1986 Western Conference Finals Game 7 vs Lakers

Lore & Background

The Rockets, led by the 'Twin Towers' of Ralph Sampson and Akeem Olajuwon, entered the series after posting a 51–31 record and winning the Midwest Division. After losing Game 1, the Rockets won the final four games to eliminate the Lakers. This was the second and last NBA Championship Series of the 1980s not to feature the Los Angeles Lakers, who were eliminated by the Rockets on both occasions.

Reader's Guide

The Rockets swept the Sacramento Kings in the first round, then eliminated the Denver Nuggets in six games during the second round. In the conference finals, they were matched up against the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, and after losing Game 1, the Rockets stunned the Lakers by winning the final four games, highlighted by a series-clinching buzzer beater by Sampson in Game 5.

Did You Know?

• The Rockets traded Moses Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1982, so he was not on the team in 1986.
• The Lakers did not win the NBA Championship in 1986; they lost to the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Finals.
• This was not the first time the Rockets reached Game 7 of a Conference Finals; they had previously played a Game 7 in the 1981 Western Conference Finals.