The 1979–80 NBA season was the Rockets' 13th season in the NBA and 9th season in the city of Houston.[1]
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.
See main article: 1979 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Club team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | East Texas State | ||||
| 2 | 42 | Kansas | ||||
| 3 | 59 | Pepperdine | ||||
| 4 | 76 | Sam Drummer | Georgia Tech | |||
| 4 | 80 | Lionel Green | LSU | |||
| 5 | 104 | Oklahoma City | ||||
| 6 | 124 | Collie Davis | Southern | |||
| 7 | 143 | Rich Valavicius | Auburn | |||
| 8 | 161 | Delbert Watson | East Tennessee State |
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
| 1979-80 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
| — | 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| October 12, 1979| @ Boston| L 106–114|||| Boston Garden| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| October 13, 1979
7:05p.m. CDT| @ Philadelphia| L 105–113| Malone (20)| Jones (10)| Dunleavy (8)| The Spectrum
13,503| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| October 16, 1979| @ New York| L 121–126|||| Madison Square Garden| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| October 17, 1979| Indiana| W 116–112|||| The Summit| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| October 20, 1979| Atlanta| W 107–102|||| The Summit| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 6| October 24, 1979| Boston| L 99–100|||| The Summit| 2–4|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| October 28, 1979| @ New Jersey| L 115–120|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 2–5|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 8| October 30, 1979| @ Cleveland| L 112–124|||| Richfield Coliseum| 2–6|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 9| October 31, 1979| @ Indiana| L 129–133 (OT)|||| Market Square Arena| 2–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 10| November 3, 1979| @ Detroit| W 114–111|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 3–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 11| November 7, 1979| New Jersey| W 106–101|||| The Summit| 4–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 12| November 10, 1979| Detroit| W 112–104|||| The Summit| 5–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 13| November 13, 1979| @ Chicago| W 128–127|||| Chicago Stadium| 6–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 14| November 14, 1979| Golden State| W 133–92|||| The Summit| 7–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 15| November 16, 1979| New York| W 133–130|||| The Summit| 8–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 16| November 17, 1979| @ Atlanta| W 102–100|||| The Omni| 9–7|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 17| November 20, 1979| @ New York| L 125–130 (OT)|||| Madison Square Garden| 9–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 18| November 21, 1979
8:05p.m. CST| Philadelphia| W 97–94| Murphy (26)| Malone (17)| Henderson,
Leavell (4)| The Summit
15,203| 10–8|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 19| November 23, 1979
7:05p.m. CST| @ Philadelphia| L 102–113| Malone (17)| Malone (11)| Reid (6)| The Spectrum
12,608| 10–9|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 20| November 24, 1979| Washington| L 103–105|||| The Summit| 10–10|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 21| November 27, 1979| @ Kansas City| L 115–117|||| Municipal Auditorium| 10–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 22| November 28, 1979| Cleveland| W 113–111 (OT)|||| The Summit| 11–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 23| November 30, 1979| Atlanta| W 106–95|||| The Summit| 12–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 24| December 1, 1979| Portland| W 120–112 (OT)|||| The Summit| 13–11|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 25| December 5, 1979
8:05p.m. CST| Los Angeles| L 114–116| Malone (32)| Malone (15)| Barry (8)| The Summit
15,676| 13–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 26| December 7, 1979| Detroit| W 124–109|||| The Summit| 14–12|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 27| December 8, 1979| @ San Antonio| L 129–138|||| HemisFair Arena| 14–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 28| December 12, 1979| @ San Diego| W 118–107|||| San Diego Sports Arena| 15–13|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 29| December 13, 1979| @ Phoenix| L 113–121|||| Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum| 15–14|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 30| December 14, 1979| @ Seattle| L 101–109|||| Kingdome| 15–15|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 31| December 16, 1979| @ Portland| L 101–123|||| Memorial Coliseum| 15–16|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 32| December 19, 1979| Chicago| L 102–108|||| The Summit| 15–17|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 33| December 21, 1979
6,649| 15–18|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 34| December 22, 1979| @ Washington| L 114–122|||| Capital Centre| 15–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 35| December 26, 1979| San Antonio| W 143–110|||| The Summit| 16–19|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 36| December 27, 1979| @ Atlanta| L 110–112|||| The Omni| 16–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 37| December 29, 1979
8:05p.m. CST| Philadelphia| W 104–100| Murphy (33)| Malone (17)| Henderson (9)| The Summit
14,635| 17–20|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 38| January 2, 1980| Boston| L 103–111|||| The Summit| 17–21|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 39| January 4, 1980| @ New Jersey| L 101–104|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 17–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 40| January 5, 1980| Phoenix| W 111–110|||| The Summit| 18–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 41| January 8, 1980| @ Cleveland| W 118–115 (OT)|||| Richfield Coliseum| 19–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 42| January 9, 1980| Denver| W 114–112|||| The Summit| 20–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 43| January 12, 1980| Cleveland| W 112–96|||| The Summit| 21–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 44| January 13, 1980| @ Milwaukee| W 121–117|||| MECCA Arena| 22–22|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 45| January 16, 1980| New Jersey| L 112–122|||| The Summit| 22–23|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 46| January 18, 1980| Washington| W 134–111|||| The Summit| 22–24|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 47| January 19, 1980| @ Detroit| L 110–122|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 22–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 48| January 22, 1980| @ Boston| L 106–112|||| Boston Garden| 23–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 49| January 23, 1980| San Diego| W 111–110 (2OT)|||| The Summit| 24–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 50| January 26, 1980| Seattle| W 123–111|||| The Summit| 25–25|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 51| January 29, 1980| @ Indiana| L 112–133|||| Market Square Arena| 25–26|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 52| January 30, 1980| San Antonio| L 111–118|||| The Summit| 25–27|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 53| January 31, 1980
8:05p.m. CST| Philadelphia| L 105–110| Malone (36)| Malone (19)| Henderson (6)| The Summit
12,539| 25–28|- align="center"|colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break|- style="background:#cfc;"|- bgcolor="#bbffbb"|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 54| February 6, 1980| New Jersey| W 115–114|||| The Summit| 26–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 55| February 8, 1980| Cleveland| W 105–104|||| The Summit| 27–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 56| February 9, 1980| Utah| W 117–95|||| The Summit| 28–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 57| February 12, 1980| @ San Antonio| W 120–118|||| HemisFair Arena| 29–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 58| February 13, 1980| New York| W 122–117|||| The Summit| 30–28|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 59| February 15, 1980| Milwaukee| L 103–114|||| The Summit| 30–29|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 60| February 17, 1980| @ Denver| L 99–112|||| McNichols Sports Arena| 30–30|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 61| February 20, 1980| @ Golden State| L 102–115|||| Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena| 30–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 62| February 22, 1980| @ Utah| W 94–82|||| Salt Palace| 31–31|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 63| February 24, 1980
4:00p.m. CST| @ Los Angeles| L 100–112| Malone (29)| Malone (17)| Paultz (6)| The Forum
15,889| 31–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 64| February 26, 1980| Indiana| W 93–88|||| The Summit| 32–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 65| February 27, 1980| Washington| W 110–97|||| The Summit| 33–32|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 66| February 28, 1980| @ Washington| L 99–105|||| Capital Centre| 33–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 67| March 2, 1980| Kansas City| L 91–94|||| The Summit| 34–33|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 68| March 4, 1980| @ Atlanta| W 93–83|||| The Omni| 34–34|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 69| March 5, 1980| Boston| L 99–103 (OT)|||| The Summit| 34–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 70| March 7, 1980| @ New Jersey| W 111–110 (2OT)|||| Rutgers Athletic Center| 35–35|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 71| March 8, 1980| Atlanta| L 79–97|||| The Summit| 35–36|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 72| March 11, 1980| @ New York| L 109–129|||| Madison Square Garden| 35–37|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 73| March 12, 1980| @ Boston| L 105–121|||| Boston Garden| 35–38|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 74| March 14, 1980| @ Washington| L 85–92|||| Capital Centre| 35–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 75| March 16, 1980| @ Detroit| W 102–99|||| Pontiac Silverdome| 36–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 76| March 19, 1980| New York| W 139–113|||| The Summit| 37–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 77| March 20, 1980| @ Cleveland| L 96–109|||| Richfield Coliseum| 37–40|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 78| March 22, 1980| Indiana| W 125–110|||| The Summit| 39–39|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 79| March 25, 1980| @ San Antonio| L 107–126|||| HemisFair Arena| 38–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 80| March 26, 1980| San Antonio| W 113–101|||| The Summit| 39–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 81| March 28, 1980| Detroit| W 128–112|||| The Summit| 40–41|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 82| March 30, 1980| @ Indiana| W 121–106|||| Market Square Arena| 41–41
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 2, 1980| San Antonio| W 95–85| Calvin Murphy (28)| Moses Malone (14)| Tom Henderson (8)| The Summit
14,454| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 4, 1980| @ San Antonio| L 101–106| Moses Malone (34)| Moses Malone (19)| Tom Henderson (10)| HemisFair Arena
12,894| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 6, 1980| San Antonio| W 141–120| Moses Malone (37)| Moses Malone (20)| Tom Henderson (10)| The Summit
15,676| 2–1|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 9, 1980| @ Boston| L 101–119| Moses Malone (27)| Moses Malone (13)| three players tied (4)| Boston Garden
15,320| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 11, 1980| @ Boston| L 75–95| Robert Reid (22)| Robert Reid (14)| Robert Reid (4)| Boston Garden
15,320| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 13, 1980| Boston| L 81–100| Moses Malone (28)| Moses Malone (9)| Henderson, Leavell (5)| The Summit
14,243| 0–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 14, 1980| Boston| L 121–138| Moses Malone (28)| Moses Malone (15)| Reid, Leavell (8)| The Summit
13,106| 0–4|-