The 2006-07 Houston Rockets season was marked by a return to prominence as the team finished with a strong 52-30 record, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Under the guidance of head coach Jeff Van Gundy, the Rockets demonstrated a formidable presence on both ends of the court, largely driven by their star duo of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Yao Ming, despite being limited to 48 games due to injury, averaged 25 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, showcasing his dominance in the paint. Tracy McGrady, meanwhile, played 71 games and led the team in scoring with an average of 24.6 points per game.
The team’s success was also supported by a strong supporting cast, including key contributions from Shane Battier, who provided perimeter defense and three-point shooting, and point guard Rafer Alston, who orchestrated the offense effectively. The Rockets’ defensive prowess was evident, as they ranked fourth in the league in defensive rating, a testament to Van Gundy’s emphasis on that side of the ball.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the Utah Jazz in a highly competitive first-round series. Despite having home-court advantage, Houston was eliminated in seven games, with the series culminating in a heartbreaking 103-99 loss at home. The defeat highlighted the team’s need for more depth and resilience in the postseason, ultimately leading to Van Gundy’s dismissal at the season’s end. This season laid the groundwork for future growth, as the Rockets looked to build around their core stars.
- Regular Season Record: 52-30
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 3-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2006-07 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Yao Ming | 48 | 25.0 | 9.4 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 25.1 | 10.3 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Tracy McGrady | 71 | 24.6 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 33.1 | 7 | 25.3 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 25.0 |
| Rafer Alston | 82 | 13.3 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 36.3 | 7 | 10.9 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 32.0 |
| Luther Head | 80 | 10.9 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 44.1 | 7 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 26.1 |
| Shane Battier | 82 | 10.1 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 42.1 | 7 | 10.3 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 44.2 |
| Juwan Howard | 80 | 9.7 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 7 | 5.0 | 4.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bonzi Wells | 28 | 7.8 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 14.3 | |||||||
| Chuck Hayes | 78 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 7 | 3.7 | 6.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Kirk Snyder | 39 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| John Lucas III | 47 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 25.4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dikembe Mutombo | 75 | 3.1 | 6.5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Vassilis Spanoulis | 31 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 17.2 | 1 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jake Tsakalidis | 13 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Padgett | 24 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 27.6 | |||||||
| Steve Novak | 35 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 33.3 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 2007 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Utah Jazz
In the 2007 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Utah Jazz in a thrilling first-round series that went the full seven games. Despite strong performances from stars Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady, the Rockets ultimately fell short, losing Game 7 at home in a closely contested matchup. This loss marked yet another early playoff exit for the Rockets, continuing a frustrating trend for the franchise during that era.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 84-75 | |
| Apr 23, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 98-90 | |
| Apr 26, 2007 | @ Utah Jazz | L 81-67 | |
| Apr 28, 2007 | @ Utah Jazz | L 98-85 | |
| Apr 30, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 96-92 | |
| May 03, 2007 | @ Utah Jazz | L 94-82 | |
| May 05, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 103-99 |
Houston Rockets 2006-07 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2006-07 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 01, 2006 | @ Utah Jazz | L 107-97 | |
| Nov 04, 2006 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 107-76 | |
| Nov 05, 2006 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | L 96-90 | |
| Nov 07, 2006 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 86-80 | |
| Nov 08, 2006 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-93 | |
| Nov 10, 2006 | vs. New York Knicks | W 103-94 | |
| Nov 12, 2006 | @ Miami Heat | W 94-72 | |
| Nov 14, 2006 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 92-84 | |
| Nov 16, 2006 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 101-100 | |
| Nov 18, 2006 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 104-92 | |
| Nov 20, 2006 | @ New York Knicks | W 97-90 | |
| Nov 22, 2006 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 86-82 | |
| Nov 25, 2006 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 85-76 | |
| Nov 28, 2006 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 82-75 | |
| Nov 29, 2006 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 102-91 | |
| Dec 02, 2006 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 81-63 | |
| Dec 05, 2006 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 118-90 | |
| Dec 06, 2006 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 90-84 | |
| Dec 08, 2006 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 92-62 | |
| Dec 09, 2006 | @ Washington Wizards | W 114-109 | |
| Dec 12, 2006 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-94 | |
| Dec 14, 2006 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 109-107 | |
| Dec 15, 2006 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-101 | |
| Dec 17, 2006 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 108-103 | |
| Dec 20, 2006 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 89-87 | |
| Dec 22, 2006 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 97-78 | |
| Dec 23, 2006 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 98-93 | |
| Dec 26, 2006 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 81-76 | |
| Dec 27, 2006 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 96-71 | |
| Dec 29, 2006 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 94-68 | |
| Dec 31, 2006 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 111-109 | |
| Jan 03, 2007 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 103-96 | |
| Jan 05, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 100-86 | |
| Jan 07, 2007 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 103-99 | |
| Jan 08, 2007 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 84-77 | |
| Jan 10, 2007 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-77 | |
| Jan 12, 2007 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 90-86 | |
| Jan 13, 2007 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 115-111 | |
| Jan 16, 2007 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 109-96 | |
| Jan 17, 2007 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 100-91 | |
| Jan 20, 2007 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 121-113 | |
| Jan 24, 2007 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 90-85 | |
| Jan 26, 2007 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-69 | |
| Jan 29, 2007 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 105-84 | |
| Jan 31, 2007 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 112-102 | |
| Feb 03, 2007 | vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | L 87-74 | |
| Feb 05, 2007 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 105-77 | |
| Feb 06, 2007 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 98-90 | |
| Feb 09, 2007 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 95-74 | |
| Feb 10, 2007 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 104-83 | |
| Feb 13, 2007 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 109-104 | |
| Feb 15, 2007 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 80-77 | |
| Feb 21, 2007 | vs. Miami Heat | W 112-102 | |
| Feb 23, 2007 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-99 | |
| Feb 25, 2007 | @ Orlando Magic | W 97-93 | |
| Feb 26, 2007 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 77-72 | |
| Feb 28, 2007 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 106-90 | |
| Mar 02, 2007 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 108-97 | |
| Mar 03, 2007 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 97-74 | |
| Mar 05, 2007 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 91-85 | |
| Mar 07, 2007 | @ Boston Celtics | W 111-80 | |
| Mar 09, 2007 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 112-91 | |
| Mar 11, 2007 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 103-92 | |
| Mar 12, 2007 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 103-82 | |
| Mar 14, 2007 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 16, 2007 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 114-100 | |
| Mar 18, 2007 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 124-74 | |
| Mar 20, 2007 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 86-76 | |
| Mar 22, 2007 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 91-85 | |
| Mar 25, 2007 | @ New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | L 106-94 | |
| Mar 26, 2007 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-87 | |
| Mar 28, 2007 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 92-87 | |
| Mar 30, 2007 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 107-104 | |
| Apr 01, 2007 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 86-83 | |
| Apr 04, 2007 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 110-99 | |
| Apr 06, 2007 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 85-78 | |
| Apr 08, 2007 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 112-106 | |
| Apr 09, 2007 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 95-90 | |
| Apr 11, 2007 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 99-95 | |
| Apr 14, 2007 | vs. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | W 123-112 | |
| Apr 16, 2007 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 120-117 | |
| Apr 18, 2007 | @ Utah Jazz | L 101-91 |