Editing Houston Rockets (section)

====1993–1995: Back-to-back championships for Clutch City====
On July 30, 1993, [[Leslie Alexander (businessman)|Leslie Alexander]] purchased the Rockets for $85&nbsp;million.<ref name="alexanderpurchase">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1144426 |title=Rockets sale |last=Truex |first=Alan |date=July 31, 1993 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012170716/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1144426 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> The next season, in Tomjanovich's second full year as head coach, the Rockets began the [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94 season]] by tying an NBA record with a start of 15–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-15-0-start-to-1993-94-season-rooted-in-5025033.php|title=Rockets' 15-0 start to 1993-94 season rooted in previous failures|last=Feigen|first=Jonathan|work=Houston Chronicle|date=November 30, 2013|access-date=July 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1169776 |title=Rockets fans disappointed with loss but liked the ride |last=Asin |first=Stefanie |date=December 4, 1993 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012170726/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1169776 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> Their first loss of the season came on December 3, 1993, as the Hawks, led by Dominique Wilkins' 27 points, defeated the Rockets, 133–111.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199312030ATL.html|title=Houston Rockets at Atlanta Hawks Box Score, December 3, 1993|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=July 29, 2019}}</ref> The next game, the Rockets stormed a comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers as they won by a single point, 99–98, on the road. The Rockets now had won their first 16 out of 17 games of the season, tying the 1948–49 Capitols for the best 17-game start in a season, at that time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199312050CLE.html|title=Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, December 5, 1993|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=July 29, 2019}}</ref> On December 9, Olajuwon recorded 28 points, 16 rebounds and 4 blocks as the Rockets cruised past the visiting Heat in overtime to win their 18th game of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199312090HOU.html|title=Miami Heat at Houston Rockets Box Score, December 9, 1993|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|access-date=August 2, 2019}}</ref> Led by Olajuwon, who was named the MVP and [[NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award|Defensive Player of the Year]],<ref name="hakeemaward">{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1210154|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012170747/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1210154|archive-date=October 12, 2012 |title=Olajuwon caps year of honors |last=Blount |first=Terry |date=June 24, 1994 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref> the Rockets won 58 games, a franchise record at the time.<ref name="houstonindex">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/ |title=Houston Rockets |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=May 14, 2008}}</ref><ref name="94year">{{cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1994.html |title=1993–94 Houston Rockets Roster and Statistics |publisher=Basketball-Reference.com |access-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref> After quickly dispatching the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] (who had made the finals just two years prior) in 4 games, they then faced the defending Western Conference champion [[Phoenix Suns]], led by the previous year's MVP [[Charles Barkley]]. The series opened up in Houston, which saw the Rockets open up a big lead going into the fourth quarter. In both games, however, the Rockets inexplicably collapsed to allow the Suns a 2–0 lead going back to Phoenix. Following recent heart-breaking playoff losses by the [[Houston Oilers]], it appeared as though the Rockets were doomed. Local newspapers labeled Houston as "Choke City", which the Rockets took to heart and ultimately came back to win the series in seven games. As "Choke City" became "Clutch City", the name permanently became a part of Houston folklore. The Rockets then soon defeated [[John Stockton]] and [[Karl Malone]]'s [[Utah Jazz]] in five in the Conference Finals to advance to their third [[1994 NBA Finals|finals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html#19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020548/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |title=Rockets History&nbsp;– 1993–94: Rockets Shoot To NBA Title |work=NBA.com |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[New York Knicks]] opened a 3–2 advantage, but the Rockets won the last two games on their home court and claimed their first championship in franchise history.<ref name="houstonindex" /> Olajuwon was awarded the [[Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Finals MVP]], after averaging 27 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots a game.<ref name="hakeemaward" />

The Rockets initially struggled in the first half of the [[1994–95 NBA season|1994–95 season]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html#20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229020548/http://www.nba.com/rockets/history/history.html |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |title=Rockets History&nbsp;– 1994–95: "Clutch City"&nbsp;– Rockets Repeat |work=NBA.com |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which they fixed by sending Otis Thorpe to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in exchange for Olajuwon's former college teammate [[Clyde Drexler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1256819 |title=Reunion with fraternity mate a thrill for Olajuwon |last=Sefko |first=Eddie |date=February 15, 1995 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012170753/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1256819 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> With only 47 wins, the Rockets entered the [[1995 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. Still, a strong playoff run that earned Houston the nickname "[[Clutch City]]" had the Rockets defeating the West's top three seeds – the Jazz, Suns and Spurs – to reach back-to-back finals, this time against the [[Orlando Magic]], led by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Penny Hardaway]]. When Houston swept the [[1995 NBA Finals|Finals' series]] in four games,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/news/clutch-city-an-oral-history-of-the-houston-rockets-miracle-playoff-run-7373022|title=Clutch City: An Oral History of the Houston Rockets Miracle Playoff Run|last=Pendergast|first=Sean|date=April 21, 2015|work=Houston Press|access-date=February 21, 2016}}</ref> they became the first team in NBA history to win the championship as a sixth seed, and the first to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason en route to the championship.<ref name="longroad">{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281360 |title=Rockets overcome countless obstacles en route to repeat |last=Stickney|first=W.H. Jr. |date=June 18, 1995 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012170840/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281360 |archive-date=October 12, 2012}}</ref> Olajuwon was again the Finals MVP, only the second player after Michael Jordan to win the award two years in a row.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281348|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170554/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1995_1281348|archive-date=June 29, 2011 |title=Rockets' remarkable run is a story worth repeating |last=Sefko |first=Eddie |date=June 18, 1995 |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref> It was on the floor of [[The Summit (Houston)|The Summit]] after they captured their second title that head coach Rudy Tomjanovich proclaimed, "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion!"<ref>{{cite news |last=Short|first=Mike|date=December 19, 2019|title=Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion'|url=https://www.morningread.com/feature/2019-12-19/dont-ever-underestimate-the-heart-of-a-champion|work=Morning Read|location= |access-date=}}</ref>