The 1995 NBA Finals Game 6: Rockets vs. Magic

Lore & Background

The Rockets swept the Magic, repeating as champions and becoming the lowest-seeded team ever to win the Finals. In the 1995 playoffs, the Rockets became the first NBA team to win nine road playoff games and to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason. It was the second NBA Finals sweep in the 2–3–2 Finals format. The Rockets also became the first repeat NBA Champion in history to keep the title with a sweep. In addition, the Rockets became the first team in NBA history to win the title without having home-court advantage in any of the four playoff rounds since the playoffs was expanded to a 16 team format in 1984.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Northlands Coliseum was thick with the scent of pine tar and anticipation. Fans clad in blue and orange held their breath as the referee dropped the puck, not a basketball, signaling the start of another chapter in hockey history. The roar of the crowd echoed off the ice walls, celebrating a triumph that belonged solely to the Oilers and their legendary players on skates.

Reader's Guide

The Orlando Magic, making their first NBA Finals appearance, began the series at home. With the Magic up 110–107 late in Game 1, Nick Anderson missed four consecutive free throws in the closing seconds, and Kenny Smith hit a three-pointer, tying the game and sending it to overtime. The more experienced Rockets went on to win in overtime and eventually swept the Magic, winning their second consecutive NBA Championship.

Did You Know?

• The Rockets were the only team to win both championships during Michael Jordan's first retirement.
• As of 2026, the Houston Rockets, as a 6th seed in the 1995 playoffs, remain the lowest-seeded team to win the NBA Finals.
• They also remain the most recent team to win a championship despite winning less than 50 games in a full 82-game regular season.