2008–09 Houston Rockets season

March 2026 August 2023 Houston Rockets 2009 53 29 southwest 2 5 Rick Adelman Daryl Morey Leslie Alexander Toyota Center Conference Semifinals(lost to Lakers 3–4) My Network TV Houston, FSN Houston Sports Radio 610 HOU 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. Besides losing Mutombo, Yao Ming missed most of the second round due to a foot injury that required off-season surgery. Before the season, the team acquired Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace). Following the season, Artest signed as a free agent with the Lakers. The Rockets would not return to the postseason until 2013. Key dates June 26: The 2008 NBA draft will take place in New York City. July 1: The free agency period will start. August 14: Ron Artest is acquired by trade from the Sacramento Kings . 2 Draft picks 2008 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 25 Nicolas Batum SF France Le Mans Sarthe Basket 2 54 Maarty Leunen SF United States Oregon Roster Houston Rockets 2008-09 white #B50000 #000000 lightgrey 96 Ron Artest SF 6 7 260 St. John's University 17 Brent Barry SG 6 7 210 Oregon State 31 Shane Battier SG 6 8 220 Duke 0 Aaron Brooks basketball PG 6 0 161 Oregon 43 Brian Cook basketball PF 6 9 250 Illinois 15 Joey Dorsey PF 6 8 268 University of Memphis 44 Chuck Hayes C 6 6 238 Kentucky 14 Carl Landry PF 6 9 248 Purdue University 7 Kyle Lowry PG 6 0 205 Villanova 1 Tracy McGrady SG 6 8 223 Mt. Zion Christian Academy (NC) 55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7 2 260 Georgetown University 4 Luis Scola PF 6 9 245 Argentina 13 Von Wafer SG 6 5 210 Florida State 8 James White basketball SF 6 7 200 Cincinnati 11 Yao Ming C 7 6 310 People's Republic of China Rick Adelman (Loyola Marymount) Elston Turner (Mississippi) Jack Sikma (Illinois Wesleyan) T. R. Dunn (Alabama) R.J. Adelman (Willamette) Regular season Standings HOU HOU Game log Houston Rockets 2009 Total: 53–29 (home: 33–8; road: 20–21) Houston Rockets October yes 1 0 1 0 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 1 | October 29 | Memphis | 20081029 MEMHOU 82 71 | Yao Ming (21) | Luis Scola (13) | Tracy McGrady (5) | Toyota Center18,196 | 1–0 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 2 | October 30 | @ Dallas | 20081030 HOUDAL 112 102 | Yao Ming (30) | Yao Ming (13) | Tracy McGrady (7) | American Airlines Center20,066 | 2–0 Houston Rockets November 3 3 6 4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 3 | November 1 | Oklahoma City | 20081101 OKCHOU 89 77 | Tracy McGrady (22) | Carl Landry, Yao Ming (11) | Tracy McGrady (5) | Toyota Center16,996 | 3–0 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 4 | Boston | 20081104 BOSHOU 99 103 | Tracy McGrady (26) | Luis Scola (9) | Rafer Alston (7) | Toyota Center18,291 | 3–1 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 6 | @ Portland | 20081106 HOUPOR 99 101 1 | Tracy McGrady (30) | Tracy McGrady, Chuck Hayes (7) | Tracy McGrady (8) | Rose Garden20,611 | 3–2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 6 | November 7 | @ L.A. Clippers | 20081107 HOULAC 92 83 | Ron Artest (23) | Carl Landry, Yao Ming (9) | Rafer Alston (8) | Staples Center14,670 | 4–2 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | November 9 | @ L.A. Lakers | 20081109 HOULAL 82 111 | Aaron Brooks (20) | Luis Scola (9) | Aaron Brooks, Tracy McGrady (4) | Staples Center18,997 | 4–3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 8 | November 12 | @ Phoenix | 20081112 HOUPHX 94 82 | Tracy McGrady (27) | Yao Ming (15) | Rafer Alston (4) | US Airways Center18,422 | 5–3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 9 | November 14 | @ San Antonio | 20081114 HOUSAS 75 77 | Ron Artest (18) | Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (8) | Tracy McGrady (5) | AT&T Center18,797 | 5–4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 10 | November 15 | New Orleans | 20081115 NOHHOU 91 82 | Yao Ming (21) | Luis Scola (10) | Ron Artest (7) | Toyota Center18,303 | 6–4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 11 | November 17 | @ Oklahoma City | 20081117 HOUOKC 100 89 | Luis Scola (23) | Yao Ming (12) | Aaron Brooks (4) | Ford Center18,145 | 7–4 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 19 | Dallas | 20081119 DALHOU 86 96 | Rafer Alston, Tracy McGrady (16) | Ron Artest (13) | Rafer Alston (8) | Toyota Center18,203 | 7–5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 13 | November 21 | @ Washington | 20081121 HOUWAS 103 91 | Tracy McGrady (20) | Ron Artest (9) | Ron Artest (6) | Verizon Center20,173 | 8–5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 14 | November 22 | @ Orlando | 20081122 HOUORL 100 95 | Yao Ming (22) | Yao Ming (13) | Rafer Alston (7) | Amway Arena17,461 | 9–5 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 15 | November 24 | @ Miami | 20081124 HOUMIA 107 98 | Yao Ming (28) | Luis Scola (13) | Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady (4) | American Airlines Arena18,704 | 10–5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 16 | November 26 | Indiana | 20081126 INDHOU 90 91 | Ron Artest, Yao Ming (19) | Luis Scola (18) | Rafer Alston (7) | Toyota Center18,194 | 10–6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 17 | November 29 | San Antonio | 20081129 SASHOU 103 84 | Luther Head (21) | Ron Artest (8) | Rafer Alston (6) | Toyota Center18,282 | 11–6 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 18 | November 30 | @ Denver | 20081130 HOUDEN 94 104 | Yao Ming (18) | Yao Ming (11) | Rafer Alston (6) | Pepsi Center17,201 | 11–7 Houston Rockets December 7 1 3 4 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 19 | December 3 | L.A. Clippers | 20081203 LACHOU 103 96 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (10) | Rafer Alston (7) | Toyota Center15,358 | 12–7 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 20 | December 5 | Golden State | 20081205 GSWHOU 131 112 | Yao Ming (33) | Yao Ming (14) | Yao Ming, Ron Artest (5) | Toyota Center14,438 | 13–7 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 21 | December 8 | @ Memphis | 20081208 HOUMEM 97 109 | Luis Scola, Rafer Alston (16) | Luis Scola (15) | Rafer Alston (8) | FedExForum10,691 | 13–8 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 22 | December 9 | Atlanta | 20081209 ATLHOU 92 84 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (19) | Rafer Alston (6) | Toyota Center16,439 | 14–8 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 23 | December 12 | @ Golden State | 20081212 HOUGSW 119 108 | Tracy McGrady (24) | Yao Ming (14) | Tracy McGrady (9) | Oracle Arena19,276 | 15–8 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 13 | @ L.A. Clippers | 20081213 HOULAC 82 95 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (13) | Rafer Alston (7) | Staples Center16,203 | 15–9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 25 | December 16 | Denver | 20081216 DENHOU 108 96 | Yao Ming (32) | Tracy McGrady (14) | Tracy McGrady (10) | Toyota Center17,737 | 16–9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 26 | December 19 | Sacramento | 20081219 SACHOU 107 96 | Yao Ming (30) | Carl Landry (11) | Tracy McGrady (8) | Toyota Center18,271 | 17–9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 27 | December 20 | @ Minnesota | 20081220 HOUMIN 109 102 | Tracy McGrady (23) | Aaron Brooks, Chuck Hayes (10) | Tracy McGrady, Aaron Brooks (5) | Target Center12,115 | 18–9 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 28 | December 22 | @ New Jersey | 20081222 HOUNJN 114 91 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (16) | Aaron Brooks (6) | Izod Center16,303 | 19–9 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 29 | December 23 | @ Cleveland | 20081223 HOUCLE 90 99 | Rafer Alston (20) | Luis Scola (8) | Tracy McGrady (6) | Quicken Loans Arena20,562 | 19–10 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 30 | December 26 | @ New Orleans | 20081226 HOUNOH 79 88 | Yao Ming (19) | Yao Ming (12) | Tracy McGrady (4) | New Orleans Arena18,326 | 19–11 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 31 | December 27 | Utah | 20081227 UTAHOU 120 115 2 | Ron Artest (28) | Luis Scola (14) | Ron Artest, Luis Scola (4) | Toyota Center18,245 | 20–11 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | December 29 | Washington | 20081229 WASHOU 87 89 | Ron Artest (20) | Yao Ming (8) | Tracy McGrady (7) | Toyota Center18,278 | 20–12 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 33 | December 31 | Milwaukee | 20081231 MILHOU 85 81 | Yao Ming (22) | Yao Ming, Luis Scola (10) | Tracy McGrady (10) | Toyota Center18,228 | 21–12 Houston Rockets January 5 2 3 5 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 2 | @ Toronto | 20090102 HOUTOR 73 94 | Von Wafer (18) | Luis Scola (13) | Rafer Alston (4) | Air Canada Centre19,800 | 21–13 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 3 | @ Atlanta | 20090103 HOUATL 100 103 | Carl Landry (18) | Yao Ming (15) | Rafer Alston (9) | Philips Arena16,740 | 21–14 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 36 | January 6 | @ Philadelphia | 20090106 HOUPHI 96 104 | Luis Scola (18) | Luis Scola (17) | Tracy McGrady (9) | Wachovia Center14,858 | 21–15 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 37 | January 7 | @ Boston | 20090107 HOUBOS 89 85 | Yao Ming (26) | Yao Ming, Chuck Hayes (8) | Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest (4) | TD Banknorth Garden18,624 | 22–15 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 38 | January 9 | @ Oklahoma City | 20090109 HOUOKC 98 96 | Tracy McGrady (26) | Yao Ming (7) | Rafer Alston (6) | Ford Center19,136 | 23–15 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 39 | January 10 | New York | 20090110 NYKHOU 96 76 | Luis Scola (18) | Luis Scola (11) | Rafer Alston (6) | Toyota Center18,280 | 24–15 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 13 | L.A. Lakers | 20090113 LALHOU 100 105 | Von Wafer (23) | Yao Ming (17) | Rafer Alston (6) | Toyota Center18,557 | 24–16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 41 | January 17 | Miami | 20090117 MIAHOU 93 86 | Yao Ming (26) | Yao Ming (10) | Shane Battier (6) | Toyota Center18,369 | 25–16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 42 | January 19 | Denver | 20090119 DENHOU 115 113 | Yao Ming (31) | Luis Scola (8) | Rafer Alston (11) | Toyota Center18,199 | 26–16 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 43 | January 21 | Utah | 20090121 UTAHOU 108 99 | Rafer Alston (23) | Yao Ming (12) | Rafer Alston (8) | Toyota Center17,037 | 27–16 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | January 23 | @ Indiana | 20090123 HOUIND 102 107 | Luis Scola (25) | Shane Battier (12) | Rafer Alston (8) | Conseco Fieldhouse14,486 | 27–17 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 45 | January 25 | @ Detroit | 20090125 HOUDET 108 105 | Ron Artest (24) | Ron Artest (9) | Rafer Alston (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills22,076 | 28–17 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | January 26 | @ New York | 20090126 HOUNYK 98 104 | Tracy McGrady (20) | Luis Scola (14) | Tracy McGrady (6) | Madison Square Garden19,155 | 28–18 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 47 | January 28 | Philadelphia | 20090128 PHIHOU 93 95 | Tracy McGrady (24) | Luis Scola (10) | Rafer Alston (9) | Toyota Center15,544 | 28–19 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 48 | January 31 | Golden State | 20090131 GSWHOU 110 93 | Ron Artest (27) | Yao Ming (11) | Aaron Brooks (9) | Toyota Center16,702 | 29–19 Houston Rockets February 8 0 0 3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 49 | February 3 | Chicago | 20090203 CHIHOU 107 100 | Yao Ming (28) | Luis Scola (18) | Tracy McGrady, Ron Artest (6) | Toyota Center16,653 | 30–19 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 50 | February 4 | @ Memphis | 20090204 HOUMEM 93 104 | Tracy McGrady (21) | Yao Ming (9) | Rafer Alston (6) | FedExForum10,109 | 30–20 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 51 | February 7 | Minnesota | 20090207 MINHOU 107 90 | Yao Ming (30) | Luis Scola (10) | Rafer Alston, Ron Artest, Shane Battier (6) | Toyota Center16,815 | 31–20 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 52 | February 9 | @ Milwaukee | 20090209 HOUMIL 112 124 | Aaron Brooks (23) | Yao Ming (10) | Tracy McGrady (5) | Bradley Center13,904 | 31–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 53 | February 11 | Sacramento | 20090211 SACHOU 94 82 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (18) | Rafer Alston (13) | Toyota Center15,626 | 32–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 54 | February 17 | New Jersey | 20090217 NJNHOU 114 88 | Yao Ming (20) | Yao Ming (12) | Rafer Alston (11) | Toyota Center14,921 | 33–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 55 | February 20 | Dallas | 20090220 DALHOU 93 86 | Yao Ming (22) | Luis Scola (15) | Aaron Brooks (8) | Toyota Center18,195 | 34–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 56 | February 22 | Charlotte | 20090222 CHAHOU 99 78 | Ron Artest (26) | Luis Scola (10) | Shane Battier (5) | Toyota Center17,124 | 35–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 57 | February 24 | Portland | 20090224 PORHOU 98 94 | Ron Artest (21) | Luis Scola (11) | Ron Artest (5) | Toyota Center17,515 | 36–21 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 58 | February 26 | Cleveland | 20090226 CLEHOU 93 74 | Yao Ming (28) | Luis Scola (9) | Kyle Lowry, Aaron Brooks (7) | Toyota Center18,399 | 37–21 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | February 28 | @ Chicago | 20090228 HOUCHI 102 105 | Ron Artest (32) | Luis Scola (12) | Aaron Brooks (7) | United Center22,394 | 37–22 Houston Rockets March 6 2 5 2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 60 | March 1 | @ Minnesota | 20090301 HOUMIN 105 94 | Ron Artest (23) | Yao Ming, Luis Scola (11) | Aaron Brooks (10) | Target Center13,716 | 38–22 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 61 | March 3 | Toronto | 20090303 TORHOU 107 97 | Carl Landry (22) | Luis Scola (16) | Ron Artest, Aaron Brooks (5) | Toyota Center16,291 | 39–22 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 4 | @ Utah | 20090304 HOUUTA 94 101 | Ron Artest (25) | Yao Ming (7) | Yao Ming (6) | EnergySolutions Arena19,911 | 39–23 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 63 | March 6 | Phoenix | 20090306 PHXHOU 116 112 | Aaron Brooks (30) | Yao Ming (13) | Yao Ming (6) | Toyota Center18,045 | 40–23 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 64 | March 8 | Memphis | 20090308 MEMHOU 93 83 | Yao Ming (24) | Yao Ming (17) | Kyle Lowry (9) | Toyota Center16,179 | 41–23 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 65 | March 9 | @ Denver | 20090309 HOUDEN 97 95 | Ron Artest (22) | Luis Scola (15) | Kyle Lowry (5) | Pepsi Center16,020 | 42–23 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | March 11 | L.A. Lakers | 20090311 LALHOU 96 102 | Von Wafer (20) | Luis Scola (9) | Kyle Lowry (5) | Toyota Center18,449 | 42–24 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 67 | March 13 | @ Charlotte | 20090313 HOUCHA 91 86 | Yao Ming (23) | Yao Ming (8) | Ron Artest, Shane Battier (4) | Time Warner Cable Arena16,809 | 43–24 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 68 | March 14 | San Antonio | 20090314 SASHOU 85 88 | Ron Artest (21) | Yao Ming (11) | Shane Battier (4) | Toyota Center18,300 | 43–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 69 | March 16 | @ New Orleans | 20090316 HOUNOH 95 84 | Ron Artest (18) | Luis Scola (12) | Ron Artest, Von Wafer (5) | New Orleans Arena17,723 | 44–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 70 | March 18 | Detroit | 20090318 DETHOU 106 101 2 | Yao Ming (31) | Yao Ming (15) | Shane Battier (5) | Toyota Center18,275 | 45–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 71 | March 20 | Minnesota | 20090320 MINHOU 107 88 | Ron Artest (20) | Luis Scola (9) | Ron Artest (6) | Toyota Center17,456 | 46–25 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 72 | March 22 | @ San Antonio | 20090322 HOUSAS 87 85 | Ron Artest (24) | Luis Scola (17) | Luis Scola (4) | AT&T Center18,797 | 47–25 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | March 24 | @ Utah | 20090324 HOUUTA 86 99 | Aaron Brooks (20) | Yao Ming (13) | Ron Artest (7) | EnergySolutions Arena19,911 | 47–26 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 74 | March 28 | L.A. Clippers | 20090328 LACHOU 110 93 | Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming (21) | Yao Ming (15) | Kyle Lowry, Shane Battier (4) | Toyota Center18,267 | 48–26 Houston Rockets April 3 0 2 3 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 75 | April 1 | @ Phoenix | 20090401 HOUPHX 109 114 | Ron Artest (28) | Yao Ming (14) | Aaron Brooks (5) | US Airways Center18,422 | 48–27 |- bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | April 3 | @ L.A. Lakers | 20090403 HOULAL 81 93 | Ron Artest (21) | Yao Ming (10) | Aaron Brooks (6) | Staples Center18,997 | 48–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 77 | April 5 | Portland | 20090405 PORHOU 102 88 | Yao Ming (21) | Yao Ming (12) | Kyle Lowry (6) | Toyota Center18,214 | 49–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 78 | April 7 | Orlando | 20090407 ORLHOU 93 83 | Yao Ming (20) | Yao Ming (16) | Ron Artest (7) | Toyota Center18,389 | 50–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 79 | April 9 | @ Sacramento | 20090409 HOUSAC 115 98 | Ron Artest (26) | Yao Ming (9) | Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks, Ron Artest, Yao Ming (3) | ARCO Arena12,897 | 51–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 80 | April 10 | @ Golden State | 20090410 HOUGSW 113 109 | Luis Scola (28) | Dikembe Mutombo (15) | Ron Artest (6) | Oracle Arena19,596 | 52–28 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 81 | April 13 | New Orleans | 20090413 NOHHOU 86 66 | Yao Ming (22) | Luis Scola (15) | Ron Artest (5) | Toyota Center18,409 | 53–28 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 82 | April 15 | @ Dallas | 20090415 HOUDAL 84 95 | Yao Ming (23) | Yao Ming (9) | Kyle Lowry, Ron Artest (5) | American Airlines Center20,350 | 53–29 HOU 2009 Playoffs Houston Rockets 2009 yes Houston Rockets First Round yes yes no 3 0 1 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 18 | @ Portland | W 108–81 | Aaron Brooks (27) | Dikembe Mutombo (9) | Aaron Brooks (7) | Rose Garden Arena20,329 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | April 21 | @ Portland | L 103–107 | Aaron Brooks (23) | Yao Ming (8) | Aaron Brooks (5) | Rose Garden Arena20,408 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 24 | Portland | W 86–83 | Luis Scola (19) | Yao Ming (13) | Aaron Brooks (5) | Toyota Center18,731 | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 26 | Portland | W 89–88 | Yao Ming (21) | Yao Ming (12) | Ron Artest (9) | Toyota Center18,271 | 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | April 28 | @ Portland | L 77–88 | Luis Scola (19) | Yao Ming (10) | Ron Artest (5) | Rose Garden Arena20,462 | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | April 30 | Portland | W 92–76 | Ron Artest (27) | Yao Ming (10) | Kyle Lowry (3) | Toyota Center18,376 | 4–2 |- Houston Rockets Conference Semifinals yes no 2 1 1 3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | May 4 | @ L.A. Lakers | W 100–92 | Yao Ming (28) | Yao Ming (10) | Ron Artest (7) | Staples Center18,997 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | May 6 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 98–111 | Ron Artest (25) | Yao, Landry (10) | Ron Artest (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 8 | L.A. Lakers | L 94–108 | Ron Artest (25) | Yao Ming (14) | Shane Battier (7) | Toyota Center18,495 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 10 | L.A. Lakers | W 99–87 | Aaron Brooks (34) | Luis Scola (14) | Ron Artest (6) | Toyota Center18,313 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | May 12 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 78–118 | Aaron Brooks (14) | Luis Scola (13) | Scola, Lowry (4) | Staples Center18,997 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | May 14 | L.A. Lakers | W 95–80 | Aaron Brooks (26) | Luis Scola (12) | three players tied (4) | Toyota Center18,501 | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 7 | May 17 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 70–89 | Aaron Brooks (13) | Ron Artest (8) | Ron Artest (5) | Staples Center18,997 | 3–4 |- HOU 2009 yes Player statistics Regular season Houston Rockets |- | style="text-align:left;"|Luis Scola | 82 || 82 || 30.3 || .531 || .000 || .760 || 8.8 || 1.5 || .8 || .1 || 12.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Aaron Brooks basketball | 80 || 35 || 25.0 || .404 || .366 || .866 || 2.0 || 3.0 || .6 || .1 || 11.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Yao Ming | 77 || 77 || 33.6 || .548 || 1.000 || .866 || 9.9 || 1.8 || .4 || 1.9 || 19.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Chuck Hayes | 71 || 1 || 12.1 || .372 || .000 || .368 || 3.5 || .6 || .5 || .3 || 1.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Metta Sandiford-Artest | 69 || 55 || 35.5 || .401 || .399 || .748 || 5.2 || 3.3 || 1.5 || .3 || 17.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Carl Landry | 69 || 0 || 21.3 || .574 || .333 || .813 || 5.0 || .6 || .4 || .4 || 9.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Von Wafer | 63 || 11 || 19.4 || .447 || .390 || .752 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .6 || .1 || 9.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Shane Battier | 60 || 59 || 33.9 || .410 || .384 || .821 || 4.8 || 2.3 || .8 || .9 || 7.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brent Barry | 56 || 1 || 15.3 || .407 || .374 || .950 || 1.7 || 1.4 || .4 || .1 || 3.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Rafer Alston† | 48 || 48 || 33.1 || .370 || .348 || .789 || 3.0 || 5.4 || 1.2 || .1 || 11.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Tracy McGrady | 35 || 35 || 33.7 || .388 || .376 || .801 || 4.4 || 5.0 || 1.2 || .4 || 15.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kyle Lowry† | 28 || 0 || 21.7 || .475 || .276 || .800 || 2.8 || 3.5 || .8 || .3 || 7.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Luther Head† | 22 || 4 || 14.6 || .386 || .368 || .875 || 1.2 || 1.6 || .3 || .0 || 4.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dikembe Mutombo | 9 || 2 || 10.7 || .385 || || .667 || 3.7 || .0 || .0 || 1.2 || 1.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brian Cook basketball† | 9 || 0 || 2.8 || .313 || .400 || || .6 || .1 || .0 || .3 || 1.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|James White basketball | 4 || 0 || 2.8 || .600 || .500 || || .0 || .3 || .3 || .3 || 1.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Joey Dorsey | 3 || 0 || 2.0 || .500 || || || .3 || .3 || .0 || .0 || .7 |} Playoffs Houston Rockets |- | style="text-align:left;"|Shane Battier | 13 || 13 || 38.2 || .407 || .315 || .957 || 4.9 || 2.4 || 1.1 || .7 || 8.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Metta Sandiford-Artest | 13 || 13 || 37.5 || .394 || .277 || .714 || 4.3 || 4.2 || 1.1 || .2 || 15.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Aaron Brooks basketball | 13 || 13 || 34.2 || .453 || .422 || .804 || 2.6 || 3.4 || .4 || .2 || 16.8 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Luis Scola | 13 || 13 || 32.6 || .494 || || .673 || 8.4 || 1.8 || .5 || .2 || 14.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Chuck Hayes | 13 || 4 || 13.3 || .476 || .000 || || 3.0 || .8 || 1.0 || .2 || 1.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Kyle Lowry | 13 || 0 || 19.5 || .333 || .250 || .742 || 2.9 || 2.5 || .9 || .1 || 5.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Carl Landry | 13 || 0 || 18.5 || .557 || .000 || .576 || 3.9 || .2 || .3 || .4 || 7.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Von Wafer | 13 || 0 || 13.9 || .424 || .409 || .864 || .9 || .7 || .2 || .1 || 8.2 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Yao Ming | 9 || 9 || 35.9 || .545 || || .902 || 10.9 || 1.0 || .4 || 1.2 || 17.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brian Cook basketball | 6 || 0 || 5.3 || .267 || .222 || || 2.0 || .5 || .3 || .2 || 1.7 |- | style="text-align:left;"|James White basketball | 5 || 0 || 2.4 || .333 || .500 || || .2 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.4 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Brent Barry | 4 || 0 || 8.8 || .500 || .375 || || 1.0 || .8 || .5 || .0 || 3.3 |- | style="text-align:left;"|Dikembe Mutombo | 2 || 0 || 10.0 || || || .000 || 4.5 || .0 || .5 || 1.0 || .0 |} † Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Rockets only. Awards and records Awards Dikembe Mutombo, J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award Yao Ming, All-NBA Second Team Shane Battier, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Ron Artest, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Transactions Trades June 26, 2008 To Houston Rockets The 28th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Donté Greene) and The 33rd pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Joey Dorsey) To Portland Trail Blazers The 25th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Nicolas Batum) To Memphis Grizzlies The 27th pick in the 2008 NBA draft (Darrell Arthur) August 6, 2008 To Houston RocketsOption to exchange 2nd-round picks with Clippers in 2011 To Los Angeles ClippersSteve Novak August 14, 2008 To Houston RocketsRon Artest,January 2024 Original cite was deleted per WP:URLREQ#Canoe.ca Patrick Ewing Jr., Sean Singletary To Sacramento KingsBobby Jackson, Donté Greene, 1st-round pick for 2009 August 25, 2008 To Houston RocketsD. J. Strawberry To Phoenix SunsSean Singletary August 29, 2008 To Houston RocketsDraft rights to Frédéric Weis To New York KnicksPatrick Ewing Jr. December 24, 2008 To Houston RocketsConditional Draft Pick in 2011 To Memphis GrizzliesSteve Francis, 2009 NBA Draft Pick December 24, 2008 To Houston RocketsKyle Lowry, Brian Cook To Memphis GrizzliesAdonal Foyle, Mike Wilks, NBA 1st Round Pick To Orlando MagicRafer Alston, Free agents 52% Additions Player Signed Former team Brent Barry July 10 San Antonio Spurs Subtractions Player Left New team Loren Woods July 16 Žalgiris Kaunas References 30em Category:Houston Rockets seasons Houston Category:2008 in sports in Texas Category:2009 in sports in Texas Category:2008 in Houston Category:2009 in Houston