Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon came out of nowhere to block a last-second championship-winning shot attempt by Knicks guard John Starks, giving the Rockets an 86-84 victory and forcing a Game 7.
Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley was selected by the San Diego Rockets 7th overall in the 1967 NBA draft. He was also drafted as a wide receiver by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1967 NFL Draft.
In 2016-17, Eric Gordon came mostly off the bench to average 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He was subsequently named the recipient of the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, becoming the first player in franchise history to receive the award.
During the 1978-79 season, Moses Malone emerged as one of the top centers in the league after gaining 15 pounds (6.8 kg) in the offseason. He averaged 24.8 points with a career-best .540 shooting percentage and set an all-time single-season record with 587 offensive rebounds.
Kermit Washington is best remembered for punching Tomjanovich during an on-court fight in 1977. Tomjanovich, who had only meant to break up the fight, was left with a concussion, multiple facial fractures, and worst of all, his brain was leaking spinal fluid into his mouth. Although he would eventually make a full recovery, Tomjanovich missed the remainder of the season, and the Rockets managed only 28 wins without him.
Tomjanovich left the team after the 2002-03 season when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, ending a 33-year association with the Rockets franchise as a player, assistant coach and head coach. He has since made a full recovery.
On January 24, 2014, Chandler Parsons scored a career-high 34 points and made 10 3-pointers--all in the second half--in an 88-87 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He set an NBA record for 3s in a half and a franchise record for 3s in a game.
On December 3, 2019, James Harden made 24 free throws with no misses in a 133-135 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
On March 2, 2007, in a 108-97 win over the Denver Nuggets at age 40, Dikembe Mutombo recorded 22 total rebounds.
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