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1976–77 Houston Rockets season

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NBA professional basketball team season
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.

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) G  United States Maryland
2 27 Phil Hicks F  United States Tulane

Roster

1976–77 Houston Rockets roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB 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 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 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1948-11-24 Michigan
SG 32 White, Rudy 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1953-06-23 Arizona State
PG 11 Wohl, Dave 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1949-11-02 Penn
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (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.
1976–77 NBA season
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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory
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