The 1992-93 Houston Rockets had a remarkable season, showcasing their potential as a formidable team in the NBA. Under the leadership of head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 55-27 record, marking a significant improvement over previous seasons. This performance earned them the second seed in the Western Conference.
Hakeem Olajuwon was the centerpiece of the Rockets’ success, delivering an MVP-caliber season. He averaged 26.1 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier centers. His defensive prowess and scoring ability were crucial in the Rockets’ strong regular-season showing.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, winning the series 3-2. This victory set up a matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics in the Western Conference Semifinals. The series was intensely competitive and went to seven games. Despite Olajuwon’s dominant performances, the Rockets fell short, losing the deciding game in overtime, 103-100.
The 1992-93 season laid the groundwork for the Rockets’ future success. The team’s strong core and Olajuwon’s leadership were evident, foreshadowing the championship runs that would soon follow. Despite their playoff exit, the season was a turning point, demonstrating their potential to be a powerhouse in the NBA. This campaign was a stepping stone that galvanized the team for future triumphs.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-2, Western Conference Semifinals: 3-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1992-93 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 82 | 26.1 | 13.0 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 12 | 25.7 | 14.0 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| Vernon Maxwell | 71 | 13.8 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 33.2 | 9 | 14.0 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 23.9 |
| Kenny Smith | 82 | 13.0 | 2.0 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 43.8 | 12 | 14.8 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 50.0 |
| Otis Thorpe | 72 | 12.8 | 8.2 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 12 | 14.5 | 8.6 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Robert Horry | 79 | 10.1 | 5.0 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 25.5 | 12 | 10.3 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 30.0 |
| Carl Herrera | 81 | 7.5 | 5.6 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 12 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Matt Bullard | 79 | 7.3 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 37.4 | 12 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 53.6 |
| Sleepy Floyd | 52 | 6.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 7 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Scott Brooks | 82 | 6.3 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 41.4 | 12 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 38.5 |
| Winston Garland | 66 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 46.1 | 12 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kennard Winchester | 39 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 21.1 | |||||||
| Terry Teagle | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mark Acres | 6 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Tree Rollins | 42 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Houston Rockets in the 1993 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Clippers
In the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, prevailing in a tightly contested five-game series. Led by Hakeem Olajuwon, who dominated with his scoring and defensive prowess, the Rockets showcased their resilience and depth to overcome the Clippers. This victory set the stage for an intense second-round matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics, highlighting Houston's potential as a rising force in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 117-94 | |
| May 01, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 95-83 | |
| May 03, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 111-99 | |
| May 05, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 93-90 | |
| May 08, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 84-80 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1993 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Seattle SuperSonics in a thrilling Western Conference Semifinals that went the full seven games. Despite Hakeem Olajuwon's dominant performances, the Rockets ultimately fell short, losing the decisive Game 7 in overtime, 103-100. This series highlighted the Rockets' potential and set the stage for their championship runs in the subsequent years.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 10, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-90 | |
| May 12, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-100 | |
| May 15, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-79 | |
| May 16, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-92 | |
| May 18, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-95 | |
| May 20, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-90 | |
| May 22, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 103-100 |
Houston Rockets 1992-93 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1992-93 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 06, 1992 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 111-94 | |
| Nov 07, 1992 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 89-85 | |
| Nov 11, 1992 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 101-82 | |
| Nov 14, 1992 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 93-87 | |
| Nov 17, 1992 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 116-109 | |
| Nov 19, 1992 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-92 | |
| Nov 21, 1992 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 103-100 | |
| Nov 24, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 88-83 | |
| Nov 25, 1992 | @ Orlando Magic | L 107-94 | |
| Nov 27, 1992 | @ Miami Heat | W 101-93 | |
| Nov 28, 1992 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 108-99 | |
| Dec 01, 1992 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 03, 1992 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 95-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1992 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 117-96 | |
| Dec 08, 1992 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 102-94 | |
| Dec 11, 1992 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 110-96 | |
| Dec 12, 1992 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 104-87 | |
| Dec 15, 1992 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 124-97 | |
| Dec 17, 1992 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 121-109 | |
| Dec 19, 1992 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-93 | |
| Dec 22, 1992 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 98-84 | |
| Dec 23, 1992 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-94 | |
| Dec 26, 1992 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 90-82 | |
| Dec 29, 1992 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 132-112 | |
| Dec 30, 1992 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 133-110 | |
| Jan 02, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 113-107 | |
| Jan 03, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-101 | |
| Jan 05, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 106-104 | |
| Jan 07, 1993 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 113-91 | |
| Jan 08, 1993 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 115-90 | |
| Jan 10, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 97-90 | |
| Jan 12, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 113-103 | |
| Jan 14, 1993 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 114-102 | |
| Jan 16, 1993 | vs. New York Knicks | W 104-102 | |
| Jan 18, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 110-90 | |
| Jan 19, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 21, 1993 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 126-120 | |
| Jan 23, 1993 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 113-100 | |
| Jan 24, 1993 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-83 | |
| Jan 26, 1993 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-86 | |
| Jan 28, 1993 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 94-83 | |
| Jan 30, 1993 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 108-105 | |
| Feb 02, 1993 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 115-104 | |
| Feb 03, 1993 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 119-102 | |
| Feb 05, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 112-105 | |
| Feb 08, 1993 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 106-100 | |
| Feb 10, 1993 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-90 | |
| Feb 11, 1993 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-95 | |
| Feb 13, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 97-88 | |
| Feb 16, 1993 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 149-111 | |
| Feb 18, 1993 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 119-84 | |
| Feb 23, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | W 105-78 | |
| Feb 25, 1993 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 131-104 | |
| Feb 27, 1993 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 107-102 | |
| Mar 02, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 99-83 | |
| Mar 03, 1993 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 89-86 | |
| Mar 05, 1993 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-86 | |
| Mar 06, 1993 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 119-102 | |
| Mar 09, 1993 | vs. Miami Heat | W 104-94 | |
| Mar 11, 1993 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-91 | |
| Mar 13, 1993 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 104-95 | |
| Mar 16, 1993 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 94-93 | |
| Mar 18, 1993 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 98-85 | |
| Mar 19, 1993 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-98 | |
| Mar 21, 1993 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 100-89 | |
| Mar 23, 1993 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 111-103 | |
| Mar 25, 1993 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 106-96 | |
| Mar 26, 1993 | @ Washington Bullets | W 90-69 | |
| Mar 28, 1993 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 101-100 | |
| Apr 01, 1993 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 121-115 | |
| Apr 03, 1993 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-111 | |
| Apr 06, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 114-101 | |
| Apr 08, 1993 | @ Utah Jazz | W 95-90 | |
| Apr 10, 1993 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 98-88 | |
| Apr 13, 1993 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 126-107 | |
| Apr 14, 1993 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 107-96 | |
| Apr 16, 1993 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 100-84 | |
| Apr 17, 1993 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 86-81 | |
| Apr 19, 1993 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 111-97 | |
| Apr 22, 1993 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 112-110 | |
| Apr 24, 1993 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 128-123 | |
| Apr 25, 1993 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-117 |