The 2008–09 Houston Rockets season was the 42nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite a season-ending knee injury to Tracy McGrady, the Rockets breezed past the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, but could not defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round. Dikembe Mutombo, who entered his 18th and final season, was injured in Game 2 of the first round and announced his retirement, ending his 18-year NBA career. Yao Ming injured his foot during the second round. The injury kept Yao out for the rest of the postseason, and would require surgery in the offseason. His offseason surgery would later cost him all of next year, and would soon to be considered career-threatening. Before the season, the team acquired Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace), who was known for his violate temper. However, World Peace spent only one season in Houston, as he went to the Lakers in the 2009-10 off-season. He would later help the Lakers win their 16th NBA championship.
Key dates
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Offseason
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Draft picks
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Roster
|
Players |
Coaches |
Pos. |
No. |
Name |
Height |
Weight |
DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) |
From |
G/F |
96 |
 |
Artest, Ron |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
260 lb (118 kg) |
|
St. John's |
G/F |
17 |
 |
Barry, Brent |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Oregon State |
F |
31 |
 |
Battier, Shane |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
|
Duke |
PG |
0 |
 |
Brooks, Aaron |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
161 lb (73 kg) |
|
Oregon |
PF |
43 |
 |
Cook, Brian |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
250 lb (113 kg) |
|
Illinois |
F/C |
15 |
 |
Dorsey, Joey |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
268 lb (122 kg) |
|
Memphis |
PF |
44 |
 |
Hayes, Chuck |
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
238 lb (108 kg) |
|
Kentucky |
F/C |
14 |
 |
Landry, Carl |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
248 lb (112 kg) |
|
Purdue |
PG |
7 |
 |
Lowry, Kyle |
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
|
Villanova |
SG |
1 |
 |
McGrady, Tracy  |
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
223 lb (101 kg) |
|
Mt. Zion Christian Academy (NC) |
C |
55 |
 |
Mutombo, Dikembe  |
7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) |
260 lb (118 kg) |
|
Georgetown |
F/C |
4 |
 |
Scola, Luis |
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
245 lb (111 kg) |
|
Argentina |
G |
13 |
 |
Wafer, Von |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
|
Florida State |
G/F |
8 |
 |
White, James |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
|
Cincinnati |
C |
11 |
 |
Yao Ming (C) |
7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) |
310 lb (141 kg) |
|
People's Republic of China |
|
- Head coach
- Assistant coach(es)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
Injured
|
Regular season
Standings
Game log
2008–09 game log |
October: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
|
November: 9–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 6–4)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
3 |
November 1 |
Oklahoma City |
W 89–77 |
Tracy McGrady (22) |
Carl Landry, Yao Ming (11) |
Tracy McGrady (5) |
Toyota Center
16,996 |
3–0 |
4 |
November 4 |
Boston |
L 99–103 |
Tracy McGrady (26) |
Luis Scola (9) |
Rafer Alston (7) |
Toyota Center
18,291 |
3–1 |
5 |
November 6 |
@ Portland |
L 99–101 (OT) |
Tracy McGrady (30) |
Tracy McGrady, Chuck Hayes (7) |
Tracy McGrady (8) |
Rose Garden
20,611 |
3–2 |
6 |
November 7 |
@ L.A. Clippers |
W 92–83 |
Ron Artest (23) |
Carl Landry, Yao Ming (9) |
Rafer Alston (8) |
Staples Center
14,670 |
4–2 |
7 |
November 9 |
@ L.A. Lakers |
L 82–111 |
Aaron Brooks (20) |
Luis Scola (9) |
Aaron Brooks, Tracy McGrady (4) |
Staples Center
18,997 |
4–3 |
8 |
November 12 |
@ Phoenix |
W 94–82 |
Tracy McGrady (27) |
Yao Ming (15) |
Rafer Alston (4) |
US Airways Center
18,422 |
5–3 |
9 |
November 14 |
@ San Antonio |
L 75–77 |
Ron Artest (18) |
Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (8) |
Tracy McGrady (5) |
AT&T Center
18,797 |
5–4 |
10 |
November 15 |
New Orleans |
W 91–82 |
Yao Ming (21) |
Luis Scola (10) |
Ron Artest (7) |
Toyota Center
18,303 |
6–4 |
11 |
November 17 |
@ Oklahoma City |
W 100–89 |
Luis Scola (23) |
Yao Ming (12) |
Aaron Brooks (4) |
Ford Center
18,145 |
7–4 |
12 |
November 19 |
Dallas |
L 86–96 |
Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady (16) |
Ron Artest (13) |
Rafer Alston (8) |
Toyota Center
18,203 |
7–5 |
13 |
November 21 |
@ Washington |
W 103–91 |
Tracy McGrady (20) |
Ron Artest (9) |
Ron Artest (6) |
Verizon Center
20,173 |
8–5 |
14 |
November 22 |
@ Orlando |
W 100–95 |
Yao Ming (22) |
Yao Ming (13) |
Rafer Alston (7) |
Amway Arena
17,461 |
9–5 |
15 |
November 24 |
@ Miami |
W 107–98 |
Yao Ming (28) |
Luis Scola (13) |
Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady (4) |
American Airlines Arena
18,704 |
10–5 |
16 |
November 26 |
Indiana |
L 90–91 |
Ron Artest, Yao Ming (19) |
Luis Scola (18) |
Rafer Alston (7) |
Toyota Center
18,194 |
10–6 |
17 |
November 29 |
San Antonio |
W 103–84 |
Luther Head (21) |
Ron Artest (8) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Toyota Center
18,282 |
11–6 |
18 |
November 30 |
@ Denver |
L 94–104 |
Yao Ming (18) |
Yao Ming (11) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Pepsi Center
17,201 |
11–7 |
|
December: 10–5 (Home: 7–1; Road: 3–4)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
19 |
December 3 |
L.A. Clippers |
W 103–96 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (10) |
Rafer Alston (7) |
Toyota Center
15,358 |
12–7 |
20 |
December 5 |
Golden State |
W 131–112 |
Yao Ming (33) |
Yao Ming (14) |
Yao Ming, Ron Artest (5) |
Toyota Center
14,438 |
13–7 |
21 |
December 8 |
@ Memphis |
L 97–109 |
Luis Scola, Rafer Alston (16) |
Luis Scola (15) |
Rafer Alston (8) |
FedExForum
10,691 |
13–8 |
22 |
December 9 |
Atlanta |
W 92–84 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (19) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Toyota Center
16,439 |
14–8 |
23 |
December 12 |
@ Golden State |
W 119–108 |
Tracy McGrady (24) |
Yao Ming (14) |
Tracy McGrady (9) |
Oracle Arena
19,276 |
15–8 |
24 |
December 13 |
@ L.A. Clippers |
L 82–95 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (13) |
Rafer Alston (7) |
Staples Center
16,203 |
15–9 |
25 |
December 16 |
Denver |
W 108–96 |
Yao Ming (32) |
Tracy McGrady (14) |
Tracy McGrady (10) |
Toyota Center
17,737 |
16–9 |
26 |
December 19 |
Sacramento |
W 107–96 |
Yao Ming (30) |
Carl Landry (11) |
Tracy McGrady (8) |
Toyota Center
18,271 |
17–9 |
27 |
December 20 |
@ Minnesota |
W 109–102 |
Tracy McGrady (23) |
Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes (10) |
Tracy McGrady, Aaron Brooks (5) |
Target Center
12,115 |
18–9 |
28 |
December 22 |
@ New Jersey |
W 114–91 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (16) |
Aaron Brooks (6) |
Izod Center
16,303 |
19–9 |
29 |
December 23 |
@ Cleveland |
L 90–99 |
Rafer Alston (20) |
Luis Scola (8) |
Tracy McGrady (6) |
Quicken Loans Arena
20,562 |
19–10 |
30 |
December 26 |
@ New Orleans |
L 79–88 |
Yao Ming (19) |
Yao Ming (12) |
Tracy McGrady (4) |
New Orleans Arena
18,326 |
19–11 |
31 |
December 27 |
Utah |
W 120–115 (2OT) |
Ron Artest (28) |
Luis Scola (14) |
Ron Artest, Luis Scola (4) |
Toyota Center
18,245 |
20–11 |
32 |
December 29 |
Washington |
L 87–89 |
Ron Artest (20) |
Yao Ming (8) |
Tracy McGrady (7) |
Toyota Center
18,278 |
20–12 |
33 |
December 31 |
Milwaukee |
W 85–81 |
Yao Ming (22) |
Yao Ming, Luis Scola (10) |
Tracy McGrady (10) |
Toyota Center
18,228 |
21–12 |
|
January: 8–7 (Home: 5–2; Road: 3–5)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
34 |
January 2 |
@ Toronto |
L 73–94 |
Von Wafer (18) |
Luis Scola (13) |
Rafer Alston (4) |
Air Canada Centre
19,800 |
21–13 |
35 |
January 3 |
@ Atlanta |
L 100–103 |
Carl Landry (18) |
Yao Ming (15) |
Rafer Alston (9) |
Philips Arena
16,740 |
21–14 |
36 |
January 6 |
@ Philadelphia |
L 96–104 |
Luis Scola (18) |
Luis Scola (17) |
Tracy McGrady (9) |
Wachovia Center
14,858 |
21–15 |
37 |
January 7 |
@ Boston |
W 89–85 |
Yao Ming (26) |
Yao Ming, Chuck Hayes (8) |
Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest (4) |
TD Banknorth Garden
18,624 |
22–15 |
38 |
January 9 |
@ Oklahoma City |
W 98–96 |
Tracy McGrady (26) |
Yao Ming (7) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Ford Center
19,136 |
23–15 |
39 |
January 10 |
New York |
W 96–76 |
Luis Scola (18) |
Luis Scola (11) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Toyota Center
18,280 |
24–15 |
40 |
January 13 |
L.A. Lakers |
L 100–105 |
Von Wafer (23) |
Yao Ming (17) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
Toyota Center
18,557 |
24–16 |
41 |
January 17 |
Miami |
W 93–86 |
Yao Ming (26) |
Yao Ming (10) |
Shane Battier (6) |
Toyota Center
18,369 |
25–16 |
42 |
January 19 |
Denver |
W 115–113 |
Yao Ming (31) |
Luis Scola (8) |
Rafer Alston (11) |
Toyota Center
18,199 |
26–16 |
43 |
January 21 |
Utah |
W 108–99 |
Rafer Alston (23) |
Yao Ming (12) |
Rafer Alston (8) |
Toyota Center
17,037 |
27–16 |
44 |
January 23 |
@ Indiana |
L 102–107 |
Luis Scola (25) |
Shane Battier (12) |
Rafer Alston (8) |
Conseco Fieldhouse
14,486 |
27–17 |
45 |
January 25 |
@ Detroit |
W 108–105 |
Ron Artest (24) |
Ron Artest (9) |
Rafer Alston (10) |
The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076 |
28–17 |
46 |
January 26 |
@ New York |
L 98–104 |
Tracy McGrady (20) |
Luis Scola (14) |
Tracy McGrady (6) |
Madison Square Garden
19,155 |
28–18 |
47 |
January 28 |
Philadelphia |
L 93–95 |
Tracy McGrady (24) |
Luis Scola (10) |
Rafer Alston (9) |
Toyota Center
15,544 |
28–19 |
48 |
January 31 |
Golden State |
W 110–93 |
Ron Artest (27) |
Yao Ming (11) |
Aaron Brooks (9) |
Toyota Center
16,702 |
29–19 |
|
February: 8–3 (Home: 8–0; Road: 0–3)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
49 |
February 3 |
Chicago |
W 107–100 |
Yao Ming (28) |
Luis Scola (18) |
Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest (6) |
Toyota Center
16,653 |
30–19 |
50 |
February 4 |
@ Memphis |
L 93–104 |
Tracy McGrady (21) |
Yao Ming (9) |
Rafer Alston (6) |
FedExForum
10,109 |
30–20 |
51 |
February 7 |
Minnesota |
W 107–90 |
Yao Ming (30) |
Luis Scola (10) |
Rafer Alston, Ron Artest, Shane Battier (6) |
Toyota Center
16,815 |
31–20 |
52 |
February 9 |
@ Milwaukee |
L 112–124 |
Aaron Brooks (23) |
Yao Ming (10) |
Tracy McGrady (5) |
Bradley Center
13,904 |
31–21 |
53 |
February 11 |
Sacramento |
W 94–82 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (18) |
Rafer Alston (13) |
Toyota Center
15,626 |
32–21 |
54 |
February 17 |
New Jersey |
W 114–88 |
Yao Ming (20) |
Yao Ming (12) |
Rafer Alston (11) |
Toyota Center
14,921 |
33–21 |
55 |
February 20 |
Dallas |
W 93–86 |
Yao Ming (22) |
Luis Scola (15) |
Aaron Brooks (8) |
Toyota Center
18,195 |
34–21 |
56 |
February 22 |
Charlotte |
W 99–78 |
Ron Artest (26) |
Luis Scola (10) |
Shane Battier (5) |
Toyota Center
17,124 |
35–21 |
57 |
February 24 |
Portland |
W 98–94 |
Ron Artest (21) |
Luis Scola (11) |
Ron Artest (5) |
Toyota Center
17,515 |
36–21 |
58 |
February 26 |
Cleveland |
W 93–74 |
Yao Ming (28) |
Luis Scola (9) |
Kyle Lowry, Aaron Brooks (7) |
Toyota Center
18,399 |
37–21 |
59 |
February 28 |
@ Chicago |
L 102–105 |
Ron Artest (32) |
Luis Scola (12) |
Aaron Brooks (7) |
United Center
22,394 |
37–22 |
|
March: 11–4 (Home: 6–2; Road: 5–2)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
60 |
March 1 |
@ Minnesota |
W 105–94 |
Ron Artest (23) |
Yao Ming, Luis Scola (11) |
Aaron Brooks (10) |
Target Center
13,716 |
38–22 |
61 |
March 3 |
Toronto |
W 107–97 |
Carl Landry (22) |
Luis Scola (16) |
Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks (5) |
Toyota Center
16,291 |
39–22 |
62 |
March 4 |
@ Utah |
L 94–101 |
Ron Artest (25) |
Yao Ming (7) |
Yao Ming (6) |
EnergySolutions Arena
19,911 |
39–23 |
63 |
March 6 |
Phoenix |
W 116–112 |
Aaron Brooks (30) |
Yao Ming (13) |
Yao Ming (6) |
Toyota Center
18,045 |
40–23 |
64 |
March 8 |
Memphis |
W 93–83 |
Yao Ming (24) |
Yao Ming (17) |
Kyle Lowry (9) |
Toyota Center
16,179 |
41–23 |
65 |
March 9 |
@ Denver |
W 97–95 |
Ron Artest (22) |
Luis Scola (15) |
Kyle Lowry (5) |
Pepsi Center
16,020 |
42–23 |
66 |
March 11 |
L.A. Lakers |
L 96–102 |
Von Wafer (20) |
Luis Scola (9) |
Kyle Lowry (5) |
Toyota Center
18,449 |
42–24 |
67 |
March 13 |
@ Charlotte |
W 91–86 |
Yao Ming (23) |
Yao Ming (8) |
Ron Artest, Shane Battier (4) |
Time Warner Cable Arena
16,809 |
43–24 |
68 |
March 14 |
San Antonio |
L 85–88 |
Ron Artest (21) |
Yao Ming (11) |
Shane Battier (4) |
Toyota Center
18,300 |
43–25 |
69 |
March 16 |
@ New Orleans |
W 95–84 |
Ron Artest (18) |
Luis Scola (12) |
Ron Artest, Von Wafer (5) |
New Orleans Arena
17,723 |
44–25 |
70 |
March 18 |
Detroit |
W 106–101 (2OT) |
Yao Ming (31) |
Yao Ming (15) |
Shane Battier (5) |
Toyota Center
18,275 |
45–25 |
71 |
March 20 |
Minnesota |
W 107–88 |
Ron Artest (20) |
Luis Scola (9) |
Ron Artest (6) |
Toyota Center
17,456 |
46–25 |
72 |
March 22 |
@ San Antonio |
W 87–85 |
Ron Artest (24) |
Luis Scola (17) |
Luis Scola (4) |
AT&T Center
18,797 |
47–25 |
73 |
March 24 |
@ Utah |
L 86–99 |
Aaron Brooks (20) |
Yao Ming (13) |
Ron Artest (7) |
EnergySolutions Arena
19,911 |
47–26 |
74 |
March 28 |
L.A. Clippers |
W 110–93 |
Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (21) |
Yao Ming (15) |
Kyle Lowry, Shane Battier (4) |
Toyota Center
18,267 |
48–26 |
|
April: 5–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 2–2)
Game |
Date
Time |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record |
75 |
April 1 |
@ Phoenix |
L 109–114 |
Ron Artest (28) |
Yao Ming (14) |
Aaron Brooks (5) |
US Airways Center
18,422 |
48–27 |
76 |
April 3 |
@ L.A. Lakers |
L 81–93 |
Ron Artest (21) |
Yao Ming (10) |
Aaron Brooks (6) |
Staples Center
18,997 |
48–28 |
77 |
April 5 |
Portland |
W 102–88 |
Yao Ming (21) |
Yao Ming (12) |
Kyle Lowry (6) |
Toyota Center
18,214 |
49–28 |
78 |
April 7 |
Orlando |
W 93–83 |
Yao Ming (20) |
Yao Ming (16) |
Ron Artest (7) |
Toyota Center
18,389 |
50–28 |
79 |
April 9 |
@ Sacramento |
W 115–98 |
Ron Artest (26) |
Yao Ming (9) |
Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest, Yao Ming (3) |
ARCO Arena
12,897 |
51–28 |
80 |
April 10 |
@ Golden State |
W 113–109 |
Luis Scola (28) |
Dikembe Mutombo (15) |
Ron Artest (6) |
Oracle Arena
19,596 |
52–28 |
81 |
April 13 |
New Orleans |
W 86–66 |
Yao Ming (22) |
Luis Scola (15) |
Ron Artest (5) |
Toyota Center
18,409 |
53–28 |
82 |
April 15 |
@ Dallas |
|
Yao Ming (23) |
Yao Ming (9) |
Kyle Lowry, Ron Artest (5) |
American Airlines Center |
53–29 |
|
2012–13 season schedule |
Playoffs
Player statistics
Season
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Transactions
Trades
August 6, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
Option to exchange 2nd round picks with Clippers in 2011 |
To Los Angeles Clippers
Steve Novak |
August 14, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
Ron Artest,[2] Patrick Ewing Jr., Sean Singletary |
To Sacramento Kings
Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene, 1st round pick for 2009 |
August 25, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
D.J. Strawberry |
To Phoenix Suns
Sean Singletary |
August 29, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
Draft rights to Frédéric Weis |
To New York Knicks
Patrick Ewing Jr. |
December 24, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
Conditional Draft Pick in 2011 |
To Memphis Grizzlies
Steve Francis, 2009 NBA Draft Pick |
December 24, 2008
|
To Houston Rockets
Kyle Lowry, Brian Cook |
To Memphis Grizzlies
Adonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, NBA 1st Round Pick |
To Orlando Magic
Rafer Alston, |
Free agents
See also
References
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Franchise |
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Arenas |
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Personnel |
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G League affiliate |
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Retired numbers |
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NBA Championships |
|
Rivalries |
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Culture and lore |
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1960s |
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1970s |
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1980s |
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1990s |
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2000s |
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2010s |
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2020s |
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Basketball/NBA/2008/08/14/6454811-ap.html