1985–86 Houston Rockets season
Conference champions
Division champions
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRay Patterson
Owner(s)Charlie Thomas
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record51–31 (.622)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Midwest)
Conference: 2nd (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Finals
(lost to Celtics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Home Sports Entertainment
RadioKTRH

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 heavily favored[1] 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.

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club team
119Steve HarrisSG United StatesTulsa
354Sam MitchellSF United StatesMercer
357Michael Payne United StatesIowa
488Mike Brooks United StatesTennessee
6134Sam Potter United StatesOral Roberts

Roster

Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G/F 3 Ehlo, Craig 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Washington State
SG 20 Harris, Steve 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Tulsa
G 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Oklahoma City
G/F 32 Lloyd, Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Drake
PG 5 Lucas II, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Maryland
F 22 McCray, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisville
PF 8 McDowell, Hank 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Memphis
C 34 Olajuwon, Akeem 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Houston
F/C 43 Petersen, Jim 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Minnesota
SF 33 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) St. Mary's (TX)
F/C 50 Sampson, Ralph 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Virginia
C 31 Waiters, Granville 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Ohio State
SG 15 Wiggins, Mitchell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) South Carolina
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Houston Rockets 5131.622–36–515–2620–10
x-Denver Nuggets 4735.573434–713–2815–15
x-Dallas Mavericks 4438.537726–1518–2316–14
x-Utah Jazz 4240.512927–1415–2615–15
x-Sacramento Kings 3745.4511425–1612–2915–15
x-San Antonio Spurs 3547.4271621–2014–279–21
#
Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Los Angeles Lakers6220.756–
2 y-Houston Rockets5131.62211
3 x-Denver Nuggets4735.57315
4 x-Dallas Mavericks4438.53718
5 x-Utah Jazz4240.51220
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4042.48822
7 x-Sacramento Kings3745.45125
8 x-San Antonio Spurs3547.42727
9 Phoenix Suns3250.39030
10 Los Angeles Clippers3250.39030
11 Seattle SuperSonics3151.37831
12 Golden State Warriors3052.36632

Record vs. opponents

1985-86 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 —0–65–14–21–11–14–21–11–15–12–01–13–34–25–14–12–02–02–01–11–10–21–4
Boston 6–0—5–15–11–11–14–12–02–05–12–02–05–04–25–14–21–11–11–12–02–02–05–1
Chicago 1–51–5—3–30–22–02–42–01–13–31–10–21–52–34–21–51–11–10–21–11–11–11–4
Cleveland 2–41–53–3—1–11–11–50–20–23–21–11–11–53–34–10–62–00–22–01–11–10–21–5
Dallas 1–11–12–01–1—3–30–24–11–52–02–31–40–22–01–10–25–02–33–34–23–25–11–1
Denver 1–11–10–21–13–3—1–13–23–32–04–13–22–01–11–11–14–13–23–33–32–33–32–0
Detroit 2–41–44–25–12–01–1—1–11–15–12–01–12–44–24–12–40–21–10–21–12–01–14–2
Golden State 1–10–20–22–01–42–31–1—0–51–15–12–40–21–11–11–12–41–52–32–32–42–31–1
Houston 1–10–21–12–05–13–31–15–0—2–03–21–40–21–12–01–13–23–24–25–13–23–32–0
Indiana 1–51–53–32–30–20–21–51–10–2—2–00–22–42–32–40–61–10–20–21–12–00–25–1
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–11–13–21–40–21–52–30–2—2–41–12–02–00–22–42–45–01–43–33–20–2
L.A. Lakers 1–10–22–01–14–12–31–14–24–12–04–2—2–01–11–12–05–16–05–04–14–25–02–0
Milwaukee 3–30–55–15–12–00–24–22–02–04–21–10–2—4–26–04–11–12–02–02–02–02–04–2
New Jersey 2–42–43–23–30–21–12–41–11–13–20–21–12–4—5–12–42–02–02–01–10–22–02–4
New York 1–51–52–41–41–11–11–41–10–24–20–21–10–61–5—0–62–00–21–11–11–10–23–3
Philadelphia 1–42–45–16–02–01–14–21–11–16–02–00–21–44–26–0—2–02–02–01–11–11–13–3
Phoenix 0–21–11–10–20–51–42–04–22–31–14–21–51–10–20–20–2—2–42–33–25–11–41–1
Portland 0–21–11–12–03–22–31–15–12–32–04–20–60–20–22–00–24–2—3–21–45–12–30–2
Sacramento 0–21–12–00–23–33–32–03–22–42–00–50–50–20–21–10–23–22–3—5–15–02–41–1
San Antonio 1–10–21–11–12–43–31–13–21–51–14–11–40–21–11–11–12–34–11–5—2–32–42–0
Seattle 1–10–21–11–12–33–20–24–22–30–23–32–40–22–01–11–11–51–50–53–2—2–31–1
Utah 2–00–21–12–01–53–31–13–23–32–02–30–50–20–22–01–14–13–24–24–23–2—1–1
Washington 4–11–54–15–11–10–22–41–10–21–52–00–22–44–23–33–31–12–01–10–21–11–1—

Game log

Regular season

1985–86 game log
Total: 51–31 (home: 36–5; road: 15–26)
October: 2–2 (home: 1–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 25, 1985 @ Utah W 112–108 Salt Palace Acord Arena 1–0
2 October 26, 1985 @ L.A. Clippers L 129–130 (2OT) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 1–1
3 October 29, 1985 Seattle W 111–99 The Summit 2–1
4 October 31, 1985 @ Sacramento L 116–122 ARCO Arena 2–2
November: 11–4 (home: 9–0; road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
5 November 2, 1985 San Antonio W 111–98 The Summit 3–2
6 November 5, 1985 Portland W 127–113 The Summit 4–2
7 November 7, 1985 L.A. Clippers W 137–115 The Summit 5–2
8 November 9, 1985 @ Dallas W 115–110 Reunion Arena 6–2
9 November 12, 1985 Denver W 127–119 The Summit 7–2
10 November 14, 1985 New Jersey W 112–107 The Summit 8–2
11 November 16, 1985 Dallas W 122–117 The Summit 9–2
12 November 19, 1985 @ Denver L 113–127 McNichols Sports Arena 9–3
13 November 20, 1985 Indiana W 126–97 The Summit 10–3
14 November 22, 1985 @ Seattle L 103–122 Seattle Center Coliseum 10–4
15 November 24, 1985 @ Portland L 118–125 Memorial Coliseum 10–5
16 November 26, 1985 Golden State W 130–108 The Summit 11–5
17 November 27, 1985 @ L.A. Clippers W 137–130 (OT) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 12–5
18 November 29, 1985 @ Phoenix L 110–126 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 12–6
19 November 30, 1985 Sacramento W 131–114 The Summit 13–6
December: 7–6 (home: 6–0; road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
20 December 3, 1985 Phoenix W 118–112 The Summit 14–6
21 December 6, 1985
9:30 p.m. CST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 112–120 Sampson (32) Olajuwon (13) Lucas
Sampson (9)		 The Forum
17,505		 14–7
22 December 7, 1985 Chicago W 116–104 The Summit 15–7
23 December 10, 1985 Utah W 134–105 The Summit 16–7
24 December 12, 1985 Dallas W 123–110 The Summit 17–7
25 December 14, 1985 @ Utah L 100–114 Salt Palace Acord Arena 17–8
26 December 17, 1985 @ Cleveland W 98–94 Richfield Coliseum 18–8
27 December 18, 1985 @ Philadelphia L 108–126 The Spectrum 18–9
28 December 20, 1985 @ New Jersey L 112–122 Brendan Byrne Arena 18–10
29 December 21, 1985
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Atlanta L 122–123 Lloyd (34) Sampson (15) Lucas (11) The Omni
8,563		 18–11
30 December 26, 1985 Utah W 106–99 The Summit 19–11
31 December 28, 1985 Portland W 118–108 The Summit 20–11
32 December 30, 1985 @ Denver L 122–125 McNichols Sports Arena 20–12
January: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
33 January 2, 1986 @ Golden State W 120–115 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 21–12
34 January 4, 1986 Philadelphia W 115–100 The Summit 22–12
35 January 7, 1986 Golden State W 124–115 The Summit 23–12
36 January 9, 1986 San Antonio W 120–110 The Summit 24–12
37 January 11, 1986 Washington W 87–86 The Summit 25–12
38 January 14, 1986 Utah L 102–105 The Summit 25–13
39 January 15, 1986 @ San Antonio W 119–113 HemisFair Arena 26–13
40 January 18, 1986 New York W 104–95 The Summit 27–13
41 January 19, 1986 @ Dallas L 96–131 Reunion Arena 27–14
42 January 21, 1986 @ Seattle W 100–96 Seattle Center Coliseum 28–14
43 January 23, 1986 Sacramento W 124–107 The Summit 29–14
44 January 25, 1986 Detroit W 117–112 The Summit 30–14
45 January 28, 1986 Cleveland W 116–109 The Summit 31–14
46 January 30, 1986 @ Sacramento W 111–109 ARCO Arena 32–14
February: 6–7 (home: 4–2; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
47 February 1, 1986 @ Chicago L 122–132 Chicago Stadium 32–15
48 February 3, 1986 Denver W 104–102 The Summit 33–15
49 February 6, 1986
7:30 p.m. CST		 L.A. Lakers L 95–117 Olajuwon (18) Olajuwon (14) Lucas (8) The Summit
16,016		 33–16
All-Star Break
50 February 11, 1986
7:30 p.m. CST		 Atlanta W 113–100 Sampson (27) McCray (14) Lucas (16) The Summit
16,016		 34–16
51 February 13, 1986 @ San Antonio L 115–119 HemisFair Arena 34–17
52 February 15, 1986 @ L.A. Clippers L 101–108 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 34–18
53 February 17, 1986 @ Golden State W 116–110 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 35–18
54 February 18, 1986 @ Sacramento L 105–115 ARCO Arena 35–19
55 February 20, 1986
7:30 p.m. CST		 Milwaukee L 113–120 Sampson (24) Petersen (9) Lucas (7) The Summit
14,448		 35–20
56 February 21, 1986 @ Dallas W 111–104 Reunion Arena 36–20
57 February 24, 1986 Dallas W 110–105 The Summit 37–20
58 February 25, 1986 @ Utah L 97–100 Salt Palace Acord Arena 37–21
59 February 27, 1986 Denver W 117–111 The Summit 38–21
March: 8–8 (home: 5–1; road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
60 March 1, 1986 @ Portland L 112–117 Memorial Coliseum 38–22
61 March 3, 1986 @ Seattle L 105–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 38–23
62 March 4, 1986 @ Denver L 115–128 McNichols Sports Arena 38–24
63 March 6, 1986 Sacramento W 116–105 The Summit 39–24
64 March 8, 1986 San Antonio W 126–117 The Summit 40–24
65 March 11, 1986
7:30 p.m. CST		 Boston L 104–116 Sampson (23) Petersen
Sampson (12)		 Lewis Lloyd,
Lucas (9)		 The Summit
16,016		 40–25
66 March 13, 1986 Portland W 126–118 The Summit 41–25
67 March 15, 1986 L.A. Clippers W 148–116 The Summit 42–25
68 March 16, 1986
9:30 p.m. CST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 111–116 Sampson (27) Sampson (16) McCray (10) The Forum
17,505		 42–26
69 March 18, 1986 Phoenix W 112–109 The Summit 43–26
70 March 20, 1986
7:30 p.m. CST		 @ Milwaukee L 106–116 Sampson (20) Sampson (14) Sampson (6) MECCA Arena
11,052		 43–27
71 March 22, 1986 @ New York W 114–99 Madison Square Garden 44–27
72 March 24, 1986
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Boston L 107–114 Olajuwon (29) Olajuwon (14) Leavell (6) Boston Garden
14,890		 44–28
73 March 26, 1986 @ Indiana W 110–101 Market Square Arena 45–28
74 March 28, 1986 @ Detroit L 107–116 Pontiac Silverdome 45–29
75 March 29, 1986 @ Washington W 114–109 Capital Centre 46–29
April: 5–2 (home: 3–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
76 April 1, 1986 Golden State W 125–121 The Summit 47–29
77 April 3, 1986 @ San Antonio W 136–110 HemisFair Arena 48–29
78 April 4, 1986 @ Phoenix W 112–89 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 49–29
79 April 6, 1986
2:30 p.m. CST		 L.A. Lakers W 109–103 Olajuwon (25) Sampson (17) Sampson (9) The Summit
16,016		 50–29
80 April 8, 1986 Seattle W 109–95 The Summit 51–29
81 April 10, 1986
9:30 p.m. CST		 @ L.A. Lakers L 113–117 Olajuwon (34) McCray,
Olajuwon (8)		 McCray (10) The Forum
17,505		 51–30
82 April 12, 1986 Phoenix L 92–110 The Summit 51–31
1985–86 schedule

Playoffs

1986 playoff game log
First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 17, 1986 Sacramento W 107–87 Akeem Olajuwon (29) Akeem Olajuwon (15) Rodney McCray (7) The Summit
15,101		 1–0
2 April 19, 1986 Sacramento W 111–103 Robert Reid (29) Ralph Sampson (8) Reid, Sampson (6) The Summit
16,016		 2–0
3 April 22, 1986 @ Sacramento W 113–98 Lloyd, Sampson (25) Akeem Olajuwon (13) Lloyd, McCray (7) ARCO Arena I
10,333		 3–0
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 26, 1986 Denver W 126–119 Akeem Olajuwon (38) Akeem Olajuwon (16) Robert Reid (9) The Summit
15,448		 1–0
2 April 29, 1986 Denver W 119–101 Ralph Sampson (27) Akeem Olajuwon (14) Rodney McCray (10) The Summit
16,016		 2–0
3 May 2, 1986 @ Denver L 115–116 Akeem Olajuwon (31) Akeem Olajuwon (11) McCray, Lloyd (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022		 2–1
4 May 4, 1986 @ Denver L 111–114 (OT) Ralph Sampson (28) Ralph Sampson (13) Robert Reid (7) McNichols Sports Arena
14,152		 2–2
5 May 6, 1986 Denver W 131–103 Akeem Olajuwon (36) Akeem Olajuwon (19) Robert Reid (12) The Summit
16,016		 3–2
6 May 8, 1986 @ Denver W 126–122 (2OT) Akeem Olajuwon (28) Ralph Sampson (18) Rodney McCray (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022		 4–2
Western Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 10, 1986
2:30 p.m. CDT		 @ L.A. Lakers L 107–119 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (16) Reid (8) The Forum
17,505		 0–1
2 May 13, 1986
9:30 p.m. CDT		 @ L.A. Lakers W 112–102 Lloyd,
Sampson (24)		 Sampson (16) McCray (11) The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 May 16, 1986
8:30 p.m. CDT		 L.A. Lakers W 117–109 Olajuwon (40) Olajuwon (12) Reid (12) The Summit
16,016		 2–1
4 May 18, 1986
2:30 p.m. CDT		 L.A. Lakers W 105–95 Olajuwon (35) Petersen (13) McCray (6) The Summit
16,016		 3–1
5 May 21, 1986
10:30 p.m. CDT		 @ L.A. Lakers W 114–112 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (7) McCray (11) The Forum
17,505		 4–1
NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 26, 1986
2:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Boston L 100–112 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon (12) Reid (8) Boston Garden
14,890		 0–1
2 May 29, 1986
8:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Boston L 95–117 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (10) McCray,
Reid (5)		 Boston Garden
14,890		 0–2
3 June 1, 1986
2:30 p.m. CDT		 Boston W 106–104 Sampson (24) Sampson (22) Reid (9) The Summit
16,016		 1–2
4 June 3, 1986
8:00 p.m. CDT		 Boston L 103–106 Sampson (25) Olajuwon (14) Sampson (9) The Summit
16,016		 1–3
5 June 5, 1986
8:00 p.m. CDT		 Boston W 111–96 Olajuwon (32) Olajuwon (14) Reid (17) The Summit
16,016		 2–3
6 June 8, 1986
12 Noon CDT		 @ Boston L 97–114 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (10) McCray,
Reid (5)		 Boston Garden
14,890		 2–4
1986 schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  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 Ehlo3605.5.429.333.7931.3.8.3.12.7
Steve Harris5708.5.442.200.9261.0.9.4.14.5
Allen Leavell741216.1.463.358.854.93.2.8.17.9
Lewis Lloyd828229.8.529.200.8434.03.71.2.316.9
John Lucas, Jr.656532.6.446.308.7752.28.81.2.115.5
Rodney McCray828231.8.537.000.7706.33.6.6.710.3
Hank McDowell2209.3.571.000.6802.2.3.0.13.0
Akeem Olajuwon686836.3.526.000.64511.52.02.03.423.5
Jim Petersen822020.3.477.000.7064.81.0.5.76.2
Robert Reid82526.3.464.182.7573.72.71.1.212.0
Ralph Sampson797636.3.488.133.46111.13.61.31.618.9
Granville Waiters4303.6.333.000.167.7.2.1.2.6
Mitchell Wiggins78015.4.454.083.7292.01.3.8.16.8

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Trades

Free agents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roy S. Johnson (May 26, 1986). "FITCH FINDS OLD HABITS HARD TO BREAK". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
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