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SAMPSON'S BUZZER-BEATER ENDS LAKERS' RUN
Houston Rockets 114
Los Angeles Lakers 112
May 21, 1986, Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
In retrospect, the Houston Rockets Basketballs Team's "Twin Towers" frontcourt featuring 7-footers Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon was not their best lineup. Sampson was an All-Star but did not turn out to be the dominant pro many thought he would be, and it was after he retired that Olajuwon led the Rockets to a pair of championships in the 1990s. Also look for the Houston Rockets Schedule, and Houston Rockets Information which is available.
There was one memorable night, however, when Sampson was Houston's No. 1 hero. The Los Angeles Lakers had won 62 games-11 more than the Rockets-in 1985-86 and were expecting a chance to defend their NBA title. Instead, they found themselves in a 3-1 hole against Houston in the Western Conference Finals. With the score tied and one second on the clock, the 7-foot-4 Sampson caught an inbound pass, turned and knocked down a jumper at the buzzer to send the Rockets to a clinching 114-112 win in Game 5. It earned Houston an unlikely Finals berth against eventual champion Boston.
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