Calvin Murphy's 63-Point Game vs Nuggets

Lore & Background

The Rockets got off to a fast start by winning their first nine games of the regular season. On February 14, 1995, the Rockets traded Otis Thorpe to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for All-Star guard Clyde Drexler and Tracy Murray. Despite the addition of Drexler, the Rockets posted an 18–18 record for the remainder of the season, finishing in third place in the Midwest Division with a 47–35 record, earning the sixth seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, they defeated the Utah Jazz in five games, the Phoenix Suns in seven games, the San Antonio Spurs in six games, and swept the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals to win their second consecutive NBA championship. As the 6th seed, the 1994–95 Rockets are the lowest seeded team in league history to win an NBA championship.

Reader's Guide

Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per game, while Clyde Drexler averaged 21.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 35 games after the trade. Olajuwon and Drexler were both named to the All-NBA Third Team. Vernon Maxwell provided 13.3 points per game and led the team with 143 three-point field goals. Kenny Smith contributed 10.4 points per game and 142 three-point field goals. Robert Horry averaged 10.2 points per game. Off the bench, Sam Cassell provided 9.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, Mario Elie contributed 8.8 points per game, Carl Herrera averaged 6.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, and Pete Chilcutt provided 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.

Did You Know?

• Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were teammates at the University of Houston in the early 1980s.
• The Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals, winning their second consecutive championship.