Cavaliers vs. Rockets Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year
Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been present in the NBA Playoffs 25 times in 56 seasons while the Houston Rockets did it 35 times in their 59 seasons. Between the two they total 3 of the 79 NBA championships (3.8%).
The Cavaliers and the Rockets have never met each other in the NBA Playoffs.
On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Cavaliers and the Rockets advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.
Summary of Their Playoff History | ||
Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets | |
| Playoff Appearances: | 25 (45.5%) | 35 (60.3%) |
| Playoffs Missed: | 30 (54.5%) | 23 (39.7%) |
| NBA Titles: | 1  | 2 |
| Finals Lost: | 4 | 2 |
| All-time Playoff Record: | 136 wins 119 losses (.533) | 161 wins 168 losses (.489) |
| Total NBA Seasons: | 56 1970-71 to present | 59 1967-68 to present |
Head-to-Head in Playoffs | ||
Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets | |
| Total Series | 0 Playoff Series | |
| Series Won | none | none |
Teams Comparison | ||
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2024 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 2023 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2022 | DNQ (lost Play-in) | DNQ |
| 2021 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2020 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 2019 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2018 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2017 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2016 |  NBA Champions | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2015 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 2014 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2013 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2012 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2011 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2010 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 2009 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 2008 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2007 | Lost NBA Finals | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2006 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 2005 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2004 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 2003 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2002 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2001 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2000 | DNQ | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1999 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1998 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1997 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Finals |
| 1996 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1995 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | NBA Champions |
| 1994 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | NBA Champions |
| 1993 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1992 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1991 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1990 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1989 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1988 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1987 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference Semis |
| 1986 | DNQ | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1985 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1984 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1983 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1982 | DNQ | Lost Western Conference 1st Round |
| 1981 | DNQ | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1980 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1979 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1978 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1977 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 1976 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1975 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 1974 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1973 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1972 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1971 | DNQ | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) |
| 1970 | - | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1969 | - | Lost Western Division Semis (as San Diego Rockets) |
| 1968 | - | DNQ (as San Diego Rockets) |
| 1967 | - | - |
| 1966 | - | - |
| 1965 | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - |
| 1963 | - | - |
| 1962 | - | - |
| 1961 | - | - |
| 1960 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - |
| 1956 | - | - |
| 1955 | - | - |
| 1954 | - | - |
| 1953 | - | - |
| 1952 | - | - |
| 1951 | - | - |
| 1950 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Cleveland Cavaliers | Houston Rockets |
| 1949 | - | - |
| 1948 | - | - |
| 1947 | - | - |