The 2016-17 Houston Rockets season was marked by significant transformation and success under the guidance of new head coach Mike D’Antoni. The team finished with a strong 55-27 record, securing the third seed in the Western Conference. This season was notable for the Rockets’ high-octane offense, driven by D’Antoni’s system and the exceptional play of James Harden, who transitioned to the point guard position.
James Harden had an MVP-caliber season, averaging 29.1 points, 11.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds per game. His performance was instrumental in the Rockets setting a then-NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single season (1,181). The team’s offensive prowess was further highlighted by their second-ranked offensive rating of 114.7, trailing only the Golden State Warriors.
In the playoffs, the Rockets advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals. They defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 in the first round, with Harden outdueling former teammate Russell Westbrook. However, their postseason run ended in the second round against the San Antonio Spurs. The Rockets were eliminated in six games, culminating in a disappointing Game 6 loss at home where they were defeated 114-75.
The 2016-17 season laid the groundwork for the Rockets’ future success, showcasing James Harden’s evolution into one of the league’s premier superstars and solidifying the team’s identity as a formidable offensive force under Mike D’Antoni’s leadership.
- Regular Season Record: 55-27
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 4-1, Western Conference Semifinals: 2-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2016-17 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| James Harden | 81 | 29.1 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 34.7 | 11 | 28.5 | 5.5 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 27.8 |
| Eric Gordon | 75 | 16.2 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 37.2 | 11 | 12.9 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 38.6 |
| Lou Williams | 23 | 14.9 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 31.8 | 11 | 12.5 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 30.8 |
| Ryan Anderson | 72 | 13.6 | 4.6 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 40.3 | 11 | 9.4 | 5.2 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 28.3 |
| Clint Capela | 65 | 12.6 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 11 | 10.5 | 8.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.0 |
| Trevor Ariza | 80 | 11.7 | 5.7 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 34.4 | 11 | 10.7 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 37.7 |
| Troy Williams | 6 | 9.7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 38.1 | 5 | 0.2 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Patrick Beverley | 67 | 9.5 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 38.2 | 11 | 11.1 | 5.5 | 3.0 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 40.4 |
| Nenê | 67 | 9.1 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 33.4 | 9 | 10.0 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Montrezl Harrell | 58 | 9.1 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 14.3 | 5 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Dekker | 77 | 6.5 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 32.1 | 4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 50.0 |
| Corey Brewer | 58 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 23.4 | |||||||
| Chinanu Onuaku | 5 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |||||||
| K.J. McDaniels | 29 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 33.3 | |||||||
| Bobby Brown | 25 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 | 5 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 45.5 |
| Tyler Ennis | 31 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 37.5 | |||||||
| Kyle Wiltjer | 14 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 30.8 | 1 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Isaiah Taylor | 4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Houston Rockets in the 2017 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
In the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning the series in five games. James Harden led the Rockets with his stellar performances, outdueling Russell Westbrook despite Westbrook's triple-double efforts. Houston's depth and three-point shooting proved too much for the Thunder, setting the stage for a deeper playoff run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 118-87 | |
| Apr 19, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 115-111 | |
| Apr 21, 2017 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 115-113 | |
| Apr 23, 2017 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 113-109 | |
| Apr 25, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 105-99 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. San Antonio Spurs
In the 2017 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced the San Antonio Spurs in the second round, ultimately losing the series in six games. Despite a strong performance from James Harden throughout the playoffs, the Rockets struggled against the Spurs' disciplined defense and depth, culminating in a blowout loss in Game 6 where Harden had an uncharacteristically quiet night. This series highlighted the Rockets' need for additional support around Harden to advance further in the postseason.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 01, 2017 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 126-99 | |
| May 03, 2017 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 121-96 | |
| May 05, 2017 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 103-92 | |
| May 07, 2017 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 125-104 | |
| May 09, 2017 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 110-107 | |
| May 11, 2017 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 114-75 |
Houston Rockets 2016-17 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2016-17 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2016 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-114 | |
| Oct 28, 2016 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 106-98 | |
| Oct 30, 2016 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 93-92 | |
| Nov 01, 2016 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 128-120 | |
| Nov 02, 2016 | @ New York Knicks | W 118-99 | |
| Nov 05, 2016 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 112-97 | |
| Nov 07, 2016 | @ Washington Wizards | W 114-106 | |
| Nov 09, 2016 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 101-99 | |
| Nov 12, 2016 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 106-100 | |
| Nov 14, 2016 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 115-88 | |
| Nov 16, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 105-103 | |
| Nov 17, 2016 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-109 | |
| Nov 19, 2016 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 111-102 | |
| Nov 21, 2016 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 99-96 | |
| Nov 23, 2016 | vs. Toronto Raptors | L 115-102 | |
| Nov 25, 2016 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 117-104 | |
| Nov 27, 2016 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 130-114 | |
| Nov 29, 2016 | @ Utah Jazz | L 120-101 | |
| Dec 01, 2016 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 132-127 | |
| Dec 02, 2016 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 128-110 | |
| Dec 05, 2016 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 107-106 | |
| Dec 07, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 134-95 | |
| Dec 09, 2016 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 102-99 | |
| Dec 10, 2016 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 109-87 | |
| Dec 12, 2016 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 122-118 | |
| Dec 14, 2016 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 132-98 | |
| Dec 16, 2016 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 122-100 | |
| Dec 17, 2016 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 111-109 | |
| Dec 20, 2016 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 102-100 | |
| Dec 21, 2016 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 125-111 | |
| Dec 23, 2016 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 115-109 | |
| Dec 26, 2016 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 131-115 | |
| Dec 27, 2016 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 123-107 | |
| Dec 30, 2016 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 140-116 | |
| Dec 31, 2016 | vs. New York Knicks | W 129-122 | |
| Jan 02, 2017 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 101-91 | |
| Jan 05, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 118-116 | |
| Jan 06, 2017 | @ Orlando Magic | W 100-93 | |
| Jan 08, 2017 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 129-122 | |
| Jan 10, 2017 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 121-114 | |
| Jan 11, 2017 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 119-105 | |
| Jan 13, 2017 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 110-105 | |
| Jan 15, 2017 | @ Brooklyn Nets | W 137-112 | |
| Jan 17, 2017 | @ Miami Heat | L 109-103 | |
| Jan 18, 2017 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 111-92 | |
| Jan 20, 2017 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 125-108 | |
| Jan 21, 2017 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 119-95 | |
| Jan 23, 2017 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 127-114 | |
| Jan 25, 2017 | @ Boston Celtics | L 120-109 | |
| Jan 27, 2017 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 123-118 | |
| Jan 29, 2017 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 120-101 | |
| Jan 31, 2017 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 105-83 | |
| Feb 02, 2017 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 113-108 | |
| Feb 03, 2017 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-117 | |
| Feb 07, 2017 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 128-104 | |
| Feb 09, 2017 | @ Charlotte Hornets | W 107-95 | |
| Feb 11, 2017 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 133-102 | |
| Feb 15, 2017 | vs. Miami Heat | L 117-109 | |
| Feb 23, 2017 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 129-99 | |
| Feb 25, 2017 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 142-130 | |
| Feb 27, 2017 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 117-108 | |
| Mar 01, 2017 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-103 | |
| Mar 04, 2017 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 123-108 | |
| Mar 06, 2017 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 112-110 | |
| Mar 08, 2017 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 115-108 | |
| Mar 10, 2017 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 115-94 | |
| Mar 12, 2017 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 117-112 | |
| Mar 15, 2017 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 139-100 | |
| Mar 17, 2017 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 128-112 | |
| Mar 18, 2017 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 109-105 | |
| Mar 20, 2017 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 125-124 | |
| Mar 24, 2017 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 117-107 | |
| Mar 26, 2017 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 137-125 | |
| Mar 28, 2017 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 113-106 | |
| Mar 30, 2017 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-107 | |
| Mar 31, 2017 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 107-98 | |
| Apr 02, 2017 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 123-116 | |
| Apr 05, 2017 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 110-104 | |
| Apr 07, 2017 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 114-109 | |
| Apr 09, 2017 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 135-128 | |
| Apr 10, 2017 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 125-96 | |
| Apr 12, 2017 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 123-118 |