Warriors Defeat Rockets in Thrilling Game 7 to Advance to Western Conference Semifinals
In a nail-biting finale to the series, Stephen Curry demonstrated his flair in the decisive moments, amassing 14 of his 22 points in the final quarter. Buddy Hield shone brightly, sinking nine three-pointers and notching a total of 33 points, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 103-89 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. This triumph propels the Warriors into the Western Conference semifinals where they will square off against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night in Minnesota.
Hield was on fire in the first half, knocking down six three-pointers and contributing 22 points, ensuring the Warriors held a 12-point advantage at halftime. Curry, having only scored three points at this stage, took charge when it mattered most, showcasing his “night night” gesture as he helped the Warriors seal the game against the Rockets. Remarkably, the Warriors are now the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to reach the semifinals, having eliminated Houston from the playoffs for the fifth time, following a similar fate for the James Harden-led Rockets between 2015 and 2019.
Hield’s performance was historic as he successfully shot 9 of 11 from beyond the arc, setting an NBA record for a Game 7, outdoing the entire Rockets team, who made only six of their 18 attempts from long distance. Curry’s contribution was substantial with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Amen Thompson topped the scoring charts for Houston with 24 points, yet the Rockets, having forced the series to a seventh game with two consecutive wins, were unable to overcome the seasoned Warriors.
The Warriors extended their eight-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a quick 5-0 surge finished by a Curry three-pointer, setting the scoreboard at 75-62. The Rockets responded with six consecutive points, but Golden State quickly struck back with a 7-2 run, prominently featuring Curry, to widen the gap to 82-70 with roughly seven minutes on the clock. A contested three-pointer by Curry and another assist to Hield for an open three-pointer left the score at 94-74 with just over two minutes remaining, prompting the exit of many Rockets fans from the arena.
Jimmy Butler was pivotal with 20 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists for Golden State. The Warriors have amassed an impressive 28-11 record since Butler’s acquisition from Miami on February 8. Fred VanVleet, instrumental for Houston with a combined 55 points in the prior two games to stretch the series, was curbed to 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting on the decisive night, ultimately sending the second-seeded Rockets out of the playoffs prematurely in their first post-season appearance since 2020.
Houston had its fair share of struggles, with big man Alperen Sengun contributing 21 points and 14 rebounds, but finding difficulty finishing shots, ending with a 9-of-23 shooting record. Jalen Green, who dominated the scoring in Game 2 with 38 points, was limited to just eight. Houston clawed back from a 15-point deficit to close within three during the third quarter, but a 7-2 run by the Warriors at the close of the quarter padded their lead back to 70-62 headed into the final period.
Crucially, the Warriors managed this feat without their critical reserve player, Gary Payton II, who was sidelined due to an illness described by coach Steve Kerr as leaving him “sick as a dog.” Draymond Green provided valuable support with 16 points and was one of four Warriors starters to finish with double-digit scores, showcasing the depth and resilience of the team.