From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1985–86 Houston Rockets season

Home Sports Entertainment (lost to Celtics 2–4)

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 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

Houston Rockets}}" width="10%"	Round	Houston Rockets}}" width="10%"	Pick	Houston Rockets}}" width="20%"	Player
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

Bill Fitch

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

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

Playoffs

3–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
1
April 26, 1986
Denver
W 126–119
Akeem Olajuwon (38)
Akeem Olajuwon (16)
Robert Reid (9)
The Summit
15,448
1–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
2
April 29, 1986
Denver
W 119–101
Ralph Sampson (27)
Akeem Olajuwon (14)
Rodney McCray (10)
The Summit
16,016
2–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
3
May 2, 1986
@ Denver
L 115–116
Akeem Olajuwon (31)
Akeem Olajuwon (11)
McCray, Lloyd (8)
McNichols Sports Arena
17,022
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
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
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
May 6, 1986
Denver
W 131–103
Akeem Olajuwon (36)
Akeem Olajuwon (19)
Robert Reid (12)
The Summit
16,016
3–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
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
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
1
May 10, 1986
2:30p.m. CDT
@ L.A. Lakers
L 107–119
Olajuwon (28)
Olajuwon (16)
Reid (8)
The Forum
17,505
0–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
2
May 13, 1986
9:30p.m. CDT
@ L.A. Lakers
W 112–102
Lloyd,
Sampson (24)
Sampson (16)
McCray (11)
The Forum
17,505
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
May 16, 1986
8:30p.m. CDT
L.A. Lakers
W 117–109
Olajuwon (40)
Olajuwon (12)
Reid (12)
The Summit
16,016
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
4
May 18, 1986
2:30p.m. CDT
L.A. Lakers
W 105–95
Olajuwon (35)
Petersen (13)
McCray (6)
The Summit
16,016
3–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
May 21, 1986
10:30p.m. CDT
@ L.A. Lakers
W 114–112
Olajuwon (30)
Olajuwon (7)
McCray (11)
The Forum
17,505
4–1
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
1
May 26, 1986
2:00p.m. CDT
@ Boston
L 100–112
Olajuwon (33)
Olajuwon (12)
Reid (8)
Boston Garden
14,890
0–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
2
May 29, 1986
8:00p.m. CDT
@ Boston
L 95–117
Olajuwon (21)
Olajuwon (10)
McCray,
Reid (5)
Boston Garden
14,890
0–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
June 1, 1986
2:30p.m. CDT
Boston
W 106–104
Sampson (24)
Sampson (22)
Reid (9)
The Summit
16,016
1–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
June 3, 1986
8:00p.m. CDT
Boston
L 103–106
Sampson (25)
Olajuwon (14)
Sampson (9)
The Summit
16,016
1–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
June 5, 1986
8:00p.m. CDT
Boston
W 111–96
Olajuwon (32)
Olajuwon (14)
Reid (17)
The Summit
16,016
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
6
June 8, 1986
12Noon CDT
@ Boston
L 97–114
Olajuwon (21)
Olajuwon (10)
McCray,
Reid (5)
Boston Garden
14,890
2–4
-

Player statistics

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

Awards and records

Awards

Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA Second Team

References

Roy S. Johnson. (May 26, 1986). "FITCH FINDS OLD HABITS HARD TO BREAK". [[The New York Times]].

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

houston-rockets-seasons western-conference-(nba)-championship-seasons 1985–86-nba-season-by-team 1985-in-sports-in-texas 1986-in-sports-in-texas 1985-in-houston 1986-in-houston

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1985–86 Houston Rockets season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report