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.

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

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
Main article: 1985 NBA Draft
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.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
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) Clemson, Florida State
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) Saint Mary's
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

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
November: 11–4 (Home: 9–0; Road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
December: 7–6 (Home: 6–0; Road: 1–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
21 December 6 @ L.A. Lakers L 112–120 The Forum 14–7
January: 12–2 (Home: 8–1; Road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
February: 6–7 (Home: 4–2; Road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
49 February 6 L.A. Lakers L 95–117 The Summit 33–16
55 February 20 Milwaukee L 113–120 The Summit 35–20
March: 8–8 (Home: 5–1; Road: 3–7)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
65 March 11 Boston L 104–116 The Summit 40–25
68 March 16 @ L.A. Lakers L 111–116 The Forum 42–26
70 March 20 @ Milwaukee L 106–116 MECCA Arena 43–27
72 March 24 @ Boston L 107–114 Boston Garden 44–28
April: 5–2 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
79 April 6 L.A. Lakers W 109–103 The Summit 50–29
81 April 10 @ L.A. Lakers L 113–117 The Forum 51–30
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 Sacramento W 107–87 Hakeem Olajuwon (29) Hakeem Olajuwon (15) Rodney McCray (7) The Summit
15,101		 1–0
2 April 19 Sacramento W 111–103 Robert Reid (29) Ralph Sampson (8) Reid, Sampson (6) The Summit
16,016		 2–0
3 April 22 @ Sacramento W 113–98 Lloyd, Sampson (25) Hakeem 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 Denver W 126–119 Hakeem Olajuwon (38) Hakeem Olajuwon (16) Robert Reid (9) The Summit
15,448		 1–0
2 April 29 Denver W 119–101 Ralph Sampson (27) Hakeem Olajuwon (14) Rodney McCray (10) The Summit
16,016		 2–0
3 May 2 @ Denver L 115–116 Hakeem Olajuwon (31) Hakeem Olajuwon (11) McCray, Lloyd (8) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022		 2–1
4 May 4 @ Denver L 111–114 (OT) Ralph Sampson (28) Ralph Sampson (13) Robert Reid (7) McNichols Sports Arena
14,152		 2–2
5 May 6 Denver W 131–103 Hakeem Olajuwon (36) Hakeem Olajuwon (19) Robert Reid (12) The Summit
16,016		 3–2
6 May 8 @ Denver W 126–122 (2OT) Hakeem Olajuwon (28) Ralph Sampson (18) Rodney McCray (7) McNichols Sports Arena
17,022		 4–2
Conference Finals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 10 @ L.A. Lakers L 107–119 Hakeem Olajuwon (28) Hakeem Olajuwon (16) Robert Reid (8) The Forum
17,505		 0–1
2 May 13 @ L.A. Lakers W 112–102 Sampson, Lloyd (24) Ralph Sampson (16) Rodney McCray (11) The Forum
17,505		 1–1
3 May 16 L.A. Lakers W 117–109 Hakeem Olajuwon (40) Hakeem Olajuwon (12) Robert Reid (12) The Summit
16,016		 2–1
4 May 18 L.A. Lakers W 105–95 Hakeem Olajuwon (35) Jim Petersen (13) Rodney McCray (6) The Summit
16,016		 3–1
5 May 21 @ L.A. Lakers W 114–112 Hakeem Olajuwon (30) Hakeem Olajuwon (7) Rodney 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 @ Boston L 100–112 Hakeem Olajuwon (33) Hakeem Olajuwon (12) Robert Reid (8) Boston Garden
14,890		 0–1
2 May 29 @ Boston L 95–117 Hakeem Olajuwon (21) Hakeem Olajuwon (10) McCray, Reid (5) Boston Garden
14,890		 0–2
3 June 1 Boston W 106–104 Ralph Sampson (24) Ralph Sampson (22) Robert Reid (9) The Summit
16,016		 1–2
4 June 3 Boston L 103–106 Ralph Sampson (25) Hakeem Olajuwon (14) Ralph Sampson (9) The Summit
16,016		 1–3
5 June 5 Boston W 111–96 Hakeem Olajuwon (32) Hakeem Olajuwon (14) Robert Reid (17) The Summit
16,016		 2–3
6 June 8 @ Boston L 97–114 Hakeem Olajuwon (21) Hakeem 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

Transactions

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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