The 1980-81 Houston Rockets season was a remarkable journey marked by unexpected success. Despite finishing the regular season with a sub-.500 record of 40-42, the Rockets managed to secure a playoff spot in the Western Conference. This was largely due to the strong performance of their star center, Moses Malone, who averaged 27.8 points and 14.8 rebounds per game, earning him the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
Entering the playoffs as an underdog, the Rockets made an impressive run. In the first round, they faced the defending NBA champions, the Los Angeles Lakers, who they defeated in a best-of-three series, 2-1. Houston then upset the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals, winning the series 4-3. Continuing their surprising momentum, the Rockets overcame the Kansas City Kings in the Conference Finals, triumphing 4-1, to reach the NBA Finals.
In the NBA Finals, the Rockets faced the Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird. Despite their valiant effort, Houston fell to the Celtics in a six-game series. The Rockets’ journey to the Finals was a testament to their resilience and team spirit, especially considering their regular season struggles. The 1980-81 season remains a notable chapter in Rockets history, showcasing the team’s ability to thrive under pressure and exceed expectations in the postseason.
- Regular Season Record: 40-42
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 2-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Western Conference Finals: 4-1, NBA Finals: 2-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Moses Malone | 80 | 27.8 | 14.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 50.0 | 21 | 26.8 | 14.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Murphy | 76 | 16.7 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 36.4 | 19 | 18.1 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 28.6 |
| Robert Reid | 82 | 15.9 | 7.0 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 21 | 16.1 | 6.8 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Rudy Tomjanovich | 52 | 11.6 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 31.6 | 8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Dunleavy | 74 | 10.5 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.9 | 20 | 8.9 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 40.0 |
| Allen Leavell | 79 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 16.7 | 17 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Billy Paultz | 81 | 7.4 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 21 | 12.1 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 |
| Bill Willoughby | 55 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 19 | 6.0 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Garrett | 70 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 50.0 | 13 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Tom Henderson | 66 | 5.3 | 1.6 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 21 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Major Jones | 68 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 12 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| John Stroud | 9 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Lee Johnson | 10 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1981 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets, led by Moses Malone, faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets, despite being the underdogs, pulled off a surprising series victory in a best-of-three format, leveraging Malone's dominant inside presence to overcome the Lakers' star-studded lineup. This victory laid the foundation for their unexpected run to the NBA Finals that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 01, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-107 | |
| Apr 03, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-106 | |
| Apr 05, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 89-86 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets, led by their formidable big man Moses Malone, made a significant impact in the second round by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a hard-fought seven-game series. Malone's dominance in the paint and the Rockets' gritty team defense were pivotal in overcoming the Spurs, setting the stage for their surprising run to the NBA Finals. This series victory underscored Houston's resilience and ability to compete against the odds.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 07, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 107-98 | |
| Apr 08, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 125-113 | |
| Apr 10, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-99 | |
| Apr 12, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 114-112 | |
| Apr 14, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 123-117 | |
| Apr 15, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 101-96 | |
| Apr 17, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-100 |
1981 Conference Championship vs. Kansas City Kings
In the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets made a surprising run to the Conference Finals, spearheaded by the towering presence of Moses Malone. As the sixth seed, they defied expectations by overcoming the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs, showcasing Malone's dominance on the boards and his scoring prowess. Their gritty performance exemplified resilience and determination, ultimately leading them to their first NBA Finals appearance.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 97-78 | |
| Apr 22, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 88-79 | |
| Apr 24, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 92-88 | |
| Apr 26, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 100-89 | |
| Apr 29, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 97-88 |
1981 NBA Finals vs. Boston Celtics
The Houston Rockets made a surprising run to the 1981 NBA Finals, driven by the dynamic duo of Moses Malone and Calvin Murphy. Despite their impressive performance, the Rockets fell to the Boston Celtics in six games, with Malone's rebounding prowess and Murphy's scoring proving insufficient against the Celtics' balanced attack led by Larry Bird. This marked the Rockets' arrival on the national stage, setting the foundation for future success.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-95 | |
| May 07, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | W 92-90 | |
| May 09, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 94-71 | |
| May 10, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 91-86 | |
| May 12, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | L 109-80 | |
| May 14, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 102-91 |
Houston Rockets 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 120-104 | |
| Oct 12, 1980 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-103 | |
| Oct 15, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-100 | |
| Oct 17, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 102-99 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 108-101 | |
| Oct 21, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 119-117 | |
| Oct 23, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 105-96 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 112-109 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 109-103 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 111-104 | |
| Nov 08, 1980 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 116-115 | |
| Nov 11, 1980 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-94 | |
| Nov 12, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-104 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | L 117-115 | |
| Nov 15, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 143-139 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 138-118 | |
| Nov 20, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-114 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-108 | |
| Nov 22, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 129-120 | |
| Nov 24, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-110 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-100 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 124-115 | |
| Nov 29, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 115-90 | |
| Nov 30, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-114 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 118-109 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 108-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 111-108 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-108 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-100 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 99-97 | |
| Dec 17, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 113-107 | |
| Dec 19, 1980 | @ Boston Celtics | L 133-119 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 133-109 | |
| Dec 21, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 123-91 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 114-99 | |
| Dec 26, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 114-94 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-97 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 104-98 | |
| Jan 01, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-103 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 124-120 | |
| Jan 03, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 134-132 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 114-108 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-94 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-105 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-105 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 92-89 | |
| Jan 17, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | L 99-98 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 98-97 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 106-100 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 113-107 | |
| Jan 24, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 106-91 | |
| Jan 28, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 111-99 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 99-97 | |
| Feb 03, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 135-128 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 116-68 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 112-99 | |
| Feb 07, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 87-81 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 108-89 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 114-105 | |
| Feb 14, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-112 | |
| Feb 19, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 116-99 | |
| Feb 20, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-107 | |
| Feb 22, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 111-96 | |
| Feb 23, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 106-102 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 101-100 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 96-92 | |
| Feb 28, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | L 104-103 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-86 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 108-101 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 105-104 | |
| Mar 07, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 114-108 | |
| Mar 11, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 109-92 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-104 | |
| Mar 14, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 101-82 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 138-127 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-117 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 107-103 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 114-108 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 114-111 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 117-111 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 91-84 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 135-109 |