The 2015-16 NBA season was one to forget for the Houston Rockets. Coming off a Western Conference Finals appearance the prior year and with championship aspirations, they instead limped to a 41-41 record while barely capturing the eighth and final playoff seed in the West.
Rockets head coach Kevin McHale, who had received a contract extension less than a year earlier, was fired after just 11 games.
The Golden State Warriors, on the other hand, entered the first round having just finished off the best regular season in NBA history at 73-9.
But even in a down year, the Rockets did have at least one playoff highlight of significance in a 97-96 win on April 21, 2016 (box score).
Trailing by a point in Game 3 versus the top-seeded Warriors, James Harden hit the game-winner over Andre Iguodala with just 2.7 seconds left. Oddly enough, Harden’s winner came courtesy of a spin move followed by a stepback jumper from mid-range — an area where the 3-point heavy Rockets haven’t attempted many shots in the years since.
Harden led the Rockets with game-high totals of 35 points and nine assists, while big men Dwight Howard and Donatas Motiejunas combined for 26 rebounds. Howard left Houston in free agency after the season.
Golden State ultimately won the series in five games. But the lone Rockets win was certainly memorable, thanks to Harden’s dramatic shot.
