1976–77 Houston Rockets season

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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
< 1975–76 1977–78 >

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

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. Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY-MM-DD) From
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 49 33 .598 – 34–7 15–26 13–7
x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 1 32–9 16–25 11–9
x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 5 31–10 13–28 9–11
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 6 29-12 14-27 8–12
New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 14 26–15 9–32 10–10
Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 18 19–22 12–29 9–11
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Philadelphia 76ers 50 32 .610 –
2 y-Houston Rockets 49 33 .598 1
3 x-Washington Bullets 48 34 .585 2
4 x-Boston Celtics 44 38 .537 6
5 x-San Antonio Spurs 44 38 .537 6
6 x-Cleveland Cavaliers 43 39 .524 7
7 New York Knicks 40 42 .488 10
8 New Orleans Jazz 35 47 .427 15
9 Atlanta Hawks 31 51 .378 19
10 Buffalo Braves 30 52 .366 20
11 New York Nets 22 60 .268 28


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 — 0–4 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–3 0–4 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 4–0 1–2 1–3
Boston 4–0 — 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4
Buffalo 0–4 1–3 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–3 1–3 1–3 0–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–4 3–1 0–4
Chicago 2–2 2–2 3–1 — 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–2
Cleveland 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 2–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3
Denver 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2 3–0 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–0 2–2
Detroit 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 — 3–1 2–2 2–2 4–0 1–3 3–1 3–1 1–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3
Golden State 4–0 3–1 3–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 2–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 1–3 3–1
Houston 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 0–3 2–2 1–2 — 4–0 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 3–1
Indiana 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 2–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4
Kansas City 2–1 1–3 3–0 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
Los Angeles 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 — 3–1 3–0 1–3 4–0 2–2 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 4–0
Milwaukee 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 0–4 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–3 — 1–2 1–3 3–1 1–2 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3
New Orleans 3–1 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 0–3 2–1 — 3–1 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2
N.Y. Knicks 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 — 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–2 2–2
N.Y. Nets 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 1–3 2–2 2–2 — 1–3 2–2 0–3 1–3 1–3 1–3
Philadelphia 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–1 4–0 3–1 3–1 — 1–2 2–2 1–3 2–2 3–1
Phoenix 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3 2–2 2–2 2–1 — 1–3 1–3 3–1 1–3
Portland 1–3 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–2 2–2 3–1 3–0 2–2 3–1 — 2–2 3–1 1–2
San Antonio 0–4 0–4 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–1 2–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 3–1 2–2 — 3–1 2–2
Seattle 2–1 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 3–1 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 3–1 2–1 3–1 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 — 3–1
Washington 3–1 4–0 4–0 2–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 3–1 1–3 3–1 2–1 2–2 1–3 —

Game log[]

Date Opponent Result Score Record
Oct 21, 1976 @Atlanta Hawks W 120–104 1–0
Oct 23, 1976 vs.Phoenix Suns W 129–126 2–0
Oct 27, 1976 vs.Philadelphia 76ers L 94–116 2–1
Oct 30, 1976 Washington Bullets W 105–92 3–1
Nov 3, 1976 Boston Celtics W 117–111 OT 4–1
Nov 5, 1976 @New York Nets L 91–95 4–2
Nov 6, 1976 @Buffalo Braves L 102–117 4–3
Nov 9, 1976 @Chicago Bulls W 111–92 5–3
Nov 10, 1976 Seattle SuperSonics W 99–97 6–3
Nov 12, 1976 @Milwaukee Bucks L 99–111 6–4
Nov 13, 1976 New York Nets L 110–114 6–5
Nov 17, 1976 Buffalo Braves W 120–114 OT 7–5
Nov 20, 1976 Kansas City Kings W 127–126 OT 8–5
Nov 24, 1976 Golden State Warriors W 113–107 OT 9–5
Nov 25, 1976 @New Orleans Jazz W 105–99 10–5
Nov 27, 1976 San Antonio Spurs W 125–116 11–5
Dec 1, 1976 Detroit Pistons W 110–104 12–5
Dec 2, 1976 Milwaukee Bucks W 137–110 13–5
Dec 4, 1976 Indiana Pacers W 120–108 14–5
Dec 8, 1976 @Phoenix Suns L 95–116 14–6
Dec 10, 1976 @Los Angeles Lakers L 99–109 14–7
Dec 11, 1976 @Golden State Warriors L 112–124 14–8
Dec 12, 1976 @Seattle SuperSonics W 96–92 15–8
Dec 14, 1976 @Portland Trail Blazers L 84–104 15–9
Dec 16, 1976 Atlanta Hawks W 118–107 16–9
Dec 18, 1976 New Orleans Jazz L 106–110 16–10
Dec 22, 1976 Washington Bullets W 111–90 17–10
Dec 26, 1976 @Indiana Pacers W 93–79 18–10
Dec 28, 1976 @New York Knicks L 99–111 18–11
Dec 29, 1976 Philadelphia 76ers W 93–91 19–11
Jan 1, 1977 @Washington Bullets L 89–104 19–12
Jan 2, 1977 @Cleveland Cavaliers L 80–104 19–13
Jan 5, 1977 New York Knicks W 108–107 20–13
Jan 7, 1977 Denver Nuggets L 107–117 20–14
Jan 8, 1977 @Kansas City Kings L 94–106 20–15
Jan 11, 1977 @Boston Celtics L 101–105 20–16
Jan 12, 1977 @Philadelphia 76ers L 97–102 20–17
Jan 14, 1977 @Milwaukee Bucks W 111–84 21–17
Jan 15, 1977 Los Angeles Lakers W 122–116 22–17
Jan 18, 1977 Chicago Bulls W 103–85 23–17
Jan 19, 1977 Boston Celtics L 102–112 23–18
Jan 21, 1977 @Detroit Pistons L 86–109 23–19
Jan 22, 1977 Portland Trail Blazers W 110–107 24–19
Jan 27, 1977 Detroit Pistons W 114–107 25–19
Jan 28, 1977 Atlanta Hawks W 118–104 26–19
Jan 29, 1977 @Atlanta Hawks L 97–101 26–20
Feb 3, 1977 @New York Knicks L 90–108 26–21
Feb 5, 1977 New York Knicks W 105–103 27–21
Feb 6, 1977 @New Orleans Jazz L 90–99 27–22
Feb 8, 1977 Cleveland Cavaliers W 97–81 28–22
Feb 9, 1977 Chicago Bulls W 108–103 29–22
Feb 11, 1977 San Antonio Spurs L 104–107 29–23
Feb 16, 1977 Seattle SuperSonics W 124–95 30–23
Feb 17, 1977 @San Antonio Spurs W 113–99 31–23
Feb 19, 1977 @Kansas City Kings L 109–115 31–24
Feb 22, 1977 @Denver Nuggets L 106–118 31–25
Feb 24, 1977 @Phoenix Suns W 109–106 32–25
Feb 25, 1977 @Portland Trail Blazers W 123–106 33–25
Feb 27, 1977 @Los Angeles Lakers L 101–106 33–26
Mar 2, 1977 Los Angeles Lakers W 120–113 34–26
Mar 5, 1977 Milwaukee Bucks W 119–106 35–26
Mar 6, 1977 @New York Nets W 99–91 36–26
Mar 7, 1977 @Buffalo Braves W 128–107 37–26
Mar 9, 1977 Phoenix Suns W 105–100 38–26
Mar 11, 1977 @Indiana Pacers W 124–109 39–26
Mar 12, 1977 New Orleans Jazz W 120–104 40–26
Mar 16, 1977 New York Nets W 100–86 41–26
Mar 17, 1977 @Cleveland Cavaliers W 88–87 42–26
Mar 18, 1977 @Philadelphia 76ers L 104–124 42–27
Mar 19, 1977 Buffalo Braves W 110–104 43–27
Mar 22, 1977 Indiana Pacers W 106–99 44–27
Mar 23, 1977 Portland Trail Blazers W 109–104 45–27
Mar 24, 1977 @San Antonio Spurs L 112–118 45–28
Mar 26, 1977 Kansas City Kings W 107–97 46–28
Mar 27, 1977 @Detroit Pistons L 100–115 46–29
Mar 29, 1977 @Golden State Warriors L 92–109 46–30
Mar 30, 1977 @Seattle SuperSonics L 105–111 46–31
Apr 1, 1977 @Washington Bullets W 91–85 47–31
Apr 2, 1977 Cleveland Cavaliers W 106–93 48–31
Apr 6, 1977 @Boston Celtics W 104–93 49–31
Apr 8, 1977 @Chicago Bulls L 109–113 49–32
Apr 9, 1977 Denver Nuggets L 110–118 49–33

Playoffs[]

1977 playoff game log
Conference Semifinals: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
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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