1994–95 Houston Rockets season

The 1994–95 Houston Rockets season was the 28th season for the franchise in the National Basketball Association, and their 24th season in Houston, Texas.^[1] After winning their first ever NBA championship, the Rockets got off to a fast start by winning their first nine games of the regular season. However, with increased competition in the West, management felt a change was needed to win another title.

1994–95 Houston Rockets season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Head coach	Rudy Tomjanovich
General manager	Bob Weinhauer
Owner(s)	Leslie Alexander
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	47–35 (.573)
Place	Division: 3rd (Midwest) Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finish	NBA champions (Defeated Magic 4–0)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	KTXH Prime Sports Southwest (Bill Worrell, Calvin Murphy)
Radio	KTRH (Gene Peterson, Jim Foley)
< 1993–94 1995–96 >

On February 14, 1995, the Rockets traded Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, and three-point specialist Tracy Murray; Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both teammates at the University of Houston in the early 1980s.^[2][3][4] The team also signed free agent Chucky Brown midway through the season,^[5][6] and later on signed 38-year old veteran Charles Jones to a 10-day contract in April, where he played in the final three games of the regular season.^[7][8] However, after holding a 29–17 record at the All-Star break,^[9] the Rockets played .500 basketball in the second half of the regular season, posting an 18–18 record on their way to finishing in third place in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record, and earning the sixth seed in the Western Conference.^[10]

Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, and was selected for the 1995 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona,^[11][12][13] while Drexler averaged 21.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 35 games with the Rockets after the trade; Olajuwon and Drexler were both named to the All-NBA Third Team. In addition, Vernon Maxwell provided the team with 13.3 points per game, and led them with 143 three-point field goals, while Kenny Smith contributed 10.4 points per game and 142 three-point field goals, and Robert Horry averaged 10.2 points per game. Off the bench, second-year guard Sam Cassell provided with 9.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, while Mario Elie contributed 8.8 points per game, and Carl Herrera averaged 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.^[14]

Olajuwon finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Drexler finished in fourteenth place;^[15][16] Olajuwon also finished in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[17][16] According to Horry, when All-Star center David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs was given his NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year award, before a game in the Western Conference Finals between the Spurs and Rockets, Olajuwon got upset and claimed that Robinson won "his" trophy; Olajuwon won the MVP award the previous season.^[18][19]

In the 1995 NBA playoffs, the Rockets faced off against the 3rd–seeded Utah Jazz in the Western Conference First Round; the Jazz would take a 2–1 series lead,^[20][21][22] but the Rockets went on to win the series in five games.^[23][24][25] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they faced off against the 2nd–seeded Phoenix Suns for the second consecutive year; after trailing 3–1,^[26][27][28] the Rockets managed to defeat the 2nd-seeded Suns in seven games to advance to the Western Conference Finals.^[29][30][31] In the all Texas Western Conference Finals, they faced off against 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 1995 NBA Finals.^[32][33][34]

In the Finals, they swept the Orlando Magic in four straight games, and won their second consecutive NBA championship, with Olajuwon being named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player for the second straight year.^[35][36][37] As the 6th seed in the 1995 playoffs, the 1994–95 Rockets to date are the lowest seeded team in league history to win an NBA championship.^[38]

Following the season, Maxwell signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers;^[39][40][41] Maxwell had a controversial season, which involved him punching a fan during a road game against the Trail Blazers on February 6, 1995, which cost him a ten-game suspension,^[42][43][44] and leaving the team during the playoffs after being replaced with Drexler as the team's starting shooting guard.^[45][46] Meanwhile, Murray signed with the Toronto Raptors expansion team,^[47][48] Herrera signed with the San Antonio Spurs,^[49][50] and Croatian rookie center Žan Tabak was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft, where he was selected by the Raptors.^[51][52][53]

NBA draft

Main article: 1994 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
2	53	Albert Burditt	PF	United States	Texas

Roster

1994–95 Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From F 15 Tim Breaux 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–09–19 Wyoming F 52 Chucky Brown 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1968–02–29 NC State G 10 Sam Cassell 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–11–18 Florida State F 32 Pete Chilcutt 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–14 North Carolina G 22 Clyde Drexler 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston G 17 Mario Elie 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–11–26 American International F 7 Carl Herrera 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston F 25 Robert Horry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama F 27 Charles Jones 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State G 11 Vernon Maxwell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida F 31 Tracy Murray 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA C 34 Hakeem Olajuwon 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston G 30 Kenny Smith 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina C 55 Žan Tabak 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–15 Croatia

Head coach Rudy Tomjanovich Assistant(s) Bill Berry Jim Boylen Carroll Dawson Larry Smith Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: April 22, 1995

Regular season

Season standings

Midwest Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
z-San Antonio Spurs	62	20	.756	—	33–8	29–12	20–6
x-Utah Jazz	60	22	.732	2	33–8	27–14	17–9
x-Houston Rockets	47	35	.573	15	25–16	22–19	13–13
x-Denver Nuggets	41	41	.500	21	23–18	18–23	13–13
Dallas Mavericks	36	46	.439	26	19–22	17–24	11–15
Minnesota Timberwolves	21	61	.256	41	13–28	8–33	4–22

#	Western Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-San Antonio Spurs	62	20	.756	–
2	y-Phoenix Suns	59	23	.720	3
3	x-Utah Jazz	60	22	.732	2
4	x-Seattle SuperSonics	57	25	.695	5
5	x-Los Angeles Lakers	48	34	.585	14
6	x-Houston Rockets	47	35	.573	15
7	x-Portland Trail Blazers	44	38	.537	18
8	x-Denver Nuggets	41	41	.500	21
9	Sacramento Kings	39	43	.476	23
10	Dallas Mavericks	36	46	.439	26
11	Golden State Warriors	26	56	.317	36
12	Minnesota Timberwolves	21	61	.256	41
13	Los Angeles Clippers	17	65	.207	45

Record vs. opponents

1994-95 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHA	CHI	CLE	DAL	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	LAC	LAL	MIA	MIL	MIN	NJN	NYK	ORL	PHI	PHO	POR	SAC	SAS	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–4	2–0	2–0	3–2	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	2–2	1–3	2–0	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Boston	1–3	—	1–3	0–4	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–3	2–0	2–3	0–5	2–3	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	3–1
Charlotte	2–2	3–1	—	2–2	3–2	0–2	1–1	5–0	2–0	0–2	1–4	2–0	0–2	3–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–3	3–1	0–2	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	3–1
Chicago	4–1	4–0	2–2	—	2–3	1–1	1–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	1–1	1–1	3–1	1–4	2–0	2–2	3–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–2
Cleveland	4–1	2–2	2–3	3–2	—	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–0	0–2	2–3	1–1	1–1	1–3	4–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–1
Dallas	0–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	—	1–4	1–1	3–1	2–3	1–1	3–1	1–3	0–2	1–1	4–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–0	0–4	3–1	2–2	2–3	0–4	2–4	1–1
Denver	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–1	—	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	2–0	6–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–3	3–1	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–4	2–0
Detroit	2–3	1–3	0–5	0–5	2–2	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–3	1–1	2–2	1–3	1–3	4–0	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Golden State	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–3	3–1	1–1	—	0–4	0–2	3–2	3–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2	1–4	0–5	1–3	1–4	2–2	2–0
Houston	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	4–0	—	1–1	3–1	0–4	2–0	1–1	3–2	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	3–1	1–5	0–4	2–3	2–0
Indiana	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	3–2	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	1–3	2–2	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1
L.A. Clippers	0–2	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	0–4	1–1	2–3	1–3	0–2	—	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–3	0–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–5	1–4	0–4	0–5	1–3	0–2
L.A. Lakers	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–3	4–0	1–1	3–2	—	1–1	1–1	3–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	3–2	1–3	4–1	2–2	2–0
Miami	2–2	1–4	1–3	1–3	3–1	2–0	0–2	3–1	1–1	0–2	2–2	2–0	1–1	—	4–0	1–1	1–3	1–4	1–3	1–4	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	0–2	4–1
Milwaukee	3–1	3–1	1–4	4–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	3–2	2–0	1–1	2–3	1–1	1–1	0–4	—	1–1	2–2	2–2	0–4	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–1
Minnesota	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–4	0–6	1–1	3–1	2–3	0–2	3–1	1–3	1–1	1–1	—	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–4	0–4	1–3	0–5	0–4	1–4	1–1
New Jersey	0–4	3–2	1–3	2–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	3–1	2–2	1–1	—	1–4	2–2	2–3	0–2	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	0–2	2–3
New York	2–2	5–0	1–3	1–3	2–2	2–0	2–0	3–1	1–1	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–2	2–0	4–1	—	2–3	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	4–0
Orlando	3–1	3–2	3–1	3–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	4–0	1–1	2–2	3–2	—	4–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–2
Philadelphia	1–3	1–3	1–3	0–4	1–3	0–2	1–1	0–4	1–1	0–2	0–4	1–1	1–1	4–1	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	1–4	—	0–2	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	3–2
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	3–1	1–1	2–3	1–3	1–1	4–1	4–1	2–0	2–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	—	5–0	4–1	2–2	4–1	2–2	2–0
Portland	1–1	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–3	1–3	2–0	4–1	3–1	1–1	5–0	3–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–5	—	3–2	1–3	2–3	1–3	2–0
Sacramento	1–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	5–0	1–3	0–2	4–1	2–3	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–1	1–4	2–3	—	0–4	3–2	0–4	1–1
San Antonio	1–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	3–2	4–1	2–0	3–1	5–1	0–2	4–0	3–1	2–0	2–0	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	—	2–2	3–2	2–0
Seattle	2–0	1–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	4–1	4–0	1–1	5–0	1–4	2–0	2–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–0	1–4	3–2	2–3	2–2	—	1–3	2–0
Utah	2–0	2–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–2	4–1	2–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	3–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	4–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–2	3–1	4–0	2–3	3–1	—	2–0
Washington	0–4	1–3	1–3	2–2	1–3	1–1	0–2	1–3	0–2	0–2	1–3	2–0	0–2	1–4	1–3	1–1	3–2	0–4	2–3	2–3	0–2	0–2	1–1	0–2	0–2	0–2	—

Game log

Regular season

1994–95 game log Total: 47–35 (Home: 25–16; Road: 22–19)
November: 10–3 (home: 4–2; road: 6–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 November 4 7:30 p.m. CST New Jersey W 90–86 Olajuwon (19) Olajuwon, Thorpe (8) Cassell (5) The Summit 16,611 1–0 2 November 5 7:00 p.m. CST @ Minnesota W 115–85 Olajuwon (23) Thorpe (14) Maxwell (7) Target Center 16,578 2–0 3 November 8 7:00 p.m. CST @ Cleveland W 100–98 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (12) Cassell (9) Gund Arena 20,562 3–0 4 November 9 5:00 p.m. CST @ Indiana W 109–104 Olajuwon (43) Olajuwon (16) Cassell, Horry, Smith (5) Market Square Arena 15,258 4–0 5 November 11 6:30 p.m. CST @ Boston W 102–82 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (14) Horry (6) Boston Garden 14,890 5–0 6 November 12 6:30 p.m. CST @ New Jersey W 100–84 Olajuwon (31) Thorpe (13) Horry (5) Brendan Byrne Arena 20,049 6–0 7 November 15 7:30 p.m. CST Sacramento W 105–99 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (8) The Summit 14,656 7–0 8 November 17 7:00 p.m. CST Chicago W 106–83 Olajuwon (29) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (8) The Summit 16,199 8–0 9 November 19 8:00 p.m. CST @ Denver W 109–101 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (13) Cassell (9) McNichols Sports Arena 17,171 9–0 10 November 22 7:30 p.m. CST Portland L 94–102 Olajuwon (27) Thorpe (10) Maxwell (6) The Summit 16,611 9–1 11 November 23 6:30 p.m. CST @ Orlando L 94–117 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon, Thorpe (10) Maxwell (6) Orlando Arena 16,010 9–2 12 November 26 7:30 p.m. CST Seattle L 94–98 Maxwell (23) Olajuwon, Thorpe (13) Smith (7) The Summit 16,611 9–3 13 November 29 7:30 p.m. CST Denver W 96–81 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon (12) Smith (9) The Summit 14,295 10–3
December: 8–6 (home: 5–3; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 14 December 1 9:30 p.m. CST @ Golden State W 113–109 Olajuwon (37) Olajuwon (13) Olajuwon (12) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 11–3 15 December 2 9:30 p.m. CST @ L.A. Lakers L 89–107 Herrera (22) Herrera (11) Cassell (5) Great Western Forum 13,056 11–4 16 December 6 7:00 p.m. CST @ Seattle L 90–103 Thorpe (21) Horry (10) Cassell (7) Tacoma Dome 13,017 11–5 17 December 8 7:30 p.m. CST Charlotte W 101–95 Smith (25) Thorpe (15) Cassell, Olajuwon (8) The Summit 12,792 12–5 18 December 10 7:30 p.m. CST San Antonio L 96–108 Olajuwon (20) Thorpe (14) Maxwell (7) The Summit 16,611 12–6 19 December 13 7:30 p.m. CST Washington W 93–85 Thorpe (27) Olajuwon, Thorpe (14) Maxwell, Smith (7) The Summit 13,889 13–6 20 December 15 7:30 p.m. CST L.A. Lakers L 94–97 Olajuwon (22) Thorpe (16) Cassell (8) The Summit 11,943 13–7 21 December 17 7:30 p.m. CST Boston L 109–112 Maxwell (25) Olajuwon (12) Smith (7) The Summit 15,757 13–8 22 December 22 7:00 p.m. CST Phoenix W 114–106 Smith (25) Olajuwon (15) Maxwell, Smith (7) The Summit 16,611 14–8 23 December 23 7:30 p.m. CST @ San Antonio L 96–98 Maxwell (27) Thorpe (13) Cassell, Smith (4) Alamodome 31,514 14–9 24 December 26 6:30 p.m. CST @ Miami W 101–88 Olajuwon (24) Olajuwon (12) Maxwell, Olajuwon (5) Miami Arena 15,200 15–9 25 December 27 7:30 p.m. CST Atlanta W 105–93 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (16) Olajuwon (8) The Summit 16,394 16–9 26 December 29 7:30 p.m. CST Golden State W 126–124 Olajuwon (42) Olajuwon (8) Cassell (10) The Summit 16,611 17–9 27 December 30 8:00 p.m. CST @ Utah W 111–103 Olajuwon (37) Olajuwon (12) Olajuwon (7) Delta Center 19,911 18–9
January: 8–6 (home: 5–2; road: 3–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 28 January 3 7:30 p.m. CST @ Dallas W 110–98 Olajuwon (41) Olajuwon (13) Cassell, Maxwell (6) Reunion Arena 17,502 19–9 29 January 5 7:30 p.m. CST Dallas W 108–99 Olajuwon (33) Herrera, Horry (8) Maxwell (9) The Summit 16,611 20–9 30 January 7 7:30 p.m. CST Indiana L 83–88 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon (15) Cassell (6) The Summit 16,611 20–10 31 January 11 7:30 p.m. CST Miami W 108–97 Smith (27) Olajuwon (11) Maxwell (7) The Summit 12,424 21–10 32 January 13 7:30 p.m. CST San Antonio W 103–100 Olajuwon (47) Olajuwon (10) Horry (9) The Summit 16,611 22–10 33 January 14 8:00 p.m. CST @ Denver L 104–118 Olajuwon (41) Thorpe (13) Maxwell (5) McNichols Sports Arena 17,171 22–11 34 January 16 7:00 p.m. CST @ Minnesota L 75–94 Olajuwon (22) Olajuwon (8) Smith (6) Target Center 12,442 22–12 35 January 19 7:00 p.m. CST New York L 77–93 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (17) Cassell, Maxwell, Olajuwon (5) The Summit 16,611 22–13 36 January 20 7:00 p.m. CST @ Detroit W 106–96 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (12) Cassell (9) The Palace of Auburn Hills 21,454 23–13 37 January 22 12 Noon CST @ Chicago L 81–100 Horry (19) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (5) United Center 22,647 23–14 38 January 24 7:30 p.m. CST @ Milwaukee W 115–99 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (9) Horry (9) Bradley Center 14,556 24–14 39 January 26 7:30 p.m. CST @ San Antonio L 100–103 Olajuwon (36) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (5) Alamodome 33,360 24–15 40 January 28 7:30 p.m. CST Minnesota W 114–93 Olajuwon (25) Thorpe (9) Maxwell (9) The Summit 16,611 25–15 41 January 31 7:30 p.m. CST Denver W 86–74 Olajuwon (25) Olajuwon (13) Cassell (10) The Summit 14,761 26–15
February: 9–5 (home: 5–1; road: 4–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 42 February 2 7:30 p.m. CST Utah W 121–101 Olajuwon (40) Thorpe (8) Maxwell (10) The Summit 16,611 27–15 43 February 5 2:30 p.m. CST @ Phoenix W 124–100 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (11) Cassell, Maxwell (7) America West Arena 19,023 28–15 44 February 6 9:00 p.m. CST @ Portland L 82–120 Olajuwon (22) Olajuwon (11) Smith (5) Memorial Coliseum 12,888 28–16 45 February 8 9:30 p.m. CST @ Sacramento W 97–86 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (17) Elie (6) ARCO Arena 17,317 29–16 46 February 9 9:30 p.m. CST @ L.A. Clippers L 107–122 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (7) Cassell (10) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 7,178 29–17 All-Star Break 47 February 14 7:30 p.m. CST L.A. Clippers W 124–104 Olajuwon (26) Chilcutt (11) Smith (11) The Summit 15,071 30–17 48 February 16 7:00 p.m. CST @ Charlotte W 105–89 Olajuwon (29) Olajuwon (14) Cassell, Olajuwon(6) Charlotte Coliseum 23,698 31–17 49 February 17 6:30 p.m. CST @ Washington W 109–92 Olajuwon (30) Chilcutt (14) Drexler (9) USAir Arena 18,756 32–17 50 February 19 12 Noon CST @ New York L 117–122 Olajuwon (27) Drexler (10) Cassell (10) Madison Square Garden 19,763 32–18 51 February 21 7:00 p.m. CST San Antonio L 97–98 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (10) Cassell (9) The Summit 16,611 32–19 52 February 23 7:30 p.m. CST Detroit W 110–99 Olajuwon (36) Olajuwon (12) Horry (9) The Summit 16,611 33–19 53 February 25 7:30 p.m. CST Golden State W 112–105 Olajuwon (38) Olajuwon (15) Cassell (16) The Summit 16,611 34–19 54 February 27 7:30 p.m. CST Cleveland W 86–78 Olajuwon (20) Olajuwon (11) Cassell, Olajuwon (6) The Summit 14,253 35–19 55 February 28 7:30 p.m. CST @ Dallas L 101–102 Drexler (24) Brown (10) Drexler (6) Reunion Arena 17,502 35–20
March: 7–8 (home: 3–5; road: 4–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 56 March 2 8:45 p.m. CST Orlando L 96–107 Drexler (25) Brown (11) Elie (7) The Summit 16,611 35–21 57 March 3 7:00 p.m. CST @ Minnesota L 105–108 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (13) Cassell (8) Target Center 17,068 35–22 58 March 5 12 Noon CST @ San Antonio L 103–124 Olajuwon (25) Drexler (8) Cassell, Elie, Maxwell, Smith (4) Alamodome 35,818 35–23 59 March 7 7:00 p.m. CST Phoenix L 102–113 Olajuwon (40) Olajuwon (13) Smith (7) The Summit 16,611 35–24 60 March 11 7:30 p.m. CST Dallas W 109–102 Drexler (36) Olajuwon (12) Cassell (6) The Summit 16,611 36–24 61 March 13 6:30 p.m. CST @ Atlanta W 97–86 Olajuwon (31) Harrera, Olajuwon (11) Cassell, Maxwell (6) The Omni 11,746 37–24 62 March 14 6:30 p.m. CST @ Philadelphia W 136–107 Drexler (26) Brown (10) Smith (9) CoreStates Spectrum 11,484 38–24 63 March 16 7:30 p.m. CST Minnesota W 104–97 Smith (23) Herrera (9) Drexler (6) The Summit 10,711 39–24 64 March 19 2:30 p.m. CST Philadelphia W 114–103 Olajuwon (24) Herrera, Olajuwon (9) Cassell (10) The Summit 16,611 40–24 65 March 21 7:30 p.m. CST Seattle L 102–104 Drexler (22) Brown, Olajuwon (8) Drexler (6) The Summit 16,611 40–25 66 March 23 7:30 p.m. CST Utah L 104–112 Olajuwon (33) Drexler, Olajuwon (9) Olajuwon (6) The Summit 16,611 40–26 67 March 24 8:00 p.m. CST @ Phoenix W 99–97 Smith (26) Olajuwon (11) Maxwell, Olajuwon, Smith (6) America West Arena 19,023 41–26 68 March 26 8:30 p.m. CST @ L.A. Lakers L 96–107 Drexler (21) Olajuwon (12) Drexler, Smith (4) Great Western Forum 17,505 41–27 69 March 28 7:30 p.m. CST L.A. Lakers L 96–106 Herrera (22) Chilcutt (8) Drexler, Smith (8) The Summit 16,611 41–28 70 March 30 9:30 p.m. CST @ L.A. Clippers W 108–96 Drexler (41) Drexler (18) Cassell, Drexler (4) Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 11,561 42–28
April: 5–7 (home: 3–3; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 71 April 1 7:30 p.m. CST Milwaukee L 87–93 Drexler (23) Herrera (9) Smith (6) The Summit 16,611 42–29 72 April 4 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Sacramento L 105–109 Drexler (29) Drexler (8) Drexler, Smith (3) ARCO Arena 17,317 42–30 73 April 6 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Golden State W 110–102 Drexler (40) Herrera (9) Drexler (8) Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 15,025 43–30 74 April 7 9:00 p.m. CDT @ Portland L 109–127 Cassell (31) Drexler (10) Drexler, Horry (6) Memorial Coliseum 12,888 43–31 75 April 9 2:30 p.m. CDT @ Denver W 123–120 Drexler (34) Drexler (13) Cassell (6) McNichols Sports Arena 17,171 44–31 76 April 11 7:30 p.m. CDT Dallas L 147–156 (2OT) Drexler, Smith (29) Brown (14) Drexler (11) The Summit 16,431 44–32 77 April 13 7:30 p.m. CDT Portland W 112–99 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (10) Smith (8) The Summit 16,611 45–32 78 April 15 7:30 p.m. CDT Sacramento W 98–84 Smith (18) Olajuwon (13) Smith (4) The Summit 16,611 46–32 79 April 17 7:30 p.m. CDT L.A. Clippers W 121–111 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (9) Cassell (8) The Summit 16,027 47–32 80 April 19 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Utah L 96–115 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (10) Olajuwon, Smith (4) Delta Center 19,911 47–33 81 April 20 9:00 p.m. CDT @ Seattle L 101–111 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (8) Cassell (4) Tacoma Dome 18,056 47–34 82 April 23 6:00 p.m. CDT Utah L 97–103 Maxwell (26) Tabak (8) Maxwell (4) The Summit 16,611 47–35
1994–95 schedule

Detailed records

Western Conference Opponent W L WP Midwest Division Dallas Mavericks 3 2 0.600 Denver Nuggets 4 1 0.800 Houston Rockets Minnesota Timberwolves 3 2 0.600 San Antonio Spurs 1 5 0.167 Utah Jazz 2 3 0.400 Div Total 13 13 0.500 Pacific Division Golden State Warriors 4 0 1.000 Los Angeles Clippers 3 1 0.750 Los Angeles Lakers 0 4 0.000 Phoenix Suns 3 1 0.750 Portland Trail Blazers 1 3 0.250 Sacramento Kings 3 1 0.750 Seattle SuperSonics 0 4 0.000 Div Total 14 14 0.500 Conf Total 27 27 0.500 Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Boston Celtics 1 1 0.500 Miami Heat 2 0 1.000 New Jersey Nets 2 0 1.000 New York Knicks 0 2 0.000 Orlando Magic 0 2 0.000 Philadelphia 76ers 2 0 1.000 Washington Bullets 2 0 1.000 Div Total 9 5 0.643 Central Division Atlanta Hawks 2 0 1.000 Charlotte Hornets 2 0 1.000 Chicago Bulls 1 1 0.500 Cleveland Cavaliers 2 0 1.000 Detroit Pistons 2 0 1.000 Indiana Pacers 1 1 0.500 Milwaukee Bucks 1 1 0.500 Div Total 11 3 0.786 Conf Total 20 8 0.714 Season Total 47 35 0.573

Month Games Won Lost Win % November 13 10 3 0.769 December 14 8 6 0.571 January 14 8 6 0.571 February 14 9 5 0.643 March 15 7 8 0.467 April 12 5 7 0.417 Total 82 47 35 0.573 Games Won Lost Win % Home 41 25 16 0.610 Away 41 22 19 0.537 Total 82 47 35 0.573

Playoffs

See also: 1995 NBA playoffs

1995 playoff game log
Western Conference First Round: 3–2 (home: 1–1; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 27 8:30 p.m. CDT @ Utah L 100–102 Olajuwon (45) Chilcutt (9) Olajuwon (9) Delta Center 19,911 0–1 2 April 29 8:30 p.m. CDT @ Utah W 140–126 Smith (32) Olajuwon, Horry (7) Smith (9) Delta Center 19,911 1–1 3 May 3 8:30 p.m. CDT Utah L 82–95 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon (10) Horry, Smith (5) The Summit 16,611 1–2 4 May 5 8:30 p.m. CDT Utah W 123–106 Drexler (41) Drexler (9) Drexler, Smith (6) The Summit 16,611 2–2 5 May 7 2:00 p.m. CST @ Utah W 95–91 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon, Drexler (10) Olajuwon, Cassell (4) Delta Center 19,911 3–2
Western Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (home: 2–1; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 9 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Phoenix L 108–130 Olajuwon (18) Brown (6) Smith (10) America West Arena 19,023 0–1 2 May 11 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Phoenix L 94–118 Olajuwon (25) Horry (8) Drexler (7) America West Arena 19,023 0–2 3 May 13 12 Noon CDT Phoenix W 118–85 Olajuwon (36) Olajuwon (11) Drexler (8) The Summit 16,611 1–2 4 May 14 12 Noon CDT Phoenix L 110–114 Olajuwon (38) Horry (17) Cassell (9) The Summit 16,611 1–3 5 May 16 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Phoenix W 103–97 (OT) Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (16) Smith (7) America West Arena 19,023 2–3 6 May 18 7:30 p.m. CDT Phoenix W 116–103 Olajuwon (30) Olajuwon, Drexler (8) Olajuwon (10) The Summit 16,611 3–3 7 May 20 2:30 p.m. CDT @ Phoenix W 115–114 Olajuwon, Drexler (29) Olajuwon (11) Cassell (7) America West Arena 19,023 4–3
Western Conference Finals: 4–2 (home: 1–2; road: 3–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 May 22 7:30 p.m. CDT @ San Antonio W 94–93 Olajuwon (27) Drexler (12) Olajuwon (6) Alamodome 33,337 1–0 2 May 24 7:30 p.m. CDT @ San Antonio W 106–96 Olajuwon (41) Olajuwon (16) Elie, Cassell (7) Alamodome 35,888 2–0 3 May 26 8:00 p.m. CDT San Antonio L 102–107 Olajuwon (43) Olajuwon (11) Drexler (9) The Summit 16,611 2–1 4 May 28 2:30 p.m. CDT San Antonio L 81–103 Olajuwon (20) Olajuwon (14) Olajuwon (5) The Summit 16,611 2–2 5 May 30 8:00 p.m. CDT @ San Antonio W 111–90 Olajuwon (42) Horry (13) Cassell (12) Alamodome 35,888 3–2 6 June 1 8:00 p.m. CDT San Antonio W 100–95 Olajuwon (39) Olajuwon (17) Drexler (7) The Summit 16,611 4–2
NBA Finals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 June 7 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Orlando W 120–118 (OT) Olajuwon (31) Drexler (11) Smith (9) Orlando Arena 16,010 1–0 2 June 9 8:00 p.m. CDT @ Orlando W 117–106 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (11) Drexler (5) Orlando Arena 16,010 2–0 3 June 11 6:30 p.m. CDT Orlando W 106–103 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (14) Drexler, Olajuwon (7) The Summit 16,611 3–0 4 June 14 8:00 p.m. CDT Orlando W 113–101 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (15) Drexler (8) The Summit 16,611 4–0
1995 schedule

Player stats

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

Regular season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Tim Breaux	42	2	8.1	.372	.240	.653	.8	.4	.26	.10	3.0
Scott Brooks	28	0	6.6	.538	.471	.857	.5	.8	.29	.04	3.4
Chucky Brown	41	14	19.9	.603	.333	.613	4.6	.7	.27	.34	6.1
Adrian Caldwell	7	0	4.3	.250	.000	.500	1.4	.0	.14	.00	.7
Sam Cassell	82	1	23.0	.427	.330	.843	2.6	4.9	1.15	.17	9.5
Pete Chilcutt	68	17	19.8	.445	.407	.738	4.7	1.0	.37	.63	5.3
Clyde Drexler	35	34	37.1	.506	.357	.809	7.0	4.4	1.77	.66	21.4
Mario Elie	81	13	23.4	.499	.398	.842	2.4	2.3	.80	.15	8.8
Carl Herrera	61	26	21.8	.523	.000	.624	4.6	.7	.66	.62	6.8
Robert Horry	64	61	32.4	.447	.379	.761	5.1	3.4	1.47	1.19	10.2
Charles Jones	3	0	12.0	.333	.000	.500	2.3	.0	.00	.33	1.0
Vernon Maxwell	64	54	31.8	.394	.324	.688	2.6	4.3	1.17	.20	13.3
Tracy Murray	25	0	8.1	.400	.422	.625	.9	.2	.28	.12	3.5
Hakeem Olajuwon	72	72	39.6	.517	.188	.756	10.8	3.5	1.85	3.36	27.8
Kenny Smith	81	81	25.1	.484	.429	.851	1.9	4.0	.88	.12	10.4
Žan Tabak	37	0	4.9	.453	.000	.614	1.5	.1	.05	.19	2.0
Otis Thorpe	36	35	33.0	.563	.000	.528	8.9	1.6	.61	.36	13.3

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Chucky Brown	21	1	15.5	.447	.500	.676	3.1	.3	.43	.10	4.5
Sam Cassell	22	0	22.0	.438	.400	.835	1.9	4.0	.95	.09	11.0
Pete Chilcutt	20	15	16.2	.484	.389	.824	2.9	.9	.35	.20	4.5
Clyde Drexler	22	22	38.6	.481	.303	.786	7.0	5.0	1.50	.68	20.5
Mario Elie	22	6	28.9	.504	.431	.795	2.8	2.5	.95	.05	9.1
Carl Herrera	1	0	6.0	1.000	.000	.000	.0	1.0	.00	.00	2.0
Robert Horry	22	22	38.2	.445	.400	.744	7.0	3.5	1.45	1.18	13.1
Charles Jones	19	0	12.5	.385	.000	.333	2.3	.0	.21	.53	.7
Vernon Maxwell	1	0	16.0	.143	.000	1.000	3.0	1.0	.00	.00	3.0
Hakeem Olajuwon	22	22	42.2	.531	.500	.681	10.3	4.5	1.18	2.82	33.0
Kenny Smith	22	22	29.6	.438	.442	.900	2.2	4.5	.64	.14	10.8
Žan Tabak	8	0	3.9	.400	.000	1.000	.1	.1	.12	.38	.8

Player Statistics Citation:^[14]

Playoffs

West First Round

(3) Utah Jazz vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 3-2

• Game 1 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (April 27): Utah 102, Houston 100
• Game 2 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (April 29): Houston 140, Utah 126
• Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 3): Utah 95, Houston 82
• Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 5): Houston 123, Utah 106
• Game 5 @ Delta Center, Salt Lake City (May 7): Houston 95, Utah 91

Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Finals (Houston won 4–1)

West Conference semifinals

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-3

• Game 1 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 9): Phoenix 130, Houston 108
• Game 2 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 11): Phoenix 118, Houston 94
• Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 13): Houston 118, Phoenix 85
• Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 14): Phoenix 114, Houston 110
• Game 5 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 16): Houston 103, Phoenix 97 (OT)
• Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (May 18): Houston 116, Phoenix 103
• Game 7 @ America West Arena, Phoenix (May 20): Houston 115, Phoenix 114

Last Playoff Meeting: 1994 Western Conference Semifinals (Houston won 4–3)

West Conference finals

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Houston Rockets: Rockets win series 4-2

• Game 1 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 22): Houston 94, San Antonio 93
• Game 2 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 24): Houston 106, San Antonio 96
• Game 3 @ The Summit, Houston (May 26): San Antonio 107, Houston 102
• Game 4 @ The Summit, Houston (May 28): San Antonio 103, Houston 81
• Game 5 @ Alamodome, San Antonio (May 30): Houston 111, San Antonio 90
• Game 6 @ The Summit, Houston (June 1): Houston 100, San Antonio 95

Last Playoff Meeting: 1981 Western Conference Semifinals (Houston won 4–3)

NBA Finals

1995 NBA Finals Roster

Head Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich
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 |

Olajuwon vs. O'Neal

Although both centers played well, Olajuwon is generally 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:^[54][55]

1995 NBA Finals	Gm 1	Gm 2	Gm 3	Gm 4	Totals
Hakeem Olajuwon	31	34	31	35	32.8 ppg
Shaquille O'Neal	26	33	28	25	28.0 ppg

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.

Series Summary

Main article: 1995 NBA Finals

Game	Date	Home team	Result	Road team
Game 1	June 7	Orlando	118–120	Houston
Game 2	June 9	Orlando	106–117	Houston
Game 3	June 11	Houston	106–103	Orlando
Game 4	June 14	Houston	113–101	Orlando

Rockets win series 4–0

Award winners

• Hakeem Olajuwon – NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
• Hakeem Olajuwon – All-NBA Third Team

Transactions