1994–95 Houston Rockets season

The 1994–95 NBA season was the Rockets' 28th season in the National Basketball Association, and 24th season in Houston.[1] After winning their first championship, the Rockets went on to win their first nine games of the season. However, with increased competition in the West, management felt a change was needed to win another title. On February 14, the Rockets traded Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers for All-Star guard Clyde Drexler, and three-point specialist Tracy Murray.[2] Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both teammates at the University of Houston in the early 1980s. The team also signed free agent Chucky Brown midway through the season.[3] However, after the trade, the Rockets struggled in the second half of the season posting a record of 17–18 on their way to finishing third in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record.[4]

1994–95 Houston Rockets season
NBA champions
Conference champions
Head coachRudy Tomjanovich
General managerBob Weinhauer
Owner(s)Leslie Alexander
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record47–35 (.573)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Midwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishNBA Champions
(Swept Magic 4–0)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKTXH
Prime Sports Southwest
(Bill Worrell, Calvin Murphy)
RadioKTRH

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,[5] while Drexler averaged 21.4 points 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, while Kenny Smith contributed 10.4 points per game, 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, and Mario Elie contributed 8.8 points per game.[6] Olajuwon also finished in fifth place in Most Valuable Player voting, and in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.[7]

In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the 3rd-seeded Utah Jazz in the Western Conference First Round. The Jazz would take a 2–1 series lead,[8] but the Rockets went on to win the series in five games.[9] In the Western Conference Semi-finals, they faced the Phoenix Suns for the second consecutive year. After trailing 3–1,[10] the Rockets managed to defeat the 2nd-seeded Suns in seven games to advance to the Western Conference Finals.[11] In the all Texas Western Conference Finals, they faced 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 NBA Finals.[12] In the Finals, they swept the Orlando Magic in four straight games, and won their second consecutive championship, with Olajuwon being named Finals MVP for the second straight year.[13] As the 6th seed in the 1995 playoffs, the Rockets are the lowest-seeded team to win an NBA championship.[14]

Following the season, Maxwell signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.[15] Maxwell had a controversial season, which involved him punching a fan during a road game against the Trail Blazers on February 6, which cost him a ten-game suspension,[16] and leaving the team during the playoffs after being replaced with Drexler in the lineup at shooting guard.[17] Meanwhile, Murray signed with the newly expansion Toronto Raptors, Carl Herrera signed with the San Antonio Spurs, and rookie center Žan Tabak left in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft.[18]

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.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
F 15 Breaux, Tim 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1970–09–19 Wyoming
F 52 Brown, Chucky 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1968–02–29 North Carolina State
G 10 Cassell, Sam 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1969–11–18 Florida State
F 32 Chilcutt, Pete 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1968–09–14 North Carolina
G 22 Drexler, Clyde 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1962–06–22 Houston
G 17 Elie, Mario 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1963–11–26 American International
F 7 Herrera, Carl  6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1966–12–14 Houston
F 25 Horry, Robert 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1970–08–25 Alabama
F 27 Jones, Charles 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1957–04–03 Albany State
G 11 Maxwell, Vernon  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1965–09–12 Florida
F 31 Murray, Tracy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–07–25 UCLA
C 34 Olajuwon, Hakeem (C) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1963–01–21 Houston
G 30 Smith, Kenny 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1965–03–08 North Carolina
C 55 Tabak, Žan 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1970–06–15 Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 22, 1995

Regular season

Season standings
Midwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 6220.756—33–829–1220–6
x-Utah Jazz 6022.732233–827–1417–9
x-Houston Rockets 4735.5731525–1622–1913–13
x-Denver Nuggets 4141.5002123–1818–2313–13
Dallas Mavericks 3646.4392619–2217–2411–15
Minnesota Timberwolves 2161.2564113–288–334–22
# Western Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-San Antonio Spurs6220.756–
2 y-Phoenix Suns5923.7203
3 x-Utah Jazz6022.7322
4 x-Seattle SuperSonics5725.6955
5 x-Los Angeles Lakers4834.58514
6 x-Houston Rockets4735.57315
7 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.53718
8 x-Denver Nuggets4141.50021
9 Sacramento Kings3943.47623
10 Dallas Mavericks3646.43926
11 Golden State Warriors2656.31736
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2161.25641
13 Los Angeles Clippers1765.20745

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 —3–12–21–41–42–02–03–22–00–21–42–00–22–21–32–04–02–21–33–11–11–11–11–10–20–24–0
Boston 1–3—1–30–42–21–11–13–12–01–12–20–21–14–11–32–02–30–52–33–11–10–21–10–21–10–23–1
Charlotte 2–23–1—2–23–20–21–15–02–00–21–42–00–23–14–11–13–13–11–33–10–22–01–11–12–02–03–1
Chicago 4–14–02–2—2–31–11–15–02–01–12–21–11–13–11–42–02–23–11–34–01–11–10–21–10–20–22–2
Cleveland 4–12–22–33–2—0–21–12–22–00–22–31–11–11–34–01–14–02–21–33–11–11–11–10–20–21–13–1
Dallas 0–21–12–01–12–0—1–41–13–12–31–13–11–30–21–14–11–10–20–22–00–43–12–22–30–42–41–1
Denver 0–21–11–11–11–14–1—1–11–31–41–14–02–22–02–06–01–10–20–21–11–33–12–21–41–31–42–0
Detroit 2–31–30–50–52–21–11–1—1–10–22–21–10–21–32–31–12–21–31–34–01–10–21–10–20–20–23–1
Golden State 0–20–20–20–20–21–33–11–1—0–40–23–23–21–10–21–31–11–10–21–13–21–40–51–31–42–22–0
Houston 2–01–12–01–12–03–24–12–04–0—1–13–10–42–01–13–22–00–20–22–03–11–33–11–50–42–32–0
Indiana 4–12–24–12–23–21–11–12–22–01–1—2–01–12–23–22–03–11–32–24–01–11–12–02–01–10–23–1
L.A. Clippers 0–22–00–21–11–11–30–41–12–31–30–2—2–30–21–11–30–20–20–21–11–40–51–40–40–51–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–01–12–01–11–13–12–22–02–34–01–13–2—1–11–13–12–00–21–11–11–42–33–21–34–12–22–0
Miami 2–21–41–31–33–12–00–23–11–10–22–22–01–1—4–01–11–31–41–31–40–20–20–20–20–20–24–1
Milwaukee 3–13–11–44–10–41–10–23–22–01–12–31–11–10–4—1–12–22–20–43–10–20–21–10–20–20–23–1
Minnesota 0–20–21–10–21–11–40–61–13–12–30–23–11–31–11–1—1–10–21–11–10–40–41–30–50–41–41–1
New Jersey 0–43–21–32–20–41–11–12–21–10–21–32–00–23–12–21–1—1–42–22–30–21–11–10–21–10–22–3
New York 2–25–01–31–32–22–02–03–11–12–03–12–02–04–12–22–04–1—2–34–01–11–12–01–10–20–24–0
Orlando 3–13–23–13–13–12–02–03–12–02–02–22–01–13–14–01–12–23–2—4–11–12–01–11–10–21–13–2
Philadelphia 1–31–31–30–41–30–21–10–41–10–20–41–11–14–11–31–13–20–41–4—0–22–01–10–20–20–23–2
Phoenix 1–11–12–01–11–14–03–11–12–31–31–14–14–12–02–04–02–01–11–12–0—5–04–12–24–12–22–0
Portland 1–12–00–21–11–11–31–32–04–13–11–15–03–22–02–04–01–11–10–20–20–5—3–21–32–31–32–0
Sacramento 1–11–11–12–01–12–22–21–15–01–30–24–12–32–01–13–11–10–21–11–11–42–3—0–43–20–41–1
San Antonio 1–12–01–11–12–03–24–12–03–15–10–24–03–12–02–05–02–01–11–12–02–23–14–0—2–23–22–0
Seattle 2–01–10–22–02–04–03–12–04–14–01–15–01–42–02–04–01–12–02–02–01–43–22–32–2—1–32–0
Utah 2–02–00–22–01–14–24–12–02–23–22–03–12–22–02–04–12–02–01–12–02–23–14–02–33–1—2–0
Washington 0–41–31–32–21–31–10–21–30–20–21–32–00–21–41–31–13–20–42–32–30–20–21–10–20–20–2—

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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 November 4, 1994 New Jersey W 90–86 The Summit 1–0
2 November 5, 1994 @ Minnesota W 115–85 Target Center 2–0
3 November 8, 1994
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Cleveland W 100–98 Olajuwon (21) Olajuwon (12) Cassell (9) Gund Arena
20,562		 3–0
4 November 9, 1994
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, 1994
6:30 p.m. CST		 @ Boston W 102–82 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (14) Horry (6) Boston Garden
14,890		 5–0
6 November 12, 1994 @ New Jersey W 100–84 Brendan Byrne Arena 6–0
7 November 15, 1994
7:30 p.m. CST		 Sacramento W 105–99 Olajuwon (28) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (8) The Summit
14,656		 7–0
8 November 17, 1994
7:00 p.m. CST		 Chicago W 106–83 Olajuwon (29) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (8) The Summit
16,199		 8–0
9 November 19, 1994
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, 1994
7:30 p.m. CST		 Portland L 94–102 Olajuwon (27) Thorpe (10) Maxwell (6) The Summit
16,611		 9–1
11 November 23, 1994
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, 1994
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, 1994
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
14 December 1, 1994 @ Golden State W 113–109 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 11–3
15 December 2, 1994
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, 1994
7:00 p.m. CST		 @ Seattle L 90–103 Thorpe (21) Horry (10) Cassell (7) Tacoma Dome
13,017		 11–5
17 December 8, 1994
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, 1994
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, 1994 Washington W 93–85 The Summit 13–6
20 December 15, 1994
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, 1994
7:30 p.m. CST		 Boston L 109–112 Maxwell (25) Olajuwon (12) Smith (7) The Summit
15,757		 13–8
22 December 22, 1994
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, 1994
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, 1994
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, 1994
7:30 p.m. CST		 Atlanta W 105–93 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (16) Olajuwon (8) The Summit
16,394		 16–9
26 December 29, 1994 Golden State W 126–124 The Summit 17–9
27 December 30, 1994
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
28 January 3, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 Indiana L 83–88 Olajuwon (27) Olajuwon (15) Cassell (6) The Summit
16,611		 20–10
31 January 11, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 Miami W 108–97 Smith (27) Olajuwon (11) Maxwell (7) The Summit
12,424		 21–10
32 January 13, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995 @ Minnesota L 75–94 Target Center 21–12
35 January 19, 1995
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, 1995 @ Detroit W 106–96 The Palace of Auburn Hills 23–13
37 January 22, 1995
12 Noon CST		 @ Chicago L 81–100 Horry (19) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (5) United Center
22,647		 23–14
38 January 24, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 @ Milwaukee W 115–99 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (9) Horry (9) Bradley Center
14,556		 24–14
39 January 26, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 @ San Antonio L 100–103 Olajuwon (36) Olajuwon (14) Maxwell (5) Alamodome
33,360		 24–15
40 January 28, 1995 Minnesota W 114–93 The Summit 25–15
41 January 31, 1995
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
42 February 2, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 Utah W 121–101 Olajuwon (40) Thorpe (8) Maxwell (10) The Summit
16,611		 27–15
43 February 5, 1995
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, 1995
9:00 p.m. CST		 @ Portland L 82–120 Olajuwon (22) Olajuwon (11) Smith (5) Memorial Coliseum
12,888		 28–16
45 February 8, 1995
9:30 p.m. CST		 @ Sacramento W 97–86 Olajuwon (31) Olajuwon (17) Elie (6) ARCO Arena
17,317		 29–16
46 February 9, 1995 @ L.A. Clippers L 107–122 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 29–17
All-Star Break
47 February 14, 1995 L.A. Clippers W 124–104 The Summit 30–17
48 February 16, 1995
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, 1995 @ Washington W 109–92 USAir Arena 32–17
50 February 19, 1995
12 Noon EST		 @ New York L 117–122 Olajuwon (27) Drexler (10) Cassell (10) Madison Square Garden
19,763		 32–18
51 February 21, 1995
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, 1995 Detroit W 110–99 The Summit 33–19
53 February 25, 1995 Golden State W 112–105 The Summit 34–19
54 February 27, 1995
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, 1995
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
56 March 2, 1995
8:45 p.m. CST		 Orlando L 96–107 Drexler (25) Brown (11) Elie (7) The Summit
16,611		 35–21
57 March 3, 1995 @ Minnesota L 105–108 Target Center 35–22
58 March 5, 1995
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, 1995
7:00 p.m. CST		 Phoenix L 102–113 Olajuwon (40) Olajuwon (13) Smith (7) The Summit
16,611		 35–24
60 March 11, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 Dallas W 109–102 Drexler (36) Olajuwon (12) Cassell (6) The Summit
16,611		 36–24
61 March 13, 1995
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, 1995 @ Philadelphia W 136–107 CoreStates Spectrum 38–24
63 March 16, 1995 Minnesota W 104–97 The Summit 39–24
64 March 19, 1995 Philadelphia W 114–103 The Summit 40–24
65 March 21, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995 @ L.A. Clippers W 108–96 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena 42–28
April: 5–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
71 April 1, 1995
7:30 p.m. CST		 Milwaukee L 87–93 Drexler (23) Herrera (9) Smith (6) The Summit
16,611		 42–29
72 April 4, 1995
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, 1995 @ Golden State W 110–102 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 43–30
74 April 7, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
7:30 p.m. CDT		 Portland W 112–99 Olajuwon (35) Olajuwon (10) Smith (8) The Summit
16,611		 45–32
78 April 15, 1995
7:30 p.m. CDT		 Sacramento W 98–84 Smith (18) Olajuwon (13) Smith (4) The Summit
16,611		 46–32
79 April 17, 1995 L.A. Clippers W 121–111 The Summit 47–32
80 April 19, 1995
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, 1995
9:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Seattle L 101–111 Olajuwon (26) Olajuwon (8) Cassell (4) Tacoma Dome
18,056		 47–34
82 April 23, 1995
6:00 p.m. CDT		 Utah L 97–103 Maxwell (26) Tabak (8) Maxwell (4) The Summit
16,611		 47–35
1994–95 schedule


Playoffs
1995 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 27, 1995
8:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Utah L 100–102 Olajuwon (45) Chilcutt (9) Olajuwon (9) Delta Center
19,911		 0–1
2 April 29, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
2:00 p.m. CST		 @ Utah W 95–91 Olajuwon (33) Olajuwon, Drexler (10) Olajuwon, Cassell (4) Delta Center
19,911		 3–2
Conference Semifinals: 4–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 9, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
12 Noon CDT		 Phoenix W 118–85 Olajuwon (36) Olajuwon (11) Drexler (8) The Summit
16,611		 1–2
4 May 14, 1995
12 Noon CDT		 Phoenix L 110–114 Olajuwon (38) Horry (17) Cassell (9) The Summit
16,611		 1–3
5 May 16, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
2:30 p.m. CDT		 @ Phoenix W 115–114 Olajuwon, Drexler (29) Olajuwon (11) Cassell (7) America West Arena
19,023		 4–3
Conference Finals: 4–2 (Home: 1–2; Road: 3–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 22, 1995
7:30 p.m. CDT		 @ San Antonio W 94–93 Olajuwon (27) Drexler (12) Olajuwon (6) Alamodome
33,337		 1–0
2 May 24, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
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, 1995
8:00 p.m. CDT		 @ San Antonio W 111–90 Olajuwon (42) Horry (13) Cassell (12) Alamodome
35,888		 3–2
6 June 1, 1995
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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 June 7, 1995
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, 1995
8:00 p.m. CDT		 @ Orlando W 117–106 Olajuwon (34) Olajuwon (11) Drexler (5) Orlando Arena
16,010		 2–0
3 June 11, 1995
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, 1995
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 4228.1.372.240.653.8.4.26.103.0
Scott Brooks 2806.6.538.471.857.5.8.29.043.4
Chucky Brown 411419.9.603.333.6134.6.7.27.346.1
Adrian Caldwell 704.3.250.000.5001.4.0.14.00.7
Sam Cassell 82123.0.427.330.8432.64.91.15.179.5
Pete Chilcutt 681719.8.445.407.7384.71.0.37.635.3
Clyde Drexler 353437.1.506.357.8097.04.41.77.6621.4
Mario Elie 811323.4.499.398.8422.42.3.80.158.8
Carl Herrera 612621.8.523.000.6244.6.7.66.626.8
Robert Horry 646132.4.447.379.7615.13.41.471.1910.2
Charles Jones 3012.0.333.000.5002.3.0.00.331.0
Vernon Maxwell 645431.8.394.324.6882.64.31.17.2013.3
Tracy Murray 2508.1.400.422.625.9.2.28.123.5
Hakeem Olajuwon 727239.6.517.188.75610.83.51.853.3627.8
Kenny Smith 818125.1.484.429.8511.94.0.88.1210.4
Žan Tabak 3704.9.453.000.6141.5.1.05.192.0
Otis Thorpe 363533.0.563.000.5288.91.6.61.3613.3

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Chucky Brown 21115.5.447.500.6763.1.3.43.104.5
Sam Cassell 22022.0.438.400.8351.94.0.95.0911.0
Pete Chilcutt 201516.2.484.389.8242.9.9.35.204.5
Clyde Drexler 222238.6.481.303.7867.05.01.50.6820.5
Mario Elie 22628.9.504.431.7952.82.5.95.059.1
Carl Herrera 106.01.000.000.000.01.0.00.002.0
Robert Horry 222238.2.445.400.7447.03.51.451.1813.1
Charles Jones 19012.5.385.000.3332.3.0.21.53.7
Vernon Maxwell 1016.0.143.0001.0003.01.0.00.003.0
Hakeem Olajuwon 222242.2.531.500.68110.34.51.182.8233.0
Kenny Smith 222229.6.438.442.9002.24.5.64.1410.8
Žan Tabak 803.9.400.0001.000.1.1.12.38.8

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

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)

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:[19][20]

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
GameDateHome TeamResultRoad Team
Game 1June 7Orlando118–120Houston
Game 2June 9Orlando106–117Houston
Game 3June 11Houston106–103Orlando
Game 4June 14Houston113–101Orlando

Rockets win series 4–0

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

References
  1. 1994-95 Houston Rockets
  2. "PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Traded For Otis Thorpe". New York Times. February 15, 1995. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  3. "1994–95 Houston Rockets Transactions". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  4. "1994–95 Houston Rockets Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  5. "1995 NBA All-Star Game: West 139, East 112". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  6. "1994–95 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. "1994–95 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  8. "Malone Gives Jazz Victory Ride". The Spokesman-Review. May 4, 1995. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  9. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Olajuwon Leads Charge As Rockets Oust Jazz". New York Times. May 8, 1995. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Johnson and Suns Rise As the Rockets Cling". New York Times. May 15, 1995. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  11. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Retire Suns, And Maybe Barkley". New York Times. May 21, 1995. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  12. "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Do Homework And Return To Finals". New York Times. June 2, 1995. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  13. Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  14. MacKay, David (February 14, 2019). "Today in Rockets history: 1995, Houston acquires Clyde Drexler for title run". USA Today. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  15. "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Lucas and 76ers Give Maxwell a Shot". New York Times. September 27, 1995. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  16. "PRO BASKETBALL; Maxwell Suspended And Is Fined $20,000". New York Times. February 9, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  17. "Sports of The Times; Clean Slate For Maxwell In Philly". New York Times. September 28, 1995. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  18. "1995 NBA Expansion Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  19. History of the NBA Finals: Hakeem Olajuwon: The NBA’s Best In The Mid ’90s, hollywoodsportsbook.com, accessed February 16, 2007.
  20. NBA Finals Records Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, Basketball.com, accessed February 16, 2007.
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