1985–86_Houston_Rockets_season
1985–86 Houston Rockets season
NBA professional basketball team 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.
Quick Facts Houston Rockets season, Head coach ...
| 1985–86 Houston Rockets season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Conference champions | |||
Division champions | |||
| Head coach | Bill Fitch | ||
| General manager | Ray Patterson | ||
| Owner(s) | Charlie Thomas | ||
| Arena | The Summit | ||
| Results | |||
| Record | 51–31 (.622) | ||
| Place | Division: 1st (Midwest) Conference: 2nd (Western) | ||
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Celtics 2–4) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
| Local media | |||
| Television | KTXH Home Sports Entertainment | ||
| Radio | KTRH | ||
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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.
Main article: 1985 NBA draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
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Season standings
More information W, L ...
| W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | – | 36–5 | 15–26 | 20–10 |
| x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 4 | 34–7 | 13–28 | 15–15 |
| x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 7 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 16–14 |
| x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 9 | 27–14 | 15–26 | 15–15 |
| x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 14 | 25–16 | 12–29 | 15–15 |
| x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 16 | 21–20 | 14–27 | 9–21 |
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More information #, Team ...
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | c-Los Angeles Lakers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Houston Rockets | 51 | 31 | .622 | 11 |
| 3 | x-Denver Nuggets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 4 | x-Dallas Mavericks | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 5 | x-Utah Jazz | 42 | 40 | .512 | 20 |
| 6 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 7 | x-Sacramento Kings | 37 | 45 | .451 | 25 |
| 8 | x-San Antonio Spurs | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Phoenix Suns | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 32 | 50 | .390 | 30 |
| 11 | Seattle SuperSonics | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
| 12 | Golden State Warriors | 30 | 52 | .366 | 32 |
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Record vs. opponents
More information Team, ATL ...
| 1985-86 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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 | — | 0–6 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Boston | 6–0 | — | 5–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
| Chicago | 1–5 | 1–5 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Cleveland | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
| Denver | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | — | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–5 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Indiana | 1–5 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 |
| L.A. Clippers | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–0 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 0–5 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 6–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| New Jersey | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 |
| New York | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–6 | 1–5 | — | 0–6 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 |
| Philadelphia | 1–4 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 6–0 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Phoenix | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Portland | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 4–2 | — | 3–2 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 |
| Sacramento | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–3 | — | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–5 | — | 2–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 0–5 | 3–2 | — | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
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Regular season
More information 1985–86 game log Total: 51–31 (home: 36–5; road: 15–26), Game ...
| 1985–86 game log Total: 51–31 (home: 36–5; road: 15–26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 2–2 (home: 1–0; road: 1–2)
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November: 11–4 (home: 9–0; road: 2–4)
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December: 7–6 (home: 6–0; road: 1–6)
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January: 12–2 (home: 8–1; road: 4–1)
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February: 6–7 (home: 4–2; road: 2–5)
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March: 8–8 (home: 5–1; road: 3–7)
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April: 5–2 (home: 3–1; road: 2–1)
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| 1985–86 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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More information 1986 playoff game log, Game ...
| 1986 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Round: 3–0 (home: 2–0; road: 1–0)
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Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 3–0; road: 1–2)
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Western Conference Finals: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
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NBA Finals: 2–4 (home: 2–1; road: 0–3)
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| 1986 schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 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
More information Player, GP ...
| 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 |
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Playoffs
More information Player, GP ...
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3FG% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
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Awards
Records
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Trades
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Free agents
Additions
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Subtractions
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- Roy S. Johnson (May 26, 1986). "FITCH FINDS OLD HABITS HARD TO BREAK". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2021.