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In Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals, perhaps the biggest Houston storyline was the record (at the time) seven 3-pointers by veteran point guard Kenny Smith, leading to a road victory in overtime by the Rockets.
In Game 2, it was his understudy’s time to shine. Second-year point guard Sam Cassell scored 31 points in 30 minutes off the bench, which helped lift “Clutch City” to a 117-106 victory (box score) on June 9, 1995. That scoring total also tied Cassell’s career high at the time.
The win gave the Rockets a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Magic, with both wins coming in Orlando. Houston went on to sweep the Finals and secure its second consecutive NBA championship.
Cassell, who was selected No. 24 in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft, shot 8-of-12 from the field (66.7%) and got to the free-throw line 12 times, making 11. He also had three assists and three steals.
Hakeem Olajuwon had with 34 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots, while Clyde Drexler added 23 points and five assists. But those numbers were largely expected from a pair of future Hall of Famers.
The biggest story in Houston’s two underdog wins in Orlando was that the All-Star duo had their contributions supplemented by role players taking on bigger roles than usual. It was Smith’s turn in Game 1, which limited Cassell to just 11 minutes. Then, Cassell — who is now an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers — stepped up in Game 2.
Those two were inherently battling for the same minutes at point guard, yet the competition seemed to bring out the best in each player. In comments to reporters after Game 2, Cassell said:
It’s like this: If Kenny’s on, he’s going to play. If I’m on, I’m going to play. We’re each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
Smith, a 30-year-old veteran, averaged 10.4 points and 4.0 assists in 25.1 minutes per game as the starter. He was the superior shooter, at 42.9% on 3-pointers during the regular season and 44.2% in the playoffs.
But Cassell nearly matched him in playing time with 23.0 minutes off the bench. The 25-year-old averaged 9.5 points and 4.9 assists, and his ability to attack the paint with athleticism — shown in his 12 free throws in Game 2 — was a useful changeup in style for the Rockets, who had four starters (Smith, Olajuwon, Drexler, and Mario Elie) at 30 years or older.
Magic star Penny Hardaway said this after Game 2:
What can you do? Kenny doesn’t have a good night, Sam comes in and turns it on. Seems like you can’t keep both down.
Cassell scored 16 of his 31 points in the second quarter, which helped the Rockets build a commanding 63-41 halftime lead.
The Magic were understandably in a desperate situation and made several runs in the second half. But Cassell, who become known at a very young NBA age for his poise under pressure and clutch shotmaking, often had the answers as the Rockets raced home with a 2-0 series lead.
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