The 2004-05 Houston Rockets season marked the team’s 38th in the NBA, featuring significant changes and solid performances. Under the guidance of head coach Jeff Van Gundy, the Rockets concluded the regular season with a 51-31 record, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. This was an improvement from their 45-37 finish the previous year.
The Rockets were fueled by the dynamic duo of Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. McGrady, acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Orlando Magic, became the team’s leading scorer, averaging 25.7 points per game. Yao Ming continued to dominate in the paint, contributing 18.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, solidifying his role as one of the premier centers in the league.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Dallas Mavericks in a highly competitive first-round matchup. Despite taking an early 2-0 series lead, Houston was ultimately defeated in seven games, losing the series 4-3. This marked the second consecutive first-round exit for the Rockets, highlighting the need for further development and roster adjustments.
Overall, the 2004-05 season was marked by the emergence of McGrady and Yao as a formidable pair, setting a foundation for future success. However, their playoff struggles underscored the challenges the team needed to overcome to advance deeper into the postseason in subsequent years.
- Regular Season Record: 51-31
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2004-05 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Tracy McGrady | 78 | 25.7 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 32.6 | 7 | 30.7 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 37.0 |
| Yao Ming | 80 | 18.3 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 21.4 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 0.0 |
| Jim Jackson | 24 | 13.3 | 4.8 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 36.7 | |||||||
| Mike James | 27 | 12.4 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 39.3 | 7 | 11.6 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| David Wesley | 54 | 10.9 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 38.3 | 7 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 47.6 |
| Bob Sura | 61 | 10.3 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 35.5 | 7 | 7.9 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 53.8 |
| Juwan Howard | 61 | 9.6 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Maurice Taylor | 38 | 7.8 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 37.5 | |||||||
| Jon Barry | 53 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 45.1 | 7 | 8.6 | 4.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 47.8 |
| Tyronn Lue | 21 | 6.0 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Charlie Ward | 14 | 5.4 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 31.4 | |||||||
| Scott Padgett | 66 | 4.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 39.7 | 7 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 41.7 |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 80 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 7 | 3.1 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Clarence Weatherspoon | 40 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Boštjan Nachbar | 16 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 47.6 | |||||||
| Reece Gaines | 10 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 25.0 | |||||||
| Andre Barrett | 27 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 24.3 | |||||||
| Rod Strickland | 16 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50.0 | |||||||
| Ryan Bowen | 66 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 50.1 | 7 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Moochie Norris | 6 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Torraye Braggs | 7 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Vin Baker | 3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Brandin Knight | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 2005 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Dallas Mavericks
In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced a tough first-round matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite a strong start with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming leading the charge to take a 2-0 series lead, the Rockets ultimately fell in seven games. The series was marked by intense competition and standout performances, but the Mavericks' depth and resilience proved decisive in overcoming the Rockets' early advantage.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 98-86 | |
| Apr 25, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 113-111 | |
| Apr 28, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 106-102 | |
| Apr 30, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 97-93 | |
| May 02, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 103-100 | |
| May 05, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 101-83 | |
| May 07, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 116-76 |
Houston Rockets 2004-05 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2004-05 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 02, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 87-79 | |
| Nov 03, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 95-88 | |
| Nov 05, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 89-81 | |
| Nov 06, 2004 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 104-101 | |
| Nov 09, 2004 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 90-87 | |
| Nov 11, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 96-91 | |
| Nov 13, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 84-79 | |
| Nov 15, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 80-69 | |
| Nov 16, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 88-84 | |
| Nov 18, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | L 93-92 | |
| Nov 20, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 91-86 | |
| Nov 21, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-93 | |
| Nov 23, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 102-96 | |
| Nov 26, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | L 90-80 | |
| Nov 27, 2004 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 82-76 | |
| Nov 30, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 93-72 | |
| Dec 02, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 113-106 | |
| Dec 04, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 77-76 | |
| Dec 07, 2004 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | W 89-81 | |
| Dec 09, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 81-80 | |
| Dec 11, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 102-78 | |
| Dec 15, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 92-69 | |
| Dec 17, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 100-83 | |
| Dec 18, 2004 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | L 101-100 | |
| Dec 20, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 114-102 | |
| Dec 22, 2004 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | L 90-87 | |
| Dec 26, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 96-79 | |
| Dec 28, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 115-87 | |
| Dec 29, 2004 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 98-87 | |
| Dec 31, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 105-90 | |
| Jan 02, 2005 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 99-80 | |
| Jan 05, 2005 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 108-98 | |
| Jan 07, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 111-104 | |
| Jan 09, 2005 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-98 | |
| Jan 12, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 124-114 | |
| Jan 13, 2005 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 94-85 | |
| Jan 15, 2005 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 73-67 | |
| Jan 17, 2005 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 99-80 | |
| Jan 18, 2005 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 87-74 | |
| Jan 20, 2005 | @ Orlando Magic | W 108-99 | |
| Jan 21, 2005 | @ New York Knicks | W 92-91 | |
| Jan 24, 2005 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 89-78 | |
| Jan 26, 2005 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 82-77 | |
| Jan 28, 2005 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 117-111 | |
| Jan 30, 2005 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 31, 2005 | @ Boston Celtics | W 97-94 | |
| Feb 02, 2005 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-95 | |
| Feb 04, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 119-113 | |
| Feb 06, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 103-102 | |
| Feb 09, 2005 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 105-92 | |
| Feb 11, 2005 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 91-83 | |
| Feb 13, 2005 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 81-80 | |
| Feb 15, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 123-93 | |
| Feb 22, 2005 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 87-85 | |
| Feb 23, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 99-81 | |
| Feb 27, 2005 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 99-92 | |
| Mar 01, 2005 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 119-89 | |
| Mar 02, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 101-98 | |
| Mar 06, 2005 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 90-69 | |
| Mar 08, 2005 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 97-95 | |
| Mar 11, 2005 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 127-107 | |
| Mar 13, 2005 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 111-96 | |
| Mar 14, 2005 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 97-94 | |
| Mar 16, 2005 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 108-77 | |
| Mar 18, 2005 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 103-92 | |
| Mar 20, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 94-86 | |
| Mar 22, 2005 | vs. Miami Heat | W 84-82 | |
| Mar 24, 2005 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 99-80 | |
| Mar 25, 2005 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 81-68 | |
| Mar 27, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 83-70 | |
| Mar 28, 2005 | @ Utah Jazz | W 99-85 | |
| Mar 30, 2005 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 100-84 | |
| Apr 01, 2005 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 76-73 | |
| Apr 03, 2005 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 91-78 | |
| Apr 05, 2005 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 122-117 | |
| Apr 07, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 114-100 | |
| Apr 09, 2005 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 98-97 | |
| Apr 11, 2005 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 90-78 | |
| Apr 13, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 100-92 | |
| Apr 16, 2005 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 115-87 | |
| Apr 18, 2005 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 115-90 | |
| Apr 20, 2005 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 106-78 |