2015–16 Houston Rockets season NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 2015–16 Houston Rockets season was the 49th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and their 45th in the Houston area.[ 1]
On November 18, 2015, coach Kevin McHale was fired in his fifth season as the Rockets coach after a 4–7 start to the season. J. B. Bickerstaff was named the interim coach.
The Rockets finished the regular season with a 41–41 record, finishing 8th in the Western Conference. The Rockets' season ended with a 1–4 loss in the First Round to the Golden State Warriors . Following the season, Dwight Howard left to sign with his hometown Atlanta Hawks .
Draft picks
Standings
Game log
Preseason
2015 pre-season game log Total: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3)
Pre-season: 3–5 (home: 2–2; road: 1–3)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
1
October 6
@ Memphis
L 89–92
Trevor Ariza (12)
Dwight Howard (11)
Will Cummings (3)
FedExForum 12,826
0–1
2
October 7
Dallas
W 109–82
James Harden (19)
Clint Capela (14)
McDaniels , Harden (5)
Toyota Center 16,839
1–1
3
October 11
Orlando
L 119–123
Corey Brewer (20)
Capela , Smith (7)
Ariza , Beverley , Harden (4)
State Farm Arena 6,130
1–2
4
October 13
@ Phoenix
W 135–129 (OT)
Terrence Jones (23)
Clint Capela (10)
Patrick Beverley (5)
US Airways Center 12,657
2–2
5
October 15
@ Golden State
L 101–123
K. J. McDaniels (20)
Chris Walker (9)
Cummings , Beverley (6)
Oracle Arena 19,596
2–3
6
October 17
Miami
L 100–105
Trevor Ariza (21)
Terrence Jones (12)
Terrence Jones (6)
Toyota Center 18,334
2–4
7
October 19
New Orleans
W 120–100
James Harden (20)
Clint Capela (12)
Ty Lawson (5)
Toyota Center 16,678
3–4
8
October 23
@ San Antonio
L 86–111
James Harden (17)
Harden , Jones (8)
James Harden (9)
AT&T Center 18,059
3–5
2015–16 season schedule
Regular season
2015–16 game log Total: 41–41 (home: 23–18; road: 18–23)
October: 0–2 (home: 0–2; road: 0–0)
November
: 7–9 (home: 4–5; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
3
November 1
@ Miami
L 89–109
Marcus Thornton (21)
Trevor Ariza (7)
James Harden (7)
American Airlines Arena 19,600
0–3
4
November 2
Oklahoma City
W 110–105
James Harden (37)
Dwight Howard (8)
Ty Lawson (11)
Toyota Center 17,224
1–3
5
November 4
Orlando
W 119–114 (OT)
James Harden (28)
Dwight Howard (14)
Ty Lawson (8)
Toyota Center 16,735
2–3
6
November 6
@ Sacramento
W 116–110
James Harden (43)
Clint Capela (12)
James Harden (13)
Sleep Train Arena 16,983
3–3
7
November 7
@ L.A. Clippers
W 109–105
James Harden (46)
Dwight Howard (20)
Ty Lawson (4)
Staples Center 19,361
4–3
8
November 11
Brooklyn
L 98–106
Dwight Howard (20)
Dwight Howard (17)
Marcus Thornton (7)
Toyota Center 18,155
4–4
9
November 13
@ Denver
L 98–107
James Harden (28)
Dwight Howard (10)
Ty Lawson (7)
Pepsi Center 16,113
4–5
10
November 14
Dallas
L 98–110
James Harden (25)
Clint Capela (10)
James Harden (10)
Toyota Center 18,231
4–6
11
November 16
Boston
L 95–111
Trevor Ariza (19)
Dwight Howard (12)
James Harden (5)
Toyota Center 17,005
4–7
12
November 18
Portland
W 108–103 (OT)
James Harden (45)
Dwight Howard (19)
James Harden (11)
Toyota Center 17,107
5–7
13
November 20
@ Memphis
L 84–96
James Harden (22)
Dwight Howard (15)
James Harden (5)
FedExForum 17,555
5–8
14
November 21
New York
L 102–107
James Harden (24)
Clint Capela (14)
James Harden (10)
Toyota Center 18,226
5–9
15
November 25
Memphis
L 93–102
James Harden (40)
Trevor Ariza (12)
James Harden (5)
Toyota Center 18,143
5–10
16
November 27
Philadelphia
W 116–114
James Harden (50)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 17,306
6–10
17
November 29
@ New York
W 116–111 (OT)
James Harden (26)
Clint Capela (11)
James Harden (9)
Madison Square Garden 19,812
7–10
18
November 30
@ Detroit
L 105–116
James Harden (29)
Dwight Howard (10)
James Harden (7)
The Palace of Auburn Hills 14,818
7–11
December
: 9–7 (home: 6–2; road: 3–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
19
December 2
New Orleans
W 108–101
James Harden (24)
Dwight Howard (16)
Harden , Lawson (6)
Toyota Center 17,339
8–11
20
December 4
@ Dallas
W 100–96
James Harden (25)
Clint Capela (10)
James Harden (9)
American Airlines Center 20,339
9–11
21
December 5
Sacramento
W 120–113
James Harden (31)
Dwight Howard (18)
James Harden (9)
Toyota Center 17,318
10–11
22
December 8
@ Brooklyn
L 105–110
Marcus Thornton (32)
Capela , Howard (9)
James Harden (9)
Barclays Center 13,319
10–12
23
December 9
@ Washington
W 109–103
James Harden (42)
Harden , Howard (9)
James Harden (9)
Verizon Center 16,041
11–12
24
December 12
L.A. Lakers
W 126–97
James Harden (30)
Dwight Howard (12)
Ty Lawson (8)
Toyota Center 18,456
12–12
25
December 14
@ Denver
L 108–114
James Harden (24)
Dwight Howard (8)
Patrick Beverley (8)
Pepsi Center 12,022
12–13
26
December 15
@ Sacramento
L 97–107
James Harden (33)
Clint Capela (9)
James Harden (6)
Sleep Train Arena 17,317
12–14
27
December 17
@ L.A. Lakers
W 107–87
James Harden (25)
Dwight Howard (15)
James Harden (6)
Staples Center 18,997
13–14
28
December 19
L.A. Clippers
W 107–97
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (14)
James Harden (6)
Toyota Center 18,212
14–14
29
December 21
Charlotte
W 102–95
James Harden (36)
Dwight Howard (9)
James Harden (7)
Toyota Center 18,236
15–14
30
December 23
@ Orlando
L 101–104
James Harden (31)
Trevor Ariza (8)
James Harden (7)
Amway Center 17,061
15–15
31
December 25
San Antonio
W 88–84
James Harden (20)
Dwight Howard (12)
James Harden (9)
Toyota Center 18,319
16–15
32
December 26
@ New Orleans
L 108–110
James Harden (25)
Dwight Howard (9)
Harden , Lawson (5)
Smoothie King Center 18,248
16–16
33
December 29
Atlanta
L 115–121
Dwight Howard (30)
Dwight Howard (16)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 18,211
16–17
34
December 31
Golden State
L 110–114
James Harden (30)
Dwight Howard (13)
Harden , Howard (5)
Toyota Center 18,313
16–18
January
: 9–7 (home: 5–3; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
35
January 2
@ San Antonio
L 103–121
Dwight Howard (22)
Dwight Howard (12)
Patrick Beverley (7)
AT&T Center 18,652
16–19
36
January 4
@ Utah
W 93–91
James Harden (30)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (7)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 17,912
17–19
37
January 7
Utah
W 103–94
James Harden (33)
Clint Capela (10)
Patrick Beverley (4)
Toyota Center 18,155
18–19
38
January 10
Indiana
W 107–103 (OT)
Harden , Howard (21)
Dwight Howard (17)
James Harden (9)
Toyota Center 18,133
19–19
39
January 12
@ Memphis
W 107–91
James Harden (25)
Dwight Howard (14)
Jason Terry (6)
FedExForum 16,044
20–19
40
January 13
Minnesota
W 107–104
James Harden (27)
Dwight Howard (10)
James Harden (11)
Toyota Center 17,115
21–19
41
January 15
Cleveland
L 77–91
Dwight Howard (14)
Dwight Howard (11)
James Harden (5)
Toyota Center 18,320
21–20
42
January 17
@ L.A. Lakers
W 112–95
James Harden (31)
Dwight Howard (15)
Harden , Lawson (5)
Staples Center 18,997
22–20
43
January 18
@ L.A. Clippers
L 132–140 (OT)
Dwight Howard (36)
Dwight Howard (26)
James Harden (8)
Staples Center 19,060
22–21
44
January 20
Detroit
L 114–123
James Harden (33)
James Harden (17)
James Harden (14)
Toyota Center 17,203
22–22
45
January 22
Milwaukee
W 102–98
James Harden (30)
Clint Capela (9)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 17,196
23–22
46
January 24
Dallas
W 115–104
James Harden (23)
James Harden (15)
James Harden (10)
Toyota Center 18,142
24–22
47
January 25
@ New Orleans
W 112–111
James Harden (35)
James Harden (11)
James Harden (8)
Smoothie King Center 15,688
25–22
48
January 27
@ San Antonio
L 99–130
James Harden (20)
Dwight Howard (8)
Marcus Thornton (3)
AT&T Center 18,418
25–23
49
January 29
@ Oklahoma City
L 108–116
James Harden (33)
Dwight Howard (8)
James Harden (7)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
25–24
50
January 30
Washington
L 122–123
James Harden (40)
Ariza , Harden , Howard (7)
James Harden (11)
Toyota Center 18,320
25–25
February
: 4–6 (home: 1–2; road: 3–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
51
February 2
Miami
W 115–102
James Harden (26)
Terrence Jones (7)
James Harden (14)
Toyota Center 18,229
26–25
52
February 4
@ Phoenix
W 111–105
Corey Brewer (24)
Dwight Howard (16)
Beverley , Harden (6)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 15,723
27–25
53
February 6
Portland
L 79–96
James Harden (33)
Dwight Howard (14)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 18,308
27–26
54
February 9
@ Golden State
L 110–123
James Harden (37)
Dwight Howard (15)
Patrick Beverley (7)
Oracle Arena 19,596
27–27
55
February 10
@ Portland
L 103–116
James Harden (34)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (11)
Moda Center 19,393
27–28
All-Star Break
56
February 19
@ Phoenix
W 116–100
James Harden (27)
James Harden (10)
James Harden (7)
Talking Stick Resort Arena 17,102
28–28
57
February 23
@ Utah
L 114–117 (OT)
James Harden (42)
Dwight Howard (16)
Ariza , Beverley , Harden (4)
Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,132
28–29
58
February 25
@ Portland
W 119–105
James Harden (46)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (8)
Moda Center 19,393
29–29
59
February 27
San Antonio
L 94–104
James Harden (27)
Dwight Howard (14)
Trevor Ariza (5)
Toyota Center 18,240
29–30
60
February 29
@ Milwaukee
L 121–128
Dwight Howard (30)
Dwight Howard (13)
Trevor Ariza (11)
BMO Harris Bradley Center 13,214
29–31
March
: 8–8 (home: 4–3; road: 4–5)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
61
March 2
New Orleans
W 100–95
James Harden (39)
James Harden (12)
James Harden (7)
Toyota Center 18,226
30–31
62
March 5
@ Chicago
L 100–108
James Harden (36)
Dwight Howard (12)
James Harden (8)
United Center 22,203
30–32
63
March 6
@ Toronto
W 113–107
James Harden (40)
Dwight Howard (11)
James Harden (14)
Air Canada Centre 19,800
31–32
64
March 9
@ Philadelphia
W 118–104
James Harden (29)
Dwight Howard (18)
James Harden (8)
Wells Fargo Center 15,237
32–32
65
March 11
@ Boston
W 102–98
James Harden (32)
Beverley , Howard (12)
Ariza , Beverley , Harden (4)
TD Garden 18,624
33–32
66
March 12
@ Charlotte
L 109–125
Corey Brewer (21)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (10)
Time Warner Cable Arena 19,303
33–33
67
March 14
Memphis
W 130–81
Donatas Motiejūnas (18)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 18,226
34–33
68
March 16
L.A. Clippers
L 106–122
James Harden (33)
Michael Beasley (8)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 18,304
34–34
69
March 18
Minnesota
W 116–111
James Harden (29)
Dwight Howard (11)
James Harden (11)
Toyota Center 18,142
35–34
70
March 19
@ Atlanta
L 97–109
Michael Beasley (30)
Dwight Howard (17)
James Harden (8)
Philips Arena 18,067
35–35
71
March 22
@ Oklahoma City
L 107–111
James Harden (24)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (16)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203
35–36
72
March 23
Utah
L 87–89
James Harden (26)
Dwight Howard (8)
James Harden (10)
Toyota Center 18,151
35–37
73
March 25
Toronto
W 112–109
James Harden (32)
James Harden (11)
James Harden (13)
Toyota Center 18,230
36–37
74
March 27
@ Indiana
L 101–104
James Harden (34)
Dwight Howard (10)
James Harden (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse 17,165
36–38
75
March 29
@ Cleveland
W 106–100
James Harden (27)
Dwight Howard (11)
James Harden (8)
Quicken Loans Arena 20,562
37–38
76
March 31
Chicago
L 100–103
James Harden (24)
Dwight Howard (13)
James Harden (8)
Toyota Center 18,244
37–39
April
: 4–2 (home: 3–1; road: 1–1)
2015–16 season schedule
Playoffs
2016 playoff game log Total: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
First Round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
2015–16 season schedule
Roster
2015–16 Houston Rockets roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
F
1
Ariza, Trevor
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1985–06–30
UCLA
F
8
Beasley, Michael
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1989–01–09
Kansas State
G
2
Beverley, Patrick
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1988–07–12
Arkansas
G/F
33
Brewer, Corey
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
186 lb (84 kg)
1986–03–05
Florida
F/C
15
Capela, Clint
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1994–05–18
INSEP (FRA)
F
7
Dekker, Sam
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
230 lb (104 kg)
1994–05–06
Wisconsin
G
0
Goudelock, Andrew
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
1988–12–07
College of Charleston
G
13
Harden, James
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1989–08–26
Arizona State
F
35
Harrell, Montrezl
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1994–01–26
Louisville
C
12
Howard, Dwight
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
265 lb (120 kg)
1985–12–08
SW Atlanta Academy (GA)
F
6
Jones, Terrence
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
252 lb (114 kg)
1992–01–09
Kentucky
G/F
32
McDaniels, K. J.
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1993–02–09
Clemson
F/C
20
Motiejūnas, Donatas
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
222 lb (101 kg)
1990–09–20
Lithuania
F
5
Smith, Josh
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1985–12–05
Oak Hill Academy (VA)
G
31
Terry, Jason
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
1977–09–15
Arizona
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate Injured
Roster Last transaction: 2016–04–10
Salaries
Player
2015–16 salary
Dwight Howard
$22,359,364
James Harden
$15,756,438
Corey Brewer
$8,200,000
Trevor Ariza
$8,193,030
Patrick Beverley
$6,500,000
K. J. McDaniels
$3,333,333
Terrence Jones
$2,489,530
Donatas Motiejūnas
$2,288,205
Sam Dekker
$1,646,400
Jason Terry
$1,499,187
Josh Smith
$1,499,000
Clint Capela
$1,242,720
Montrezl Harrell
$1,000,000
Michael Beasley a
$306,527
Andrew Goudelock b
$200,600
Ty Lawson c
$12,404,495
Marcus Thornton d
$1,186,000
Chuck Hayes e
$83,583
TOTAL
$90,188,412
^a Michael Beasley was signed on March 4, 2016, for the perforated league minimum.
^b Andrew Goudelock was signed on March 9, 2016, for the perforated league minimum.
^c Ty Lawson was waived on March 1, 2016, after appearing in 53 games for the Rockets.
^d Marcus Thornton was waived on February 26, 2016, after appearing in 47 games for the Rockets.
^e Chuck Hayes was waived on November 8, 2015, after appearing in just two games for the Rockets.
Source: [ 2]
Player statistics
Regular season
‡ Waived during season
Playoffs
Source: [ 3]
Injuries
Player
Duration
Injury type
Games missed
Start
End
Donatas Motiejūnas
Start of season
December 5, 2015
Back surgery
20
Terrence Jones
October 30, 2015
November 11, 2015
Right eye laceration
5
Patrick Beverley
November 4, 2015
November 11, 2015
Concussion
2
Patrick Beverley
November 13, 2015
November 25, 2015
Sprained ankle
5
Sam Dekker
November 16, 2015
February 29, 2016
Back surgery
49
Trevor Ariza
December 8, 2015
December 12, 2015
Bruised lower back
1
Donatas Motiejūnas
January 1, 2016
February 27, 2016
Sore back
25
Patrick Beverley
January 15, 2016
January 24, 2016
Sprained ankle
3
Dwight Howard
January 20, 2016
January 27, 2016
Sprained ankle
3
Terrence Jones
February 3, 2016
February 23, 2016
Concussion
5
Clint Capela
February 24, 2016
March 2, 2016
Sprained right foot
3
Terrence Jones
March 5, 2016
March 16, 2016
Illness
6
Sam Dekker
March 28, 2016
Rest of season
Back injury
8
[ 4]
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Re-signed
Additions
Subtractions
Awards, records and milestones
Awards
Player
Award
Date awarded
Ref.
James Harden
Western Conference Player of the Week
November 9, 2015
[ 20]
James Harden
Western Conference All-Star
January 28, 2016
[ 21]
James Harden
Western Conference Player of the Month (April)
April 15, 2016
[ 22]
Records
On March 30, Dwight Howard set a franchise record for free throws missed in a game, with 15 in a road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James Harden set an NBA single-season record for turnovers with 374. On April 7, he tied the previous record of 366, set by Artis Gilmore of the Chicago Bulls during the 1977–78 season (the first season that individual turnovers were recorded), and in his next game, on April 10, he broke the record.
Milestones
On March 18, Howard passed 11,000 career rebounds in a 116–111 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
References
^ Houston Rockets Franchise Index
^ "Houston Rockets Team Payroll" . basketball-reference . October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015 .
^ "2015-16 Houston Rockets Roster and Stats" . basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 29, 2016 .
^ "Injury Report" . basketball-reference.com . October 28, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Nuggets Acquire Joey Dorsey, Nick Johnson, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pablo Prigioni, Cash Considerations and First Round Pick From Houston" . nba.com/nuggets . July 20, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015 .
^ "Rockets acquire Josh Smith in trade with Clippers" . ESPN.com . January 23, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016 .
^ "Rockets Re-Sign Patrick Beverley" . nba.com/rockets . July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015 .
^ "Rockets Re-Sign Corey Brewer" . nba.com/rockets . July 14, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2015 .
^ "Rockets Re-Sign K.J. McDaniels" . nba.com/rockets . July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015 .
^ "Rockets Re-Sign Jason Terry" . nba.com/rockets . August 24, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2015 .
^ "Rockets Sign Marcus Thornton" . nba.com/rockets . July 25, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015 .
^ "Rockets Sign Free Agent Chuck Hayes" . nba.com/rockets . November 1, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015 .
^ "Rockets sign free agent forward Beasley" . nba.com . March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016 .
^ "Rockets Sign Free Agent Andrew Goudelock" . nba.com/rockets . March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016 .
^ "LA CLIPPERS SIGN JOSH SMITH" . nba.com/clippers . July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2015 .
^ "Chuck Hayes waived by Rockets" . Houston Chronicle . November 8, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015 .
^ "Houston Rockets fire coach Kevin McHale" . ESPN.com . November 18, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^ "Sources: Rockets waive guard Marcus Thornton" . Yahoo! Sports . February 26, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2016 .
^ "Sources: Rockets, Ty Lawson reach buyout agreement" . Yahoo! Sports . March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016 .
^ "Drummond, Harden named Players of the Week" . nba.com . November 9, 2015. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015 .
^ "West romps past East with record-setting 196-173 win" . nba.com . February 15, 2016. Archived from the original on February 23, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2016 .
^ "James, Harden named Kia Players of Month for April" . nba.com . April 15, 2016. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016 .
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