The 1986-87 Houston Rockets season marked a pivotal year for the franchise, following their previous season’s success of reaching the NBA Finals. Despite high expectations, the Rockets faced challenges throughout the season, finishing with a 42-40 record, which positioned them fourth in the Midwest Division. This record was a step back from their 51-31 finish the previous year.
Key players for the Rockets included the formidable frontcourt duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. Olajuwon, in his third NBA season, continued to assert his dominance as one of the league’s premier centers, averaging 23.4 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. Sampson, however, struggled with injuries, which limited his effectiveness and contributed to the team’s inconsistency.
Despite their regular season struggles, the Rockets managed to secure a playoff berth. Entering the postseason as the sixth seed in the Western Conference, they faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. The Rockets were unable to replicate their previous year’s playoff success and were eliminated by the SuperSonics in a four-game series, ending their season prematurely. This first-round exit highlighted the need for changes and recalibrations within the team’s roster and strategy.
Overall, the 1986-87 season served as a transitional period for the Rockets, who aimed to return to the top of the Western Conference in subsequent seasons, building around their talented core while addressing areas of weakness. The lessons learned from this challenging season were crucial in shaping the team’s future endeavors.
- Regular Season Record: 42-40
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1986-87 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 75 | 23.4 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 19.9 | 10 | 29.2 | 11.3 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 4.3 | 0.0 |
| Ralph Sampson | 43 | 15.6 | 8.6 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 10 | 18.6 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 50.0 |
| Rodney McCray | 81 | 14.4 | 7.1 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 10 | 15.7 | 8.3 | 5.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Robert Reid | 75 | 13.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 32.7 | 10 | 12.9 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 11.8 |
| Lewis Lloyd | 32 | 12.4 | 1.5 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 14.3 | |||||||
| Jim Petersen | 82 | 11.3 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Mitchell Wiggins | 32 | 11.1 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Steve Harris | 74 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Allen Leavell | 53 | 7.8 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 31.6 | 10 | 14.1 | 2.5 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 25.0 |
| Dirk Minniefield | 63 | 7.7 | 2.1 | 5.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 32.4 | 8 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cedric Maxwell | 46 | 7.2 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 10 | 6.2 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Buck Johnson | 60 | 3.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Feitl | 62 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richard Anderson | 51 | 2.8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 25.0 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Conner Henry | 18 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 9.1 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 1987 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Portland Trail Blazers
In the first round of the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite the formidable presence of their twin towers, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, the Rockets struggled but ultimately triumphed in a decisive Game 4, winning the series 3-1. This victory showcased their resilience and set up a challenging second-round matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 125-115 | |
| Apr 26, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 111-98 | |
| Apr 28, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 117-108 | |
| Apr 30, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 113-101 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round, where their journey ended in a dramatic six-game series. Despite the formidable duo of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, the Rockets struggled to contain Seattle's balanced attack led by Dale Ellis and Tom Chambers, ultimately failing to capitalize on their previous season’s Finals appearance. The series showcased intense matchups and highlighted the need for the Rockets to bolster their supporting cast for future playoff success.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 02, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-106 | |
| May 05, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-97 | |
| May 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-84 | |
| May 09, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 117-102 | |
| May 12, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-107 | |
| May 14, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 128-125 |
Houston Rockets 1986-87 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1986-87 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-102 | |
| Nov 04, 1986 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 100-84 | |
| Nov 06, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 104-97 | |
| Nov 08, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 102-90 | |
| Nov 11, 1986 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 116-95 | |
| Nov 12, 1986 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 114-85 | |
| Nov 16, 1986 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 134-106 | |
| Nov 18, 1986 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-111 | |
| Nov 20, 1986 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 104-90 | |
| Nov 21, 1986 | @ Washington Bullets | L 115-99 | |
| Nov 23, 1986 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-104 | |
| Nov 25, 1986 | @ New York Knicks | L 102-93 | |
| Nov 26, 1986 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 92-88 | |
| Nov 29, 1986 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 102-97 | |
| Dec 02, 1986 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-99 | |
| Dec 04, 1986 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 109-93 | |
| Dec 06, 1986 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 136-80 | |
| Dec 10, 1986 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 117-109 | |
| Dec 11, 1986 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 111-104 | |
| Dec 13, 1986 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-106 | |
| Dec 16, 1986 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-102 | |
| Dec 18, 1986 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-100 | |
| Dec 19, 1986 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 115-112 | |
| Dec 21, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 23, 1986 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 121-96 | |
| Dec 26, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 134-111 | |
| Dec 27, 1986 | @ Utah Jazz | L 103-96 | |
| Dec 30, 1986 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 105-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 114-111 | |
| Jan 03, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 138-114 | |
| Jan 06, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-100 | |
| Jan 08, 1987 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-96 | |
| Jan 10, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 106-96 | |
| Jan 13, 1987 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-100 | |
| Jan 15, 1987 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-96 | |
| Jan 16, 1987 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 112-106 | |
| Jan 18, 1987 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-99 | |
| Jan 19, 1987 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 127-103 | |
| Jan 21, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 111-91 | |
| Jan 23, 1987 | vs. New York Knicks | W 109-95 | |
| Jan 24, 1987 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 115-92 | |
| Jan 27, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 92-88 | |
| Jan 29, 1987 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-93 | |
| Feb 01, 1987 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 106-104 | |
| Feb 03, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 107-105 | |
| Feb 05, 1987 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 120-110 | |
| Feb 10, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-92 | |
| Feb 12, 1987 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 121-99 | |
| Feb 14, 1987 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 116-101 | |
| Feb 16, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-100 | |
| Feb 19, 1987 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 99-92 | |
| Feb 21, 1987 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 94-81 | |
| Feb 23, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 124-108 | |
| Feb 24, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 134-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | W 85-84 | |
| Mar 01, 1987 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-97 | |
| Mar 02, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 105-100 | |
| Mar 04, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 108-102 | |
| Mar 05, 1987 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 105-96 | |
| Mar 07, 1987 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-115 | |
| Mar 08, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 119-93 | |
| Mar 10, 1987 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 136-127 | |
| Mar 12, 1987 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-112 | |
| Mar 14, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 118-109 | |
| Mar 16, 1987 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 97-96 | |
| Mar 18, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 113-91 | |
| Mar 20, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 126-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1987 | @ Utah Jazz | L 125-108 | |
| Mar 23, 1987 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-110 | |
| Mar 24, 1987 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-97 | |
| Mar 26, 1987 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 119-104 | |
| Mar 28, 1987 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-109 | |
| Mar 31, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-96 | |
| Apr 01, 1987 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 117-104 | |
| Apr 04, 1987 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 120-108 | |
| Apr 06, 1987 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-108 | |
| Apr 07, 1987 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-84 | |
| Apr 09, 1987 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 112-102 | |
| Apr 11, 1987 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 113-103 | |
| Apr 15, 1987 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-107 | |
| Apr 17, 1987 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 121-99 | |
| Apr 18, 1987 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 126-117 |