Tag: Today in Rockets history

Today in 1995: Rockets sink Suns with ‘Kiss of Death’ by Mario Elie

It was 25 years ago today when Mario Elie sank the most iconic shot in Houston Rockets history to clinch Game 7 at Phoenix.

Known best as the “Kiss of Death,” this Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of the most famous shot in Houston Rockets franchise history, courtesy of three-time NBA champion Mario Elie.

On May 20, 1995, Elie hit a corner 3-pointer with under 10 seconds left in Game 7 at Phoenix. The legendary shot broke a tie and lifted the Rockets to victory in the game (box score) and the Western Conference semifinal series, which they had previously trailed by a 3-1 margin.

Led by Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson, the Suns (59-23) were much better than Houston (47-35) in the 1994-95 regular season. But true to their nickname, “Clutch City” was a different beast in the playoffs. And just a few weeks later, those Rockets secured their second straight NBA championship. (Elie captured his third title in 1999 with San Antonio.)

The Phoenix shot is perhaps best remembered for what occurred right after it, with Elie blowing a kiss in the direction of the home bench. The Suns never had a realistic shot to tie the game after Elie’s make, with head coach Rudy Tomjanovich opting to foul the Suns with a 3-point lead.

In a story on the shot’s 20th anniversary, Elie told the Houston Chronicle that the kiss was gestured at backup Suns center Joe Kleine. Elie said:

He started that in Game 5. It started as fun, but I got the last kiss. It was just emotion, friendly competition, and us going at each other for the second year in a row.

It was a somewhat risky play by Elie on multiple levels. With the shot clock off, Tomjanovich ideally wanted the Rockets to take the game’s last shot, so that the worst-case scenario was overtime. Because Elie shot early, a miss would likely have allowed the Suns a shot to win in regulation.

Those Rockets also had two future Hall of Famers on the court in Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. On paper, one of those two would seem be the preferred option in a late-game scenario. But Elie was open after a cross-court pass by Robert Horry, and he fired without hesitation.

“Robert threw a high pass, and I had to jump to get it,” Elie said. “But I had time to gather myself and get a great look at the basket.”

Olajuwon and Drexler each had 29 points in the victory, which was just the fifth time in NBA history that a road team had won a Game 7. But it was the final shot of an 8-point outing by a veteran role player — known best for his defense and toughness — that the game is best remembered for.

“My kids don’t think the old man could play,” Elie told the Houston Chronicle in 2015. “I can show them on video that I was pretty good.”

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Today in 1995: Olajuwon, Drexler lead Rockets to clincher in Utah

Olajuwon and Drexler each had 30+ points and 10 rebounds as the Rockets won a decisive Game 5 in Utah on their way to the 1995 NBA title.

It was 25 years ago today when it became evident that the playoff form of the 1994-95 Houston Rockets was very different than the regular season.

Led by 63 combined points from future Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, the Rockets won a decisive Game 5 at Utah, 95-91 (box score). The Jazz went 60-22 in the regular season, while the defending NBA champion Rockets were a mere 47-35 and a lightly regarded No. 6 seed entering the Western Conference playoffs.

But the Rockets proved in that first-round series versus Utah that they were able to flip the switch. The May 7, 1995 win in Salt Lake City was the second of five playoff games they’d win when facing elimination.

Olajuwon led the Rockets with 33 points (10-of-16 FG) and 10 rebounds, while Drexler had 31 points (8-of-15 FG) and 10 rebounds. Drexler also made five of his seven shots (71.4%) from 3-point range.

No other Houston player scored in double figures. The Jazz were led by 35 points (10-of-21 FG) and 10 rebounds from Karl Malone.

By defeating the Jazz, the Rockets advanced to the second round of the 1995 playoffs to face the Phoenix Suns (59-23). In that series, Houston also won the decisive game with a road victory in Game 7. And few weeks later, they claimed their second consecutive NBA championship.

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Today in 1995 playoffs: Rockets win first of five elimination games

Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon combined for 81 points on 65% shooting as Houston staved off elimination versus Utah.

Trailing two games to one in a best-of-five series and with their backs against the proverbial wall, the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets won Game 4 of their 1995 first-round playoff series versus Utah.

With the storied “Clutch City” nickname firmly in place, that May 5, 1995 date was not the last elimination game that those Rockets would win.

Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon combined for 81 points in Game 4 against the Jazz, leading the Rockets to a convincing 123-106 victory (box score) at The Summit in Houston.

Drexler had 41 points and nine rebounds on 12-of-18 (66.7%) shooting, including 4-of-8 (50.0%) on 3-pointers. Olajuwon scored 40 points and grabbed eight rebounds on 14-of-22 (63.6%) from the field.

Karl Malone led the Jazz with 31 points, though Houston limited him to 7-of-17 shooting (41.2%). He tallied just six rebounds in his 44 minutes.

It all set the stage for a decisive Game 5 a few days later in Salt Lake City, which Houston also won to advance to the second round. In the subsequent series, the Rockets lost three of their first four games to Phoenix before winning three consecutive games to move on.

In all, the 1995 Rockets were 5-0 in elimination games en route to the franchise’s second consecutive NBA championship. In those two seasons combined, Houston went 8-0 when facing potential playoff elimination.

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Today in 1996: Magic Johnson’s career ends as Rockets win series

Magic Johnson’s career came to a close at The Summit in Houston as Hakeem Olajuwon’s Rockets defeated the Lakers in a playoff series.

It was May 2, 1996 when Los Angeles Lakers legend and Hall of Famer Magic Johnson played the final NBA game of his storied career.

But it wasn’t at The Forum in Inglewood. Rather, it was in a loss to the two-time defending NBA champion Rockets at The Summit in Houston.

The Rockets won Game 4, 102-94 (box score). and clinched the best-of-five series, three games to one. Though the Lakers (53-29) were the West’s No. 4 seed and had home-court advantage over the No. 5 Rockets (48-34), Rudy Tomjanovich‘s squad again came up clutch in the playoffs.

Hakeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 25 points (54.5% FG), 11 rebounds, and seven assists, while Kenny Smith and Robert Horry each scored 17 points with a combined seven 3-pointers between them.

The Lakers were led by 25 points and 12 rebounds from Cedric Ceballos. Johnson had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 30 minutes in his career finale, though he shot just 2-of-8 (25%) from the field.

Less than two weeks later, Johnson made his retirement official. Prior to the 1995-96 season, Johnson had not played in the NBA since testing positive for HIV just before the 1991-92 season.

“I’m going out on my terms, something I couldn’t say when I aborted a comeback in 1992,” Johnson said in his announcement. Though he was 36 years old and coming off a four-year layoff, Johnson was still effective in his final season — averaging 14.6 points (46.6% FG, 37.9% on 3-pointers), 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game.

That May 2, 1996 game was Houston’s final victory that season, since they were swept by eventual West champion Seattle in the second round.

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Today in playoff history: James Harden lifts Rockets in ‘flu game’

Facing elimination versus the West’s No. 1 team, Harden scored 31 and shot 7-of-9 on 3-pointers as Houston defeated Kevin Durant’s Thunder.

It was seven years ago today when future MVP James Harden lifted the Houston Rockets to a key playoff victory with his own “flu game.”

The eighth-seeded Rockets were on the road and facing elimination with a 3-1 series deficit entering Game 5 of their first-round series in Oklahoma City. The Thunder were the West’s No. 1 playoff seed and the defending Western Conference champions from the 2011-12 season.

Harden left that day’s shootaround early with flu-like symptoms, and backcourt mate Jeremy Lin didn’t play at all due to a bruised chest.

But Harden wasn’t going to miss an elimination game against the Thunder, who had traded him to Houston just before the 2012-13 season began. “There’s no way some little flu bug is going to keep him from playing in an elimination game,” forward Chandler Parsons said pregame.

Harden’s performance proved Parsons correct. He scored a team-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting (62.5%), including an astonshing 7-of-9 showing (77.8%) on 3-pointers. Harden also grabbed eight rebounds and had a game-high plus/minus figure of +16 in his 42 minutes, leading the Rockets to a 107-100 victory on May 1, 2013 (box score).

The Rockets did ultimately lose the series to Kevin Durant’s Thunder in Game 6. But that May 2013 showing in Oklahoma City sent a clear signal that better days were coming fast for Harden and the Rockets.

Prior to Harden’s arrival, Houston had not even qualified for the NBA playoffs since the 2008-09 season.

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Today in 2018: Rockets explode with 50-point quarter in playoffs

On April 23, 2018, James Harden and Chris Paul led Houston in a historic 50-point third quarter to grab command of Game 4 at Minnesota.

It was only fitting that one of the all-time great teams in Houston Rockets history had one of its greatest quarters in the playoffs.

On April 23, 2018, the top-seeded Rockets took a 3-1 lead in their first-round series versus Minnesota courtesy of a 50-point third quarter on the road. Houston went on to win Game 4 by a 119-100 final (box score).

It was the second-most points in a single quarter by any team in NBA playoff history, and it broke open a game that Houston only led by a point at halftime. Had Minnesota won, it would have tied the series and effectively made it a best-of-three. Instead, the Rockets grabbed a commanding lead and closed out the series at home in Game 5.

The 50-point total was one point shy of the all-time record for points in a single quarter in the NBA playoffs.

Rockets stars James Harden and Chris Paul had 37 points in the frame, representing their most combined points in any quarter as teammates. Harden, who was that season’s MVP, shook off an 0-of-7 start to Game 4 to score 22 in the historic third quarter on 7-of-10 shooting (70%).

“For myself and Chris, we had the mentality to be aggressive, make or miss shots,” Harden said postgame after finishing with a game-high 36 points. “That’s what we do. We shoot the basketball. Eventually, they’ll start falling. That’s what happened.”

Paul added 25 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals on 9-of-17 (52.9%) shooting. The Timberwolves were led by stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Jimmy Butler, who combined for 41 points and 24 rebounds.

At 65-17, the 2018 Rockets had the NBA’s best record in the regular season and the most wins of any Houston team in franchise history. They were dominant in each of the first two rounds of the West playoffs, as well, defeating the Timberwolves and Utah Jazz by 4-1 margins.

In the Western Conference Finals, they took three of the first five games from defending champion Golden State. But Paul was unable to play in Game 6 or Game 7 due to a hamstring strain, and the Warriors rallied to win that series in seven games. In the ensuing 2018 NBA Finals, they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers en route to a second straight title.

To this day, many around the Rockets still believe it should have been them — and moments like the historic third quarter by Harden and Paul in Minnesota are a big part of the reason why.

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Today in Rockets history: Harden hits playoff winner vs. Warriors

Oddly enough, James Harden’s playoff game-winner over the Warriors came courtesy of a spin move followed by a mid-range stepback jumper.

The 2015-16 NBA season was one to forget for the Houston Rockets. Coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance the prior year and with championship aspirations, they instead limped to a 41-41 record while barely capturing the eighth and final playoff seed in the West.

Rockets head coach Kevin McHale, who had received a contract extension less than a year earlier, was fired after just 11 games.

The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, entered the first round having just finished off the best regular season in NBA history at 73-9.

But even in a down year, the Rockets did have at least one playoff highlight of significance in a 97-96 win on April 21, 2016 (box score).

Trailing by a point in Game 3 versus the top-seeded Warriors, James Harden hit the game-winner over Andre Iguodala with just 2.7 seconds left. Oddly enough, Harden’s winner came courtesy of a spin move followed by a stepback jumper from mid-range — an area where the 3-point heavy Rockets haven’t attempted many shots in the years since.

Harden led the Rockets with game-high totals of 35 points and nine assists, while big men Dwight Howard and Donatas Motiejunas combined for 26 rebounds. Howard left Houston in free agency after the season.

Golden State ultimately won the series in five games. But the lone Rockets win was certainly memorable, thanks to Harden’s dramatic shot.

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Today in history: Rockets survive Westbrook’s 50-point triple-double

On April 19, 2017, Russell Westbrook had the only 50-point triple-double in NBA playoff history. But his team lost, so he didn’t care.

Three years ago today, the Houston Rockets survived an onslaught from future teammate Russell Westbrook in a Game 2 victory in the first round of the 2017 NBA playoffs over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook, who went on to win the league’s 2016-17 MVP award, tallied 51 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, and four steals — representing the only 50-point triple double in playoff history.

Nonetheless, the Thunder were outscored by seven points in the final quarter as the Rockets won, 115-111 (box score), to take a 2-0 series lead. James Harden led Houston with 35 points and eight assists, while reserves Eric Gordon and Lou Williams scored 22 and 21, respectively.

In hindsight, the game might be most remembered for the postgame press conference at Toyota Center in Houston. Here’s how an exchange went between Westbrook and a reporter, just after the game went final:

Reporter: When you look at your line on the box score, how would you grade the line?

Westbrook: I don’t give a [censored] about the line. We lost.

The Rockets went on to win the first-round series, four games to one. And just over two years later, Westbrook’s competitive fire and desire to win helped lead him to Houston and a revived partnership with Harden.

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Today in Rockets history: Hakeem Olajuwon beats Mavs at the buzzer

On April 13, 1996, Olajuwon had a triple-double with 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocks. He also hit the game-winner at the buzzer.

Fresh off back-to-back NBA titles, the 1995-96 Houston Rockets weren’t able to make it three in a row. But led by Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon, they still showed glimpses of their past glory.

One of those occasions came 24 years ago on April 13, 1996, at The Summit in Houston versus the in-state rival Dallas Mavericks.

Olajuwon had a rare triple-double involving blocked shots (31 points, 13 rebounds, 10 blocks), and he also hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer as the Rockets defeated the Mavs, 112-111 (box score).

The Rockets (46-32) trailed by a point with only 0.4 seconds left in the game, but inbounder Robert Horry found Olajuwon for a clean look in the paint — which the big man swished as time expired.

Olajuwon scored his 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting (61.9%), and he also had six assists. In all, the April 13, 1996 game featured three future Hall of Famers between Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Jason Kidd, who led the Mavs with 18 points, 15 assists, and nine rebounds.

The classic game can be watched in its entirety below.

A few weeks later, the Rockets lost in the second round of the 1996 NBA playoffs to Seattle — ending Houston’s reign as back-to-back champions.

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Today in Rockets history: Olajuwon drops 45 on David Robinson, Spurs

On April 10, 1993, Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon had a monster game with 45 points and 14 rebounds in a win over David Robinson’s Spurs.

In a battle of two future MVPs and Hall of Famers, Hakeem Olajuwon dropped 45 points on David Robinson and the San Antonio in a 98-88 win by the Houston Rockets on April 10, 1993 (box score).

In addition to scoring 45 on 16-of-30 shooting (53.3%), Olajuwon also had 14 rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots. Robinson led the Spurs with 24 points (45.5% FG) and 11 rebounds, but he was no match for Olajuwon on that night at The Summit in Houston.

To supplement Olajuwon’s outburst inside, guard Vernon Maxwell added 17 points for the Rockets on 3-of-6 shooting (50%) from 3-point range. The victory improved Houston to 49-25 on the 1992-93 NBA season, while dropping San Antonio to 45-29.

It was a sign of what was to come when the Rockets met the Spurs in the 1995 Western Conference Finals — just over two years later.

Though Robinson won the league’s MVP award that season, Olajuwon got the best of him when it mattered by averaging an incredible 35.3 points (56.0% FG), 12.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 4.2 blocks per game against the Spurs in the playoffs. Houston won the series by a 4-2 margin, and eventually its second consecutive NBA championship.

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