1976–77 Houston Rockets season

The 1976–77 NBA season was the Rockets' 10th season in the NBA and 6th season in the city of Houston.[1]

1976–77 Houston Rockets season
Division champions
Head coachTom Nissalke
General managerRay Patterson
Owner(s)Kenneth Schnitzer
ArenaThe Summit
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Central)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference finals
(lost to 76ers 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKHTV
RadioKPRC

In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the Washington Bullets in six games in the Semifinals before losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in six games in the conference finals.

Offseason

Draft picks
Main article: 1976 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 1 John Lucas (from Atlanta)[a] G  United States Maryland
2 27 Phil Hicks F  United States Tulane
  • a 1 2 On June 7, 1976, the Houston Rockets acquired Dwight Jones and the first pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gus Bailey, Joe Meriweather and the ninth pick.[2] The Rockets used the pick to draft John Lucas. The Hawks used the pick to draft Armond Hill.

Roster
1976–77 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
SF 27 Johnson, John 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1947-10-18 Iowa
PF 13 Jones, Dwight 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1952-02-27 Houston
C 44 Kunnert, Kevin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1951-11-11 Iowa
SG 15 Lucas, John 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1953-10-31 Maryland
C 24 Malone, Moses (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1955-03-23 Petersburg High School
PG 23 Murphy, Calvin 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 1948-05-09 Niagara
SG 14 Newlin, Mike 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1949-01-02 Utah
PF 45 Tomjanovich, Rudy (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1948-11-24 Michigan
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: February 1, 1977

Regular season

Season standings
Central Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Houston Rockets 4933.598–34–715–2613–7
x-Washington Bullets 4834.585132–916–2511–9
x-San Antonio Spurs 4438.537531–1013–289–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 4339.524629–1214–278–12
New Orleans Jazz 3547.4271426–159–3210–10
Atlanta Hawks 3151.3781819–2212–299–11
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers5032.610–
2 y-Houston Rockets4933.5981
3 x-Washington Bullets4834.5852
4 x-Boston Celtics4438.5376
5 x-San Antonio Spurs4438.5376
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers4339.5247
7 New York Knicks4042.48810
8 New Orleans Jazz3547.42715
9 Atlanta Hawks3151.37819
10 Buffalo Braves3052.36620
11 New York Nets2260.26828
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1976–77 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS BUF CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NOJ NYK NYN PHI PHO POR SAS SEA WAS
Atlanta —0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
Boston 4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
Buffalo 0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
Chicago 2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
Cleveland 2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
Denver 2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
Detroit 4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
Golden State 4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
Houston 3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
Indiana 4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
Kansas City 2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
Los Angeles 2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
Milwaukee 2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
New Orleans 3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
N.Y. Nets 1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
Philadelphia 3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
Phoenix 4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
Portland 1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
San Antonio 0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
Seattle 2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
Washington 3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

Game log
Date Opponent Result Score Record
Oct 21, 1976@Atlanta HawksW120–1041–0
Oct 23, 1976vs.Phoenix SunsW129–1262–0
Oct 27, 1976vs.Philadelphia 76ersL94–1162–1
Oct 30, 1976Washington BulletsW105–923–1
Nov 3, 1976Boston CelticsW117–111 OT4–1
Nov 5, 1976@New York NetsL91–954–2
Nov 6, 1976@Buffalo BravesL102–1174–3
Nov 9, 1976@Chicago BullsW111–925–3
Nov 10, 1976Seattle SuperSonicsW99–976–3
Nov 12, 1976@Milwaukee BucksL99–1116–4
Nov 13, 1976New York NetsL110–1146–5
Nov 17, 1976Buffalo BravesW120–114 OT7–5
Nov 20, 1976Kansas City KingsW127–126 OT8–5
Nov 24, 1976Golden State WarriorsW113–107 OT9–5
Nov 25, 1976@New Orleans JazzW105–9910–5
Nov 27, 1976San Antonio SpursW125–11611–5
Dec 1, 1976Detroit PistonsW110–10412–5
Dec 2, 1976Milwaukee BucksW137–11013–5
Dec 4, 1976Indiana PacersW120–10814–5
Dec 8, 1976@Phoenix SunsL95–11614–6
Dec 10, 1976@Los Angeles LakersL99–10914–7
Dec 11, 1976@Golden State WarriorsL112–12414–8
Dec 12, 1976@Seattle SuperSonicsW96–9215–8
Dec 14, 1976@Portland Trail BlazersL84–10415–9
Dec 16, 1976Atlanta HawksW118–10716–9
Dec 18, 1976New Orleans JazzL106–11016–10
Dec 22, 1976Washington BulletsW111–9017–10
Dec 26, 1976@Indiana PacersW93–7918–10
Dec 28, 1976@New York KnicksL99–11118–11
Dec 29, 1976Philadelphia 76ersW93–9119–11
Jan 1, 1977@Washington BulletsL89–10419–12
Jan 2, 1977@Cleveland CavaliersL80–10419–13
Jan 5, 1977New York KnicksW108–10720–13
Jan 7, 1977Denver NuggetsL107–11720–14
Jan 8, 1977@Kansas City KingsL94–10620–15
Jan 11, 1977@Boston CelticsL101–10520–16
Jan 12, 1977@Philadelphia 76ersL97–10220–17
Jan 14, 1977@Milwaukee BucksW111–8421–17
Jan 15, 1977Los Angeles LakersW122–11622–17
Jan 18, 1977Chicago BullsW103–8523–17
Jan 19, 1977Boston CelticsL102–11223–18
Jan 21, 1977@Detroit PistonsL86–10923–19
Jan 22, 1977Portland Trail BlazersW110–10724–19
Jan 27, 1977Detroit PistonsW114–10725–19
Jan 28, 1977Atlanta HawksW118–10426–19
Jan 29, 1977@Atlanta HawksL97–10126–20
Feb 3, 1977@New York KnicksL90–10826–21
Feb 5, 1977New York KnicksW105–10327–21
Feb 6, 1977@New Orleans JazzL90–9927–22
Feb 8, 1977Cleveland CavaliersW97–8128–22
Feb 9, 1977Chicago BullsW108–10329–22
Feb 11, 1977San Antonio SpursL104–10729–23
Feb 16, 1977Seattle SuperSonicsW124–9530–23
Feb 17, 1977@San Antonio SpursW113–9931–23
Feb 19, 1977@Kansas City KingsL109–11531–24
Feb 22, 1977@Denver NuggetsL106–11831–25
Feb 24, 1977@Phoenix SunsW109–10632–25
Feb 25, 1977@Portland Trail BlazersW123–10633–25
Feb 27, 1977@Los Angeles LakersL101–10633–26
Mar 2, 1977Los Angeles LakersW120–11334–26
Mar 5, 1977Milwaukee BucksW119–10635–26
Mar 6, 1977@New York NetsW99–9136–26
Mar 7, 1977@Buffalo BravesW128–10737–26
Mar 9, 1977Phoenix SunsW105–10038–26
Mar 11, 1977@Indiana PacersW124–10939–26
Mar 12, 1977New Orleans JazzW120–10440–26
Mar 16, 1977New York NetsW100–8641–26
Mar 17, 1977@Cleveland CavaliersW88–8742–26
Mar 18, 1977@Philadelphia 76ersL104–12442–27
Mar 19, 1977Buffalo BravesW110–10443–27
Mar 22, 1977Indiana PacersW106–9944–27
Mar 23, 1977Portland Trail BlazersW109–10445–27
Mar 24, 1977@San Antonio SpursL112–11845–28
Mar 26, 1977Kansas City KingsW107–9746–28
Mar 27, 1977@Detroit PistonsL100–11546–29
Mar 29, 1977@Golden State WarriorsL92–10946–30
Mar 30, 1977@Seattle SuperSonicsL105–11146–31
Apr 1, 1977@Washington BulletsW91–8547–31
Apr 2, 1977Cleveland CavaliersW106–9348–31
Apr 6, 1977@Boston CelticsW104–9349–31
Apr 8, 1977@Chicago BullsL109–11349–32
Apr 9, 1977Denver NuggetsL110–11849–33

Playoffs
1977 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 19 Washington L 101–111 Mike Newlin (24) Moses Malone (10) John Lucas (7) The Summit
15,458		 0–1
2 April 21 Washington W 124–118 (OT) Moses Malone (31) Moses Malone (26) Mike Newlin (9) The Summit
15,676		 1–1
3 April 24 @ Washington L 90–93 Malone, Lucas (18) Moses Malone (15) John Lucas (8) Capital Centre
16,842		 1–2
4 April 26 @ Washington W 107–103 Rudy Tomjanovich (28) Moses Malone (13) Mike Newlin (7) Capital Centre
19,035		 2–2
5 April 29 Washington W 123–115 Calvin Murphy (40) Moses Malone (22) Mike Newlin (6) The Summit
15,676		 3–2
6 May 1 @ Washington W 108–103 Rudy Tomjanovich (26) Moses Malone (14) Calvin Murphy (9) Capital Centre
12,393		 4–2
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 @ Philadelphia L 117–128 Moses Malone (32) Moses Malone (12) Calvin Murphy (13) Spectrum
17,507		 0–1
2 May 8 @ Philadelphia L 97–106 Calvin Murphy (32) Moses Malone (18) Mike Newlin (11) Spectrum
14,855		 0–2
3 May 11 Philadelphia W 118–94 Moses Malone (30) Moses Malone (25) John Lucas (9) The Summit
15,676		 1–2
4 May 13 Philadelphia L 95–107 Rudy Tomjanovich (24) Kevin Kunnert (17) John Lucas (14) The Summit
15,676		 1–3
5 May 15 @ Philadelphia W 118–115 Tomjanovich, Lucas (21) Moses Malone (19) Calvin Murphy (10) Spectrum
18,276		 2–3
6 May 17 Philadelphia L 109–112 John Lucas (24) Moses Malone (16) Tomjanovich, Murphy (5) The Summit
15,676		 2–4
1977 schedule

Awards and records

References
  1. 1976–77 Houston Rockets
  2. "Dwight Jones Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
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