1986–87 Houston Rockets season

The 1986–87 Houston Rockets season was the Rockets' 20th season in the NBA and 16th season in the city of Houston.^[1] The Rockets entered the season as runner-ups in the 1986 NBA Finals, having lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.

1986–87 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Bill Fitch
General manager	Ray Patterson
Owner(s)	Charlie Thomas
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	42–40 (.512)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish	Conference semifinals (lost to SuperSonics 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTXH Home Sports Entertainment
Radio	KTRH
< 1985–86 1987–88 >

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.

Draft picks

Main article: 1986 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	20	Buck Johnson		United States	Alabama
2	43	Dave Feitl		United States	UTEP
3	66	Anthony Bowie		United States	Oklahoma
4	89	Conner Henry		United States	UC Santa Barbara
5	112	Andre Banks		United States	Iowa
6	135	Robert Worthy		United States	Myers
7	158	Rick Olson		United States	Wisconsin

Roster

Houston Rockets roster

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Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From PF 40 Richard Anderson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg) UC Santa Barbara C 5 Dave Feitl 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) UTEP SG 20 Steve Harris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Tulsa SF 1 Buck Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Alabama PG 30 Allen Leavell 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Oklahoma City SF 18 Cedric Maxwell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Charlotte SF 22 Rodney McCray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Louisville PG 10 Dirk Minniefield 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Kentucky C 34 Akeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Houston PF 43 Jim Petersen 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Minnesota SG 33 Robert Reid 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Saint Mary's PF 50 Ralph Sampson 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) 228 lb (103 kg) Virginia

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant(s) Carroll Dawson Rudy Tomjanovich Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Dallas Mavericks	55	27	.671	–	35–6	20–21	19–11
x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	11	31–10	13–28	19–11
x-Houston Rockets	42	40	.512	13	25–16	17–24	19–11
x-Denver Nuggets	37	45	.451	18	27–14	10–31	14–16
Sacramento Kings	29	53	.354	26	20–21	9–32	10–20
San Antonio Spurs	28	54	.341	27	21–20	7–34	9–21

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Los Angeles Lakers	65	17	.793	–
2	y-Dallas Mavericks	55	27	.671	10
3	x-Portland Trail Blazers	49	33	.598	16
4	x-Utah Jazz	44	38	.537	21
5	x-Golden State Warriors	42	40	.512	23
6	x-Houston Rockets	42	40	.512	23
7	x-Seattle SuperSonics	39	43	.476	26
8	x-Denver Nuggets	37	45	.451	28
9	Phoenix Suns	36	46	.439	29
10	Sacramento Kings	29	53	.354	36
11	San Antonio Spurs	28	54	.341	37
12	Los Angeles Clippers	12	70	.146	53

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1986–87 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	—	3–3	4–2	4–2	2–0	2–0	3–3	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	3–3	5–0	5–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–0
Boston	3–3	—	6–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	5–1	2–0	0–2	3–3	4–2	4–2	3–3	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–1	4–2
Chicago	2–4	0–6	—	5–1	1–1	1–1	3–3	0–2	0–2	3–2	2–0	0–2	4–2	3–2	4–2	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	0–2	3–3
Cleveland	2–4	2–3	1–5	—	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	3–3	2–0	0–2	1–5	4–2	4–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	2–4
Dallas	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–0	—	4–2	1–1	5–0	3–3	0–2	5–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–3	5–1	4–2	5–0	3–3	1–1
Denver	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	—	0–2	4–1	3–3	1–1	2–3	0–5	1–1	2–0	2–0	0–2	3–2	3–2	2–4	5–1	2–3	2–4	1–1
Detroit	3–3	2–3	3–3	5–1	1–1	2–0	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	3–3	5–1	6–0	5–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–3
Golden State	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–5	1–4	1–1	—	4–1	0–2	6–0	2–4	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–5	4–2	4–1	4–1	4–2	2–3	0–2
Houston	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	3–3	3–3	1–1	1–4	—	2–0	4–1	1–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	3–2	2–3	5–1	5–1	1–4	3–3	1–1
Indiana	3–3	1–5	2–3	3–3	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–0	0–2	—	2–0	0–2	2–4	5–1	3–2	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
L.A. Clippers	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–5	3–2	0–2	0–6	1–4	0–2	—	0–6	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–5	0–6	1–4	1–4	2–4	2–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	2–3	5–0	1–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	5–1	5–1	5–0	4–1	4–2	3–2	1–1
Milwaukee	3–3	3–3	2–4	5–1	0–2	1–1	3–3	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	1–1	—	4–2	4–2	2–3	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	4–1
New Jersey	0–5	2–4	2–3	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–1	0–2	2–4	—	5–1	3–3	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4
New York	1–5	2–4	2–4	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–6	0–2	1–1	2–3	2–0	0–2	2–4	1–5	—	3–3	1–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	2–4
Philadelphia	3–3	3–3	3–3	4–2	0–2	2–0	0–5	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	0–2	3–2	3–3	3–3	—	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–3
Phoenix	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–3	2–3	1–1	5–1	2–3	1–1	5–1	1–5	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	—	2–4	2–3	2–3	1–5	4–1	0–2
Portland	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–2	2–3	2–0	2–4	3–2	2–0	6–0	1–5	2–0	2–0	2–0	0–2	4–2	—	3–2	4–1	4–2	3–2	1–1
Sacramento	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–5	4–2	1–1	1–4	1–5	1–1	4–1	0–5	0–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	3–2	2–3	—	3–3	2–3	1–5	1–1
San Antonio	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	2–4	1–5	1–1	1–4	1–5	0–2	4–1	1–4	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–2	1–4	3–3	—	1–4	2–4	0–2
Seattle	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–5	3–2	0–2	2–4	4–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	0–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	5–1	2–4	3–2	4–1	—	3–2	1–1
Utah	0–2	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–3	4–2	1–1	3–2	3–3	1–1	3–2	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	5–1	4–2	2–3	—	1–1
Washington	0–5	2–4	3–3	4–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–4	2–0	1–1	1–4	4–2	4–2	3–3	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	—

Game log

Regular season

1986–87 game log Total: 42–40 (home: 25–16; road: 17–24)
November: 7–7 (home: 5–3; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 1, 1986 L.A. Lakers W 112–102 The Summit 1–0 6 November 12, 1986 @ Dallas 8 November 18, 1986 Portland 9 November 20, 1986 Utah 10 November 21, 1986 @ Washington 11 November 23, 1986 @ Philadelphia 13 November 26, 1986 @ Indiana
December: 4–9 (home: 2–5; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 15 December 2, 1986 @ Golden State L 99–104 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 7–8 16 December 4, 1986 Atlanta L 93–109 The Summit 7–9 17 December 6, 1986 Seattle L 80–136 The Summit 7–10 19 December 11, 1986 Golden State L 104–111 The Summit 8–11 22 December 18, 1986 @ Seattle L 100–114 Seattle Center Coliseum 9–13 23 December 19, 1986 @ Portland 24 December 21, 1986 L.A. Lakers L 96–103 The Summit 9–15 26 December 26, 1986 @ L.A. Lakers L 111–134 The Forum 10–16 27 December 27, 1986 @ Utah
January: 11–4 (home: 6–2; road: 5–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 2, 1987 @ Denver 30 January 3, 1987 Seattle W 138–114 The Summit 13–17 31 January 6, 1987 @ Golden State L 100–118 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 13–18 32 January 8, 1987 Indiana 33 January 10, 1987 Dallas 35 January 15, 1987 @ Chicago 36 January 16, 1987 @ Detroit W 112–106 Pontiac Silverdome 18–18 37 January 18, 1987 @ Boston L 99–122 Boston Garden 18–19 41 January 24, 1987 Washington 42 January 27, 1987 Utah 43 January 29, 1987 Milwaukee L 93–99 The Summit 22–21
February: 8–4 (home: 5–2; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 44 February 1, 1987 @ Atlanta W 106–104 The Omni 23–21 45 February 3, 1987 Denver 46 February 5, 1987 Golden State W 120–110 The Summit 24–22 All-Star Break 49 February 14, 1987 @ Milwaukee L 101–116 MECCA Arena 26–23 50 February 16, 1987 Dallas 51 February 19, 1987 Boston L 92–99 The Summit 27–24 52 February 21, 1987 Utah 53 February 23, 1987 Denver 54 February 24, 1987 @ Denver 55 February 26, 1987 @ Utah
March: 7–10 (home: 4–3; road: 3–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 March 1, 1987 Philadelphia 59 March 5, 1987 @ Golden State L 96–105 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 32–27 60 March 7, 1987 @ Seattle L 115–118 Seattle Center Coliseum 32–28 61 March 8, 1987 @ Portland 62 March 10, 1987 Seattle L 127–136 (2OT) The Summit 32–30 64 March 14, 1987 @ Dallas 65 March 16, 1987 Chicago 68 March 21, 1987 @ Utah 69 March 23, 1987 Detroit L 110–114 The Summit 36–33 71 March 26, 1987 Portland 72 March 28, 1987 L.A. Lakers L 109–123 The Summit 37–35 73 March 31, 1987 @ L.A. Lakers L 96–111 The Forum 37–36
April: 5–4 (home: 3–0; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 76 April 6, 1987 @ Portland 79 April 11, 1987 Denver 80 April 15, 1987 @ Dallas 81 April 17, 1987 Dallas 82 April 18, 1987 @ Denver
1986–87 schedule

Playoffs

1987 playoff game log
First Round: 3–1 (home: 1–1; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 24, 1987 @ Portland W 125–115 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (10) Leavell (10) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 1–0 2 April 26, 1987 @ Portland L 98–111 Leavell, Sampson (28) McCray (12) Leavell (8) Memorial Coliseum 12,666 1–1 3 April 28, 1987 Portland W 117–108 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (11) Leavell (13) The Summit 16,279 2–1 4 April 30, 1987 Portland W 113–101 Olajuwon (27) McCray, Sampson (10) Leavell (8) The Summit 16,279 3–1
Conference semifinals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 2, 1987 Seattle L 106–111 (OT) Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (16) McCray (8) The Summit 16,279 0–1 2 May 5, 1987 Seattle L 97–99 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon, Sampson (13) Leavell, McCray (8) The Summit 16,279 0–2 3 May 7, 1987 @ Seattle W 102–84 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon (11) Reid (9) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,587 1–2 4 May 9, 1987 @ Seattle L 102–117 McCray, Olajuwon (20) McCray (12) Leavell (5) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,559 1–3 5 May 12, 1987 Seattle W 112–107 Olajuwon (26) McCray (10) McCray (11) The Summit 16,279 2–3 6 May 14, 1987 @ Seattle L 125–128 (2OT) Olajuwon (49) Olajuwon (25) Reid (12) Seattle Center Coliseum 14,751 2–4
1987 schedule

A ticket for Game 2 of the 1987 Western Conference semifinals between the Rockets and the Seattle SuperSonics.

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

Playoffs

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

Awards and records

• Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA First Team
• Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive First Team
• Rodney McCray, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions