1985–86 Houston Rockets season
1985–86 Houston Rockets season | |
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Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
Head coach | Bill Fitch |
Arena | The Summit |
Results | |
Record | 51–31 (.622) |
Place | Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 2nd (Western) |
Playoff finish | NBA Finals (Lost to Celtics 2–4) |
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | KTXH Home Sports Entertainment |
Radio | KTRH |
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 NBA Finals.
In the NBA Finals, the Rockets faced off against the 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.
Contents
1 Draft picks
2 Roster
3 Regular season
3.1 Season standings
3.2 Record vs. opponents
4 Game log
4.1 Regular season
4.2 Playoffs
5 Playoffs
5.1 West First Round
5.2 West Conference Semifinals
5.3 West Conference Finals
5.4 NBA Finals
6 Player statistics
6.1 Season
6.2 Playoffs
7 Awards and records
7.1 Awards
7.2 Records
8 Transactions
8.1 Trades
8.2 Free agents
8.2.1 Additions
8.2.2 Subtractions
9 See also
10 References
Draft picks
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 19 | Steve Harris | SG | United States | Tulsa |
3 | 54 | Sam Mitchell | SF | United States | Mercer |
3 | 57 | Michael Payne | United States | Iowa | |
4 | 88 | Mike Brooks | United States | Tennessee | |
6 | 134 | Sam Potter | United States | Oral Roberts |
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
Midwest Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 36–5 | 15–26 | 20–10 |
x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 4 | 34–7 | 13–28 | 15–15 |
x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 16–14 |
x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 15–15 |
x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 15–15 |
x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 16 | 21–20 | 14–27 | 9–21 |
Record vs. opponents
1985-86 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | — | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
Boston | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 |
Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 |
Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
Game log
Regular season
1985–86 game log Total: 51-31 (Home: 36-5; Road: 15-26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 2–2 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–2)
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November: 11–4 (Home: 9–0; Road: 2–4)
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December: 7–6 (Home: 6–0; Road: 1–6)
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January: 12–2 (Home: 8–1; Road: 4–1)
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February: 6–7 (Home: 4–2; Road: 2–5)
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March: 8–8 (Home: 5–1; Road: 3–7)
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April: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
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1985–86 schedule |
Playoffs
1986 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Western Conference First Round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
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Western Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–2)
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Western Conference Finals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
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NBA Finals: 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
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1985–86 schedule |
Playoffs
West First Round
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Sacramento Kings:Rockets win series 3–0
Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 17): Houston 107, Sacramento 87
Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 19): Houston 111, Sacramento 103
Game 3 @ ARCO Arena I, Sacramento (April 22): Houston 113, Sacramento 98
Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4–1; Kings were in Kansas City, Missouri)
West Conference Semifinals
(2) Houston Rockets vs. (3) Denver Nuggets: Rockets win series 4–2
Game 1 @ The Summit, Houston (April 26): Houston 126, Denver 119
Game 2 @ The Summit, Houston (April 29): Houston 119, Denver 101
Game 3 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 2): Denver 116, Houston 115
Game 4 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 4): Denver 114, Houston 111 (OT)
Game 5 @ The Summit, Houston (May 6): Houston 131, Denver 103
Game 6 @ McNichols Sports Arena, Denver (May 8): Houston 126, Denver 122 (2OT)
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Rockets and Nuggets.
West Conference Finals
(1) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4–1
Game 1 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 10): Los Angeles 119, Houston 107
Game 2 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 13): Houston 112, Los Angeles 102
Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 16): Houston 117, Los Angeles 109
Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 18): Houston 105, Los Angeles 95
Game 5 @ The Forum, Los Angeles (May 21): Houston 114, Los Angeles 112
Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference First Round (Houston won 2–1)
NBA Finals
Game | Date | Home Team | Result | Road Team |
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Game 1 | May 26 | Boston | 112–100 | Houston |
Game 2 | May 29 | Boston | 117–95 | Houston |
Game 3 | June 1 | Houston | 106–104 | Boston |
Game 4 | June 3 | Houston | 103–106 | Boston |
Game 5 | June 5 | Houston | 111–96 | Boston |
Game 6 | June 8 | Boston | 114–97 | Houston |
Boston beats Houston 4–2
Player statistics
Legend | |||||
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GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
Season
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Craig Ehlo | 36 | 0 | 5.5 | .429 | .333 | .793 | 1.3 | .8 | .3 | .1 | 2.7 |
Steve Harris | 57 | 0 | 8.5 | .442 | .200 | .926 | 1.0 | .9 | .4 | .1 | 4.5 |
Allen Leavell | 74 | 12 | 16.1 | .463 | .358 | .854 | .9 | 3.2 | .8 | .1 | 7.9 |
Lewis Lloyd | 82 | 82 | 29.8 | .529 | .200 | .843 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 1.2 | .3 | 16.9 |
John Lucas, Jr. | 65 | 65 | 32.6 | .446 | .308 | .775 | 2.2 | 8.8 | 1.2 | .1 | 15.5 |
Rodney McCray | 82 | 82 | 31.8 | .537 | .000 | .770 | 6.3 | 3.6 | .6 | .7 | 10.3 |
Hank McDowell | 22 | 0 | 9.3 | .571 | .000 | .680 | 2.2 | .3 | .0 | .1 | 3.0 |
Akeem Olajuwon | 68 | 68 | 36.3 | .526 | .000 | .645 | 11.5 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 23.5 |
Jim Petersen | 82 | 20 | 20.3 | .477 | .000 | .706 | 4.8 | 1.0 | .5 | .7 | 6.2 |
Robert Reid | 82 | 5 | 26.3 | .464 | .182 | .757 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 1.1 | .2 | 12.0 |
Ralph Sampson | 79 | 76 | 36.3 | .488 | .133 | .461 | 11.1 | 3.6 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 18.9 |
Granville Waiters | 43 | 0 | 3.6 | .333 | .000 | .167 | .7 | .2 | .1 | .2 | .6 |
Mitchell Wiggins | 78 | 0 | 15.4 | .454 | .083 | .729 | 2.0 | 1.3 | .8 | .1 | 6.8 |
Playoffs
Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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Awards and records
Awards
Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA Second Team
Records
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
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Player | Signed | Former team |
Subtractions
Player | Left | New team |
See also
- 1985–86 NBA season