Last Updated on July 22, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake

Here’s a timeline of significant moments in the head-to-head history between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets:

1980s: Early Encounters

  • 1980-1981 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, faced the Rockets, who were in a rebuilding phase.
  • 1985-1986 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets had notable matchups. The Rockets, with Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, were building a competitive team.

1990s: Key Playoff Encounters

  • 1993-1994 NBA Season:
    • Western Conference Finals: The Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, defeated the Lakers 4-0. The Rockets went on to win the NBA Championship that year.
  • 1994-1995 NBA Season:
    • Western Conference Semifinals: The Rockets, with Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, defeated the Lakers 4-1. The Rockets again went on to win the NBA Championship.

2000s: Competitive Matchups

  • 2000-2001 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers, with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, faced the Rockets, who were rebuilding. The Lakers were dominant during this period.
  • 2001-2002 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers continued their strong play against the Rockets, who were still in a rebuilding phase. The Lakers went on to win the NBA Championship.

2010s: Notable Encounters

  • 2010-2011 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant, played against the Rockets, who were building around emerging talents. The games were competitive with playoff implications.
  • 2011-2012 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers faced the Rockets, who were led by new acquisitions and young talents. The games reflected the strong play of both teams.
  • 2012-2013 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets had several competitive matchups. The Rockets, with James Harden and Dwight Howard, faced the Lakers, who were in transition.

2020s: Recent Matchups

  • 2019-2020 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, faced the Rockets, led by James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The games were notable for their high level of play and playoff implications.
  • 2020-2021 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets had several notable matchups. The Lakers, with James and Davis, were strong playoff contenders, while the Rockets were focused on rebuilding with their young roster.
  • 2021-2022 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets faced off with both teams featuring key players. The Lakers, with a revamped roster, played against the Rockets, who were developing their young talent.
  • 2022-2023 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets continued their rivalry with competitive games. The Lakers, with James and new additions, played against the Rockets, who were showcasing their emerging roster.
  • 2023-2024 NBA Season:
    • Regular Season: The Lakers and Rockets faced off with both teams being significant players in their conferences. The games were marked by high-level play and playoff implications.

The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets has featured several key moments, particularly with their playoff encounters in the 1990s and competitive regular-season games. Key players like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, James Harden, and LeBron James have made their matchups significant in NBA history.