# 1987–88 Houston Rockets season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Rockets' 21st season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Houston. The Rockets finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 46–36 record. Akeem Olajuwon was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets lost in four games to the Dallas Mavericks.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
| 2 | 35 | Doug Lee | SG/SF | United States | Purdue |
| 4 | 82 | Josh Niego | | United States | Lewis |
| 5 | 104 | Andre LaFleur | | United States | Northeastern |
| 6 | 129 | Fred Jenkins | | United States | Tennessee |
| 7 | 151 | Clarence Grier | | United States | Campbell |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Midwest Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | – | 35–6 | 19–22 | 18–12 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 1 | 33–8 | 20–21 | 20–10 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 7 | 33–8 | 14–27 | 18–12 |
| x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 8 | 31–10 | 15–26 | 13–17 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 23 | 23–18 | 8–33 | 12–18 |
| Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 30 | 19–22 | 5–36 | 9–21 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Denver Nuggets | 54 | 28 | .659 | 8 |
| 3 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 4 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 53 | 29 | .646 | 9 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 46 | 36 | .561 | 16 |
| 7 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 20 | 62 | .244 | 42 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
    z – clinched division title
    y – clinched division title
    x – clinched playoff spot

### Record vs. opponents

1987-88 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 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Boston | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Cleveland | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 6–0 |
| Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
| Golden State | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–2 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | — | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 |
| New Jersey | 0–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 |
| New York | 3–3 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 0–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–6 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | — | 4–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Sacramento | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| San Antonio | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | — | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Seattle | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | — | 2–0 |
| Washington | 3–3 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |

## Game log
### Regular season

1987–88 game log Total: 46–36 (home: 31–10; road: 15–26) :
November: 7–6 (home: 3–2; road: 4–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
2
November 8 9:30 p.m. CST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 92–101
Olajuwon (26)
Olajuwon (11)
Conner, Leavell (4)
The Forum 17,505
1–1
5
November 14 7:30 p.m. CST
Utah
W 101–93
Olajuwon (19)
Olajuwon (16)
Leavell, Maxwell (3)
The Summit 16,614
4–1
9
November 21 6:30 p.m. CST
@ Atlanta
L 94–104
Olajuwon (17)
Sampson (9)
Leavell, McCray (7)
The Omni 16,451
6–3
10
November 24 7:00 p.m. CST
Detroit
L 83–97
Olajuwon (21)
Olajuwon (15)
Short (5)
The Summit 16,611
6–4
12
November 27 8:30 p.m. CST
@ Utah
L 96–118
Sampson (19)
Sampson (11)
Conner, McCray (3)
Salt Palace 12,212
7–5 :
December: 7–6 (home: 5–1; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
18
December 10 7:30 p.m. CST
Utah
W 98–93
Leavell (20)
Olajuwon (14)
Leavell (8)
The Summit 16,611
11–7
23
December 22 7:30 p.m. CST
Atlanta
W 122–103
Floyd (27)
McCray, Olajuwon (13)
McCray (9)
The Summit 16,611
12–11
24
December 26 7:30 p.m. CST
@ Dallas
L 100–105
Olajuwon (24)
Olajuwon (14)
Leavell (7)
Reunion Arena 17,007
12–12
25
December 29 6:30 p.m. CST
@ Detroit
W 101–91
Carroll (25)
Olajuwon (14)
Floyd (6)
Pontiac Silverdome 26,498
13–12 :
January: 9–5 (home: 6–1; road: 3–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
28
January 4 7:30 p.m. CST
Dallas
W 117–107
Olajuwon (31)
Olajuwon (11)
Floyd (11)
The Summit 16,611
16–12
35
January 18 4:00 p.m. CST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 110–121
Olajuwon (24)
Olajuwon (9)
Floyd (7)
The Forum 17,505
20–15
40
January 30 7:30 p.m. CST
@ Dallas
W 108–92
Olajuwon (29)
McCray (12)
Floyd (8)
Reunion Arena 17,007
23–17 :
February: 9–4 (home: 7–2; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
All-Star Break
43
February 9 7:30 p.m. CST
Boston
W 129–120
Olajuwon (30)
Olajuwon (16)
Floyd (7)
The Summit 16,611
26–17
48
February 18 7:30 p.m. CST
L.A. Lakers
L 96–111
Olajuwon (20)
Olajuwon (20)
Floyd (6)
The Summit 16,611
29–19
51
February 25 7:30 p.m. CST
Dallas
L 106–108
Floyd (22)
McCray (13)
Floyd (11)
The Summit 16,611
31–20 :
March: 9–7 (home: 6–1; road: 3–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
54
March 1 8:30 p.m. CST
@ Utah
L 112–113
Olajuwon (27)
McCray (13)
Short (5)
Salt Palace 12,444
32–22
56
March 4 7:00 p.m. CST
@ Dallas
L 110–118
Olajuwon, Short (22)
Olajuwon (12)
Leavell, Reid (7)
Reunion Arena 17,007
33–23
64
March 22 9:30 p.m. CST
@ L.A. Lakers
L 95–117
Carroll (16)
Olajuwon (10)
Leavell (6)
The Forum 17,505
38–26
68
March 30 6:30 p.m. CST
@ Boston
L 110–117
Johnson (18)
McCray (10)
Floyd, Short (5)
Boston Garden 14,890
40–28 :
April: 5–8 (home: 4–3; road: 1–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
72
April 7 7:30 p.m. CDT
Utah
W 113–107
Olajuwon (22)
Olajuwon (15)
Olajuwon (6)
The Summit 16,611
42–30
78
April 17 12 Noon CDT
L.A. Lakers
W 127–119
Olajuwon (38)
Carroll (10)
Floyd (9)
The Summit 16,611
45–33
79
April 19 7:30 p.m. CDT
Dallas
L 96–104
Olajuwon (33)
Olajuwon (9)
Floyd (8)
The Summit 16,611
45–34
81
April 23 8:30 p.m. CDT
@ Utah
L 107–125
Carroll (24)
Olajuwon (12)
Floyd (7)
Salt Palace 12,444
45–36 :
1987–88 schedule :

## Playoffs

1988 playoff game log :
Western Conference First Round: 1–3 (home: 0–2; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28 7:30 p.m. CDT
@ Dallas
L 110–120
Olajuwon (34)
Olajuwon (14)
Floyd (11)
Reunion Arena 17,007
0–1
2
April 30 2:30 p.m. CDT
@ Dallas
W 119–108
Floyd (42)
Olajuwon (26)
Floyd (9)
Reunion Arena 17,007
1–1
3
May 3 7:30 p.m. CDT
Dallas
L 92–93
Olajuwon (35)
Olajuwon (12)
Floyd (5)
The Summit 16,611
1–2
4
May 5 7:00 p.m. CDT
Dallas
L 97–107
Olajuwon (40)
Olajuwon (15)
Floyd (9)
The Summit 16,611
1–3 :
1988 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 First Team