1979
Boston
L 99–100
The Summit
2–4
7
October 28, 1979
@ New Jersey
L 115–120
Rutgers Athletic Center
2–5
8
October 30, 1979
@ Cleveland
L 112–124
Richfield Coliseum
2–6
9
October 31, 1979
@ Indiana
L 129–133 (OT)
Market Square Arena
2–7 :
November: 10–4 (home: 7–1; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
10
November 3, 1979
@ Detroit
W 114–111
Pontiac Silverdome
3–7
11
November 7, 1979
New Jersey
W 106–101
The Summit
4–7
12
November 10, 1979
Detroit
W 112–104
The Summit
5–7
13
November 13, 1979
@ Chicago
W 128–127
Chicago Stadium
6–7
14
November 14, 1979
Golden State
W 133–92
The Summit
7–7
15
November 16, 1979
New York
W 133–130
The Summit
8–7
16
November 17, 1979
@ Atlanta
W 102–100
The Omni
9–7
17
November 20, 1979
@ New York
L 125–130 (OT)
Madison Square Garden
9–8
18
November 21, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST
Philadelphia
W 97–94
Murphy (26)
Malone (17)
Henderson, Leavell (4)
The Summit 15,203
10–8
19
November 23, 1979 7:05 p.m. CST
@ Philadelphia
L 102–113
Malone (17)
Malone (11)
Reid (6)
The Spectrum 12,608
10–9
20
November 24, 1979
Washington
L 103–105
The Summit
10–10
21
November 27, 1979
@ Kansas City
L 115–117
Municipal Auditorium
10–11
22
November 28, 1979
Cleveland
W 113–111 (OT)
The Summit
11–11
23
November 30, 1979
Atlanta
W 106–95
The Summit
12–11 :
December: 5–9 (home: 4–2; road: 1–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
24
December 1, 1979
Portland
W 120–112 (OT)
The Summit
13–11
25
December 5, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST
Los Angeles
L 114–116
Malone (32)
Malone (15)
Barry (8)
The Summit 15,676
13–12
26
December 7, 1979
Detroit
W 124–109
The Summit
14–12
27
December 8, 1979
@ San Antonio
L 129–138
HemisFair Arena
14–13
28
December 12, 1979
@ San Diego
W 118–107
San Diego Sports Arena
15–13
29
December 13, 1979
@ Phoenix
L 113–121
Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
15–14
30
December 14, 1979
@ Seattle
L 101–109
Kingdome
15–15
31
December 16, 1979
@ Portland
L 101–123
Memorial Coliseum
15–16
32
December 19, 1979
Chicago
L 102–108
The Summit
15–17
33
December 21, 1979<r>7:05 p.m. CST
@ Philadelphia
L 106–117
Murphy (37)
Malone (12)
Henderson (8)
The Spectrum 6,649
15–18
34
December 22, 1979
@ Washington
L 114–122
Capital Centre
15–19
35
December 26, 1979
San Antonio
W 143–110
The Summit
16–19
36
December 27, 1979
@ Atlanta
L 110–112
The Omni
16–20
37
December 29, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST
Philadelphia
W 104–100
Murphy (33)
Malone (17)
Henderson (9)
The Summit 14,635
17–20 :
January: 8–8 (home: 6–4; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
38
January 2, 1980
Boston
L 103–111
The Summit
17–21
39
January 4, 1980
@ New Jersey
L 101–104
Rutgers Athletic Center
17–22
40
January 5, 1980
Phoenix
W 111–110
The Summit
18–22
41
January 8, 1980
@ Cleveland
W 118–115 (OT)
Richfield Coliseum
19–22
42
January 9, 1980
Denver
W 114–112
The Summit
20–22
43
January 12, 1980
Cleveland
W 112–96
The Summit
21–22
44
January 13, 1980
@ Milwaukee
W 121–117
MECCA Arena
22–22
45
January 16, 1980
New Jersey
L 112–122
The Summit
22–23
46
January 18, 1980
Washington
W 134–111
The Summit
22–24
47
January 19, 1980
@ Detroit
L 110–122
Pontiac Silverdome
22–25
48
January 22, 1980
@ Boston
L 106–112
Boston Garden
23–25
49
January 23, 1980
San Diego
W 111–110 (2OT)
The Summit
24–25
50
January 26, 1980
Seattle
W 123–111
The Summit
25–25
51
January 29, 1980
@ Indiana
L 112–133
Market Square Arena
25–26
52
January 30, 1980
San Antonio
L 111–118
The Summit
25–27
53
January 31, 1980 8:05 p.m. CST
Philadelphia
L 105–110
Malone (36)
Malone (19)
Henderson (6)
The Summit 12,539
25–28 :
February: 8–5 (home: 6–1; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
54
February 6, 1980
New Jersey
W 115–114
The Summit
26–28
55
February 8, 1980
Cleveland
W 105–104
The Summit
27–28
56
February 9, 1980
Utah
W 117–95
The Summit
28–28
57
February 12, 1980
@ San Antonio
W 120–118
HemisFair Arena
29–28
58
February 13, 1980
New York
W 122–117
The Summit
30–28
59
February 15, 1980
Milwaukee
L 103–114
The Summit
30–29
60
February 17, 1980
@ Denver
L 99–112
McNichols Sports Arena
30–30
61
February 20, 1980
@ Golden State
L 102–115
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
30–31
62
February 22, 1980
@ Utah
W 94–82
Salt Palace
31–31
63
February 24, 1980 4:00 p.m. CST
@ Los Angeles
L 100–112
Malone (29)
Malone (17)
Paultz (6)
The Forum 15,889
31–32
64
February 26, 1980
Indiana
W 93–88
The Summit
32–32
65
February 27, 1980
Washington
W 110–97
The Summit
33–32
66
February 28, 1980
@ Washington
L 99–105
Capital Centre
33–33 :
March: 8–8 (home: 4–3; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
67
March 2, 1980
Kansas City
L 91–94
The Summit
34–33
68
March 4, 1980
@ Atlanta
W 93–83
The Omni
34–34
69
March 5, 1980
Boston
L 99–103 (OT)
The Summit
34–35
70
March 7, 1980
@ New Jersey
W 111–110 (2OT)
Rutgers Athletic Center
35–35
71
March 8, 1980
Atlanta
L 79–97
The Summit
35–36
72
March 11, 1980
@ New York
L 109–129
Madison Square Garden
35–37
73
March 12, 1980
@ Boston
L 105–121
Boston Garden
35–38
74
March 14, 1980
@ Washington
L 85–92
Capital Centre
35–39
75
March 16, 1980
@ Detroit
W 102–99
Pontiac Silverdome
36–39
76
March 19, 1980
New York
W 139–113
The Summit
37–39
77
March 20, 1980
@ Cleveland
L 96–109
Richfield Coliseum
37–40
78
March 22, 1980
Indiana
W 125–110
The Summit
39–39
79
March 25, 1980
@ San Antonio
L 107–126
HemisFair Arena
38–41
80
March 26, 1980
San Antonio
W 113–101
The Summit
39–41
81
March 28, 1980
Detroit
W 128–112
The Summit
40–41
82
March 30, 1980
@ Indiana
W 121–106
Market Square Arena
41–41 :
1979–80 schedule :

### Playoffs

1980 playoff game log :
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 2, 1980
San Antonio
W 95–85
Calvin Murphy (28)
Moses Malone (14)
Tom Henderson (8)
The Summit 14,454
1–0
2
April 4, 1980
@ San Antonio
L 101–106
Moses Malone (34)
Moses Malone (19)
Tom Henderson (10)
HemisFair Arena 12,894
1–1
3
April 6, 1980
San Antonio
W 141–120
Moses Malone (37)
Moses Malone (20)
Tom Henderson (10)
The Summit 15,676
2–1 :
Conference semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 9, 1980
@ Boston
L 101–119
Moses Malone (27)
Moses Malone (13)
three players tied (4)
Boston Garden 15,320
0–1
2
April 11, 1980
@ Boston
L 75–95
Robert Reid (22)
Robert Reid (14)
Robert Reid (4)
Boston Garden 15,320
0–2
3
April 13, 1980
Boston
L 81–100
Moses Malone (28)
Moses Malone (9)
Henderson, Leavell (5)
The Summit 14,243
0–3
4
April 14, 1980
Boston
L 121–138
Moses Malone (28)
Moses Malone (15)
Reid, Leavell (8)
The Summit 13,106
0–4 :
1980 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

* Moses Malone, All-NBA Second Team