Today in Rockets history: Hakeem Olajuwon records his fourth 5×5 game

On this day in 1993, Hakeem Olajuwon recorded one of his six career 5×5 games in a Houston Rockets overtime win over Minnesota.

Being a member of the 5×5 club is not easy. Hakeem Olajuwon‘s dominance, however, often proved to make us question if there was anything he couldn’t do. On this day in 1993, the Hall of Fame Houston Rockets center recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, five steals and five blocks to complete another entry in the 5×5 list.

A successful 5×5 is any game in which a player has five or more of five separate categories in one game. It’s extremely rare in the NBA, yet Hakeem Olajuwon had his fourth one to help the Rockets defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-110 on this day 27 years ago.

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Even though the Timberwolves were just 18-62 going into the game, they took the 55-25 Rockets down to the wire, forcing a 101-101 tie after four quarters.

Doug West led the way for Minnesota with 29 points while Christian Laettner contributed 23 points, six rebounds and five steals.

Playing Robin to Hakeem’s Batman in this game was Matt Bullard, who buried 5-of-8 shots from downtown on the way to 28 points in 37 minutes.

Kenny Smith also scored 10 points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out six assists.

What is most impressive about Olajuwon’s feat of having another 5×5 game is that it was just one of many. Only one other player in NBA history has even had more than one in his career: Andrei Kirilenko (3).

Hakeem ended up finishing with six by the end of his career, having three in 1993 alone.

Next. Why MJ bears blame for Pippen's ugly Rockets stint

It’s hard to get much more diverse in talent than The Dream was — he could do everything on the court, as the Timberwolves learned the hard way 27 years ago.

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