query: when did the houston rockets win the championship?

title: Houston Rockets

text: head coach midway through the 1991–92 season, ushering in the most successful period in franchise history. The Olajuwon-led Rockets went to the 1994 NBA Finals and won the franchise's first championship against Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks. The following season, reinforced by another All-Star, Clyde Drexler, the Rockets repeated as champions with a four-game sweep of the Orlando Magic, who were led by a young Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Houston, which was seeded sixth in the Western Conference during the 1995 playoffs, became the lowest-seeded team in NBA history to win the title. The Rockets acquired all-star

title: Houston Rockets

text: Olajuwon's former college teammate Clyde Drexler. With only 47 wins, the Rockets entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Still, a strong playoff run that earned Houston the nickname "Clutch City" had the Rockets defeating the West's top three seeds – the Jazz, Suns and Spurs – to reach back-to-back finals, this time against the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. When Houston swept the series in four straight games, they became the first team in NBA history to win the championship as a sixth seed, and the first to beat four

title: 1994–95 Houston Rockets season

text: 1994–95 Houston Rockets season The 1994–95 NBA season was the Rockets' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in Houston. After winning their first championship, the Rockets went on to win their first nine games of the season. However, with increased competition in the West, management felt a change was needed to win another title. On February 14, the Rockets traded Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers for All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, a former teammate of Hakeem Olajuwon at the University of Houston. However, after the trade, the Rockets struggled in the second half of the

title: Houston Rockets

text: 1967. In the 1968 NBA draft, the Rockets, picking first overall, selected power forward Elvin Hayes, who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season. The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record until the 1976–77 season, when they traded for center Moses Malone. Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice and led Houston to the conference finals in his first year with the team. He also led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981 where they were defeated in six games by the Boston

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Finals, where they lost again to Boston. In the next seven seasons, they lost in the first round of the playoffs five times. They did not win their first championship until 1994, when Olajuwon led them to a franchise-best 58 wins, and the championship. The Rockets repeated the feat in 1995, but in the following seasons, they did not advance to the finals again. They missed the playoffs from 1999 to 2003, and did not reach the playoffs again until they drafted Yao Ming in 2003. However, they would not advance past the first round of the playoffs for 13

title: 1980–81 Houston Rockets season

text: of 60 set in 1976, and achieving a free-throw percentage of .958, breaking Barry's record set with the Rockets in 1979. Notes (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 2-1" Last playoff meeting: This the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Rockets (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 4-3" Last playoff meeting: 1980 Eastern conference first round (Houston won 2-1) (5) Kansas City Kings vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 4-1" Last playoff meeting: This is the first meeting between the Kings and the Rockets 1980–81 Houston Rockets

title: 1993–94 Houston Rockets season

text: and 1986. Olajuwon was the only player of the 1985–86 Rockets to still be on the 1993–94 team. The Rockets also became the first team from the Midwest Division since the Milwaukee Bucks 23 years ago to win the NBA title. (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Portland Trail Blazers: "Rockets win series 3–1" Last playoff meeting: 1987 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3–1) (2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Phoenix Suns: "Rockets win series 4–3" Last playoff meeting: This was the first meeting between the Rockets and Suns. (2) Houston Rockets vs. (5) Utah Jazz: "Rockets win series 4–1" Last

title: Houston Rockets

text: off-season, Houston saw major changes in the roster as the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady in a seven-player deal with the Orlando Magic. The scoring champion McGrady and the strong rebounder Yao formed a well-regarded pair that helped the Rockets win 22 consecutive games in the 2007–08 season, which was at the time the 3rd longest winning streak in NBA history. Still, the duo was plagued with injuries – of the 463 regular season games for which they were teammates, Yao missed 146 and McGrady 160 – and did not win any playoff series, despite gathering leads over the Dallas Mavericks

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: moved the team to Houston. The franchise became the first NBA team in Texas, and the team's nickname of "Rockets" took on even greater relevance after the move since Houston is home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Upon their arrival, many were in disbelief that the Rockets could thrive in Houston. They were coming to a city that did not have a suitable arena, and had not shown much interest in professional basketball. Houston was previously home to the Houston Mavericks of the American Basketball Association for only two seasons between 1967 and 1969, where the average attendance

title: 1985–86 Houston Rockets season

text: Boston Celtics in a rematch of the 1981 NBA Finals, where the Celtics won in six games. Just like in their previous NBA Finals meeting, the Rockets would lose in six games against the Celtics. (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Sacramento Kings:"Rockets win series 3–0" Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4–1; Kings were in Kansas City, Missouri) (2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Denver Nuggets: "Rockets win series 4–2" Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Rockets and Nuggets. (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 4–1" Last Playoff Meeting:

title: Houston Rockets

text: led by the previous year's MVP Charles Barkley. The series opened up in Houston, which saw the Rockets open up a big lead going into the fourth quarter. In both games, however, the Rockets inexplicably collapsed to allow the Suns a 2-0 lead going back to Phoenix. Following recent heart-breaking playoff losses by the Houston Oilers, it appeared as though the Rockets were doomed. Local newspapers labeled Houston as "Choke City", which the Rockets took to heart and ultimately came back to win the series in seven games. As "Choke City" became "Clutch City", the name permanently became a part

title: 1994–95 Houston Rockets season

text: they faced the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Both teams lacked home court advantage in the series, only winning on the road until the Rockets won Game 6 at The Summit and advanced to the NBA Finals. In the Finals, they swept the Orlando Magic in four straight games, and won their second consecutive championship. Following the season, Vernon Maxwell signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers, and Tracy Murray left in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft. (3) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 3-2 Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4-1) (2)

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: last two games on their home court, and claim their first championship in franchise history. Olajuwon was awarded the Finals MVP, after averaging 27 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots a game. The Rockets initially struggled in the first half of the 1994–95 season, and ended up winning only 47 games, which was 11 games lower than their previous year's total. In a midseason trade with Portland, the Rockets obtained guard Clyde Drexler, a former teammate of Olajuwon at the University of Houston, in exchange for Otis Thorpe. Houston entered the playoffs as the sixth seed in the Western

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: July 30, 1993, Leslie Alexander purchased the Rockets for $85 million. In Tomjanovich's second full year as head coach, the Rockets began the 1993–94 season by tying an NBA record with start of 15–0. Led by Olajuwon, who was named the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, the Rockets won a franchise-record 58 games. The Rockets recovered from being two games down to the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the playoffs, to advance to the finals. Houston was once again down by three games to two to the New York Knicks, but they managed to win the

title: 1994–95 Houston Rockets season

text: Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 4-3" Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Semifinals (Houston won 4-3) (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 4-2" Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Semifinals (Houston won 4-3) Head Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich <br> Hakeem Olajuwon | Clyde Drexler | Kenny Smith | Robert Horry | Sam Cassell | Mario Elie | Carl Herrera | Vernon Maxwell | Chucky Brown | Pete Chilcutt | Tracy Murray | Tim Breaux | Žan Tabak | Charles Jones | Adrian Caldwell | Although both centers played well, Olajuwon is generally

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Houston – a close game 3 under Sampson's leadership, and a 15 point-leading game 5 without him as he got ejected – while also losing game 4 due to late Larry Bird 3 pointers and untimely turnovers by Rockets guard Mitchell Wiggins. Game 6 went back to Boston with Sampson finding himself again in foul trouble and of little effect against the older and wiser Celtics. After the series, Boston coach KC Jones called the Rockets, "the new monsters on the block" with the future looking very bright for the Rockets. During the six-game championship series loss against the Celtics,

title: 1986–87 Houston Rockets season

text: "SuperSonics win series 4-2" Last Playoff Meeting: 1982 Western Conference First Round (Seattle won 2-1) 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. (3) Portland Trail Blazers vs.(6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 3-1"

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: 20, 2013, the Rockets acquired Thomas Robinson, the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, in a trade with the Sacramento Kings where Houston sent Marcus Morris and Patrick Patterson. On that same night, the Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-119 after trailing by 14 with 6:58 remaining in the game. James Harden scored a then career high of 46 points in the win over his former team. Despite being the youngest team in the NBA, the Rockets became one of the highest scoring offenses in the NBA. Even more remarkable was that only two players – starting

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Rockets' record only 26–26, Chaney was fired and replaced by one of his assistants, former Houston player Tomjanovich. Although the Rockets did not make the playoffs, in the next year, the Rockets won-loss record improved by 13 games, as they won 55 games. Olajuwon won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, and the Rockets clinched the Midwest title. The playoffs started with Houston's first series victory in 5 years by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, before an elimination by the SuperSonics during a game 7 overtime loss in one of the classic postseason series in NBA History. On

title: 1992–93 Houston Rockets season

text: their record with Seattle, and losing home court advantage due to their match-up tie-breaker against the Sonics, and ended up losing the decisive Game 7 in overtime at Seattle. Following the season, Sleepy Floyd signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs. (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Los Angeles Clippers: "Rockets win series 3-2" Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series) (2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Seattle SuperSonics: "Sonics win series 4-3" Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Western Conference First Round (Seattle won 3-0) 1992–93 Houston Rockets season The 1992–93 NBA season was the Rockets' 26th season in

title: 1986–87 Houston Rockets season

text: 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. (3) Portland Trail Blazers vs.(6) Houston Rockets: "Rockets win series 3-1" Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series) (6) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Seattle SuperSonics:

title: 1991–92 Houston Rockets season

text: 1991–92 Houston Rockets season The 1991–92 NBA season was the Rockets' 25th season in the National Basketball Association, and 21st season in the city of Houston. The Rockets started the season defeating the Los Angeles Lakers at The Summit in double-overtime 126–121, and got off to a fast start winning nine of their first twelves games. However, they would start to struggle losing five consecutive games afterwards. By February 21, they hovered at .500 with a mediocre 27–27 record when head coach Don Chaney was fired and replaced with Rudy Tomjanovich. Under Tomjanovich, the Rockets would win eleven of their

title: Houston Rockets

text: Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center, located in downtown Houston. The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles. The team was established as the San Diego Rockets, an expansion team originally based in San Diego, in 1967. In 1971, the Rockets moved to Houston. The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Toronto Raptors with a 108–105 loss. The team finished the season with 65 wins, a record both league-leading and the best in franchise history. During the playoffs, Houston easily beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz before another confrontation with the Golden State Warriors. In game 5 of the Conference Finals, the Rockets took a 3-2 lead in the series, but saw Paul leave with an injured hamstring. His absence was felt in the two remaining games, where Houston led by halftime only to suffer a comeback by the Warriors. History of the Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: History of the Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before moving to Houston, Texas. In the Rockets' debut season, they won 15 games. After drafting Elvin Hayes first overall in the 1968 NBA Draft, they made their first appearance in the playoffs in 1969. After Hayes was traded, Moses Malone replaced him. Malone won two Most Valuable Player (MVP)

title: 1996–97 Houston Rockets season

text: Conference Finals, only to lose in six games to the Utah Jazz. Following the season, Threatt retired and Sam Mack was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies. After the departures of Barkley, Olajuwon and Drexler, the Rockets did not reach the Conference Finals again until 2015, where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in five games. During the 1996 offseason, Charles Barkley was traded from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, and Chucky Brown. Barkley chose Houston specifically because he hoped to win an NBA Championship with the team. In his first game

title: Jazz–Rockets rivalry

text: a game in the second round until 2013 despite the Rockets advancing in 2009, which McGrady missed due to a season-ending injury. Utah Jazz win series 3–2. Houston Rockets win series 4–1. Houston Rockets win series 3–2. Utah Jazz win series 4–2. Utah Jazz win series 3–2. Utah Jazz win series 4–3. Utah Jazz win series 4–2. Houston Rockets win series 4–1. Jazz–Rockets rivalry The Jazz–Rockets rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets. The rivalry began in the 1990s when the Rockets, led by dominant center Hakeem Olajuwon and college teammate

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: awards during his time in Houston, and he led the Rockets to the 1978 conference finals in his first year with the Rockets. He also took the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, but they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics. Two years after advancing to the finals, the Rockets traded Malone and had two losing seasons, with the first having a franchise-low 14 victories. This gave Houston two straight first overall picks, used to bring future Hall of Famers Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, who eventually got the Rockets all the way to the 1986

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: mark of 60 set in 1976, and achieving a free-throw percentage of .958, breaking Barry's record set with the Rockets in 1979. In the playoffs, Houston began a run that began when they upset Los Angeles two games to one, and then defeated George Gervin's Spurs four games to three in the Western Conference semifinals. This resulted in a conference finals matchup with the Kansas City Kings, who were led by Otis Birdsong, Scott Wedman, and Phil Ford. When the Kings fell to the Rockets in five games, the Rockets became the only team in NBA history to advanced to

title: 1998–99 Houston Rockets season

text: Brent Price to the Vancouver Grizzlies, Mack and Matt Maloney were both released, and Eddie Johnson retired. (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets: "Lakers win series 3-1" Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-1) 1998–99 Houston Rockets season The 1998–99 NBA season was the Rockets' 32nd season in the National Basketball Association, and 28th season in Houston. To replace the retiring Clyde Drexler, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Scottie Pippen from the Chicago Bulls after a four-month lockout. The team also signed free agent Antoine Carr, who appeared in two NBA Finals appearances with

title: 1989–90 Houston Rockets season

text: Seattle SuperSonics for the #8 seed in the Western Conference. Akeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 24.3 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game, while being selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game. However, in the first round of the playoffs, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in four games. The Rockets had no draft picks in 1989. (1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (8) Houston Rockets: "Lakers win series 3-1" Last Playoff Meeting: 1986 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4-1) 1989–90 Houston Rockets season The 1989–90 NBA season was the Rockets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association,

title: 2003–04 Houston Rockets season

text: season, the team sported new uniforms and a new logo, which currently remains in use. (2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) Houston Rockets: "Lakers win series 4–1" Last Playoff Meeting: 1999 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1) 2003–04 Houston Rockets season The 2003–04 NBA season was the Rockets' 37th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 33rd season in the city of Houston. The season saw the Rockets move their home games from Compaq Center to the new Toyota Center. During the offseason, the Rockets hired head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who is best known for his

title: Houston Rockets

text: with the non-NBA team ends. This list includes draft rights that were acquired from trades with other teams. Notes: Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center, located in downtown Houston. The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles. The team was established as the San Diego Rockets, an expansion team originally based in San Diego, in 1967. In 1971,

title: Houston Rockets

text: of Houston folklore. The Rockets then soon defeated John Stockton and Karl Malone's Utah Jazz in five in the Conference Finals to advance to their third finals. The New York Knicks opened a 3-2 advantage, but the Rockets won the last two games on their home court and claimed their first championship in franchise history. Olajuwon was awarded the Finals MVP, after averaging 27 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots a game. The Rockets initially struggled in the first half of the 1994–95 season, which they fixed by sending Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: David Robinson, with Olajuwon, averaging 35.3 points and 12.5 rebounds. The return to the Finals was against the Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. When Houston swept the series in four straight games, they became the first team in NBA history to win the championship as a sixth seed – still the champion with the lowest seed, and the only without home court in any round – and the first to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason en route to the championship. Olajuwon was named the Finals MVP, becoming only the second player after Michael

title: Houston Rockets

text: During the four years the Rockets were in San Diego, they played their games in the San Diego Sports Arena, which had a seating capacity of 14,400. In their first season after moving to Houston, the Rockets did not have their own arena, and they played their first two years at various venues in the city, including the Astrodome, AstroHall, Sam Houston Coliseum and Hofheinz Pavilion, the latter eventually being adopted as their home arena until 1975. They also had to play "home" games in other cities such as San Antonio, Waco, Albuquerque, and even San Diego in efforts to

title: Houston Rockets

text: through the 1991–92 season, with the Rockets' record only 26–26, Chaney was fired and replaced by his assistant Rudy Tomjanovich, a former Houston player himself. While the Rockets did not make the playoffs, Tomjanovich's arrival was considered a step forward. In the next year, the Rockets improved their record by 13 games, getting the Midwest Division title, and winning their first playoff series in 6 years by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, before an elimination by the SuperSonics in a closely contested Game 7 overtime loss. On July 30, 1993, Leslie Alexander purchased the Rockets for $85 million. Following the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: 76ers for Caldwell Jones, to avoid paying his salary. When the Rockets finished a league worst 14–68, Celtics coach Bill Fitch was hired to replace outgoing Del Harris, and after winning a coin flip with the Indiana Pacers to obtain the first pick of the 1983 NBA Draft, the Rockets selected Ralph Sampson from the University of Virginia. Sampson had good numbers as the Rockets finished only 29–53 in the 1983–1984 season, averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds per game and earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Houston was again given the first pick of the 1984 NBA

title: 1990–91 Houston Rockets season

text: Vernon Maxwell averaged 17.0 points per game and led the league with 172 three-point field goals. Head coach Don Chaney was named Coach of The Year. However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in three straight games, marking the second consecutive season the Rockets had their season ended by the Lakers. (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Houston Rockets: "Lakers win series 3-0" Last Playoff Meeting: 1990 Western Conference First Round (Los Angeles won 3-1) 1990–91 Houston Rockets season The 1990–91 NBA season was the Rockets' 24th season in the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: 45 points in his second game with the Rockets against the Atlanta Hawks. Jeremy Lin tied a career-high of 38 points in an overtime loss to the Spurs while Harden sat out with an ankle sprain. Harden was selected to the 2013 NBA All-Star Game, which was held in Houston. On February 5, 2013, the Houston Rockets made 23 3-point field goals in a game against the Golden State Warriors, equaling the NBA team record. In this game, the Rockets also achieved a home game record for most points scored at the Toyota Center with a 140-109 victory. On February

title: Houston Rockets

text: Hayes from the University of Houston. Hayes improved the Rockets' record to 37 wins and 45 losses, enough for the franchise's first ever playoff appearance in 1969, but the Rockets lost in the semi-finals of the Western Division to the Atlanta Hawks, four games to two. Despite the additions of Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich and the management of Hall of Fame coach Alex Hannum, the Rockets tallied a 67–97 record in the following two seasons and did not make the playoffs in either season. Because of the low performance and attendance, Breitbard looked to sell the team, and in

title: Houston Rockets

text: Upon moving to Houston in 1971, the Rockets replaced green with red. They kept the same design from their San Diego days, save for the change of color and city name. The logo used is of a player with a spinning basketball launching upward, with boosters on his back, leaving a trail of red and gold flames and the words "Houston Rockets" below it. For the 1972–73 season, the Rockets introduced the famous "mustard and ketchup" logo, so dubbed by fans, featuring a gold basketball surrounded by two red trails, with "Houston" atop the first red trail and "Rockets" (all

title: 1989–90 Houston Rockets season

text: 1989–90 Houston Rockets season The 1989–90 NBA season was the Rockets' 23rd season in the National Basketball Association, and 19th season in the city of Houston. After a 9–6 start to the season, the Rockets would struggle posting a 12–18 record as they entered the New Year. However, they would manage to win seven of their next nine games. At midseason, the Rockets acquired Vernon Maxwell from the San Antonio Spurs as they continued to play .500 basketball for the rest of the season. They finished fifth in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record, winning a tie-breaker over the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: for the Rockets, averaging 25.9 points a game. Eager to add another franchise player to their team, the Rockets heavily pursued free agent center Dwight Howard in the 2013 offseason. On July 5, 2013, Howard announced via his Twitter account that he intended to sign with the Houston Rockets after the July moratorium period ended. The NBA fined the Rockets $150,000 for talking about Howard during this moratorium period. Dwight Howard officially signed with the Rockets on July 13, 2013. Led by the new inside-out combination of Howard and James Harden, and with a strong supporting cast including Chandler Parsons,

title: Houston Rockets

text: series 4–1 including Nene Hilario's perfect 12–12 in field goals in Game 4. In the following round, Houston opened with a dominating 27 points win over the San Antonio Spurs, lost the following two games and then tied the series again. Game 5 went into overtime and had both Manu Ginobili blocking James Harden's game tying three point attempt at the final second, and Nene injuring himself out of the postseason. Without Nene, the Rockets could not guard LaMarcus Aldridge, who scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the series-closing match. During the 2017 off-season, the Rockets were purchased

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: defeating the Rockets in four games, leading to Fitch's dismissal. Don Chaney was hired to replace him and lead the Rockets to the playoffs in his first season in Houston, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in four games thanks to a buzzer-beater that ended the Rockets season. Chaney was named the Coach of the Year for the 1990–91 season, after leading the Rockets to a 52-30 record despite Olajuwon's absence due to injury for 25 games. The Rockets were once again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, 3–0 to the Lakers. Midway through the next season, with the

title: Houston Rockets

text: playoffs, Houston easily beat the Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz before another confrontation with the Golden State Warriors. In game 5 of the Conference Finals, the Rockets took a 3–2 lead in the series, but saw Paul leave with an injured hamstring. His absence was felt in the two remaining games, where Houston led by halftime only to suffer a comeback by Golden State. "List of the last five seasons completed by the Rockets. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Houston Rockets seasons." "Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Winning percentage"

title: 2006–07 Houston Rockets season

text: and Yao Ming once again were selected to play in the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas. However, McGrady was the only team representative as Yao did not play due to an injury. It was Yao's fifth All-Star appearance and the last of seven All-Star appearances for McGrady as later injuries began to slow him down and eventually limit his playing time. 2006–07 Houston Rockets season The 2006–07 Houston Rockets season was the 40th season of the Houston Rockets franchise in the NBA. The team ended the regular season with a 52–30 record and a 3rd-place finish in the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Fisher (who was waived shortly after and signed with the Thunder) and a first round pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. During the strike-shortened 2011–12 season, the Rockets were eliminated from playoff contention during the season's penultimate game against eventual champions Miami Heat. Before the 2012 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks traded the 12th overall pick, Shaun Livingston, Jon Brockman, and Jon Leuer to the Rockets for the 14th overall pick and Samuel Dalembert. The Minnesota Timberwolves also traded the 18th pick in the draft to Houston for Chase Budinger. In the 2012 NBA Draft, Houston drafted Jeremy Lamb of

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: the playoffs, as soon as the season ended he was replaced by coach Tom Nissalke. Nissalke knew the Rockets had firepower but needed a rebounding center and a play-making guard, and he pressed the Rockets management to acquire college standout John Lucas – drafted first overall in the 1976 NBA draft, a pick Houston acquired by sending Gus Bailey, Joe Meriweather and the ninth pick to the Atlanta Hawks – and his former player at the ABA's Utah Stars Moses Malone – while Malone started the 1976–77 season with the Buffalo Braves, Houston acquired him by sending Buffalo first-round picks

title: Rockets–Spurs rivalry

text: season for the Rockets. The Rockets, known throughout the season for their prolific offense, were held to less than 100 points three times in the series after being held below 100 only five times in the regular season. Houston Rockets win series 2–1. Houston Rockets win series 4–3. Houston Rockets win series 4–2. San Antonio Spurs win series 4–2. Rockets–Spurs rivalry The Rockets–Spurs rivalry is an NBA rivalry between the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. It is also known as the I-10 Rivalry since San Antonio and Houston lie on Interstate 10, it is one of the three

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: a winning record and contending for a playoff spot. The team entered April with chances of qualifying for the postseason, but for the second straight season the Rockets failed to make the playoffs after losing to the New Orleans Hornets in Louisiana with three games remaining. The team still finished the year with a 43-39 winning record. Head coach Rick Adelman left the Rockets right after the season. On June 1, 2011, the Rockets named Kevin McHale their next head coach. With the 14th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected Marcus Morris from the University of

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: eighth seed in the Western Conference. Houston once again faced the Jazz, this time in the first round, and they lost the series 3–2. Drexler retired after the season, and the Rockets made another bold trade to bring in Scottie Pippen to take his place. In the strike-shortened 1998–99 season, the Rocket went 31–19, but lost to the Lakers in the first round 3–1 of the playoffs. After the 1999 draft, the Rockets traded for the third overall pick Steve Francis from the Vancouver Grizzlies, in exchange for four players and a first round draft pick. However, after Houston traded

title: Houston Rockets

text: 50-win teams in a single postseason en route to the championship. Olajuwon was again the Finals MVP, only the second player after Michael Jordan to win the award two years in a row. It was on the floor of The Summit after they captured their second title that head coach Rudy Tomjanovich proclaimed, "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!" During the off-season, the Rockets went for a change of visual identity, making navy blue and silver the new primary colors while adopting a new cartoon-inspired logo and pinstriped jerseys. The Rockets won 48 games in the 1995–96 season,

title: 2017–18 Houston Rockets season

text: Boston Celtics in the Finals, and it would've been James Harden's first conference Finals appearance since 2012 (when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder), and the first conference Finals appearance for Chris Paul in his 13-year career. Despite their unlucky defeat at the hands of the Warriors, this Rockets team is still considered one of the most dominant squads in NBA history. 2017–18 Houston Rockets season The 2017–18 Houston Rockets season was the 51st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 47th in the Houston area. The Rockets acquired star point guard

title: 1996–97 Houston Rockets season

text: with the Houston Rockets, Charles Barkley would get thirty three rebounds, a career high. (3) Houston Rockets vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series) (2) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1996 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-0) (1) Utah Jazz vs. (3) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1995 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-2) 1996–97 Houston Rockets season The 1996–97 NBA season was the Rockets' 30th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Phoenix

title: Houston Rockets

text: Conference ever since the team returned there in 1980. Two are intrastate rivalries, with the San Antonio Spurs, who moved along with the Rockets after four years with them in the Eastern Conference, and the Dallas Mavericks, introduced that very season. Houston faced both Texas teams in playoffs since 1980, beating the Spurs three times and losing once. The Rockets lost twice to the Mavericks, while beating them once. Other famed rivalries were with the Los Angeles Lakers, who in the 1980s Showtime era only missed the NBA Finals when beaten by the Rockets, and the Utah Jazz, who the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: built a 3-1 lead over the Rockets, before the Rockets won the last three games in the series to return to the Conference Finals for the first time in 18 years, this time against the Golden State Warriors. With their win over the Clippers, the Rockets became just the ninth team in NBA history to win a playoff series in which they faced a 3-1 deficit. In the Conference Finals, the Warriors won the first three games before Harden scored 45 points to win Game 4 at the Toyota Center. The Warriors then finished the series in Game 5, winning

title: Houston Rockets

text: 5 games. At that time the Rockets gained popularity in Houston, selling out several home games during the regular season as the Rockets battled for a playoff spot and then selling out all of their home playoff games. In the 1975–76 NBA season the Rockets finally had a permanent home in Houston as they moved into The Summit, which they would call home for the next 29 years. During the period, the franchise was owned by Kenneth Schnitzer, developer of the Greenway Plaza which included The Summit. After missing the 1976 playoffs, Tom Nissalke was hired as a coach, and

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: of their first 11 games. J. B. Bickerstaff, his assistant, took over the head coaching duties. The Rockets struggled to remain in the playoff contention throughout the season due to inconsistent play and injuries. Lawson was waived mid-season in a buyout agreement. Houston only clinched the eight seed in the 2016 playoffs by beating the Kings in the last game of the regular season. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets played the Warriors, who were coming off a record-breaking regular season. The Rockets once again lost to the Warriors in 5 games. After a disappointing season, the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: was only 200. The city's largest indoor arena was 34-year-old Sam Houston Coliseum, but the Rockets quickly ruled out playing there even on a temporary basis. As the team owners planned out on building a proper arena, the Rockets were forced to play most of their games at the University of Houston's Hofheinz Pavilion, while playing occasional games at the Astrodome and San Antonio's HemisFair Arena. Before the start of the 1971–72 NBA season, Hannum left for the Denver Rockets (later renamed Denver Nuggets) of the American Basketball Association, and Tex Winter was hired in his place. However, Winter, who

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: berth since 1999, but the Lakers again handed the Rockets a loss in the first round. In the offseason, Houston saw major changes in the roster as the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady in a seven-player deal with the Orlando Magic. The 2004–05 season saw McGrady and Yao lead the Rockets to their best record in 10 years, finishing at 51–31 and seeded fifth in the Western Conference playoffs. However, their season ended in the first round of the playoffs as they lost to their in-state rival, the Dallas Mavericks, in seven games, despite leading the series 2–0. The following season,

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Olajuwon in almost 20 years finished with a disappointing 28–54 record. With the first overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the Rockets selected Yao Ming, a 7-foot 6-inch Chinese center. The Rockets' record improved by 15 games, but they missed the playoffs by one game. In the following season, Houston began playing in their new arena, the Toyota Center, and redesigned their uniforms and logo, as long-time coach Tomjanovich resigned after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, and was replaced by Jeff Van Gundy. The Rockets finished the regular season with a record of 45–37, and earned their first playoff

title: 1995–96 Houston Rockets season

text: new logo and uniforms remained until 2003. (4) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (5) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 3-0) (1) Seattle SuperSonics vs. (5) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Western Conference Semifinals (Seattle won 4-3) <nowiki>*</nowiki>Required overtime 1995–96 Houston Rockets season The 1995–96 NBA season was the Rockets' 29th season in the National Basketball Association, and 25th season in Houston. After two straight NBA championships, the Rockets got new colors, new uniforms, and a new logo which was actually unveiled aboard the Space Shuttle. The Rockets got off to a fast start

title: 2006–07 Houston Rockets season

text: 2006–07 Houston Rockets season The 2006–07 Houston Rockets season was the 40th season of the Houston Rockets franchise in the NBA. The team ended the regular season with a 52–30 record and a 3rd-place finish in the Southwest. The Rockets faced the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, losing the series in seven games. With the playoff loss, the Rockets made the decision to fire head coach Jeff Van Gundy on May 18, 2007. Five days later, former San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) player Rick Adelman was hired in Van Gundy's position. Like the previous two seasons, Tracy McGrady

title: 2011–12 Houston Rockets season

text: is most memorable when ex-Celtic Kevin McHale was hired to be their new head coach for the upcoming season. The Rockets finished with a mediocre 34–32 record without the playoffs. Due to the 2011 NBA lockout negotiations, the programmed pre-season schedule, along with the first two weeks of the regular season were scrapped, and a two-game pre-season was set for each team once the lockout concluded. 2011–12 Houston Rockets season The 2011–12 Houston Rockets season was the 45th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the 41st based in Houston. This was the first season since

title: 2007–08 Houston Rockets season

text: 2007–08 Houston Rockets season The 2007–08 Houston Rockets season was their 41st season in the National Basketball Association and 37th in Houston. The Rockets won at least 50 games for the second straight season and made the playoffs also on the back of a 22-game winning streak, the fourth longest in the history of the NBA. The Houston Rockets came into the 2007–2008 playoffs without Yao Ming, who was still injured. This injury contributed to the Rockets' elimination by the Utah Jazz in the first round (2–4). This was the second consecutive season where the Rockets' had their season ended

title: 2007–08 Houston Rockets season

text: wood. The color red will remain on the Rockets logo, and the script. This court design is similar to the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, Phoenix Suns, and Portland Trail Blazers in which most of the hardwood is exposed. 2007–08 Houston Rockets season The 2007–08 Houston Rockets season was their 41st season in the National Basketball Association and 37th in Houston. The Rockets won at least 50 games for the second straight season and made the playoffs also on the back of a 22-game winning streak, the fourth longest in the history of the NBA. The Houston Rockets came into

title: 2017–18 Houston Rockets season

text: Finals to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors in seven games. During the series' pivotal game seven, and without an injured Chris Paul, the Rockets would set an NBA Playoff record by missing 27 straight 3-point shots. The Rockets would lose to the Warriors that game by a score of 101–92, missing out on their chance to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1995, when they swept the Shaq/Penny-led Orlando Magic in four games to win their second and most recent NBA Championship. The Rockets were expected by many to face the Cleveland Cavaliers or

title: Houston Rockets all-time roster

text: during his time in Houston, and he led the Rockets to the conference finals in his first year with the team. He also took the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, but they were defeated in six games by the Boston Celtics. In 1984, the Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, who led them to the 1986 Finals in his second year, where they lost again to Boston. In the next seven seasons, they lost in the first round of the playoffs five times. They won their first NBA championship in 1994, led by Olajuwon, who won Finals MVP. They repeated

title: Mavericks–Rockets rivalry

text: the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs, with the Rockets as the 2nd seed and Mavericks the 7th seed, and the Rockets got the best of them 4–1. Dallas Mavericks win series 3–1. Dallas Mavericks win series 4–3. Houston Rockets win series 4–1. Mavericks–Rockets rivalry The Mavericks–Rockets rivalry is an interstate National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. It is also known as the I-45 Rivalry because they both lie on Interstate 45. It is one of the three NBA rivalries between teams from Texas, the others featuring Houston and Dallas versus the

title: 2016–17 Houston Rockets season

text: 2016–17 Houston Rockets season The 2016–17 Houston Rockets season was the 50th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 46th in the Houston area. On June 1, 2016, the Rockets named Mike D'Antoni as their new head coach. The Rockets retired the number 11 of former center Yao Ming in February 2017. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 55–27 record, securing the 3rd seed. In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the First Round, advancing to the Conference Semifinals, where they lost in six games to

title: 2014–15 Houston Rockets season

text: provided veteran leadership and a spark off the bench for the Rockets. In December, the Rockets acquired Corey Brewer and Josh Smith, who both added significant depth to the roster. At the trade deadline in February, the Rockets acquired Pablo Prigioni and K. J. McDaniels in two separate deals. 2014–15 Houston Rockets season The 2014–15 Houston Rockets season was the 48th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the 44th in the Houston area. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 56–26 record, the third best in franchise history. They also won their first ever

title: 1994–95 Houston Rockets season

text: considered to have outplayed O'Neal. Olajuwon outscored O'Neal in every game of the series and became one of the few players in NBA history to score at least 30 points in every game of an NBA Finals series: By winning his second straight NBA Finals MVP award, Hakeem Olajuwon became the sixth player to do so on multiple occasions, joining Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. Olajuwon also joined Jordan as the only two players to win the award consecutively as of that time. "Rockets win series 4–0" 1994–95 Houston Rockets season The 1994–95 NBA

title: Houston Rockets

text: at the upcoming 1984 NBA draft, used to select Hakeem Olajuwon from the University of Houston. In his first season, Olajuwon finished second to Michael Jordan in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting, and the Rockets record improved by 19 games, good enough for a return to the playoffs as the third best team in the West, where they were upset by the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz. The Olajuwon and Sampson duo earned much praise, and was nicknamed "Twin Towers". In the following season, Houston won the Midwest Division title with a 51–31 record. The subsequent playoffs had the Rockets sweeping

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: the Finals after having a losing record in the regular season. However, after splitting the first four games of the series with Boston, Houston eventually lost in six games. The following season, the Rockets improved their regular season mark to 46–36 but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Seattle SuperSonics 4 games to 1 (marking the first of 6 postseason meeting between the two franchises). Although Malone won the MVP in that season, and new owner Charlie Thomas expressed interest in renewing his contract, in the following offseason, the Rockets traded him to the Philadelphia

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: for losses in a season. Attendance ranked as eighth among the league's twelve teams, leading to financial losses. The sole bright spot of the inaugural season was forward Don Kojis, whose good numbers earned him a spot at the 1968 NBA All-Star Game. In 1968, after the Rockets won a coin toss against the Baltimore Bullets to determine who would have the first overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft, they selected Elvin Hayes from the University of Houston. Hayes led the team to the franchise's first ever playoff appearance in 1969, but the Rockets lost in the semi-finals of

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: said that Hayes had "the worst fundamentals of any player" he had ever coached, applied a system that contrasted with the offensive style to which Hayes was accustomed. Because of the differences between Winter and Hayes, Houston traded Hayes, who had led the Rockets in scoring for four straight years, to the Baltimore Bullets for Jack Marin at the end of the 1971–72 season. Winter left soon after, being fired in January 1973 following a ten-game losing streak and with the Rockets as the second worst team of the league, and was replaced by Johnny Egan. With a 41-41 record,

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: injury, the Rockets could not guard Lamarcus Aldridge, who scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. On June 28, 2017, 8 time All-NBA player and 9 time All-Star Chris Paul was acquired in a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, in exchange for Sam Dekker, Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams, DeAndre Liggins, Darrun Hilliard, Kyle Wiltjer, Montrezl Harrell, cash considerations, and a top three protected 2018 first round draft pick. It was reported on 5 September, 2017 that Houston restaurant billionaire Tilman Fertitta had reached an agreement with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander to purchase the team, pending league approval The $2.2

title: 2016–17 Houston Rockets season

text: the San Antonio Spurs. Traded mid-season "Source:" 2016–17 Houston Rockets season The 2016–17 Houston Rockets season was the 50th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 46th in the Houston area. On June 1, 2016, the Rockets named Mike D'Antoni as their new head coach. The Rockets retired the number 11 of former center Yao Ming in February 2017. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 55–27 record, securing the 3rd seed. In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the First Round, advancing to the Conference Semifinals,

title: Houston Rockets

text: over the Rockets. A buyer was eventually found in 1982 as businessman Charlie Thomas and Sidney Shlenker purchased the franchise for $11 million. The Maloof period of ownership marked the first dominant period of the Rockets, highlighted by the team's first NBA Finals appearance in 1981. Prior to the 1980–81 season, the arrival of the Dallas Mavericks led to an NBA realignment that sent the Rockets back to the Western Conference. Houston qualified for the playoffs only in the final game of the season with a 40–42 record. The postseason had the Rockets beat the Lakers, in-state rivals San Antonio

title: Houston Rockets

text: their red "Icon" uniforms but with Chinese lettering in place of "Rockets" in front. The mascot of the Houston Rockets in the 1980s was called Booster. From 1993 to 1995, the mascot was Turbo, a costumed man that performed acrobatic dunks and other maneuvers. In 1995, the Rockets debuted Clutch the Bear as a second mascot, a large teddy bear-like mascot that performs a variety of acts during the games. After eight years of serving as dual mascots, the performer playing Turbo retired, making Clutch the sole mascot for the team. The Rockets have developed many rivalries within the Western

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: in the next two drafts. After Malone led the Rockets in rebounding for the first of six straight times, and established a then-NBA record for offensive rebounds in a season, the Rockets posted a franchise-best 49-wins and won the franchise's first Division Title finishing on top of the Central Division. After a first round bye in the playoffs, Houston defeated the Washington Bullets led by former Rocket Elvin Hayes as well as Wes Unseld in seven games in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and advanced to the conference finals for the first time in their history, but they lost to the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: sent four players to Phoenix in exchange for Charles Barkley. The resulting "Big Three" of Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley led the Rockets to a 57–25 record, and Houston swept Minnesota in the first round. However, after a 7-game battle with Seattle (which was their first, and to date, the only Playoff Series Victory over the Supersonics in another classic series), the Rockets fell in the Western Conference finals to the Utah Jazz, a team they had beaten on their way to championships in 1994 and 1995. The 1997–98 season was marked by injuries, and the team finished 41–41 with the

title: Houston Rockets

text: seed, leading to another elimination by the top-seeded Jazz. Drexler retired after the season, and the Rockets traded to bring in Scottie Pippen to take his place. In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, the Rockets lost to the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. After the 1999 draft, the Rockets traded for the second overall pick Steve Francis from the Vancouver Grizzlies, in exchange for four players and a first-round draft pick. However, after Houston traded a discontented Pippen to Portland, and Barkley suffered a career-ending injury, the rebuilt Rockets went 34–48 and missed the playoffs, for only the

title: Houston Rockets

text: second time in 15 years. In the 2000–01 season, the Rockets worked their way to a 45–37 record. However, in a competitive Western Conference where seven teams won 50 games, this left the Rockets two games out of the playoffs. In the following off-season, a 38-year-old Olajuwon requested a trade, and, despite stating their desire to keep him, the Rockets reached a sign-and-trade agreement, sending him to the Toronto Raptors. The ensuing 2001–02 season—the first without Hakeem in two decades—was unremarkable, and the Rockets finished with only 28 wins. After Houston was awarded the first overall pick in the 2002

title: Rockets–Spurs rivalry

text: 4–0, and secured their second Championship. Thus far, the Rockets had won a division title, conference title and Championship before their rivals. It took place on December 9, 2004, after a long fought game in which the Spurs had mostly led (up by 10 points under a minute left) and the Rockets crowd beginning to boo their own team; Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds, including a 3 with 1.7 seconds left to give the Rockets an 81–80 comeback win. The game ended a 7-game losing streak against the Spurs for Houston. In 2008, the teams would meet

title: 1993–94 Houston Rockets season

text: 1993–94 Houston Rockets season The 1993–94 NBA season was the Houston Rockets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired Mario Elie from the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets went off to a great start, winning their first fifteen games to tie the 1948–49 Washington Capitols for the best unbeaten record to open a season, before the Golden State Warriors surpassed it in 2015. After losing to the Atlanta Hawks on December 3, the Rockets won the next seven games as well, falling just one victory shy of tying

title: 1985–86 Houston Rockets season

text: 1981 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 2–1) "Boston beats Houston 4–2" 1985–86 Houston Rockets season The 1985–86 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets lose the 1986 NBA Finals to the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics in six games. In the playoffs, the Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings in three games in the First Round, then defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games in the Semifinals, before dethroning the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the Conference Finals after Ralph Sampson hit a 20-foot jumper as time expired in game five at The Forum to reach the

title: 2015–16 Houston Rockets season

text: 2015–16 Houston Rockets season The 2015–16 Houston Rockets season was the 49th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 45th in the Houston area. On November 18, 2015, coach Kevin McHale was fired in his fifth season as the Rockets coach after a 4–7 start to the season. J. B. Bickerstaff was named the interim coach. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 41–41 record, finishing 8th in the Western Conference. The Rockets' season ended with a 1–4 loss in the First Round to the Golden State Warriors. Following the season, Dwight Howard left

title: 2004–05 Houston Rockets season

text: career highlights. (4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (5) Houston Rockets Both teams were tied 2–2 in the regular-season series: Last Playoffs meeting: 1988 Western Conference First Round (Dallas won 3–1) 2004–05 Houston Rockets season The 2004–05 NBA season was the Rockets' 38th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 34th season in the city of Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired All-Star forward Tracy McGrady and Juwan Howard from the Orlando Magic, acquired All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo from the Chicago Bulls, who acquired him from the New York Knicks, and signed free agent Bob Sura. The Rockets struggled with

title: Jazz–Rockets rivalry

text: in Game 2 140–126 for a split in Utah. The series moved to Houston, where the Jazz won 95–82, going up in the series 2–1. The Rockets regrouped to win Game 4 123–106 to force a Game 5 at the Delta Center. In Game 4, Drexler scored 41 points while Olajuwon scored 40. Game 5 was a tightly fought contest, the Rockets defeated the Jazz 95–91, and eliminated Utah for the second straight year. The Rockets repeated as Champions, convincingly beating the Orlando Magic in the finals and are the lowest-seed to win the Championship. The two clubs met again

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Draft, and they used it to select Hakeem Olajuwon from the University of Houston. In his first season, Olajuwon finished second to Michael Jordan in NBA Rookie of the Year balloting, and the Rockets record improved by 19 games, although they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. In the following season, both Olajuwon and Sampson were named to the Western Conference All-Stars in that year's all-star game, and the duo was nicknamed the "Twin Towers". Houston won the Midwest Division title with a 51–31 record. In contrast to the other guard-oriented teams of the Western Conference, the

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: inspired by the 1994–95 championship uniforms and featured similar colors. On February 18, 2010, hours before the trade deadline, the Rockets acquired Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill, Hilton Armstrong, and Jared Jeffries in a three-team trade that sent Tracy McGrady to the New York Knicks, and Joey Dorsey and Carl Landry to the Sacramento Kings. Despite the stellar play of Martin and Aaron Brooks, with the latter being named the NBA Most Improved Player, the Rockets could not make it to the playoffs, finishing 42–40, 3rd in the Southwest Division. At that time, the Rockets set an NBA record for best

title: 2018–19 Houston Rockets season

text: Marquese Chriss. 2018–19 Houston Rockets season The 2018–19 Houston Rockets season is the 52nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 48th in the Houston area. Entering the night of the draft, the Rockets had only one selection at hand, with it being the pick they acquired from the Miami Heat via a previous trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets, being the lowest second round pick of those teams. On the night of the draft, the Rockets selected former University of Southern California guard De'Anthony Melton as their sole selection that year. Melton

title: 2018–19 Houston Rockets season

text: 2018–19 Houston Rockets season The 2018–19 Houston Rockets season is the 52nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 48th in the Houston area. Entering the night of the draft, the Rockets had only one selection at hand, with it being the pick they acquired from the Miami Heat via a previous trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies and Charlotte Hornets, being the lowest second round pick of those teams. On the night of the draft, the Rockets selected former University of Southern California guard De'Anthony Melton as their sole selection that year. Melton only played

title: 2017–18 Houston Rockets season

text: 2017–18 Houston Rockets season The 2017–18 Houston Rockets season was the 51st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 47th in the Houston area. The Rockets acquired star point guard Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers due to a multitude of trades after the 2017 NBA draft on June 28, 2017, as well as for being the team's first under current owner Tilman Fertitta. Prior to signing with the Rockets, Paul also considered possibly returning to the Los Angeles Lakers after he was famously vetoed by David Stern from joining them in 2011. The

title: 1993–94 Houston Rockets season

text: chase with the LAPD. At the time, Simpson had been an NFL analyst on NBC. A visibly confused and distraught Bob Costas (NBC's anchor for their NBA Finals coverage) said during the telecast from Madison Square Garden that the Simpson situation was "not just tragic but now surreal". 1993–94 Houston Rockets season The 1993–94 NBA season was the Houston Rockets' 27th season in the National Basketball Association, and their 23rd season in Houston. During the offseason, the Rockets acquired Mario Elie from the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets went off to a great start, winning their first fifteen games to

title: Houston Rockets

text: Celtics, led by Larry Bird and future Rockets coach Kevin McHale. In 1984, the Rockets drafted center Hakeem Olajuwon, who would be paired with Ralph Sampson, forming one of the tallest front courts in the NBA. Nicknamed the "Twin Towers", they led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals—the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history—where Houston was again defeated by the Boston Celtics. The Rockets continued to reach the playoffs throughout the 1980s, but failed to advance past the first round for several years following a second-round defeat to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987. Rudy Tomjanovich took over as

title: History of the Houston Rockets

text: Jordan to win the award two years in a row. During the offseason, the Rockets went for a change of visual identity, making navy blue and silver the new primary colors while adopting a new cartoon-inspired logo and pinstriped jerseys. The Rockets won 48 games in the 1995–96 campaign, in which Olajuwon became the NBA's all-time leader in blocked shots. They beat the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs, but were swept by the eventual Western Conference Champions Seattle SuperSonics in the second round. Before the start of the succeeding season, the Rockets made a dramatic trade that