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1981–82 Houston Rockets season

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Houston Rockets

| end_year = 1982

| wins = 46

| losses = 36

| division = Midwest

| division_place = 3

| conf_place = 6

| coach = Del Harris

| arena = The Summit

| television = KHTV

| radio = KTRH

| playoffs = West First Round
(lost to SuperSonics 1–2)

| bbr_team = HOU

}}

The 1981–82 NBA season was the Rockets' 15th season in the NBA and 11th season in the city of Houston.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1982.html 1981-82 Houston Rockets] The Rockets entered the season as runner-ups in the 1981 NBA Finals, having lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.

In the playoffs, the Rockets lost to the Seattle SuperSonics in three games in the First Round.

Draft picks

{{main article|1981 NBA draft}}

class="wikitable sortable sortable"

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%"| Round

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%"| Pick

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="20%"| Player

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="15%"| Position

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="15%"| Nationality

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="20%"| College

style="text-align: center"

| 2

45Ed TurnerSF{{flagu|United States}}Texas A&I
style="text-align: center"

| 4

81Larry SpriggsSF{{flagu|United States}}Howard
style="text-align: center"

| 5

105Hasan Houston{{flagu|United States}}Bradley
style="text-align: center"

| 6

127Fred Cowan{{flagu|United States}}Kentucky
style="text-align: center"

| 7

151Joe Faine{{flagu|United States}}Bowling Green State
style="text-align: center"

| 8

172Stanley Brewer{{flagu|United States}}West Georgia State

Roster

{{NBA roster header|team=Houston Rockets|season=1981–82

| bg1 = #B50000 | color1 = #FFFFFF

| bg2 = #FFAA1D | color2 = #000000

}}

{{player2 | num = 10 | first = Mike | last = Dunleavy | link = Mike Dunleavy Sr. | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 180 | college = South Carolina}}

{{player2 | num = 00 | first = Calvin | last = Garrett | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 190 | school = Oral Roberts}}

{{player2 | num = 44 | first = Elvin | last = Hayes | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 235 | college = Houston}}

{{player2 | num = 6 | first = Tom | last = Henderson | dab = basketball | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 3 | lbs = 190 | college = Hawaii}}

{{player2 | num = 11 | first = Major | last = Jones | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 9 | lbs = 225 | college = Albany State | inj = yes }}

{{player2 | num = 30 | first = Allen | last = Leavell | pos = G | ft = 6 | in = 1 | lbs = 170 | college = Oklahoma City}}

{{player2 | num = 24 | first = Moses | last = Malone | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 235 | school = Petersburg High School}}

{{player2 | num = 23 | first = Calvin | last = Murphy | pos = G | ft = 5 | in = 9 | lbs = 165 | college = Niagara}}

{{player2 | num = 51 | first = Jawann | last = Oldham | pos = C | ft = 7 | in = 0 | lbs = 215 | college = Seattle | inj = yes }}

{{player2 | num = 5 | first = Billy | last = Paultz | pos = C | ft = 6 | in = 11 | lbs = 235 | college = St. John's}}

{{player2 | num = 50 | first = Robert | last = Reid | dab = basketball | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = St. Mary's}}

{{player2 | num = 35 | first = Larry | last = Spriggs | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 7 | lbs = 230 | college = Howard }}

{{player2 | num = 32 | first = Bill | last = Willoughby | pos = F | ft = 6 | in = 8 | lbs = 205 | college = Dwight Morrow H.S. }}

{{NBA roster footer

| head_coach =

| asst_coach =

}}

Regular season

=Season standings=

{{1981–82 NBA Midwest standings|team=HOU}}

{{1981–82 NBA West standings|team=HOU}}

:z – clinched division title

:y – clinched division title

:x – clinched playoff spot

=Record vs. opponents=

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
colspan=24|1981-82 NBA Records
width=100|Team

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|ATL

!style="background:#006400;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|BOS

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#000000;width=35"|CHI

!style="background:#FFD700;color:#8B0000;width=35"|CLE

!style="background:#008000;color:#00008B;width=35"|DAL

!style="background:#0000CD;color:#FFD700;width=35"|DEN

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FF0000;width=35"|DET

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFD700;width=35"|GSW

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#FFD700;width=35"|HOU

!style="background:#000080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|IND

!style="background:#0000FF;color:#FFFFFF;width=35"|KCK

!style="background:#800080;color:#FFD700;width=35"|LAL

!style="background:#006400;color:#B22222;width=35"|MIL

!style="background:#B0170C;color:#00056D;width=35"|NJN

!style="background:#800000;color:#191970;width=35"|NYK

!style="background:#FF0000;color:#0000FF;width=35"|PHI

!style="background:#800080;color:#FF4500;width=35"|PHO

!style="background:#000000;color:#FF0000;width=35"|POR

!style="background:#000000;color:#C0C0C0;width=35"|SAS

!style="background:#87CEEB;color:#FF8C00;width=35"|SDC

!style="background:#005831;color:#FFC322;width=35"|SEA

!style="background:#36004A;color:#FFFF00;width=35"|UTA

!style="background:#DC143C;color:#0000CD;width=35"|WAS

style="text-align:left;" | Atlanta—1–52–34–21–11–12–40–22–04–21–10–23–33–25–13–31–12–01–11–11–12–02–4
style="text-align:left;" | Boston5–1—4–25–02–01–16–01–11–14–12–01–13–35–15–14–21–11–12–02–00–22–06–0
style="text-align:left;" | Chicago3–22–4—5–11–11–10–60–21–13–31–12–01–52–43–21–50–21–11–12–01–11–12–4
style="text-align:left;" | Cleveland2–40–51–5—2–00–21–51–11–11–51–10–20–60–60–60–50–21–10–21–10–22–01–5
style="text-align:left;" | Dallas1–10–21–10–2—1–51–10–52–41–14–21–41–12–01–10–22–32–31–52–31–43–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | Denver1–11–11–12–05–1—1–13–25–10–24–21–41–11–11–11–12–32–32–45–02–33–32–0
style="text-align:left;" | Detroit4–20–66–05–11–11–1—2–02–02–42–00–22–42–43–32–30–20–20–22–01–11–11–4
style="text-align:left;" | Golden State2–01–12–01–15–02–30–2—1–42–03–23–32–01–11–10–24–22–43–25–11–53–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Houston0–21–11–11–14–21–50–24–1—2–03–31–41–11–11–11–13–24–13–34–12–36–02–0
style="text-align:left;" | Indiana2–41–53–35–11–12–04–20–20–2—1–10–20–64–23–20–61–11–12–02–01–11–11–5
style="text-align:left;" | Kansas City1–10–21–11–12–42–40–22–33–31–1—1–41–11–12–00–22–30–51–54–12–33–30–2
style="text-align:left;" | Los Angeles2–01–10–22–04–14–12–03–34–12–04–1—0–21–10–21–14–25–12–35–14–25–02–0
style="text-align:left;" | Milwaukee3–33–35–16–01–11–14–20–21–16–01–12–0—4–13–34–21–12–01–12–00–22–03–2
style="text-align:left;" | New Jersey2–31–54–26–00–21–14–21–11–12–41–11–11–4—4–23–32–01–11–12–00–22–04–2
style="text-align:left;" | New York1–51–52–36–01–11–13–31–11–12–30–22–03–32–4—1–50–21–10–22–00–22–01–5
style="text-align:left;" | Philadelphia3–32–45–15–02–01–13–22–01–16–02–01–12–43–35–1—1–12–00–22–02–02–06–0
style="text-align:left;" | Phoenix1–11–12–02–03–23–22–02–42–31–13–22–41–10–22–01–1—3–34–14–23–33–21–1
style="text-align:left;" | Portland0–21–11–11–13–23–22–04–21–41–15–01–50–21–11–10–23–3—3–24–23–34–10–2
style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio1–10–21–12–05–14–22–02–33–30–25–13–21–11–12–02–01–42–3—3–24–13–31–1
style="text-align:left;" | San Diego1–10–20–21–13–20–50–21–51–40–21–41–50–20–20–20–22–42–42–3—1–51–40–2
style="text-align:left;" | Seattle1–12–01–12–04–13–21–15–13–21–13–22–42–02–02–00–23–33–31–45–1—5–01–1
style="text-align:left;" | Utah0–20–21–10–23–33–31–12–30–61–13–30–50–20–20–20–22–31–43–34–10–5—1–1
style="text-align:left;" | Washington4–20–64–25–11–10–24–11–10–25–12–00–22–32–45–10–61–12–01–12–01–11–1—

Game log

=Regular season=

{{NBA game log start|Houston Rockets|end_year=1982|bgcolor=#FF0000|color=#FFD700|record=Total: 46–36 (home: 25–16; road: 21–20)}}

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|October|first=yes|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 0

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 1

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 1

| October 30, 1981

| @ Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198110300LAL.html W 113–112 (2OT)]

|

|

|

| The Forum

| 1–0

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|November|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 2

| home_losses = 4

| road_wins = 3

| road_losses = 6

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 7

| November 11, 1981

| Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198111110HOU.html L 93–95]

|

|

|

| The Summit

| 2–5

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 13

| November 21, 1981

| @ Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198111210PHI.html L 106–135]

|

|

|

| The Spectrum

| 6–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 17

| November 29, 1981

| @ Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198111290LAL.html L 104–122]

|

|

|

| The Forum

| 6–11

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|December|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 4

| home_losses = 4

| road_wins = 2

| road_losses = 3

}}

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|January|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 2

| road_wins = 3

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 43

| January 28, 1982

| Philadelphia

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198201280HOU.html W 109–101]

|

|

|

| The Summit

| 21–22

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|February|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 6

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 5

| road_losses = 3

}}

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|March|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 3

| home_losses = 5

| road_wins = 6

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 68

| March 21, 1982

| @ Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198203210LAL.html L 102–107]

|

|

|

| The Forum

| 36–32

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|April|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 4

| home_losses = 1

| road_wins = 1

| road_losses = 3

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 76

| April 6, 1982

| Los Angeles

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198204060HOU.html L 97–108]

|

|

|

| The Summit

| 43–33

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=HOU|end_year=1982}}

=Playoffs=

{{NBA game log start|Houston Rockets|end_year=1982|playoffs=yes|bgcolor=#FF0000|color=#FFD700}}

{{NBA game log section|Houston Rockets|First Round|playoffs=yes|first=yes|show=no|bgcolor=#FFD700|color=#FF0000

| home_wins = 1

| home_losses = 0

| road_wins = 0

| road_losses = 2

}}

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 1

| April 21

| @ Seattle

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198204210SEA.html L 87–102]

| Moses Malone (20)

| Moses Malone (15)

| Tom Henderson (7)

| Kingdome
14,071

| 0–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"

| 2

| April 23

| Seattle

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198204230HOU.html W 91–70]

| Moses Malone (28)

| Moses Malone (23)

| Allen Leavell (6)

| The Summit
15,676

| 1–1

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"

| 3

| April 25

| @ Seattle

| [https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198204250SEA.html L 83–104]

| Moses Malone (24)

| Moses Malone (13)

| Mike Dunleavy (5)

| Kingdome
14,071

| 1–2

|-

{{NBA game log end|bbr_team=HOU|end_year=1982|playoffs=yes}}

Player statistics

{{NBA roster statistics legend}}

=Season=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | PPG

|
{{sort|Dunleavy, Mike|Mike Dunleavy}}

|

{{sort|Garrett, Calvin|Calvin Garrett}}

|

{{sort|Hayes, Elvin|Elvin Hayes}}

|

{{sort|Henderson, Tom|Tom Henderson}}

|

{{sort|Jones, Major|Major Jones}}

|

{{sort|Leavell, Allen|Allen Leavell}}

|

{{sort|Malone, Moses|Moses Malone}}

|

{{sort|Murphy, Calvin|Calvin Murphy}}

|

{{sort|Oldham, Jawann|Jawann Oldham}}

|

{{sort|Paultz, Billy|Billy Paultz}}

|

{{sort|Reid, Robert|Robert Reid}}

|

{{sort|Spriggs, Larry|Larry Spriggs}}

|

=Playoffs=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 90%"
style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="10%" | Player

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | GP

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | GS

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | MPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | FG%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | 3FG%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | FT%

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | RPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | APG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | SPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | BPG

! style="background:#BC1E2C; color:#FFFFFF" width="6%" | PPG

|

Awards and records

Transactions

References

{{reflist}}

See also

{{1981–82 NBA season by team}}

{{Houston Rockets}}

{{Houston Rockets seasons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1981-82 Houston Rockets season}}

Category:Houston Rockets seasons

H

Category:1981 in sports in Texas

Category:1982 in sports in Texas

Category:1981 in Houston

Category:1982 in Houston