The 1995-96 Houston Rockets season was a transitional period for the team following their back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995. The Rockets finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, placing them fifth in the Western Conference. This record was a step back from their previous championship-winning performances and was largely due to a series of injuries and the need to integrate new players.
The team was led by the core of Hakeem Olajuwon, who continued to be a dominant force with averages of 26.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game. Clyde Drexler, acquired during the previous season, added 19.3 points and provided veteran leadership. The Rockets made a significant mid-season trade, acquiring Charles Barkley from the Phoenix Suns, though his impact would be more pronounced in the following season.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round and won the series 3-1. However, their title defense ended in the Western Conference Semifinals when they were defeated by the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics in a 4-0 sweep. This marked the first time in three years that the Rockets did not reach the NBA Finals, signaling the end of their championship run. Overall, the season was a challenging one for Houston, as they attempted to recalibrate and contend with the evolving landscape of the league.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 0-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 1995-96 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Hakeem Olajuwon | 72 | 26.9 | 10.9 | 3.6 | 1.6 | 2.9 | 21.5 | 8 | 22.4 | 9.1 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.0 |
| Clyde Drexler | 52 | 19.3 | 7.2 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 33.2 | 8 | 16.6 | 7.8 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 0.5 | 26.5 |
| Sam Cassell | 61 | 14.5 | 3.1 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 34.8 | 8 | 10.4 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 27.6 |
| Robert Horry | 71 | 12.0 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 36.6 | 8 | 13.1 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 39.6 |
| Tracy Moore | 8 | 11.4 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 43.3 | |||||||
| Mario Elie | 45 | 11.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 32.3 | 8 | 9.8 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 37.5 |
| Sam Mack | 31 | 10.8 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 40.0 | 6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 22.2 |
| Mark Bryant | 71 | 8.6 | 4.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 8 | 6.8 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Chucky Brown | 82 | 8.6 | 5.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 12.5 | 8 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kenny Smith | 68 | 8.5 | 1.4 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 38.2 | 8 | 8.9 | 1.5 | 4.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 38.7 |
| Eldridge Recasner | 63 | 6.9 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 42.4 | 1 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Henry James | 7 | 4.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Melvin Booker | 11 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 15.8 | |||||||
| Tim Breaux | 54 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 32.6 | |||||||
| Pete Chilcutt | 74 | 2.7 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 37.8 | 1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Alvin Heggs | 4 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jaren Jackson | 4 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Charles Jones | 46 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Houston Rockets in the 1996 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the first round of the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Los Angeles Lakers. The Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, showcased their championship experience by defeating the Lakers in a decisive 3-1 series victory. This performance highlighted their resilience and ability to execute under pressure, setting the tone for their playoff run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 25, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 87-83 | |
| Apr 27, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 104-94 | |
| Apr 30, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-98 | |
| May 02, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-94 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Seattle SuperSonics
In the 1996 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets, despite being the defending champions, faced a tough second-round matchup against the Seattle SuperSonics. The Rockets were swept in four games, with the Sonics' relentless defense and dynamic duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp proving too much to handle. This result marked the end of Houston's bid for a third consecutive NBA title.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 04, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-75 | |
| May 06, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 105-101 | |
| May 10, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 115-112 | |
| May 12, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 114-107 |
Houston Rockets 1995-96 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1995-96 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 03, 1995 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-92 | |
| Nov 05, 1995 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 106-104 | |
| Nov 07, 1995 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-89 | |
| Nov 08, 1995 | @ Miami Heat | L 89-82 | |
| Nov 11, 1995 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 119-97 | |
| Nov 15, 1995 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 96-93 | |
| Nov 16, 1995 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 115-87 | |
| Nov 18, 1995 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 101-97 | |
| Nov 20, 1995 | @ Boston Celtics | W 98-93 | |
| Nov 22, 1995 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-106 | |
| Nov 23, 1995 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 115-108 | |
| Nov 25, 1995 | @ New York Knicks | L 103-88 | |
| Nov 26, 1995 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 102-100 | |
| Nov 28, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 116-103 | |
| Nov 30, 1995 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 112-105 | |
| Dec 02, 1995 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 113-98 | |
| Dec 05, 1995 | @ Utah Jazz | W 103-100 | |
| Dec 06, 1995 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-99 | |
| Dec 08, 1995 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 113-107 | |
| Dec 10, 1995 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 103-101 | |
| Dec 12, 1995 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 133-93 | |
| Dec 13, 1995 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 100-89 | |
| Dec 15, 1995 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 114-110 | |
| Dec 19, 1995 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 103-96 | |
| Dec 21, 1995 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 91-86 | |
| Dec 23, 1995 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-95 | |
| Dec 25, 1995 | @ Orlando Magic | L 92-90 | |
| Dec 26, 1995 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 100-84 | |
| Dec 28, 1995 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 97-82 | |
| Dec 30, 1995 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 105-102 | |
| Jan 02, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 105-100 | |
| Jan 03, 1996 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 100-86 | |
| Jan 06, 1996 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 99-87 | |
| Jan 09, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 88-82 | |
| Jan 12, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-100 | |
| Jan 13, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-104 | |
| Jan 15, 1996 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 107-99 | |
| Jan 17, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-112 | |
| Jan 18, 1996 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 108-106 | |
| Jan 21, 1996 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 97-96 | |
| Jan 22, 1996 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-96 | |
| Jan 24, 1996 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 98-89 | |
| Jan 25, 1996 | @ Washington Bullets | L 120-85 | |
| Jan 27, 1996 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 105-85 | |
| Jan 30, 1996 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 98-87 | |
| Feb 01, 1996 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 116-111 | |
| Feb 03, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 104-103 | |
| Feb 06, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-94 | |
| Feb 07, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 110-102 | |
| Feb 13, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 121-106 | |
| Feb 15, 1996 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 112-108 | |
| Feb 18, 1996 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 93-79 | |
| Feb 19, 1996 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 118-111 | |
| Feb 21, 1996 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 120-101 | |
| Feb 22, 1996 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 86-80 | |
| Feb 24, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 96-94 | |
| Feb 27, 1996 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 105-100 | |
| Feb 29, 1996 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 109-95 | |
| Mar 03, 1996 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-107 | |
| Mar 05, 1996 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 100-93 | |
| Mar 07, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 95-86 | |
| Mar 08, 1996 | @ Utah Jazz | L 109-89 | |
| Mar 10, 1996 | @ Vancouver Grizzlies | W 95-89 | |
| Mar 14, 1996 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 114-106 | |
| Mar 16, 1996 | vs. Miami Heat | L 121-97 | |
| Mar 19, 1996 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 105-102 | |
| Mar 21, 1996 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 98-85 | |
| Mar 23, 1996 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 108-103 | |
| Mar 26, 1996 | vs. New York Knicks | L 83-74 | |
| Mar 27, 1996 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 117-114 | |
| Mar 30, 1996 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 109-94 | |
| Apr 02, 1996 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 112-106 | |
| Apr 03, 1996 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 118-103 | |
| Apr 05, 1996 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 96-91 | |
| Apr 07, 1996 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 111-105 | |
| Apr 09, 1996 | vs. Vancouver Grizzlies | W 90-84 | |
| Apr 11, 1996 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 113-109 | |
| Apr 13, 1996 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 112-111 | |
| Apr 15, 1996 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 112-106 | |
| Apr 16, 1996 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-100 | |
| Apr 18, 1996 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-107 | |
| Apr 21, 1996 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 118-110 |