The 1998-99 Houston Rockets season was notably impacted by the NBA lockout, which shortened the regular season to 50 games. Under head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets aimed to capitalize on their veteran roster, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen, who joined the team in the offseason after being acquired from the Chicago Bulls. This trio was expected to propel the team deep into the playoffs.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 31-19 record, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Despite their strong regular-season performance, the team faced challenges in integrating Pippen into their system, as well as dealing with injuries and the aging roster. Hakeem Olajuwon, although still a formidable presence, was not at his peak due to lingering injuries.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the Rockets were eliminated in four games, losing the series 3-1. Pippen’s dissatisfaction with his role and the team’s dynamics became evident as the season concluded. This marked a turning point for the franchise, as it highlighted the need for a roster overhaul.
The 1998-99 season is remembered as the last for the “Big Three” experiment, as Barkley retired the following season, and Pippen was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Rockets would soon transition towards rebuilding, setting the stage for a new era.
- Regular Season Record: 31-19
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-3
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1998-99 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 50 | 18.9 | 9.6 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 30.8 | 4 | 13.3 | 7.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Charles Barkley | 42 | 16.1 | 12.3 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 16.0 | 4 | 23.5 | 13.8 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 28.6 |
| Scottie Pippen | 50 | 14.5 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 34.0 | 4 | 18.3 | 11.8 | 5.5 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 27.3 |
| Michael Dickerson | 50 | 10.9 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 43.3 | 4 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 37.5 |
| Cuttino Mobley | 49 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 35.8 | 4 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 57.1 |
| Othella Harrington | 41 | 9.8 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Sam Mack | 25 | 9.2 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 40.5 | 4 | 12.5 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 38.5 |
| Brent Price | 40 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 41.1 | 4 | 8.3 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 35.7 |
| Eddie Johnson | 3 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Bryce Drew | 34 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 32.7 | 1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rodrick Rhodes | 3 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Matt Bullard | 41 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 38.7 | 2 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Antoine Carr | 18 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 4 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Anthony Miller | 29 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Stanley Roberts | 6 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Matt Maloney | 15 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6.7 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1999 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. Despite having a veteran trio of Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, and Scottie Pippen, the Rockets couldn't overcome the youthful energy and talent of the Lakers, losing the series 3-1. The Lakers' dynamic duo of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant proved too much for Houston, marking an early exit for the Rockets in a lockout-shortened season.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 09, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-100 | |
| May 11, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-98 | |
| May 13, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-88 | |
| May 15, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 98-88 |
Houston Rockets 1998-99 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1998-99 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 05, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 99-91 | |
| Feb 06, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 86-84 | |
| Feb 08, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 99-80 | |
| Feb 10, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 92-82 | |
| Feb 11, 1999 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-95 | |
| Feb 16, 1999 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 109-92 | |
| Feb 17, 1999 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 116-102 | |
| Feb 18, 1999 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 93-92 | |
| Feb 20, 1999 | @ Miami Heat | L 81-71 | |
| Feb 21, 1999 | @ Orlando Magic | L 109-83 | |
| Feb 23, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 98-86 | |
| Feb 25, 1999 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 93-87 | |
| Feb 27, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 86-74 | |
| Feb 28, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 106-90 | |
| Mar 02, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 99-82 | |
| Mar 04, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 96-77 | |
| Mar 06, 1999 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 107-92 | |
| Mar 07, 1999 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-71 | |
| Mar 09, 1999 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 84-75 | |
| Mar 11, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-91 | |
| Mar 13, 1999 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 100-89 | |
| Mar 14, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 104-90 | |
| Mar 16, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 101-93 | |
| Mar 17, 1999 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 114-109 | |
| Mar 20, 1999 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-93 | |
| Mar 22, 1999 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 110-100 | |
| Mar 24, 1999 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 88-78 | |
| Mar 25, 1999 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 113-104 | |
| Mar 27, 1999 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 87-86 | |
| Mar 28, 1999 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 107-93 | |
| Mar 30, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 104-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1999 | @ Utah Jazz | L 88-87 | |
| Apr 04, 1999 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 101-84 | |
| Apr 06, 1999 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-74 | |
| Apr 08, 1999 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-83 | |
| Apr 11, 1999 | @ Utah Jazz | L 85-76 | |
| Apr 12, 1999 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 95-90 | |
| Apr 14, 1999 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 102-85 | |
| Apr 15, 1999 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 86-76 | |
| Apr 18, 1999 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 86-83 | |
| Apr 19, 1999 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 120-113 | |
| Apr 21, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 109-95 | |
| Apr 23, 1999 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 106-101 | |
| Apr 25, 1999 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 95-71 | |
| Apr 26, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-80 | |
| Apr 29, 1999 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 91-81 | |
| Apr 30, 1999 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 91-78 | |
| May 02, 1999 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-84 | |
| May 04, 1999 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 100-83 | |
| May 05, 1999 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 95-88 |