Overview
The Houston Rockets defeated the New York Knicks four games to three in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series to conclude the 1993-94 NBA season. It was the first championship for the Rockets, who had lost their previous two Finals appearances in 1986 and 1981.
The Knicks were making their first Finals appearances since winning the championship in 1973. New York took advantage of the retirement of Michael Jordan to break through in the Eastern Conference, after having been eliminated by the Bulls in the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons.
Hakeem Olajuwon took home NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming the first center to win the award since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1985.
The Rockets had home-court advantage for the Finals. Houston swept the two regular-season meetings between the teams.
The Knicks were making their first Finals appearances since winning the championship in 1973. New York took advantage of the retirement of Michael Jordan to break through in the Eastern Conference, after having been eliminated by the Bulls in the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons.
Hakeem Olajuwon took home NBA Finals MVP honors, becoming the first center to win the award since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1985.
The Rockets had home-court advantage for the Finals. Houston swept the two regular-season meetings between the teams.
Road to the Finals
| Team | Knicks | Rockets |
| Regular Season | 57-25, 1st in Atlantic Division | 58-24, 1st in Midwest Division |
| First Round | Def. (7) New Jersey Nets, 3-1 | Def. (7) Portland Trail Blazers, 3-1 |
| Conference Semifinals | Def. (3) Chicago Bulls, 4-3 | Def. (3) Phoenix Suns, 4-3 |
| Conference Finals | Def. (5) Indiana Pacers, 4-3 | Def. (5) Utah Jazz, 4-1 |
Game 1 - Rockets 85, Knicks 78
The Knicks missed 15 of their last 17 shots in the third quarter, allowing the Rockets to build an 11-point lead heading into the final 12 minutes. New York used a 13-4 run to cut the lead to three with 2:15 left, before Houston snapped an eight-minute drought and held on for a Game 1 win.
Reigning MVP Hakeem Olajuwon led all scorers with 28 points and added 10 rebounds, while Otis Thorpe chipped in with 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets. Patrick Ewing, making his Finals debut, scored 23 points but was held to 10-of-26 shooting from the field. The Knicks had just three players in double figures, and no New York player other than Ewing scored more than 12 points.
Reigning MVP Hakeem Olajuwon led all scorers with 28 points and added 10 rebounds, while Otis Thorpe chipped in with 14 points and 16 rebounds for the Rockets. Patrick Ewing, making his Finals debut, scored 23 points but was held to 10-of-26 shooting from the field. The Knicks had just three players in double figures, and no New York player other than Ewing scored more than 12 points.
Game 2 - Knicks 91, Rockets 83
The Knicks held the Rockets without a made basket for the final 6:32 of the game, ending the game on a 15-4 run to turn a 79-76 deficit into an eight-point win. Derek Harper made a pair of key 3-pointers in the run, finishing the game with 18 points.
Harper was one of six Knicks in double figures, led by John Starks' 19 points. Harper and Starks combined to shoot 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Patrick Ewing was again helped below 50 percent shooting from the field. Hakeem Olajuwon had 25 points and Vernon Maxwell finished with 20 to lead the Rockets.
Harper was one of six Knicks in double figures, led by John Starks' 19 points. Harper and Starks combined to shoot 7-of-10 from 3-point range. Patrick Ewing was again helped below 50 percent shooting from the field. Hakeem Olajuwon had 25 points and Vernon Maxwell finished with 20 to lead the Rockets.
Game 3 - Rockets 93, Knicks 89
Robert Horry, who struggled with his shot in the first two games, broke out with 10 points in the first quarter to help stake the Rockets to an 8-point lead. Houston led by as many as 16 in the second quarter, before a Knicks run closed them to within nine at halftime. The Knicks continued to chip away at the lead and took an 88-86 lead with a minute left in the game. However, Sam Cassell outscored the Knicks himself 7-1 in the final minute, leading the Rockets to the Game 3 victory.
Cassell finished the game with just 15 points, with seven coming in the final minute, and six coming on back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter. Hakeem Olajuwon again led Houston with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Harper scored 21 and John Starks scored 20 for the Knicks, though Starks missed 10 of his 16 shots from the field. Patrick Ewing missed 20 of his 29 field goal attempts and finished with just 18 points in 46 minutes of play.
Cassell finished the game with just 15 points, with seven coming in the final minute, and six coming on back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter. Hakeem Olajuwon again led Houston with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Harper scored 21 and John Starks scored 20 for the Knicks, though Starks missed 10 of his 16 shots from the field. Patrick Ewing missed 20 of his 29 field goal attempts and finished with just 18 points in 46 minutes of play.
Game 4 - Knicks 91, Rockets 82
One day after the Rangers had clinched the Stanley Cup finals in the same building, the Knicks opened the game on a 17-2 run and led by seven at the half. However, the Rockets used a 14-1 run in the third quarter -- sparked by eight points by Hakeem Olajuwon -- and took the lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Knicks responded by outscoring the Rockets by 10 in the fourth quarter, led by John Starks, who scored 11 points while holding Vernon Maxwell scoreless.
Derek Harper had 21 points and all five Knicks starters scored in double figures. Patrick Ewing scored 16 points, but missed 20 shots for the second consecutive game. Charles Oakley grabbed 20 rebounds, including eight in the fourth quarter. Olajuwon led the Rockets with 32 points on 14-of-20 shooting, but no other Houston player scored more than 12 points.
Derek Harper had 21 points and all five Knicks starters scored in double figures. Patrick Ewing scored 16 points, but missed 20 shots for the second consecutive game. Charles Oakley grabbed 20 rebounds, including eight in the fourth quarter. Olajuwon led the Rockets with 32 points on 14-of-20 shooting, but no other Houston player scored more than 12 points.
Game 5 - Knicks 91, Rockets 84
The Knicks moved ahead in the series for the first time, winning their second consecutive game by ending the game on a 15-5 run. The Knicks made 10 consecutive free throws in the final two minutes, and forced the Rockets to miss 12 of 13 shots during one stretch in the fourth quarter.
Patrick Ewing scored 25 points and shot better than 50 percent (11-of-21) for the first time in the series. He also tied an NBA Finals record with eight blocked shots. Ewing was one of five Knicks in double figures, including Anthony Mason, who scored 17 points off the bench. Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 points to lead the Rockets, but also committed eight turnovers, including six in the first half.
This game is best remembered not for anything that happened on the court, but for the television broadcast, which was interrupted by coverage of the O.J. Simpson low-speed freeway chase with the Los Angeles Police Department. At the time, Simpson was working as an NFL analyst on NBC, which was broadcasting the NBA Finals.
Patrick Ewing scored 25 points and shot better than 50 percent (11-of-21) for the first time in the series. He also tied an NBA Finals record with eight blocked shots. Ewing was one of five Knicks in double figures, including Anthony Mason, who scored 17 points off the bench. Hakeem Olajuwon had 27 points to lead the Rockets, but also committed eight turnovers, including six in the first half.
This game is best remembered not for anything that happened on the court, but for the television broadcast, which was interrupted by coverage of the O.J. Simpson low-speed freeway chase with the Los Angeles Police Department. At the time, Simpson was working as an NFL analyst on NBC, which was broadcasting the NBA Finals.
Game 6 - Rockets 86, Knicks 84
Back in Houston, the Rockets forced a decisive Game 7, holding off a last-minute Knicks rally. The Rockets led 84-77 with 3:17 left, but didn't make another basket for the rest of the game. The Knicks cut the lead to two points with 1:17 left, before Hakeem Olajuwon -- playing with five fouls -- made a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to four. The Knicks closed back to within two and had a chance to win the series, but Olajuwon blocked John Starks' game-winning 3-point attempt with two seconds left.
Olajuwon finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. He was the only Rockets player with more than 12 points. Despite his miss at the end of the game, Starks was the Knicks' most effective player. He led the team with 27 points, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Patrick Ewing had 17 points and 15 rebounds, but shot just 6-of-20 from the field.
Olajuwon finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots. He was the only Rockets player with more than 12 points. Despite his miss at the end of the game, Starks was the Knicks' most effective player. He led the team with 27 points, shooting 9-of-18 from the field and 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Patrick Ewing had 17 points and 15 rebounds, but shot just 6-of-20 from the field.
Game 7 - Rockets 90, Knicks 84
In the decisive Game 7, the Knicks once again turned to the shooting hand of John Starks, who nearly got them a win in Game 6. However, Starks never got going, missing 16 of the 18 shots he attempted, including all 11 from 3-point range, and the Rockets capitalized, earning the first championship in franchise history.
Hakeem Olajuwon finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Vernon Maxwell added 21, while Sam Cassell scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to finish with 13. Starks finished with just eight points, while going 1-of-10 from the field (0-of-5 from 3-point range) in the fourth quarter. Derek Harper led the Knicks with 23 points in the loss. Patrick Ewing was held to 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 34 on the list.
Hakeem Olajuwon finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. Vernon Maxwell added 21, while Sam Cassell scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to finish with 13. Starks finished with just eight points, while going 1-of-10 from the field (0-of-5 from 3-point range) in the fourth quarter. Derek Harper led the Knicks with 23 points in the loss. Patrick Ewing was held to 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting.
When the NBA compilied its list of the 60 Greatest Playoff Moments to coincide with the league's 60th anniversary, this game was ranked No. 34 on the list.