1980-81 Houston Rockets Game-by-Game Results
National Basketball Association (NBA)
Team Record: 40-42
Finishing 2nd in the NBA's Midwest Division of the Western Conference
Postseason: 12-9 Lost finals
Conference First Round - Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
Conference Semifinals - Defeated San Antonio Spurs 4-3
Conference Finals - Defeated Kansas City Kings 4-1
Finals - Lost to Boston Celtics 4-2
Coach: Del Harris (40-42)
Location: Houston, Texas
Attendance: 385,354, Avg. 9,399 in 41 home dates
1980-81 Houston Rockets StatisticsTeam Record: 40-42
Finishing 2nd in the NBA's Midwest Division of the Western Conference
Postseason: 12-9 Lost finals
Conference First Round - Defeated Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
Conference Semifinals - Defeated San Antonio Spurs 4-3
Conference Finals - Defeated Kansas City Kings 4-1
Finals - Lost to Boston Celtics 4-2
Coach: Del Harris (40-42)
Location: Houston, Texas
Attendance: 385,354, Avg. 9,399 in 41 home dates
1980-81 Houston Rockets Roster
The Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association ended the 1980-81 season with a record of 40 wins and 42 losses, finishing second in the NBA's Midwest Division of the Western Conference. The team compiled a postseason mark of 12-9.
Houston netted 8,878 points and allowed 8,851. Moses Malone tossed in a team-best 2,222 points for the Rockets and contributed 1,180 rebounds. Allen Leavell dished out 384 assists for the squad.
On the defensive side of the ball, Robert Reid added 163 steals, while Moses Malone blocked 150 shots.
Del Harris coached the team. The 1980-81 Houston Rockets lost in the finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
Regular Season Points For: 8878
Regular Season Points Against: 8851
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 10, 1980 | Houston Rockets 104 at San Diego Clippers 120 | L | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | ||
| October 12, 1980 | Houston Rockets 103 at Los Angeles Lakers 114 | L | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0-2 | ||
| October 15, 1980 | Seattle Supersonics 100 at Houston Rockets 103 | W | 1-0 | 0-2 | 1-2 | ||
| October 17, 1980 | Houston Rockets 102 at Portland Trail Blazers 99 | W | 1-0 | 1-2 | 2-2 | ||
| October 18, 1980 | Houston Rockets 101 at Golden State Warriors 108 | L | 1-0 | 1-3 | 2-3 | ||
| October 21, 1980 | Houston Rockets 119 at Denver Nuggets 117 | W | 1-0 | 2-3 | 3-3 | ||
| October 23, 1980 | Kansas City Kings 105 at Houston Rockets 96 | L | 1-1 | 2-3 | 3-4 | ||
| October 25, 1980 | Detroit Pistons 112 at Houston Rockets 109 | L | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-5 | ||
| October 29, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks 103 at Houston Rockets 109 | W | 2-2 | 2-3 | 4-5 | ||
| November 5, 1980 | San Diego Clippers 111 at Houston Rockets 104 | L | 2-3 | 2-3 | 4-6 | ||
| November 8, 1980 | Phoenix Suns 116 at Houston Rockets 115 | L | 2-4 | 2-3 | 4-7 | ||
| November 11, 1980 | Houston Rockets 105 at Dallas Mavericks 94 | W | 2-4 | 3-3 | 5-7 | ||
| November 12, 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers 104 at Houston Rockets 107 | W | 3-4 | 3-3 | 6-7 | ||
| November 14, 1980 | Houston Rockets 115 at Utah Jazz 117 | L | 3-4 | 3-4 | 6-8 | ||
| November 15, 1980 | Houston Rockets 139 at Seattle Supersonics 143 | L | 3-4 | 3-5 | 6-9 | OT | |
| November 18, 1980 | Seattle Supersonics 118 at Houston Rockets 138 | W | 4-4 | 3-5 | 7-9 | ||
| November 20, 1980 | Houston Rockets 117 at Cleveland Cavaliers 114 | W | 4-4 | 4-5 | 8-9 | ||
| November 21, 1980 | Houston Rockets 116 at New Jersey Nets 108 | W | 4-4 | 5-5 | 9-9 | ||
| November 22, 1980 | Houston Rockets 120 at Indiana Pacers 129 | L | 4-4 | 5-6 | 9-10 | ||
| November 24, 1980 | Houston Rockets 110 at New York Knicks 113 | L | 4-4 | 5-7 | 9-11 | OT | |
| November 26, 1980 | Philadelphia 76ers 101 at Houston Rockets 100 | L | 4-5 | 5-7 | 9-12 | ||
| November 28, 1980 | Houston Rockets 124 at San Antonio Spurs 115 | W | 4-5 | 6-7 | 10-12 | ||
| November 29, 1980 | Dallas Mavericks 90 at Houston Rockets 115 | W | 5-5 | 6-7 | 11-12 | ||
| November 30, 1980 | Houston Rockets 114 at Phoenix Suns 117 | L | 5-5 | 6-8 | 11-13 | ||
| December 3, 1980 | Cleveland Cavaliers 109 at Houston Rockets 118 | W | 6-5 | 6-8 | 12-13 | ||
| December 5, 1980 | Houston Rockets 100 at Kansas City Kings 108 | L | 6-5 | 6-9 | 12-14 | ||
| December 6, 1980 | Denver Nuggets 108 at Houston Rockets 111 | W | 7-5 | 6-9 | 13-14 | ||
| December 10, 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers 109 at Houston Rockets 108 | L | 7-6 | 6-9 | 13-15 | ||
| December 12, 1980 | Houston Rockets 100 at Portland Trail Blazers 106 | L | 7-6 | 6-10 | 13-16 | ||
| December 13, 1980 | Houston Rockets 99 at Golden State Warriors 97 | W | 7-6 | 7-10 | 14-16 | ||
| December 17, 1980 | San Antonio Spurs 113 at Houston Rockets 107 | L | 7-7 | 7-10 | 14-17 | ||
| December 19, 1980 | Houston Rockets 119 at Boston Celtics 133 | L | 7-7 | 7-11 | 14-18 | ||
| December 20, 1980 | Houston Rockets 109 at Chicago Bulls 133 | L | 7-7 | 7-12 | 14-19 | ||
| December 21, 1980 | Houston Rockets 91 at Milwaukee Bucks 123 | L | 7-7 | 7-13 | 14-20 | ||
| December 23, 1980 | Golden State Warriors 114 at Houston Rockets 99 | L | 7-8 | 7-13 | 14-21 | ||
| December 26, 1980 | Houston Rockets 114 at Detroit Pistons 94 | W | 7-8 | 8-13 | 15-21 | ||
| December 27, 1980 | Houston Rockets 97 at Washington Bullets 115 | L | 7-8 | 8-14 | 15-22 | ||
| December 30, 1980 | San Diego Clippers 98 at Houston Rockets 104 | W | 8-8 | 8-14 | 16-22 | ||
| January 1, 1981 | Utah Jazz 103 at Houston Rockets 117 | W | 9-8 | 8-14 | 17-22 | ||
| January 2, 1981 | Houston Rockets 124 at Dallas Mavericks 120 | W | 9-8 | 9-14 | 18-22 | OT | |
| January 3, 1981 | Denver Nuggets 134 at Houston Rockets 132 | L | 9-9 | 9-14 | 18-23 | ||
| January 7, 1981 | Kansas City Kings 114 at Houston Rockets 108 | L | 9-10 | 9-14 | 18-24 | ||
| January 9, 1981 | Houston Rockets 94 at Philadelphia 76ers 107 | L | 9-10 | 9-15 | 18-25 | ||
| January 10, 1981 | Portland Trail Blazers 105 at Houston Rockets 106 | W | 10-10 | 9-15 | 19-25 | ||
| January 14, 1981 | Chicago Bulls 105 at Houston Rockets 109 | W | 11-10 | 9-15 | 20-25 | ||
| January 16, 1981 | Houston Rockets 89 at Phoenix Suns 92 | L | 11-10 | 9-16 | 20-26 | ||
| January 17, 1981 | New York Knicks 99 at Houston Rockets 98 | L | 11-11 | 9-16 | 20-27 | ||
| January 18, 1981 | Houston Rockets 98 at Denver Nuggets 97 | W | 11-11 | 10-16 | 21-27 | ||
| January 21, 1981 | Phoenix Suns 100 at Houston Rockets 106 | W | 12-11 | 10-16 | 22-27 | ||
| January 23, 1981 | Houston Rockets 107 at Kansas City Kings 113 | L | 12-11 | 10-17 | 22-28 | ||
| January 24, 1981 | Utah Jazz 91 at Houston Rockets 106 | W | 13-11 | 10-17 | 23-28 | ||
| January 28, 1981 | New Jersey Nets 99 at Houston Rockets 111 | W | 14-11 | 10-17 | 24-28 | ||
| January 29, 1981 | Houston Rockets 97 at Utah Jazz 99 | L | 14-11 | 10-18 | 24-29 | ||
| February 3, 1981 | Denver Nuggets 128 at Houston Rockets 135 | W | 15-11 | 10-18 | 25-29 | OT | |
| February 4, 1981 | Dallas Mavericks 68 at Houston Rockets 116 | W | 16-11 | 10-18 | 26-29 | ||
| February 6, 1981 | Houston Rockets 99 at Phoenix Suns 112 | L | 16-11 | 10-19 | 26-30 | ||
| February 7, 1981 | Atlanta Hawks 81 at Houston Rockets 87 | W | 17-11 | 10-19 | 27-30 | ||
| February 11, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 89 at Houston Rockets 108 | W | 18-11 | 10-19 | 28-30 | ||
| February 13, 1981 | Los Angeles Lakers 114 at Houston Rockets 105 | L | 18-12 | 10-19 | 28-31 | ||
| February 14, 1981 | Milwaukee Bucks 117 at Houston Rockets 112 | L | 18-13 | 10-19 | 28-32 | ||
| February 19, 1981 | Houston Rockets 99 at San Diego Clippers 116 | L | 18-13 | 10-20 | 28-33 | ||
| February 20, 1981 | Houston Rockets 110 at Los Angeles Lakers 107 | W | 18-13 | 11-20 | 29-33 | ||
| February 22, 1981 | Houston Rockets 111 at Seattle Supersonics 96 | W | 18-13 | 12-20 | 30-33 | ||
| February 23, 1981 | Houston Rockets 106 at Utah Jazz 102 | W | 18-13 | 13-20 | 31-33 | ||
| February 25, 1981 | Indiana Pacers 100 at Houston Rockets 101 | W | 19-13 | 13-20 | 32-33 | ||
| February 27, 1981 | Seattle Supersonics 92 at Houston Rockets 96 | W | 20-13 | 13-20 | 33-33 | ||
| February 28, 1981 | San Diego Clippers 104 at Houston Rockets 103 | L | 20-14 | 13-20 | 33-34 | ||
| March 1, 1981 | Houston Rockets 86 at San Antonio Spurs 102 | L | 20-14 | 13-21 | 33-35 | ||
| March 4, 1981 | Boston Celtics 108 at Houston Rockets 101 | L | 20-15 | 13-21 | 33-36 | ||
| March 6, 1981 | Washington Bullets 105 at Houston Rockets 104 | L | 20-16 | 13-21 | 33-37 | ||
| March 7, 1981 | Houston Rockets 108 at Atlanta Hawks 114 | L | 20-16 | 13-22 | 33-38 | ||
| March 11, 1981 | Golden State Warriors 92 at Houston Rockets 109 | W | 21-16 | 13-22 | 34-38 | ||
| March 13, 1981 | Portland Trail Blazers 104 at Houston Rockets 126 | W | 22-16 | 13-22 | 35-38 | ||
| March 14, 1981 | Utah Jazz 82 at Houston Rockets 101 | W | 23-16 | 13-22 | 36-38 | ||
| March 15, 1981 | Houston Rockets 127 at Denver Nuggets 138 | L | 23-16 | 13-23 | 36-39 | ||
| March 18, 1981 | Houston Rockets 117 at Golden State Warriors 118 | L | 23-16 | 13-24 | 36-40 | ||
| March 20, 1981 | Houston Rockets 103 at Portland Trail Blazers 107 | L | 23-16 | 13-25 | 36-41 | ||
| March 22, 1981 | Houston Rockets 114 at Kansas City Kings 108 | W | 23-16 | 14-25 | 37-41 | ||
| March 24, 1981 | Houston Rockets 114 at Dallas Mavericks 111 | W | 23-16 | 15-25 | 38-41 | OT | |
| March 25, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 111 at Houston Rockets 117 | W | 24-16 | 15-25 | 39-41 | ||
| March 27, 1981 | Kansas City Kings 84 at Houston Rockets 91 | W | 25-16 | 15-25 | 40-41 | ||
| March 29, 1981 | Houston Rockets 109 at San Antonio Spurs 135 | L | 25-16 | 15-26 | 40-42 | ||
| April 1, 1981 | Houston Rockets 111 at Los Angeles Lakers 107 | W | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1-0 | ||
| April 3, 1981 | Los Angeles Lakers 111 at Houston Rockets 106 | L | 0-1 | 1-0 | 1-1 | ||
| April 5, 1981 | Houston Rockets 89 at Los Angeles Lakers 86 | W | 0-1 | 2-0 | 2-1 | ||
| April 7, 1981 | Houston Rockets 107 at San Antonio Spurs 98 | W | 0-1 | 3-0 | 3-1 | ||
| April 8, 1981 | Houston Rockets 113 at San Antonio Spurs 125 | L | 0-1 | 3-1 | 3-2 | ||
| April 10, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 99 at Houston Rockets 112 | W | 1-1 | 3-1 | 4-2 | ||
| April 12, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 114 at Houston Rockets 112 | L | 1-2 | 3-1 | 4-3 | ||
| April 14, 1981 | Houston Rockets 123 at San Antonio Spurs 117 | W | 1-2 | 4-1 | 5-3 | ||
| April 15, 1981 | San Antonio Spurs 101 at Houston Rockets 96 | L | 1-3 | 4-1 | 5-4 | ||
| April 17, 1981 | Houston Rockets 105 at San Antonio Spurs 100 | W | 1-3 | 5-1 | 6-4 | ||
| April 21, 1981 | Houston Rockets 97 at Kansas City Kings 78 | W | 1-3 | 6-1 | 7-4 | ||
| April 22, 1981 | Houston Rockets 79 at Kansas City Kings 88 | L | 1-3 | 6-2 | 7-5 | ||
| April 24, 1981 | Kansas City Kings 88 at Houston Rockets 92 | W | 2-3 | 6-2 | 8-5 | ||
| April 26, 1981 | Kansas City Kings 89 at Houston Rockets 100 | W | 3-3 | 6-2 | 9-5 | ||
| April 29, 1981 | Houston Rockets 97 at Kansas City Kings 88 | W | 3-3 | 7-2 | 10-5 | ||
| May 5, 1981 | Houston Rockets 95 at Boston Celtics 98 | L | 3-3 | 7-3 | 10-6 | ||
| May 7, 1981 | Houston Rockets 92 at Boston Celtics 90 | W | 3-3 | 8-3 | 11-6 | ||
| May 9, 1981 | Boston Celtics 94 at Houston Rockets 71 | L | 3-4 | 8-3 | 11-7 | ||
| May 10, 1981 | Boston Celtics 86 at Houston Rockets 91 | W | 4-4 | 8-3 | 12-7 | ||
| May 12, 1981 | Houston Rockets 80 at Boston Celtics 109 | L | 4-4 | 8-4 | 12-8 | ||
| May 14, 1981 | Boston Celtics 102 at Houston Rockets 91 | L | 4-5 | 8-4 | 12-9 |
