The 1981-82 Houston Rockets season was a challenging one, marked by underperformance and restructuring. Under head coach Del Harris, the team finished with a 28-54 record, which placed them fifth in the Midwest Division. This outcome was a step back from their previous season, where they reached the NBA Finals.
The Rockets struggled throughout the season, primarily due to their lack of consistency and injuries to key players. Moses Malone, the standout center, was the team’s bright spot, averaging an impressive 31.1 points and 14.7 rebounds per game, which earned him the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Despite Malone’s dominant performance, the lack of support from the rest of the squad was evident.
Houston’s defense was a significant issue, as they allowed an average of 108.8 points per game, which ranked them among the lower tier in the league. This defensive frailty undermined their offensive efforts and contributed to their poor win-loss record. The team also struggled on the road, winning only nine out of 41 away games, further compounding their woes.
The 1981-82 season highlighted the need for the Rockets to rebuild and re-strategize. With Malone’s future with the team uncertain, the franchise faced crucial decisions in the offseason. This period set the stage for subsequent changes that would eventually lead to a more competitive team in the years to follow.
- Regular Season Record: 46-36
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 1-2
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1981-82 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Moses Malone | 81 | 31.1 | 14.7 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 24.0 | 17.0 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Elvin Hayes | 82 | 16.1 | 9.1 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 14.0 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Robert Reid | 77 | 13.4 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 12.5 | 3 | 11.3 | 8.7 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Allen Leavell | 79 | 10.9 | 2.1 | 5.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 3 | 14.0 | 1.7 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Murphy | 64 | 10.2 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 8.3 | 3 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Willoughby | 69 | 7.8 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 60.0 | 2 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mike Dunleavy | 70 | 7.4 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 42.3 | 3 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom Henderson | 75 | 6.3 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 4.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Calvin Garrett | 51 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 30.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Major Jones | 60 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Larry Spriggs | 4 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Billy Paultz | 65 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Jawann Oldham | 22 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1982 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1982 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round, a best-of-three series. The Rockets, led by Moses Malone, managed to upset the higher-seeded SuperSonics, winning the series 2-1. Malone's dominant performances, particularly his 38-point game in the decisive third match, were pivotal in propelling the Rockets past Seattle.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 102-87 | |
| Apr 23, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 91-70 | |
| Apr 25, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-83 |
Houston Rockets 1981-82 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1981-82 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-112 | |
| Oct 31, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 125-110 | |
| Nov 03, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | W 101-98 | |
| Nov 04, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-100 | |
| Nov 06, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 90-86 | |
| Nov 07, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-92 | |
| Nov 11, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-93 | |
| Nov 13, 1981 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 102-100 | |
| Nov 14, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 109-105 | |
| Nov 17, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 102-82 | |
| Nov 18, 1981 | @ Boston Celtics | W 106-104 | |
| Nov 20, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | W 95-94 | |
| Nov 21, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 135-106 | |
| Nov 24, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 102-84 | |
| Nov 25, 1981 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-114 | |
| Nov 27, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-110 | |
| Nov 29, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 122-104 | |
| Dec 01, 1981 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 106-104 | |
| Dec 05, 1981 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-98 | |
| Dec 08, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 107-96 | |
| Dec 09, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 89-83 | |
| Dec 11, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 118-105 | |
| Dec 12, 1981 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-97 | |
| Dec 15, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 99-95 | |
| Dec 18, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 112-93 | |
| Dec 19, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 102-95 | |
| Dec 22, 1981 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 121-109 | |
| Dec 26, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | W 115-104 | |
| Dec 29, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 102-93 | |
| Dec 30, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 109-104 | |
| Jan 02, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 108-101 | |
| Jan 05, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-111 | |
| Jan 07, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 116-107 | |
| Jan 10, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 12, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 107-106 | |
| Jan 14, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-100 | |
| Jan 15, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 128-90 | |
| Jan 16, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 22, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 128-110 | |
| Jan 23, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 111-109 | |
| Jan 26, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 104-94 | |
| Jan 28, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-101 | |
| Feb 02, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 122-106 | |
| Feb 05, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 106-104 | |
| Feb 07, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 126-110 | |
| Feb 09, 1982 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 129-121 | |
| Feb 11, 1982 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 117-100 | |
| Feb 13, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 111-104 | |
| Feb 16, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-109 | |
| Feb 17, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 19, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 103-96 | |
| Feb 21, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | L 122-106 | |
| Feb 23, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-95 | |
| Feb 24, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-110 | |
| Feb 26, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-95 | |
| Feb 27, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 108-105 | |
| Mar 02, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 119-117 | |
| Mar 04, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 128-124 | |
| Mar 05, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 100-98 | |
| Mar 07, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 09, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 103-91 | |
| Mar 12, 1982 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 130-115 | |
| Mar 13, 1982 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 112-107 | |
| Mar 16, 1982 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 114-109 | |
| Mar 18, 1982 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 95-94 | |
| Mar 19, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 111-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1982 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 107-102 | |
| Mar 23, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 117-115 | |
| Mar 25, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-95 | |
| Mar 26, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 99-97 | |
| Mar 28, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 94-92 | |
| Mar 30, 1982 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 99-95 | |
| Apr 01, 1982 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 104-101 | |
| Apr 04, 1982 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 95-93 | |
| Apr 06, 1982 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 108-97 | |
| Apr 10, 1982 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 105-100 | |
| Apr 11, 1982 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 109-97 | |
| Apr 13, 1982 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 99-95 | |
| Apr 14, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 141-122 | |
| Apr 16, 1982 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-100 | |
| Apr 18, 1982 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 106-104 |