1979–80 Houston Rockets season

1979–80 Houston Rockets season
Head coach	Del Harris
Arena	The Summit
Results
Record	41–41 (.500)
Place	Division: 2nd (Central) Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finish	East Conference semifinals (lost to Celtics 0–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television	KHTV
Radio	KPRC

The 1979–80 NBA season was the Rockets' 13th season in the NBA and 9th season in the city of Houston.

In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the San Antonio Spurs in three games in the First Round, before being swept by the Boston Celtics in four games in the Semifinals.

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College/Club team
1	17	Lee Johnson		United States	East Texas State
2	42	Paul Mokeski		United States	Kansas
3	59	Ricardo Brown		United States	Pepperdine
4	76	Sam Drummer		United States	Georgia Tech
4	80	Lionel Green		United States	LSU
5	104	Allen Leavell		United States	Oklahoma City
6	124	Collie Davis		United States	Southern
7	143	Rich Valavicius		United States	Auburn
8	161	Delbert Watson		United States	East Tennessee State

Roster

1979–80 Houston Rockets roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From F 4 Barry, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Miami (FL) F 22 Bradley, Alonzo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Texas Southern G 10 Dunleavy, Mike 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) South Carolina G 6 Henderson, Tom 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Hawaiʻi F 11 Jones, Major 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Albany State G 30 Leavell, Allen 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Oklahoma City C 24 Malone, Moses 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Petersburg High School C 54 Mokeski, Paul 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Kansas G 23 Murphy, Calvin 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Niagara C 5 Paultz, Billy 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) St. John's F 50 Reid, Robert 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Saint Mary's F 45 Tomjanovich, Rudy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Michigan

Head coach Del Harris Assistant coach(es) Scotty Robertson Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured

Regular season

Season standings

Central Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	–	32–9	18–23	21–9
x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	9	29–12	12–29	20–10
x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	9	27–14	14–27	14–16
Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	13	28–13	9–32	16–14
Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	13	26–15	11–30	15–15
Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	34	13–28	3–38	4–26

#	Eastern Conference
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–
2	y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	11
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2
4	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	20
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	20
6	x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22
7	New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22
8	Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	24
8	Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	24
10	New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27
11	Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	44

z – clinched division title

y – clinched division title

x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1979-80 NBA Records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NJN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	4–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–2	4–2	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	2–0	4–2	2–0	6–0	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	5–1	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
Chicago	1–1	0–2	—	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	3–3	0–2	4–2	2–4	2–4	0–2
Cleveland	2–4	2–4	0–2	—	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	2–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–5	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Denver	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	—	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–6	1–5	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–1	3–3	1–5	3–3	1–1
Detroit	0–6	0–6	1–1	0–6	1–1	—	1–1	1–5	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4
Golden State	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	3–3	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–5	0–6	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	0–2	3–3	0–6	3–3	0–2
Houston	4–2	0–6	1–1	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–3	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–4
Indiana	2–4	2–4	2–0	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–4	—	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–4	4–2	1–5	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	2–0	1–1	3–3	0–2	6–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	2–4	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–5	1–1	5–1	3–3	6–0	2–0
Los Angeles	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	4–2	—	3–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–4	2–0	5–1	4–2	6–0	1–1
Milwaukee	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	4–2	1–1
New Jersey	2–4	1–5	1–1	3–3	1–1	4–2	0–2	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	2–4	1–5	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	—	0–6	2–0	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	2–4	3–3	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	6–0	1–1	2–4	4–2	6–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	0–2	3–3	2–0	4–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	5–1	4–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	—	1–1	4–2	1–5	3–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
San Diego	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	3–3	2–0	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	0–2	—	3–3	5–1	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	5–1	2–0	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	5–1	1–1	3–3	—	5–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	4–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	0–6	0–6	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	3–3	1–1	1–5	1–5	—	0–2
Washington	3–3	2–4	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	4–2	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	3–3	1–5	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 41–41 (home: 29–12; road: 12–29)
October: 2–7 (home: 2–1; road: 0–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 12, 1979 @ Boston L 106–114 Boston Garden 0–1 2 October 13, 1979 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Philadelphia L 105–113 Malone (20) Jones (10) Dunleavy (8) The Spectrum 13,503 0–2 3 October 16, 1979 @ New York L 121–126 Madison Square Garden 0–3 4 October 17, 1979 Indiana W 116–112 The Summit 1–3 5 October 20, 1979 Atlanta W 107–102 The Summit 2–3 6 October 24, 1979 Boston L 99–100 The Summit 2–4 7 October 28, 1979 @ New Jersey L 115–120 Rutgers Athletic Center 2–5 8 October 30, 1979 @ Cleveland L 112–124 Richfield Coliseum 2–6 9 October 31, 1979 @ Indiana L 129–133 (OT) Market Square Arena 2–7
November: 10–4 (home: 7–1; road: 3–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 10 November 3, 1979 @ Detroit W 114–111 Pontiac Silverdome 3–7 11 November 7, 1979 New Jersey W 106–101 The Summit 4–7 12 November 10, 1979 Detroit W 112–104 The Summit 5–7 13 November 13, 1979 @ Chicago W 128–127 Chicago Stadium 6–7 14 November 14, 1979 Golden State W 133–92 The Summit 7–7 15 November 16, 1979 New York W 133–130 The Summit 8–7 16 November 17, 1979 @ Atlanta W 102–100 The Omni 9–7 17 November 20, 1979 @ New York L 125–130 (OT) Madison Square Garden 9–8 18 November 21, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST Philadelphia W 97–94 Murphy (26) Malone (17) Henderson, Leavell (4) The Summit 15,203 10–8 19 November 23, 1979 7:05 p.m. CST @ Philadelphia L 102–113 Malone (17) Malone (11) Reid (6) The Spectrum 12,608 10–9 20 November 24, 1979 Washington L 103–105 The Summit 10–10 21 November 27, 1979 @ Kansas City L 115–117 Municipal Auditorium 10–11 22 November 28, 1979 Cleveland W 113–111 (OT) The Summit 11–11 23 November 30, 1979 Atlanta W 106–95 The Summit 12–11
December: 5–9 (home: 4–2; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 24 December 1, 1979 Portland W 120–112 (OT) The Summit 13–11 25 December 5, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST Los Angeles L 114–116 Malone (32) Malone (15) Barry (8) The Summit 15,676 13–12 26 December 7, 1979 Detroit W 124–109 The Summit 14–12 27 December 8, 1979 @ San Antonio L 129–138 HemisFair Arena 14–13 28 December 12, 1979 @ San Diego W 118–107 San Diego Sports Arena 15–13 29 December 13, 1979 @ Phoenix L 113–121 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15–14 30 December 14, 1979 @ Seattle L 101–109 Kingdome 15–15 31 December 16, 1979 @ Portland L 101–123 Memorial Coliseum 15–16 32 December 19, 1979 Chicago L 102–108 The Summit 15–17 33 December 21, 1979<r>7:05 p.m. CST @ Philadelphia L 106–117 Murphy (37) Malone (12) Henderson (8) The Spectrum 6,649 15–18 34 December 22, 1979 @ Washington L 114–122 Capital Centre 15–19 35 December 26, 1979 San Antonio W 143–110 The Summit 16–19 36 December 27, 1979 @ Atlanta L 110–112 The Omni 16–20 37 December 29, 1979 8:05 p.m. CST Philadelphia W 104–100 Murphy (33) Malone (17) Henderson (9) The Summit 14,635 17–20
January: 8–8 (home: 6–4; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 38 January 2, 1980 Boston L 103–111 The Summit 17–21 39 January 4, 1980 @ New Jersey L 101–104 Rutgers Athletic Center 17–22 40 January 5, 1980 Phoenix W 111–110 The Summit 18–22 41 January 8, 1980 @ Cleveland W 118–115 (OT) Richfield Coliseum 19–22 42 January 9, 1980 Denver W 114–112 The Summit 20–22 43 January 12, 1980 Cleveland W 112–96 The Summit 21–22 44 January 13, 1980 @ Milwaukee W 121–117 MECCA Arena 22–22 45 January 16, 1980 New Jersey L 112–122 The Summit 22–23 46 January 18, 1980 Washington W 134–111 The Summit 22–24 47 January 19, 1980 @ Detroit L 110–122 Pontiac Silverdome 22–25 48 January 22, 1980 @ Boston L 106–112 Boston Garden 23–25 49 January 23, 1980 San Diego W 111–110 (2OT) The Summit 24–25 50 January 26, 1980 Seattle W 123–111 The Summit 25–25 51 January 29, 1980 @ Indiana L 112–133 Market Square Arena 25–26 52 January 30, 1980 San Antonio L 111–118 The Summit 25–27 53 January 31, 1980 8:05 p.m. CST Philadelphia L 105–110 Malone (36) Malone (19) Henderson (6) The Summit 12,539 25–28
February: 8–5 (home: 6–1; road: 2–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record All-Star Break 54 February 6, 1980 New Jersey W 115–114 The Summit 26–28 55 February 8, 1980 Cleveland W 105–104 The Summit 27–28 56 February 9, 1980 Utah W 117–95 The Summit 28–28 57 February 12, 1980 @ San Antonio W 120–118 HemisFair Arena 29–28 58 February 13, 1980 New York W 122–117 The Summit 30–28 59 February 15, 1980 Milwaukee L 103–114 The Summit 30–29 60 February 17, 1980 @ Denver L 99–112 McNichols Sports Arena 30–30 61 February 20, 1980 @ Golden State L 102–115 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena 30–31 62 February 22, 1980 @ Utah W 94–82 Salt Palace 31–31 63 February 24, 1980 4:00 p.m. CST @ Los Angeles L 100–112 Malone (29) Malone (17) Paultz (6) The Forum 15,889 31–32 64 February 26, 1980 Indiana W 93–88 The Summit 32–32 65 February 27, 1980 Washington W 110–97 The Summit 33–32 66 February 28, 1980 @ Washington L 99–105 Capital Centre 33–33
March: 8–8 (home: 4–3; road: 4–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 67 March 2, 1980 Kansas City L 91–94 The Summit 34–33 68 March 4, 1980 @ Atlanta W 93–83 The Omni 34–34 69 March 5, 1980 Boston L 99–103 (OT) The Summit 34–35 70 March 7, 1980 @ New Jersey W 111–110 (2OT) Rutgers Athletic Center 35–35 71 March 8, 1980 Atlanta L 79–97 The Summit 35–36 72 March 11, 1980 @ New York L 109–129 Madison Square Garden 35–37 73 March 12, 1980 @ Boston L 105–121 Boston Garden 35–38 74 March 14, 1980 @ Washington L 85–92 Capital Centre 35–39 75 March 16, 1980 @ Detroit W 102–99 Pontiac Silverdome 36–39 76 March 19, 1980 New York W 139–113 The Summit 37–39 77 March 20, 1980 @ Cleveland L 96–109 Richfield Coliseum 37–40 78 March 22, 1980 Indiana W 125–110 The Summit 39–39 79 March 25, 1980 @ San Antonio L 107–126 HemisFair Arena 38–41 80 March 26, 1980 San Antonio W 113–101 The Summit 39–41 81 March 28, 1980 Detroit W 128–112 The Summit 40–41 82 March 30, 1980 @ Indiana W 121–106 Market Square Arena 41–41
1979–80 schedule

Playoffs

1980 playoff game log
First Round: 2–1 (home: 2–0; road: 0–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 2, 1980 San Antonio W 95–85 Calvin Murphy (28) Moses Malone (14) Tom Henderson (8) The Summit 14,454 1–0 2 April 4, 1980 @ San Antonio L 101–106 Moses Malone (34) Moses Malone (19) Tom Henderson (10) HemisFair Arena 12,894 1–1 3 April 6, 1980 San Antonio W 141–120 Moses Malone (37) Moses Malone (20) Tom Henderson (10) The Summit 15,676 2–1
Conference semifinals: 0–4 (home: 0–2; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 9, 1980 @ Boston L 101–119 Moses Malone (27) Moses Malone (13) three players tied (4) Boston Garden 15,320 0–1 2 April 11, 1980 @ Boston L 75–95 Robert Reid (22) Robert Reid (14) Robert Reid (4) Boston Garden 15,320 0–2 3 April 13, 1980 Boston L 81–100 Moses Malone (28) Moses Malone (9) Henderson, Leavell (5) The Summit 14,243 0–3 4 April 14, 1980 Boston L 121–138 Moses Malone (28) Moses Malone (15) Reid, Leavell (8) The Summit 13,106 0–4
1980 schedule

Player statistics

Legend

GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Playoffs

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Awards and records

• Moses Malone, All-NBA Second Team

See also

• 1979–80 NBA season