The 2019-20 Houston Rockets season was marked by a significant roster change and a bold tactical shift. Over the summer, the Rockets completed a blockbuster trade to acquire Russell Westbrook from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Chris Paul, two first-round picks, and two pick swaps. This move reunited Westbrook with James Harden, his former teammate in Oklahoma City, forming a dynamic backcourt duo.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 44-28 record, securing the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Under head coach Mike D’Antoni, Houston embraced small-ball tactics by trading center Clint Capela and opting for a lineup that emphasized speed, spacing, and three-point shooting. This strategy was a double-edged sword: while it enabled the team to exploit mismatches and score in bunches, it also exposed vulnerabilities in rebounding and interior defense.
In the playoffs, the Rockets faced the fifth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a closely contested first-round series. The Rockets triumphed in seven games, but their journey ended in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers’ size and defensive prowess proved overwhelming, as the Rockets fell in five games.
The season concluded with head coach Mike D’Antoni deciding not to return, marking the end of an era characterized by innovative offensive schemes. The 2019-20 campaign highlighted both the potential and limitations of the Rockets’ small-ball experiment, setting the stage for future adjustments.
- Regular Season Record: 44-28
- Playoff Result: Western Conference First Round: 4-3, Western Conference Semifinals: 1-4
Houston Rockets Roster and Stats for 2019-20 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| James Harden | 68 | 34.3 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 35.5 | 12 | 29.6 | 5.6 | 7.7 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 33.3 |
| Russell Westbrook | 57 | 27.2 | 7.9 | 7.0 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 25.8 | 8 | 17.9 | 7.0 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 24.2 |
| Eric Gordon | 36 | 14.4 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 31.7 | 12 | 17.3 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 32.2 |
| Clint Capela | 39 | 13.9 | 13.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jeff Green | 18 | 12.2 | 2.9 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 35.4 | 12 | 11.6 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 42.6 |
| Robert Covington | 22 | 11.6 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 31.5 | 12 | 11.2 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 50.0 |
| Danuel House Jr. | 63 | 10.5 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 36.3 | 9 | 11.4 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 35.8 |
| Ben McLemore | 71 | 10.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 40.0 | 11 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 38.9 |
| Austin Rivers | 68 | 8.8 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 35.6 | 12 | 4.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 25.7 |
| P.J. Tucker | 72 | 6.9 | 6.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 35.8 | 12 | 7.9 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 37.3 |
| DeMarre Carroll | 9 | 6.0 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 25.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Chris Clemons | 33 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 34.6 | 2 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 23 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Gary Clark | 18 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 35.3 | |||||||
| Bruno Caboclo | 8 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 25.0 | 2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Anderson | 2 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 20.0 | |||||||
| Thabo Sefolosha | 41 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 27.8 | |||||||
| Michael Frazier | 13 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 17.4 | 4 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Luc Mbah a Moute | 3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Tyson Chandler | 26 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| William Howard | 2 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
Houston Rockets in the 2020 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
In the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling first-round series that went the full seven games. Led by James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Houston's small-ball lineup proved effective, ultimately securing a victory in Game 7 with a nail-biting 104-102 win. Harden's crucial defensive block in the final moments highlighted the series, pushing the Rockets to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2020 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 123-108 | |
| Aug 20, 2020 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 111-98 | |
| Aug 22, 2020 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 119-107 | |
| Aug 24, 2020 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 117-114 | |
| Aug 29, 2020 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 114-80 | |
| Aug 31, 2020 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 104-100 | |
| Sep 02, 2020 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 104-102 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Los Angeles Lakers
In the second round of the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers but were ultimately overpowered, losing the series 4-1. Despite a strong start with a Game 1 victory, the Rockets struggled to contain LeBron James and Anthony Davis, whose dominant performances underscored the Lakers' tactical adjustments and superior depth. Houston's reliance on small-ball lineups couldn't match the Lakers' size and versatility, marking another disappointing playoff exit for the James Harden and Russell Westbrook-led team.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 04, 2020 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 112-97 | |
| Sep 06, 2020 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-109 | |
| Sep 08, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 112-102 | |
| Sep 10, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 110-100 | |
| Sep 12, 2020 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-96 |
Houston Rockets 2019-20 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2019-20 season for the Houston Rockets.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24, 2019 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-111 | |
| Oct 26, 2019 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 126-123 | |
| Oct 28, 2019 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | W 116-112 | |
| Oct 30, 2019 | @ Washington Wizards | W 159-158 | |
| Nov 01, 2019 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 123-116 | |
| Nov 03, 2019 | @ Miami Heat | L 129-100 | |
| Nov 04, 2019 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 107-100 | |
| Nov 06, 2019 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 129-112 | |
| Nov 09, 2019 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-94 | |
| Nov 11, 2019 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 122-116 | |
| Nov 13, 2019 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | W 102-93 | |
| Nov 15, 2019 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-102 | |
| Nov 16, 2019 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 125-105 | |
| Nov 18, 2019 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 132-108 | |
| Nov 20, 2019 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 105-95 | |
| Nov 22, 2019 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 122-119 | |
| Nov 24, 2019 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 137-123 | |
| Nov 27, 2019 | vs. Miami Heat | W 117-108 | |
| Nov 30, 2019 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 158-111 | |
| Dec 03, 2019 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 135-133 | |
| Dec 05, 2019 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 119-109 | |
| Dec 07, 2019 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 115-109 | |
| Dec 09, 2019 | vs. Sacramento Kings | L 119-118 | |
| Dec 11, 2019 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 116-110 | |
| Dec 13, 2019 | @ Orlando Magic | W 130-107 | |
| Dec 14, 2019 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-107 | |
| Dec 16, 2019 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 109-107 | |
| Dec 19, 2019 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 122-117 | |
| Dec 21, 2019 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 139-125 | |
| Dec 23, 2019 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 113-104 | |
| Dec 25, 2019 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 116-104 | |
| Dec 28, 2019 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | W 108-98 | |
| Dec 29, 2019 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | L 127-112 | |
| Dec 31, 2019 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 130-104 | |
| Jan 03, 2020 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-108 | |
| Jan 08, 2020 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 122-115 | |
| Jan 09, 2020 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 113-92 | |
| Jan 11, 2020 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 139-109 | |
| Jan 14, 2020 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | L 121-110 | |
| Jan 15, 2020 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 117-107 | |
| Jan 18, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 124-115 | |
| Jan 20, 2020 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 112-107 | |
| Jan 22, 2020 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 121-105 | |
| Jan 24, 2020 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 131-124 | |
| Jan 26, 2020 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 117-110 | |
| Jan 27, 2020 | @ Utah Jazz | W 126-117 | |
| Jan 29, 2020 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 125-112 | |
| Jan 31, 2020 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 128-121 | |
| Feb 02, 2020 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 117-109 | |
| Feb 04, 2020 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 125-110 | |
| Feb 06, 2020 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-111 | |
| Feb 07, 2020 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 127-91 | |
| Feb 09, 2020 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 114-113 | |
| Feb 11, 2020 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 116-105 | |
| Feb 20, 2020 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 135-105 | |
| Feb 22, 2020 | @ Utah Jazz | W 120-110 | |
| Feb 24, 2020 | vs. New York Knicks | W 123-112 | |
| Feb 26, 2020 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 140-112 | |
| Feb 29, 2020 | @ Boston Celtics | W 111-110 | |
| Mar 02, 2020 | @ New York Knicks | L 125-123 | |
| Mar 05, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 120-105 | |
| Mar 07, 2020 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 108-99 | |
| Mar 08, 2020 | vs. Orlando Magic | L 126-106 | |
| Mar 10, 2020 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 117-111 | |
| Jul 31, 2020 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 153-149 | |
| Aug 02, 2020 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 120-116 | |
| Aug 04, 2020 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 110-102 | |
| Aug 06, 2020 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 113-97 | |
| Aug 09, 2020 | @ Sacramento Kings | W 129-112 | |
| Aug 11, 2020 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 123-105 | |
| Aug 12, 2020 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 108-104 | |
| Aug 14, 2020 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 134-96 |