In a game packed with drama and defiance, Buddy Hield became the unlikeliest of playoff heroes as the Golden State Warriors knocked off the Houston Rockets 103-89 in Game 7 on Sunday night, booking their spot in the Western Conference semifinals.
Hield erupted for a Game 7 record nine 3-pointers, finishing with 33 points on 9-of-11 shooting from deep, while Stephen Curry added 22 points — 14 of them in the final quarter — as the Warriors closed out the second-seeded Rockets in front of a stunned Toyota Center.
“We were lucky to get out of this series,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted. “That was an incredibly impressive display of resolve.”
Hield, who hadn’t scored in Game 6, exploded early, draining six threes in the first half to push Golden State to a 12-point halftime lead.
Curry, mostly quiet until the fourth, came alive with a flurry of buckets and a signature “night night” celebration that silenced the home crowd.
Draymond Green, who added 16 points, couldn’t resist taking a jab at the Rockets’ playoff past: “It’s that organization though… it’s been good to us.”
The Warriors became only the seventh No. 7 seed in NBA history to win a first-round series, and eliminated Houston for a fifth time in postseason history, dating back to their battles with James Harden’s squads.
Sunday’s win also marked one of the tightest playoff duels in NBA history — both teams scored 728 points across the seven-game series, only the fourth time that’s ever happened.
Jimmy Butler, acquired midseason, chipped in with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Curry added 10 boards and 7 dimes.
The Warriors will now face the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the semifinals on Tuesday.
For Houston, Amen Thompson led with 24 points, while Fred VanVleet, who had carried the team in Games 5 and 6, was held to 17.
Alperen Sengun posted a double-double (21 pts, 14 reb) but struggled with efficiency, and Jalen Green managed just 8 points.
Coach Ime Udoka said it best: “We all expected to continue to be playing. It's a letdown.”
Golden State did it all without Gary Payton II, who missed the game due to illness, but the rest of the roster stepped up — and Hield seized the spotlight in unforgettable fashion.
“Tonight was fun,” Hield said, grinning. “I just tried to be myself. And in that moment, it all clicked.”
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ