1987–88 Houston Rockets season

The 1987–88 NBA season was the Rockets' 21st season in the NBA and 17th season in the city of Houston. The Rockets finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 46–36 record. Akeem Olajuwon was selected for the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rockets lost in four games to the Dallas Mavericks.

Season standings

 * z – clinched division title
 * y – clinched division title
 * x – clinched playoff spot

Regular season

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 2
 * 9:30p.m. CST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 92–101
 * Olajuwon (26)
 * Olajuwon (11)
 * Conner, Leavell (4)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 5
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Utah
 * W 101–93
 * Olajuwon (19)
 * Olajuwon (16)
 * Leavell, Maxwell (3)
 * The Summit 16,614
 * 4–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 9
 * 6:30p.m. CST
 * @ Atlanta
 * L 94–104
 * Olajuwon (17)
 * Sampson (9)
 * Leavell, McCray (7)
 * The Omni 16,451
 * 6–3
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 10
 * 7:00p.m. CST
 * Detroit
 * L 83–97
 * Olajuwon (21)
 * Olajuwon (15)
 * Short (5)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 6–4
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 12
 * 8:30p.m. CST
 * @ Utah
 * L 96–118
 * Sampson (19)
 * Sampson (11)
 * Conner, McCray (3)
 * Salt Palace 12,212
 * 7–5


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 18
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Utah
 * W 98–93
 * Leavell (20)
 * Olajuwon (14)
 * Leavell (8)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 11–7
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 23
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Atlanta
 * W 122–103
 * Floyd (27)
 * McCray, Olajuwon (13)
 * McCray (9)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 12–11
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 24
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * @ Dallas
 * L 100–105
 * Olajuwon (24)
 * Olajuwon (14)
 * Leavell (7)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 12–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 25
 * 6:30p.m. CST
 * @ Detroit
 * W 101–91
 * Carroll (25)
 * Olajuwon (14)
 * Floyd (6)
 * Pontiac Silverdome 26,498
 * 13–12


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 28
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Dallas
 * W 117–107
 * Olajuwon (31)
 * Olajuwon (11)
 * Floyd (11)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 16–12
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 35
 * 4:00p.m. CST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 110–121
 * Olajuwon (24)
 * Olajuwon (9)
 * Floyd (7)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 20–15
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 40
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * @ Dallas
 * W 108–92
 * Olajuwon (29)
 * McCray (12)
 * Floyd (8)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 23–17


 * - align="center"
 * colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break
 * - style="background:#cfc;"
 * - bgcolor="#bbffbb"
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 43
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Boston
 * W 129–120
 * Olajuwon (30)
 * Olajuwon (16)
 * Floyd (7)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 26–17
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 48
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * L.A. Lakers
 * L 96–111
 * Olajuwon (20)
 * Olajuwon (20)
 * Floyd (6)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 29–19
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 51
 * 7:30p.m. CST
 * Dallas
 * L 106–108
 * Floyd (22)
 * McCray (13)
 * Floyd (11)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 31–20


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 54
 * 8:30p.m. CST
 * @ Utah
 * L 112–113
 * Olajuwon (27)
 * McCray (13)
 * Short (5)
 * Salt Palace 12,444
 * 32–22
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 56
 * 7:00p.m. CST
 * @ Dallas
 * L 110–118
 * Olajuwon, Short (22)
 * Olajuwon (12)
 * Leavell, Reid (7)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 33–23
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 64
 * 9:30p.m. CST
 * @ L.A. Lakers
 * L 95–117
 * Carroll (16)
 * Olajuwon (10)
 * Leavell (6)
 * The Forum 17,505
 * 38–26
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 68
 * 6:30p.m. CST
 * @ Boston
 * L 110–117
 * Johnson (18)
 * McCray (10)
 * Floyd, Short (5)
 * Boston Garden 14,890
 * 40–28


 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 72
 * 7:30p.m. CDT
 * Utah
 * W 113–107
 * Olajuwon (22)
 * Olajuwon (15)
 * Olajuwon (6)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 42–30
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 78
 * 12Noon CDT
 * L.A. Lakers
 * W 127–119
 * Olajuwon (38)
 * Carroll (10)
 * Floyd (9)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 45–33
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 79
 * 7:30p.m. CDT
 * Dallas
 * L 96–104
 * Olajuwon (33)
 * Olajuwon (9)
 * Floyd (8)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 45–34
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 81
 * 8:30p.m. CDT
 * @ Utah
 * L 107–125
 * Carroll (24)
 * Olajuwon (12)
 * Floyd (7)
 * Salt Palace 12,444
 * 45–36

Playoffs

 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 1
 * 7:30p.m. CDT
 * @ Dallas
 * L 110–120
 * Olajuwon (34)
 * Olajuwon (14)
 * Floyd (11)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 0–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
 * 2
 * 2:30p.m. CDT
 * @ Dallas
 * W 119–108
 * Floyd (42)
 * Olajuwon (26)
 * Floyd (9)
 * Reunion Arena 17,007
 * 1–1
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 3
 * 7:30p.m. CDT
 * Dallas
 * L 92–93
 * Olajuwon (35)
 * Olajuwon (12)
 * Floyd (5)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 1–2
 * - align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
 * 4
 * 7:00p.m. CDT
 * Dallas
 * L 97–107
 * Olajuwon (40)
 * Olajuwon (15)
 * Floyd (9)
 * The Summit 16,611
 * 1–3

Awards and records

 * Akeem Olajuwon, All-NBA First Team
 * Akeem Olajuwon, NBA All-Defensive First Team
 * Rodney McCray, NBA All-Defensive First Team