The 1997–98 NBA season was the Rockets' 31st season in the National Basketball Association, and 27th season in Houston. The Rockets went on a nine-game winning streak early into the season winning 12 of their first 17 games. However, they began to show their age and the wear and tear of long playoff runs as they played mediocre basketball all season. Hakeem Olajuwon missed most of the first half of the season due to injuries only playing just 47 games. The Rockets finished fourth in the Midwest Division with a 41–41 record, and qualified the playoffs as the #8 seed. In the first round of the playoffs, in a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals, the Rockets took a 2–1 series lead over the top-seeded Utah Jazz. However, they would lose the series in five games. Following the season, Clyde Drexler retired to take over the head coaching job at the University of Houston,Kevin Willis was traded to the Toronto Raptors, and Mario Elie signed as a free agent with the San Antonio Spurs.

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Houston Rockets Last Playoff Meeting: 1997 Western Conference Finals (Utah won 4-2)

(UTA-HOU)

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