House of Houston
Fansided

Houston Rockets: The ten best shots in team history

By Joe Fernandez

14 Jun 1995: Center Hakeen Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets celebrates after a Finals game against the Orlando Magic at The Summit in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won the game, 113-101. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Al
14 Jun 1995: Center Hakeen Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets celebrates after a Finals game against the Orlando Magic at The Summit in Houston, Texas. The Rockets won the game, 113-101. Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Allsport Mandatory Credit: Allsport /Al /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next

Kenny the jet sets the NBA Finals record in dramatic fashion

In order for Hakeem Olajuwon to get the opportunity we just showed you in the previous slide, the team had to actually get to overtime. And if ever fate was on the side of the Houston Rockets, it was in the fourth quarter of game one of the 1995 NBA Finals.

The Rockets clawed their way back into this game but trailed 110-107 with 14 seconds to go and the Orlando Magic had the ball. Not a good spot to be in. They needed a defensive stop with enough time on the clock to get a three point shot off. A tough prospect.

The ball was inbounded to Nick Anderson who was promptly fouled and sent to the free throw line. Anderson choked and missed the first two free throws but then grabbed his own rebound and celebrated as he got a shot at redemption. But his joy soon switched to dismay as he once again went 0-2 from the line and the Rockets rebounded the ball with 5.6 seconds to go.

At the 5:10 minute mark of the video above, now beloved TNT analyst Kenny Smith, who to that point in the game had hit an NBA Finals tying six three pointers in one game, pump faked and got himself an open look straight away from three and hit his seventh three pointer, setting the record in dramatic fashion.

While Kenny Smith is widely known as one of the best NBA analysts around (and in my opinion would make a phenomenal NBA head coach) he is best known for his time as a Rocket, and no moment looms larger than his big game one that helped the Rockets set the tone and assert their command in the series.

Home/Houston Rockets