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Looking back in history - June 1st, 1995 and The Western Conference Finals

On this day in 1995, the Houston Rockets inched closer to their eventual glory.
ByDarren Smith|
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May 10, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Hakeem Olajuwon watches the Houston Rockets play the Golden State Warriors in game six of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images
May 10, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Hakeem Olajuwon watches the Houston Rockets play the Golden State Warriors in game six of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images | Thomas B. Shea-Imagn Images

With the NBA Finals upon us, it can make the long wait for next season feel a little less empty for all of Houston. As June is now in session, I wanted to take a look back at major moments, for something along the lines of an “on this day” highlight. With the San Antonio Spurs being one of the two teams featured in this season's Finals, June 1st provided a look into another time the Spurs played in that same series. The year was 1995, and what would follow was a Houston Rockets team that found itself on top of the world.

Game 6 of the 1995 WCF is iconic in Rockets history

The Summit in Houston, Texas, was the home of the Rockets from 1975 to 2003, and a handful of iconic moments in the franchise can be associated with this arena. The Rockets would play the Spurs in a 100-95 win that advanced them to the NBA Finals to take on the Orlando Magic. In this game, the Rockets' superstar Hakeem Olajuwon had a day, scoring 39 points while blocking 5 shots and grabbing 17 rebounds. The Rockets (the #6th seed) at 47-35 took down a Spurs team (#1 seed) who were 62-20.

The game was neck and neck for most of the day, with both of the first two quarters ending in ties, while in the third, the Rockets were only up by one. A big part of this win worth noting was Robert Horry showing up with his scoring, dropping 22 points in this series clincher. Between Hakeem and Horry’s scoring, it contributed to a higher output than David Robinson and Avery Johnson’s 19 points each. This opened the door for the Rockets to go back-to-back and be the first #6 seed to win the championship.

The Rockets 1995 run was legendary

Looking back, this Rockets team deserves more love for the path they took in this title chase. Houston beat the Utah Jazz in the first round, the Phoenix Suns in the semis, and then both the Spurs and Magic. All these teams were 50-win squads and were seeds 3, 2, 1, and 1. This might have been the most impressive path to a championship to overcome. The Rockets of today may not be where this team was, but as we watch this season conclude, it is always fun to remember that the city was blessed with the stretch they had.

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