Hakeem Olajuwon - 5x5
34 PTS • 10 REB • 5 AST • 5 STL • 8 BLK
44 minutes • Houston Rockets 110, Minnesota Timberwolves 104
On December 30, 1993, Hakeem Olajuwon delivered another extraordinary all-around performance as the Houston Rockets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-104.
Olajuwon finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 8 blocked shots in 44 minutes. He shot 14-for-25 from the field and 6-for-11 from the free-throw line.
The performance gave Olajuwon another 5x5, meaning he recorded at least five points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the same game. He reached the threshold exactly in assists and steals while blocking eight shots and leading all scorers with 34 points.
Game Score
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Houston Rockets |
23 |
36 |
18 |
33 |
110 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves |
19 |
26 |
27 |
32 |
104 |
Houston Rockets Box Score
| Player |
MP |
FG |
FGA |
3P |
3PA |
FT |
FTA |
ORB |
DRB |
TRB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TOV |
PF |
PTS |
| Robert Horry |
22 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| Vernon Maxwell |
37 |
5 |
15 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
16 |
| Hakeem Olajuwon |
44 |
14 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
34 |
| Kenny Smith |
30 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
8 |
| Otis Thorpe |
36 |
8 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
14 |
17 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
| Matt Bullard |
23 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
| Sam Cassell |
19 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
| Mario Elie |
15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
| Carl Herrera |
14 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
| Team Totals |
240 |
41 |
79 |
7 |
16 |
21 |
34 |
9 |
30 |
39 |
30 |
8 |
9 |
14 |
22 |
110 |
Minnesota Timberwolves Box Score
| Player |
MP |
FG |
FGA |
3P |
3PA |
FT |
FTA |
ORB |
DRB |
TRB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TOV |
PF |
PTS |
| Brian Davis |
10 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Christian Laettner |
19 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
6 |
| Luc Longley |
30 |
5 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
11 |
19 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
12 |
| Isaiah Rider |
35 |
11 |
24 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
30 |
| Micheal Williams |
37 |
3 |
14 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
14 |
| Thurl Bailey |
13 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Mike Brown |
18 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Tellis Frank |
28 |
4 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
12 |
| Marlon Maxey |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Chuck Person |
38 |
7 |
17 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
19 |
| Chris Smith |
11 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| Team Totals |
240 |
37 |
97 |
4 |
15 |
26 |
29 |
22 |
34 |
56 |
24 |
6 |
3 |
14 |
24 |
104 |
Olajuwon's 34-Point 5x5
A 5x5 requires a player to record at least five points, five rebounds, five assists, five steals and five blocked shots in one game. Olajuwon cleared every category with 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 8 blocks.
The 34 points made this much more than a defensive statistical curiosity. Olajuwon led all scorers while shooting 56 percent from the field and also produced 13 combined steals and blocks.
He accounted for eight of Houston's nine blocked shots and five of the Rockets' eight steals. In other words, Olajuwon personally produced 13 of Houston's 17 combined steals and blocks.
Dominance on Both Ends
Olajuwon's performance demonstrated why the 5x5 is such a difficult achievement. He was Houston's primary scorer while simultaneously controlling the game defensively.
His eight blocks were more than twice Minnesota's team total of three. His five steals were only one fewer than the entire Timberwolves roster recorded.
Despite carrying that defensive workload, Olajuwon made 14 field goals and scored a game-high 34 points.
Houston Holds Off Minnesota
Houston built its advantage in the first half. The Rockets led 23-19 after the first quarter and erupted for 36 points in the second, taking a 59-45 lead into halftime.
Minnesota fought back after the break. The Timberwolves outscored Houston 27-18 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to five entering the fourth.
The teams combined for 65 points in the final period, but Houston scored 33 to Minnesota's 32 and held on for the 110-104 victory.
Thorpe and Rider Put Up Big Numbers
Olajuwon was not the only player with an impressive stat line. Otis Thorpe scored 20 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds for Houston, including 14 defensive rebounds.
Matt Bullard provided 14 points off the bench while making all three of his three-point attempts. Vernon Maxwell scored 16 points and led Houston with seven assists.
For Minnesota, Isaiah Rider scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Luc Longley had an unusual all-around performance of his own with 12 points, 19 rebounds and five steals, including eight offensive rebounds.
Micheal Williams added 14 points and eight assists, while Chuck Person scored 19 points and made three three-pointers.
A Remarkable 1993 for Olajuwon
This was Olajuwon's third 5x5 performance during the calendar year 1993.
On April 22, he recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, five steals and five blocks against Minnesota. He then opened the 1993-94 season on November 5 with 24 points, 19 rebounds, six assists, five steals and five blocks against New Jersey.
Less than two months later, Olajuwon produced this 34-point, 10-rebound, five-assist, five-steal and eight-block performance in another game against Minnesota.
Those games demonstrate the remarkable range of Olajuwon's production. He could reach the 5x5 standard while scoring more than 30 points, dominating the glass and protecting the rim at an elite level.
Olajuwon's Historic 5x5 Performances
March 3, 1990 - 29 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals and 11 blocks
March 29, 1990 - 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and 11 blocks - Quadruple-Double
April 11, 1992 - 19 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks
April 22, 1993 - 33 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks
November 5, 1993 - 24 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks
December 30, 1993 - 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 8 blocks
Game Notes
Date: December 30, 1993
Final Score: Houston Rockets 110, Minnesota Timberwolves 104
Leading Scorer: Hakeem Olajuwon - 34 points
Leading Rebounder: Luc Longley - 19 rebounds
Houston Leading Rebounder: Otis Thorpe - 17 rebounds
Most Assists: Micheal Williams - 8 assists
Houston Most Assists: Vernon Maxwell - 7 assists
Most Steals: Hakeem Olajuwon and Luc Longley - 5 steals
Most Blocks: Hakeem Olajuwon - 8 blocks
Olajuwon Field Goals: 14-for-25 (.560)
Olajuwon Minutes: 44
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Hakeem Olajuwon recorded 34 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 8 blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 1993. Houston won 110-104.
