1980–81 Houston Rockets season
| 1980–81 Houston Rockets season | |
|---|---|
Conference champions | |
| Head coach | Del Harris |
| Arena | The Summit |
| Results | |
| Record | 40–42 (.488) |
| Place | Division: 2nd (Midwest) Conference: 6th (Western) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Finals (lost to Celtics 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | KHTV |
| Radio | KTRH |
The 1980–81 Houston Rockets season saw the Rockets lose the NBA Finals. The 1981 Rockets were the first team since the 1959 Minneapolis Lakers to make the NBA Finals with a losing record.
In the playoffs, the Rockets defeated the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then defeated the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the Semifinals, and the Kansas City Kings in five games in the conference finals, reaching the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history, only to fall to the Boston Celtics in six games in the NBA Finals.