Rockets star Rudy Tomjanovich was decked by Kermit Washington in 1977.
This story appeared in the Houston Chronicle on Dec. 10, 1977. The headlines and words are reprinted as they ran then.
LOS ANGELES — The Houston Rockets, reacting to a second-quarter Kermit Washington sucker punch that broke the nose of Rudy Tomjanovich, toppled the Los Angeles Lakers, 116–105, Friday night.
The Rockets had lost 25 of 27 games at The Forum going into the contest, but they only trailed once after Washington slugged first Kevin Kunnert and then Tomjanovich in the third quarter. The game was close after three quarters, but a tremendous performance by Moses Malone in the final period turned the game into a Rocket rout.
Calvin Murphy led the Houston run away with 28 points while John Lucas and Malone chipped in 20. Tomjanovich was en route to a sensational night when he was kayoed, scoring 19 points the first half.
The Rockets had two advantageous matchups as the game began, Laker Coach Jerry West assigning young Tom Abernathy to guard Tomjanovich and rookie Norm Nixon to guard Lucas. Abernathy was making the first start of his two-year pro career, subbing for the ailing Jamaal Wilkes.
Tomjanovich and Lucas immediately took advantage of the matchups, Tomjanovich ripping in baskets from the sides and Lucas driving for the hoop to put in three quick bank shots. On each occasion he was fouled by Nixon, and each time Lucas completed the three-point play.
Tomjanovich exploited Abernathy early for 11 early points, hitting on five of his first nine shots. The Rockets should have enjoyed a big early lead, but they were having problems scoring inside where Kareem Abdul Jabbar was constantly befuddling Moses Malone.
Malone attempted seven shots the first quarter and missed all seven. The Rockets should have learned quickly the folly of attempting to challenge Abdul Jabbar, but they continued to pass the ball into Malone, and Malone continued to be embarrassed by his 7-2 rival.
In addition, Malone was getting into early foul trouble for the third straight game, picking up three violations in the first quarter. By quarter’s end the two teams were tied, 28-28.
Calvin Murphy and Kevin Kunnert got the Rocket offense going early in the second period, Kunnert tallying on a three point play and Murphy popping into quick baskets as Houston open a 37-36 lead.
The Rockets failed to score on their next six possessions, however, and the Lakers took advantage of The cold spell to score nine straight points.
The Lakers led, 45-37, at that point, but the Rockets began regrouping when Lucas reentered the lineup. The 6-2 backcourt ace hit two straight buckets, Tomjanovich opened up with three long shots, and Ed Ratleff and Mike Newlin entered the Houston line up to stabilize the defensive. The Rockets outscored the hosts, 12-2, midway through the period to regain the lead at 53-51, and by half time the score was again tied, 55-55.
Unfortunately, two Rockets, Malone a Newlin, were saddled with four fouls. There was a vast difference in the free throw shooting statistics the second quarter, Los Angeles getting 20 attempts to Houston’s two. No Laker was in foul trouble at halftime.
Tomjanovich already had 19 points by half time, hitting nine of 14 shots, and Lucas had 16 on a five-ofseven performance.
Early in the third quarter Laker Kermit Washington turned the game into a boxing match, slugging Kunnert as the two were racing downcourt side by side on a Rocket fat break. Kunnert crumpled to the floor immediately, and Tomjanovich raced up to play the role of peacemaker, arms at his side. Washington immediately slugged him a cheap shot, Tomjanovich falling with the blow, blood spurting out of his nose. Washington was ejected and Tomjanovich helped off the court after lying motionless several minutes.
The dirty shots seemed to fire up the angry Rockets, Murphy leading the team on a series of fast break baskets that produced eight consecutive Houston points.
That gave the Rockets a 63-55 lead, provoking West to call a Laker timeout. It was the right stragedy as Los Angeles broke Houston’s momentum and mounted a rally of its own behind Abdul-Jabbar. The Lakers regained the lead at 69-67, Houston’s only offense coming from Murphy since Tomjanovich was in the dressing with his badly cut nose.
Kunnert, who played excellently in the absence of Malone, fouled out midway through the third period, Newlin already had five fouls and Malone four. Malone was ready to play when he re-entered the lineup, however, and his aggressive play helped the Rockets mount an 86-79 lead shortly before the quarter’s end. Buckets by Lakers Don Ford and Lou Hudson, however, trimmed Houston’s lead to 86-83 as the final period began. Malone continued his inspired pay as the fourth quarter opened, leading the Rockets on a point binge that erected a 96-87 lead with 8:45 remaining. Malone scored twice over Abdul-Jabbar and controlled the backboards while Murphy popped in three hoops in the surge.
The Lakers fought back briefly with Abdul-Jabbar tallying from underneath, but then it was Malone again to the attack. Malone has 12 points the first eight minutes of the fourth period, the Rockets roared out to a 106-97 lead and Los Angeles could never recover.
The Rockets wind up their West Coast road trip with games tonight at Phoenix and Sunday at Seattle before returning to The Summit to host the Lakers Wednesday.