1995 First Round Sweep vs Clippers

Lore & Background

The Rockets got off to a fast start by winning ten of their first eleven games. Despite injuries to key players, they finished third in the Midwest Division with a 48–34 record and earned the fifth seed in the Western Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, they defeated the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers in four games. They were then swept in the second round by the top-seeded Seattle SuperSonics.

Reader's Guide

Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 26.9 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.9 blocks per game, earning All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team honors. Clyde Drexler averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Sam Cassell averaged 14.5 points and 4.6 assists off the bench. Robert Horry averaged 12.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.5 blocks, and led the team with 142 three-point field goals.

Did You Know?

• The Rockets redesigned their primary logo and uniforms for the 1995–96 season, replacing golden yellow with dark navy blue, light blue, and silver.
• The new pinstriped uniforms were criticized and disliked by players and fans, and were considered 'ugly'.
• Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler were both selected for the 1996 NBA All-Star Game.
• The Rockets won the 1995 McDonald's Championship during the preseason.